Monthly Archives: March 2012

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Friday 03-16-12

Posted on by

Press about shows for the week ahead:
• Weekend/week-ahead guides: Washingtonian’s Music Picks. We Love DC’s We Love Weekends. Washington CityPaper’s Jazz Setlist [Wailin' Women edition!]. TBD helps you keep it green this weekend. Around the Mall’s Weekend Events. WashPost Going Out Gurus’ Things To Do This Weekend.
• Interview: Stephen Deusner talks to Bhi Bhiman [Express]. At Jammin’ Java tonight with Rosie Thomas, whose new album With Love was reviewed by Mike Joyce [Washington Post].
• Preview: the Vinyl District on the Courtesans, Nunchucks, Cane & the Sticks, and Maple. At the Black Cat tonight.
• Interview: David Malitz talks to Zakir Hussain [Washington Post]. At Jammin’ Java Saturday 3/17.
• Preview: Jonathan L. Fischer on The-Dream [Washington CityPaper]. At the Fillmore Silver Spring Saturday 3/17.
• Preview: Marcus J Moore on Black Alley Band [Washington CityPaper]. At the Rock & Roll Hotel Sunday 3/18.
• CD Review: Mark Jenkins on the Wedding Present‘s Valentina [Washington Post]. At the Rock & Roll Hotel Tuesday 3/20. Preview the album on Amazon.
• CD Review: Catherine Lewis on Bowerbirds‘ The Clearing [Washington Post]. At the Black Cat Wednesday 3/21. Preview the album on Amazon.
• CD Review: Nancy Dunham on Dave Barnes‘s Stories To Tell [Washington Post]. At the Rock & Roll Hotel Thursday 3/22. Preview the album on Amazon.
• CD Review: Mark Jenkins on Ava Luna‘s Ice Level [Washington Post]. At the Red Palace Thursday 3/22. Preview the album on Amazon.

Other stuff to read:
• Set aside some time to read Ramon Ramirez’s lengthy article about Fat Trel [Washington CityPaper]. Subhead: “For the prankster prince of DMV hip-hop, the authenticity wars still matter.”
• Michael J West and Ally Schweitzer peek in on the new Howard Theatre [Washington CityPaper]. We list the venue’s upcoming concert schedule here.
• CapitalBop remembers bassist Joe Byrd, who helped bring bossa nova to the U.S.
• Days 7 and 8 of Justin Moyer‘s “Edie Sedgwick goes to SXSW” [Washington CityPaper].
• Chris Richards reports from SXSW [Washington Post].
• CD Review: Jess Righthand on Marisa Monte‘s O Que Voce Quer Saber de Verdade [Washington Post]. Preview the album on Amazon.
• Live reviews: Stephen Bradley on the Arctic Monkeys‘ opening set at the Verizon Center [Washington Times]. Anne Midgette on NSO‘s “Fidelio” at the Kennedy Center [Washington Post].

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Die Antwoord‘s TEN$ION on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends today).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of lawn tickets to see the Black Keys at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 5/18. (contest ends Monday 3/18 at noon).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of the Big Pink‘s Future This on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Wednesday 3/21).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Electric Guest’s Troubleman 7″ (white). Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Thursday 3/22).

Add this blog to your RSS feed: http://www.showlistdc.com/more/feed/

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Thursday 03-15-12

Posted on by

We don’t know about you, but we’re already tired of all the tweets and articles about SXSW, and the festival hasn’t even really gotten going yet. We’re going to try to keep the SXSW coverage to a minimum here.

Stuff to read:
• the Washington CityPaper has a lengthy article about the Enterprise Jazz Club‘s strange legal saga.
• DC’s Jay Bulger won the grand jury prize in the documentary category at SXSW for his film Beware of Mr. Baker, about Cream/Blind Faith drummer Ginger Baker [Washington Post]. Here’s a profile on Bulger and how he weaseled his way into Baker’s life from the Post a few weeks ago.
• You’re not at SXSW but you’re still rooting for the local bands: David Malitz talks about why Hume, Bluebrain, Nadastrom, and Oddisee should get the biggest buzz of the local acts at the festival this year [Washington Post].
• We’re glad you’re still here: There were no layoffs at the Washington CityPaper yesterday, but unfortunately, employees are all taking a 5% pay cut [DCist].
• Apparently concert poster analysis is becoming a daily thing at the Washington CityPaper. Yesterday they featured U Street Music Hall‘s minimalism. The day before, it was Windian Records‘ possible racism. Oh, and by the way, the CityPaper alerted us yesterday that Windian now has a new poster design. (What art will the CP feature today?!)
• Interview: the show was last night, but you can still read Michael J. West’s chat with drummer Andrew Cyrille [Washington CityPaper].
• Video: Arlington reggae group SOJA made their late-night debut Monday night on The Tonight Show, and ARLnow has the video.
• Concert guides: the Washington CityPaper’s This Week in Jazz. TBD tells you to keep it green this St Patty’s Day weekend.
• DC writer Marc Masters and NC writer Grayson Currin have published their latest column The Out Door [Pitchfork]. This installment touches on how collaborations cross borders.
• Live review: Charles T Downey on the Takacs Quartet at the Kennedy Center [Washington Post].

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ I’m With You on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends today).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Die Antwoord‘s TEN$ION on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Monday 3/19).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of the Big Pink‘s Future This on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Wednesday 3/21).

Add this blog to your RSS feed: http://www.showlistdc.com/more/feed/

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Wednesday 03-14-12

Posted on by

Stuff to read:
• Talented teen? Check out Megan Buerger’s article on DC-CAPital Stars Talent Competition and former competitor Clifton Williams [Washington Post]. This year’s top 10 will compete on Monday night at the Kennedy Center, judged by choreographer/actress Debbie Allen, go-go music pioneer Chuck Brown, and Emmy-nominated music producer Rickey Minor.
• If you haven’t been to the Hamilton yet, you can at least get a sense of the venue in this profile on DC Style Is Real. We’ve got the Hamilton’s upcoming calendar.
• Local record label Windian Records is celebrating its 3rd birthday next month with a few shows at Montserrat House. Jonathan L Fischer wonders if the show poster is racist [Washington CityPaper].
• Interview: Alexia Kauffman talks to Hank3 [We Love DC]. We’ve read more engaging interviews in our time (that’s code for: we’re not sure how much the interviewer knew about Hank3 before she talked to him), but we do love the guy. Hank3 plays at the 9:30 Club on Thursday.
• Day 5 of Justin Moyer‘s “Edie Sedgwick goes to SXSW” [Washington CityPaper].
• Profile: Check out the history of the MPD in rap videos [Washington CityPaper].
• EARWORMS: NPR has a feature on why that song gets stuck in your head.
• Live reviews: Stephen Bradley on Anti-Flag at the Rock & Roll Hotel [Washington Times] (DRINKING GAME: take a shot every time the writer starts a sentence or clause with “it’s”.) Robert Battey skewers Dan Zhu‘s performance of Mozart with Christoph Eschenbach [Washington Post]. (The review is almost more of a skewering of Eschenbach’s choice of Zhu than Zhu himself. To wit: Eschenbach has inexplicably allowed a middling violinist to hitch his wagon to Eschenbach’s considerable star. Ouch.) Jenn Bress on White Rabbits and Tennis at the Black Cat [the Vinyl District]. Kelly Kettering on the Black Keys at the Verizon Center [the Vinyl District].

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of lawn tickets to Sarah McLachlan with the National Philharmonic at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 7/5. (contest ends today at noon).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ I’m With You on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Thursday 3/15).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Die Antwoord‘s TEN$ION on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Monday 3/19).

Add this blog to your RSS feed: http://www.showlistdc.com/more/feed/

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Tuesday 03-13-12

Posted on by

Stuff to read:
• U Street Music Hall is turning two this week! Tittsworth has a look at the club’s anniversary week shows.
• Day 4 of Justin Moyer‘s “Edie Sedgwick goes to SXSW” [Washington CityPaper].
• Chris Porter revisits his musical memories [Express].
• You too can put on an opera. Anne Midgette points you to a few eBay auctions for full opera productions (sets and all), such as Aida, Carmen, and La Traviata [the Washington Post].
• Midgette also covers Peter Russell‘s new job as Artistic Director at Vocal Arts DC. Russell has worked locally at Washington Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and the Washington Concert Opera.
• Concert preview: Giovanni Russonello and Adam Schatz on Andrew D’Angelo and Victor Provost at the Dunes on 3/31 [Capital Bop].
• Concert guides: DCist’s Weekly Music Agenda. Washington Post’s Going Out Gurus.
• Live reviews: Jenn Bress on Korallreven, Young Magic, and Stout Cortez at the Black Cat [the Vinyl District]. Ayesha Venkataraman on Journopalooza at the Hamilton [Washingtonian] (Not music related! This event benefitted two local charities, Writopia and REACH Incorporated. REACH just got a really nice writeup in the Washington Post last week.) We Love DC on the Kaiser Chiefs at the 9:30 Club. Erica Bruce’s photos of the Black Keys at the Verizon Center [Washington CityPaper].

Today’s New Releases (with local reviews):
• Big K.R.I.T.: 4eva N a Day – at the Fillmore Silver Spring on 3/23. Reviewed by Sarah Godfrey [the Washington Post].
• SoSoLa: Nu World Trash. Reviewed by Bill Friskics-Warren [the Washington Post].
• the Ting Tings: Sounds From Nowheresville – at Rams Head Live on 4/14. Reviewed by Allison Stewart [the Washington Post].
• Shooter Jennings: Family man – this album comes out today but was reviewed last week by David Malitz [Washington Post].
–
• Dave Barnes: Stories To Tell – at the Rock & Roll Hotel on 3/22.
• Delta Spirit: Delta Spirit – at the 9:30 Club on 3/31.
• the Dropkick Murphys: Going Out In Style: Live at Fenway – at RFK Stadium Grounds on 3/24 as part of Shamrock Fest.
• I See Stars: Digital Renegade – at Sonar on 3/30 (Reckless Fest).
• Impending Doom: Baptized in Filth – at Sonar on 3/20 (Metal Alliance Tour).
• Lucero: Women & Work – at the 9:30 Club on 4/25.
• John Mayall: Big Man Blues – at Wolf Trap on 7/7.
• Say Anything: Anarchy My Dear – at the Black Cat on 4/17.
• Soulfly: Enslaved – at the Ottobar on 4/30.

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Loney Dear‘s Hall Music on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends today).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of lawn tickets to Sarah McLachlan with the National Philharmonic at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 7/5. (contest ends Wednesday 3/14 at noon).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ I’m With You on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Thursday 3/15).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Die Antwoord‘s TEN$ION on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Monday 3/19).

Add this blog to your RSS feed: http://www.showlistdc.com/more/feed/

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Monday 03-12-12

Posted on by

Stuff to read:
• Have you heard live opera at the Court House metro? Katherine Boyle has an article/interview with countertenor Hisham Breedlove, who busks at the Metro. Of course, no story about busking at a Metro station would be complete without mentioning the 2007 story of Joshua Bell playing his Stradivarius at L’Enfant Plaza (an article which has been read more times than Bell earned tips that morning– a fact which is also mentioned a lot when talking about Metro buskers).
• Washington Post pop critic Chris Richards is retiring the paper’s Click Track blog. Richards will now post on the Style Blog, and David Malitz will post on the Going Out Guide blog. And, of course, we’ll still round up the Post’s musical writings here on Music Notes.
• If you haven’t heard enough about SXSW before the festival has even started, then check out Justin Moyer‘s series at the Washington CityPaper, “Edie Sedgwick goes to SXSW”: Day 1 + Day 2 + Day 3.
• Want to get college credit for talking about Lady Gaga? At the University of Maryland, you can. The school is offering a new seminar called “Advanced Special Topics in Women’s Studies: Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Nicki Minaj: Gender and Spectacular Consumption”, the Diamondback reports.
• Blast from the past: Timothy S. Robinson at the Washington Post dug up the Post’s July 1971 obituary of Jim Morrison.
• DC writer Zach Kelly on Matthewdavid‘s Jewelry [Pitchfork].
• Live Reviews: Dave McKenna on the Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys at the Verizon Center [Washington Post] (FYI: [N]o combo that has songs as great as “I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor” should ever be this bland. Ouch.) Stephen Brookes on a performance of the younger Bach‘s work at the Library of Congress [Washington Post]. Cecelia Porter on the NSO‘s “Hungarian Dances” program at the Kennedy Center [Washington Post].

Audiovisual stuff:
• Real Estate played a Tiny Desk Concert at NPR’s DC office.

Stuff to win:
• DCHeavyMetal.com is giving away a pair of tickets to Iced Earth and Warbringer at the 9:30 Club on 3/13 (contest ends today at 4 PM).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Loney Dear‘s Hall Music on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Tuesday 3/13).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ I’m With You on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Thursday 3/15).

Add this blog to your RSS feed: http://www.showlistdc.com/more/feed/

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Friday 03-09-12

Posted on by

Notes from last night:
Last night, I stopped by the modestly-attended free-jazz show of Denis Beuret (trombone, electronics) + Elliott Levin (sax, spoken word) + drummers Weasel Walter + Marc Edwards. I’d never been to The Dunes in Columbia Heights before, but I’m now in love with the space– it feels like the performance is happening in a living room, since the space/gallery is nestled in an apartment building in a very residential part of ColHts. Not surprisingly, Walter completely stole the show– he’s hilarious to watch, and his chatter after songs was entertaining as well, although the quartet did not deliver the 17 additional tunes that Walter initially promised. It was disappointing that the crowd started leaving less than halfway through the group’s hourlong set, which ended at 10:45 (not that late, even for a school night!), but so it goes. Spot the metalhead: Walter himself was wearing a Malignancy T-shirt.

Press about shows for the week ahead:
• Week/weekend planners: We Love DC. Washingtonian’s picks for the next week. Washington CityPaper’s jazz picks. DCist’s This Week in Jazz. Capital Bop’s Weekend in Jazz. TBD is hankering for springtime.
• Article/Interview: Moira McLaughlin on Jon Anderson of Yes [Washington Post]. At the Hamilton on Sunday 3/11.
• CD Review: Geoffrey Himes on Paul Kelly‘s album Greatest Hits: Songs From the South, Volumes 1 && 2 [Washington Post]. At Jammin’ Java on Sunday 3/11 and Monday 3/12.
• CD Review: Mark Jenkins on John K Samson and the Provincial Band‘s album Provincial [Washington Post]. The Weakerthans frontman is at the Black Cat on Tuesday 3/13.
• CD Review: Mike Joyce on Enter the Haggis‘s album Whitelake [Washington Post]. At Rams Head Tavern on Tuesday 3/13 (look ahead: the band returns to this area on 9/7 at the Birchmere).
• Preview: Joe Colly on Four Tet [Washington CityPaper]. At U St Music Hall on Tuesday 3/13.
• CD Review: Moira McLaughlin on Elliot Brood‘s new album Days Into Years [Washington Post]. At DC9 on Thursday 3/15.
• CD Review: Geoffrey Himes on Darrell Scott‘s album Long Ride Home [Washington Post]. At Jammin’ Java on Thursday 3/15.

Other stuff to read:
• CD Review: Joe Warminsky on Garvey the Chosen One‘s Money Train [Washington CityPaper].
• Quick Spin: Marcus J Moore on Chelsey Green and her song “Pizzicato” [Washington CityPaper].
• Washington CityPaper posted Steve Kiviat’s preview of the Zieti show at Bossa yesterday. The show was last night, but the article is still worth reading if you’re interesed in Ivorian afropop.
• We don’t like celebrity gossip. But this is both music- and DC-related, so we feel kind of obligated to include it. According to the Huffington Post, Journey‘s Neal Schon is going to tie the knot with Michaele Salahi. Apparently the rest of Journey approves. “[My] band mates Ross and Jonathan met her 15 years ago, so they have known her,” Neal says. “They love having her out there because she brings so much energy.”
• Live reviews: Stephen Brookes on the Cygnus Ensemble‘s tribute to Dina Koston at the Library of Congress [Washington Post]. Anne Midgette on NSO‘s Bartok program [Washington Post]. We Love DC on Korallreven at the Black Cat.

Audiovisual stuff:
• Check out a song from Latristic, the project from ex-Casper Bangs Rob Pierangell. If you like what you hear, download the whole album for free.
• Saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa stopped by NPR’s DC office for a Tiny Desk Concert.

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of tickets to see Gomez at the 9:30 Club on 3/12 (contest ends today at noon).
• The Vinyl District is givina away a pair of tickets to Rob Zombie, Megadeth, and Lacuna Coil at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 5/13 (contest ends today at noon).
• DCHeavyMetal.com is giving away a pair of tickets to see Rammstein at 1st Mariner on 4/25 and a pair of tickets to see Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper at Jiffy Lube Live on 6/30 (contest ends today at 5 PM).
• DCHeavyMetal.com is giving away a pair of tickets to Iced Earth and Warbringer at the 9:30 Club on 3/13 (contest ends Monday 3/12 at 4 PM).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Loney Dear‘s Hall Music on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Tuesday 3/13).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ I’m With You on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Thursday 3/15).

Add this blog to your RSS feed: http://www.showlistdc.com/more/feed/

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Thursday 03-08-12

Posted on by

JUST ANNOUNCED: Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks at the Verizon Center on Friday 7/27. Tickets are on sale 3/12 (AmEx presale) and 3/17 (general public).

Stuff to read:
• Just announced: the Sweetlife Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 4/28. The Washington CityPaper’s Jonathan Fischer has a lot to say about the festival, including commentary on last year’s festival and this year’s press release.
• Capital Bop talks about the high points of the Kennedy Center’s 2012-2013 jazz season.
• Interview: Steve Kiviat talks to Ruthie Foster [Washington CityPaper] (the show was last night, but the interview is still worth reading).
• DCist’s This Week in Hip-Hop.
• CD Review: DC writer Joe Colly on Tyga, Careless World: Rise of the Last King [Pitchfork]
• CD Review: DC writer Marc Masters on feedtime, The Aberrant Years [Pitchfork]

Audiovisual stuff:
• the Washington CityPaper encourages you to listen to Body Wishes‘ album White Chocolate if you’re in the mood for some drone.
• Look out, Obama: Marion Barry sings too (but only on his birthday). [Washington CityPaper]

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of tickets to see Polyphonic Spree at 6th & I on 5/21 (contest ends today at noon).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of tickets to see Gomez at the 9:30 Club on 3/12 (contest ends Friday 3/9 at noon).
• The Vinyl District is givina away a pair of tickets to Rob Zombie, Megadeth, and Lacuna Coil at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 5/13 (contest ends Friday 3/9 at noon).
• DCHeavyMetal.com is giving away a pair of tickets to see Rammstein at 1st Mariner on 4/25 and a pair of tickets to see Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper at Jiffy Lube Live on 6/30 (contest ends Friday 3/9 at 5 PM).
• DCHeavyMetal.com is giving away a pair of tickets to Iced Earth and Warbringer at the 9:30 Club on 3/13 (contest ends Monday 3/12 at 4 PM).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Loney Dear‘s Hall Music on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Tuesday 3/13).

Add this blog to your RSS feed: http://www.showlistdc.com/more/feed/

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Wednesday 03-07-12

Posted on by

Stuff to read:
• Local filmmaker Jay Bulger has put together a documentary about Blind Faith and Cream drummer Ginger Baker. The film, Beware of Mr. Baker, will debut at SXSW later this month, and the Washington Post article linked above is an interesting profile of how Bulger weaseled his way into Baker’s life.
• Interview: Julyssa Lopez talks to Alex Even of White Rabbits [Washingtonian]. White Rabbits’ latest album Milk Famous was released yesterday; the band plays the Black Cat tonight.
• Interview: Reese Higgins talks to Zachary Cole Smith of Dive and Beach Fossils [Washington CityPaper].
• The Huffington Post has a nice article about Listen Local First and its trip to SXSW.
• Heavy Uber Alles brings us 6 heavy tunes every Tuesday. This week, HUA let readers suggest songs and has 14 videos to share, with varying degrees of heaviness.
• Preview: Niki & the Dove at the U St Music Hall on 3/8 [All Things Go].
• Live Reviews: Justin Duckham on Craig Finn at the Rock & Roll Hotel [the Vinyl District]. Anne Midgette on Matthias Goerne at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre [Washington Post]. Metal Chris on Windhand, Ilsa, Natur, Pilgrim, and Satan’s Satyrs at St Stephen’s [DCHeavyMetal.com]. We Love DC on Young Prisms, Boy Friend, and Ceremony at DC9.

Audiovisual stuff:
• Here’s a song from the Cubs, “Ashlei” [Washington CityPaper].
• WQXR has this podcast about plagiarism in classical music, featuring the Washington Post’s Anne Midgette. You may remember this blog post by Midgette we posted a few weeks ago about composer Osvaldo Golijov.

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of tickets to Fanfarlo at the U Street Music Hall on 3/7 (contest ends today at noon).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Nirvana‘s Nevermind on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends today).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of tickets to see Polyphonic Spree at 6th & I on 5/21 (contest ends Thursday 3/8 at noon).
• DCHeavyMetal.com is giving away a pair of tickets to see Rammstein at 1st Mariner on 4/25 and a pair of tickets to see Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper at Jiffy Lube Live on 6/30 (contest ends Friday 3/9 at 5 PM).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Loney Dear‘s Hall Music on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Tuesday 3/13).

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Tuesday 03-06-12

Posted on by

JUST ANNOUNCED: Wolf Trap announced its summer season yesterday! You can see the full list of shows on our site here.

Stuff to read:
• Jonathan L Fisher looks back on the history of Radiohead shows in this area [Washington CityPaper].
• Interview: Reese Higgins talks to Prince Rama [Washington CityPaper].
• Chris Porter on scobbling [Express].
• If you’ve ever wondered about the small dance floors in NoVA restaurants, the Washington Post gives this synopsis on the 150 square foot limit on dance floors.
• DCist’s Weekly Music Agenda. The Vinyl District’s 9:30 Club March Preview. the Huffington Post’s concert whereabouts for this week.

Today’s New Releases (with local reviews):
• Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball – at the Verizon Center on 4/1. Reviewed by Chris Richards [Washington Post].
• Andrew Bird: Break It Yourself – at the 9:30 Club on 5/8 and Rams Head Live! on 5/9 – Reviewed by Timothy Bracy [the Washington Post].
• Shooter Jennings: Family man – Note that this isn’t out until next week (3/13) but it was reviewed by this week David Malitz [Washington Post].
• Zieti: Zemelwa – at Bossa on 3/8 – Reviewed by Bill Friskics-Warren [the Washington Post].
–
• Blues Traveler: 25 – at the State Theatre on 4/15.
• Bowerbirds: the Clearing – at the Black Cat on 3/21.
• Good Old War: Come Back As Rain – at the Black Cat on 4/28.
• Human Nature: the Motown Record – at the Lyric Opera House on 4/26.
• Idina Menzel: Live Barefoot at the Symphony (or DVD) – at Wolf Trap on 8/3.
• Kaiser Chiefs: Start the Revolution Without Me – at the 9:30 Club on 3/9 and Rams Head Live! on 4/10.
• the Magnetic Fields: Love at the Bottom of the Sea – at the 9:30 Club on 4/9.
• Miniature Tigers: Mia Pharaoh – at DC9 on 3/22.
• New Riders of the Purple Sage: 17 Pine Avenue – at Rams Head Live! on 3/23 and the Hamilton on 3/24.
• White Rabbits: Milk Famous – at the Black Cat on 3/7.
• Xiu Xiu: Always – at the Rock & Roll Hotel on 5/2.
• Yellow Ostrich: Strange Land – at the Black Cat on 4/11.

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Pink Floyd‘s The Wall on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends today).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of tickets to see The Beach Boys at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 6/15 (contest ends today at noon).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of tickets to Fanfarlo at the U Street Music Hall on 3/7 (contest ends Wednesday 3/7 at noon).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Nirvana‘s Nevermind on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Wednesday 3/7).
• DCHeavyMetal.com is giving away a pair of tickets to see Rammstein at 1st Mariner on 4/25 and a pair of tickets to see Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper at Jiffy Lube Live on 6/30 (contest ends Friday 3/9 at 5 PM).

ShowlistDC Music Notes: Monday 03-05-12

Posted on by

Happy Monday, everyone! I know I just put out a request for feedback last week on these Music Notes (and thanks to everyone for your encouraging comments!), but I’d like to ask your advice again. There are a few commentators out there who refer to ShowlistDC as “the eye-bleed site”. I can understand their sense of overwhelmment: I set out to make SLDC a comprehensive DC-area listing site, and that means that I’ve collected a huge amount of information for the site. Many of you have sent me notes over the past year and a half with ideas and suggestions for the site (many of which I’ve implemented!), and I’d like to open up the floor: what would you like to see differently on the main listing page (or the venue pages) of ShowlistDC? Would you like me to display the show listings in a different way? Would you like more information, like ticket prices, links to where to buy tickets, concert start times, genre information, or something else? I’ve been working on adding some flags to denote concerts that are new or changed, so that feature is on its way. But if there’s anything else you would like me to do to make SLDC an easier-to-navigate site, please do let me know! Leave a comment here or send me an email at showlistdc@gmail.com, and know that I’m always excited to talk about ways to make SLDC better.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Radiohead with Caribou at the Verizon Center on June 3. Tickets ($69.50 plus fees) on sale Saturday, March 10th.

Stuff to read:
• Steven Overly at the Washington Post writes a lengthy feature on SoundExchange, the company that pays royalties for streaming music.

Today, about 1,400 streaming music services in the United States send SoundExchange a list of recordings they’ve played and royalty payments each month. That translates to about 16,000 checks sent to artists and rights owners each quarter.

“Lady Gaga and Katy Perry get decent checks from us,” Huppe said. “But you know what’s even more rewarding? It’s the working class artists who we track down.”

SoundExchange has found and delivered royalties to a rabbi who performs comedy, cash-strapped indie bands and little-known children’s artists, among others. Of the 60,000 payments it made last year, Huppe said about 90 percent were worth less than $5,000.

But the nonprofit has tens of millions of dollars sitting in its coffers waiting to be distributed, Huppe said. Many small artists aren’t familiar with the group, and as one might expect, are skeptical when an organization declares it has their unclaimed money.

• the Vinyl District gives an overview of Listen Local First’s trip to SXSW. You can also check out LLF’s Kickstarter campaign here.
• HyperVocal interviewed Ice Cube when he was in town last week. They talk about giving Obama a record deal.
• Huffington Post writes a profile about Rock the Vote‘s legal challenges with Florida’s voting laws.
• Business Insider gives us a list of Shazam’s most requested songs of all time. The list is a fairly unsurprising selection of modern pop hits, to which we say: if you have to get your phone to identify Adele for you, then you’re probably doing it wrong.
• Live Reviews: Sarah Godfrey on Young Jeezy at the Fillmore [Washington Post]. Anne Midgette on Angela Gheorghiu with the Washington National Opera [Washington Post]. Samantha Buker on BSO‘s “Voices of Light” at Strathmore [Washington Post]. Joe Banno on Yefim Bronfman at Strathmore [Washington Post]. Charles T Downey on Benjamin Grosvenor at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre [Washington Post]. Downey again on Jerusalem String Quartet at the Barns of Wolf Trap [Washington Post].

Audiovisual stuff:
• Laura Gibson stopped by NPR’s DC office for a Tiny Desk Concert.

Stuff to win:
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Mount Carmel‘s Real Women on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends today).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Pink Floyd‘s The Wall on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Tuesday 3/6).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a pair of tickets to see The Beach Boys at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 6/15 (contest ends Tuesday 3/6 at noon).
• The Vinyl District is giving away a copy of Nirvana‘s Nevermind on vinyl. Winner must have a North American mailing address (contest ends Wednesday 3/7).
• DCHeavyMetal.com is giving away a pair of tickets to see Rammstein at 1st Mariner on 4/25 and a pair of tickets to see Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper at Jiffy Lube Live on 6/30 (contest ends Friday 3/9 at 5 PM).