Our Pastappreciation (yeah, I made that up) for Among Wolves has been well documented HERE and HERE, so I’m just gonna give you some quick hits from their Website —- Buy
Monthly Archive for January, 2008
The last day of January has some quality shows for you. Here in Baltimore the Ottobar is hosting Judd & Maggie’s CD release party with performances by Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends, Carousel Rogues, and Harrison Hudson. In Philly you can catch Lupe Fiasco at the Fillmore or head on over to the Khyber to see C Rayz Walz, Reef The Lost Cauze, Viro the Virus, and more. In VA, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down is having their CD release at IOTA with David Shultz and the Skyline. In DC the Red and the Black has Ilad, with Square Trio and Sun Committee. Finally at DC9 be sure to catch Zulu Pearls. Many of you were probably expecting to see Robbers On High Street, but a band member had to be taken to the hospital. Hopefully everything is okay. Zulu Pearls is still a fantastic band, so keep your plans intact for DC9 (it’s only $5).
mp3: Judd & Maggie – Sleep Interrupted –> website –> buy
mp3: Lupe Fiasco – Little Weapon –> website –> buy
mp3: C Rayz Walz – Electric Avenue –> website –> buy
mp3: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – Feet Asleep –> website –> buy
mp3: Ilad – National Flags –> website –> buy
mp3: Zulu Pearls – Dancing + Drinking –> website –> buy
I must say when I first listened to Avec’s latest release Lines (Civil Defense League), I was without words. I’d never heard anything quite like it. Avec blends crisp guitar riffs with tight drums and thick bass that borders on early Metallica, but stays closer to indie rock enough to keep me interested. The vocals of Shawna Potter and Brooks Harlan build off each other to create blissful pop melodies yet still retaining angst and harshness to complement the style of music behind them. Right now you’re probably saying, “Wait a minute Pasta. Are you telling me this band from Baltimore sounds like Master of Puppets crossed with Mates of State?” Well…sort of…yes. More importantly though, they rock. They rock hard. Not in the bad Baltimore hardcore way either. You can tell how talented the group is technically throughout Lines, but you can also hear their grand sense of harmony and melody. This band is a Baltimore band that should turn heads and then make them nod up and down as if saying, “Yes, yes, yes, THIS ROCKS!” Then shaking them from left to right as if saying, “No, no, no, DON’T STOP A ROCKIN’!” You can catch Avec live this Friday at the Lo-Fi in Baltimore.
mp3: Avec – Dysplasia –> website –> buy
mp3: Avec – Bozarth
Monday was Pasta Primavera’s first visit to Vienna, VA’s Jammin Java. Located in a strip mall in between an Outback and a supermarket, Jammin Java doesn’t look like your typical indie rock venue. I guess that’s what makes this place so good. They had a superb sound system, a cafe, a bar, and most importantly Middle Distance Runner playing. Opening up for MDR was Ungdomskulen. I’m not sure what Norwegian punk rock sounds like, but if it sounds like Ungdomskulen, then I love Norwegian punk rock. Clearly stating they came to rock, Ungdomskulen blazed through an energy filled set complete with the soon to be Norwegian national anthem, Spartacus.
But the reason I was there was Middle Distance Runner. Having seen them late last year, I was in dire need for more more MORE! In my previous post found here you can hear me rant on about how Erik Dean is the greatest drummer in the world. Well that’s a fact, still. I came away with something different from this show. Stephen Kilroy (Vonnegut fans eat your heart out!) sings with determination and emotion, but more evident from this performance was the injection of soul he has flowing through him. Channeling Otis Redding, Stephen belts out vocals that make you smile for no good reason one second, and then tear up the next. This is a band that must be seen and heard and then seen again. Speaking with the band members, many of them feared sounding rusty, but there was no rust. All I saw and heard was bright, shiny, and flat out rockin’ indie music. They’re off of touring for a while to start recording new material (yes!), but look out for them to play a couple of shows in the area.
mp3: Middle Distance Runner – Monochrome Boys –> website –> buy
mp3: Middle Distance Runner – Top Of The Stairs
mp3: Ungdomskulen – Ordinary Son –> website
mp3: Ungdomskulen – Modern Drummer
Middle Distance Runner
Ungdomskulen
More photos here.
While I may be a bit out of sorts today, that doesn’t stop the good shows going on tonight. The 9:30 club has everyone’s favorite MC, Lupe Fiasco lyrically tear the roof down. There’s a solid show at the Black Cat with DC’s Greenland, Len Bias (the band, not the deceased b-baller), and More Humans. Finally here in Baltimore, everyone should go check out Among Wolves, Sissy Jupe, and The Herd Of Main St. at the website –> buy
mp3: Greenland – Cardplayer –> website
The Red Vines full length release, Everyday Needles for Electromagnetic Lovers, may say 2008 on its back cover, but I just can’t believe it. Here’s what I think happened: The Red Vines formed a band, but found themselves without inspiration. So what would any good band without proper muses do? Of course, go back in time! The Red Vines went back to the 1960’s and hung out for a while, finding inspiration from the prospering musical tapestry of the time. Their song structure is both classic and innovative. The production sounds very old school, pulling back solid guitars and drums to showcase the vocals of Ryan Finnerin and focus on harmonies to create an album with contemporary appeal.
Mark your calendar’s for February 15, when they will be having their formal CD release party at the Golden West cafe in Hampden with Caleb Stine and Small Sur.
Mp3: The Red Vines – The Nameless
Mp3: The Red Vines – 10,000 Watts —- Website —- Buy
Up to this point in my life, I’ve never had a brush with death. There I was yesterday watching an out of control SUV barreling down on me and my measly Toyota. My life flashed before my eyes as two seconds felt like an eternity. When all was over, nobody was seriously hurt. Lucky. Thankful. It’s moments like these that makes you take a step back. It made me think of my family and how much they really mean to me. They bring joy to me everyday, and for this I am thankful. So what do I come away with? A new found respect for the suddenness of life. Take in each moment and cherish it. They might be cliches, but that’s where I’m at and where I intend to be for a long time. Thanks for reading this blog and feel free to chime in.
mp3: A.C. Newman – Come Crash
mp3: Elvis Costello – Accidents Will Happen
mp3: Girl Talk – Smash Your Head
mp3: Arcade Fire – No Cars Go
mp3: Soul Junk – Ungst Func Slag Collision
Many of you might be thinking, “Yo Pasta! Where’s Toofer Toosday? I need my Toosday fix, dangit!” Well I had a crazy morning and things kind of fell apart on me. So no Toofer, but there is a fantastic show that would cheer anybody up. Granted it’s Tuesday, but this is the last day of the residency of Drink Up Buttercup, Cheers Elephant, and New Motels at the Khyber in Philly. To make things even better, they’re playing with a kick butt band in The Major Leagues. Do yourself a favor and get on down to that show and forget about this whole Toofer Toosday debacle.
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup – Gods And Gentlemen –> website
mp3: Cheers Elephant – Wide Eyed –> website
mp3: New Motels – Modern Thinker –> website
mp3: The Major Leagues – Moonlit Daydreams –> website
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