Jimmy Eat World

I’ve had Jimmy Eat World’s new CD, Chase This Light, for a couple weeks now, and I’m liking it so far. It might be slightly overproduced, but hey, if you’re going to pay Butch Vig mad production dollars, I guess you try to get as much as you can out of him. Anyway, they’ve still got hooky songs, with those driving guitars and irresistible harmonies. My personal favorites include the bouncy pop of “Always Be” and the gorgeous majestic title-track, “Chase This Light.” And Jimmy Eat World will be in town this Tuesday, October 30th at the 9:30 Club.

MP3: Always Be – Jimmy Eat World
MP3: Chase This Light – Jimmy Eat World

*In a cool related note, apparently Jimmy Eat World releases demos of all of their CDs (including the newest one), and Dance Hall Hips just posted some select tracks in a post here.

Catfish Honeymoon @ Jay's Saloon

One of the best local alt-county acts, Catfish Honeymoon, will be at Jay’s Saloon & Grill in Arlington this Saturday night. They feature top-notch female/male vocals and harmonies, along with some excellent guitar work. Check out “Never Get Out of This” from their CD Keeper.

MP3: Never Get Out of This – Catfish Honeymoon

Airport Boulevard CD Release Party Tonight!

Iota Club and Cafe is hosting a CD release party for Airport Boulevard, a mellow Annapolis quartet with undertones of Throwing Muses and Yo La Tengo. Their album, Asleep with the TV On, is available from DC's own Yarner Records. Opening acts include the Art Daniels Band and Dawn Dineen & the Cue.

Matt Nathanson Coming to the 9:30 Club

One of my favorite pop acts to see live, Matt Nathanson, is going to be rolling into town with a full band this Thursday for an early show at the 9:30 Club. He’s got a great stage presence, and his crowd banter is top notch. Oh yeah, and his songs are pretty catchy, too. He’s touring in support of his new CD, Some Mad Hope, and I’m digging it so far. Here’s two tracks…

MP3: Car Crash – Matt Nathanson
MP3: Heartbreak World – Matt Nathanson

photo by Chapman Baehler

Lloyd Dobler Effect Benefit

Local Maryland band The Lloyd Dobler Effect recently had their trailer stolen in Chicago and lost every last piece of their equipment. But a bunch of local band have graciously donated their time and talents to put on a benefit show for them this Thursday, October 18th at Nottingham's in Columbia, MD starting at 9:00. It’ll be a good night of music with The Dreamscapes Project, the Viki Nova Band, Juniper Lane, and Honor By August all set to perform. Check it out.

A Case of the Fridays

We kick off this week with “Hey Mr. Sunshine” from Pi. The track’s interesting arrangements go beyond the standard singer/songwriter fare. The breezy, acoustic-oriented verses give her beautiful voice a chance to soar atop the gentle percussion, soft strings and woodwinds before things get kind of jazzy and funky in the bridge. If you like what you hear, Pi will be in town Wednesday, October 17th at Busboys and Poets in DC.

MP3: Hey Mr. Sunshine - Pi

And we wrap things up with “Tick Tick Boom” from The Hives. It’s riffy garage rock, along the lines of The Kinks. And it’s catchy stuff, that builds to a nice chorus with a cool little vocal hook that leaves the listener hanging expectantly. If you like what you hear, The Hives will be at the Black Cat Wednesday, October 17th.

MP3: Tick Tick Boom – The Hives

Marah @ Jammin Java Friday

I’m pretty psyched that my favorite band, Marah, will be back in town this Friday at Jammin Java (VA) for a full band performance. They put on one kick-ass rock show, along the lines of Bruce and the E Streeters. I especially love their energy, and the raspy, straight-outta-Philly accented vocals of lead singer Dave Bielanko. Marah has recently expanded their lineup to six members, adding Christine Smith on keyboards and vocals. Check them rocking out on “It’s Only Money, Tyrone” here.

There’s also a lot of new Marah music on the way. The band’s got a couple of EPs coming out before the end of 2007 that will serve as nice appetizers for their new album, Angels of Destruction, that will be dropping in January 2008.

MP3: Freedom Park - Marah

photo credit: Hanna Toresson

DAM! Fest 2007

The second annual The District’s Awake! Music Fesival kicks off this week, with shows Thursday (10/11), Friday (10/12), Saturday (10/13), and Monday (10/14). There’s about 40 different acts spread over five different venues for indie kids to go and get their fix. Bands including These United States, Exit Clov, iLIKETRAINS, and Cat Power, will be playing DC9, Rock & Roll Hotel, The Red & The Black, Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, and the 9:30 Club. Check the complete schedule here.

A Case of the Fridays

Yup, this week marks the return of Bruce, so I figure it’s fitting to begin with his first single, “Radio Nowhere.” It’s an urgent guitar rocker over the 867-5309 progression that gives Springsteen something he can dig his gruff voice into.

MP3: Radio Nowhere – Bruce Springsteen

And we close out this week with Dashboard Confessional’s “The Shade of Poison Trees.” Chris Carraba carves out a melodic emo ballad on his acoustic guitar and then layers it with strings and keys, buffing it to a pop sheen.

MP3: The Shade of Poison Trees – Dashboard Confessional

Blocktoberfest 2007

BLOCKtoberfest will be going on this Saturday afternoon, October 6th, from 1-6 at your favorite stadium that rocks, RFK. There will be food, beer, family activities, and of course, there will be music. There’s a ton of bands on the schedule, including the Violent Femmes, Gin Blossoms, Shiny Toy Guns, Mr. Greengenes, and JunkFood.

The Honorary Title

Recently I’ve been enjoying The Honorary Title’s Anything Else But The Truth.
I love the brooding melancholy and beautiful lyrics of the track “Cats in Heat” – especially dark lines like “from the liquor cabinet, choose your mood and start to wreak havoc” and “interrupted by the flickering candles, well the darkness that softens the angles.” The song surges and sighs to eventually builds to a crescendo riding lead singer Jarrod Gorbel’s impassioned, almost theatrical vocals.

MP3: Cats In Heat – The Honorary Title

I’m also digging the more pop-oriented track “Frame By Frame,” with its nice little piano hook/synth line that matches up well with Jarrod’s haunting vocals.

MP3: Frame By Frame – The Honorary Title

The Honorary Title just released a new record, Scream and Light Up the Sky, and they’ll be in DC at the 9:30 Club this Sunday, October 7th.

Rock For DC Libraries

This Friday night, October 5th, at 7:30pm the 9:30 Club will be hosting a benefit for The DC Public Library Foundation. Performing live will be Federico Aubele, Kitty Hawk, Rose, These United States, Vandaveer, Revival, John Bustine, Child Ballads, DJs Yellow Fever, ESL Music DJs Stone and Will Griffin. Proceeds from the evening will go to the DC Public Library Foundation to help fund libraries serving all DC communities. Tickets are $20 and are for sale at the 9:30 Club or at www.930.com.

New Radiohead Album Info Revealed

For those of you who haven’t heard, the new Radiohead album is to be titled In Rainbows, and it’s coming out via digital download here October 10th. And you can even decide how much you want to pay for it. The discbox won’t be available until December 3rd, however. There’s a track listing here, and NME has compiled video clips of most of the new tracks being played live here.