David Ford and the suitcase man

I went to the 9:30 Club last night to see English musician David Ford. He was opening for headliner Sara Bareilles, who wasn't due to appear until 10, but the club was pretty full for his appearance at 8:15. His first song, "Go To Hell," started off in layers - something I'd seen done before by a classical musician who looped her cello playing to create a song. "Go To Hell" builds slowly from just a sound into a full song, each instrument (a mini-electronic piano, the guitar, noisemakers) played by Ford. It's kind of mesmerizing. Ford's voice is interesting - I would say it's like listening to Counting Crows if they were backed by Imogen Heap (in this song at least). It risks becoming a gimmick, but Ford pulls it off. Emotive singing, intense lyrics...he had the audience hooked pretty much from the start.

He followed that up with a song featuring Joey Love on the suitcase. Really. Not a new rip-stop vinyl wheelie of course, but an old leather number held in his lap and used to create a resounding thud that kept time.

What I liked most about Ford's music, aside from the sweet and somehow familiar melodies, is the earnest way he approaches his craft. In recent years, emo has tried to corner the market on heartfelt songs, but they tended to fall flat when you really listened to the words. Ford succeeds at the tender, coffee-house, indi, troubador image. When he introduced himself to the crowd he excused himself for not being the type to whip the masses into a frenzy. "I'm British," he said, offering an excuse for his understated approach. Hopefully someone from the CW will pick up one of his tunes for One Tree Hill, and then you'll hear him everywhere.

Hello Tokyo/The Frustrations/Five Four @ R&R Hotel

Three female-fronted groups will be having their respective CD release parties this Saturday night (4/26) at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Power poppers Hello Tokyo (above) will be dropping in from Brooklyn to play with local horn-laced rockers The Frustrations and ethereal-voiced indie poppers Five Four.

I’m really digging The Frustrations’ track “Everyone Loves A Winner” – it’s kind of like female-fronted 60s riffy garage rock with a horn section thrown in for good measure. I’ve been waiting for Hello Tokyo’s new CD Sell the Stars to finally drop, and we’ve got the track “Steady the Gun” from it below, along with one of my favorite classics of theirs, “Radio.” And Five Four has got a danceable 80s pop vibe going on their track “Creepy Cool Ways,” mixing in flourishes of electronic beats.

MP3: Steady the Gun – Hello Tokyo
MP3: Everyone Loves A Winner – The Frustrations
MP3: Creepy Cool Ways - Five Four
MP3: Radio – Hello Tokyo

Justin Currie @ Jammin Java 4/24

Justin Currie has come a long way from his days of fronting poppers Del Amitri back in the 90s. He’s gone solo, and he’s a bit more serious these days. But his songwriting and vocal (and mutton) chops are still there, even though he’s got more freedom to roam. He’ll be at Jammin Java Thursday, April 24th.

VIDEO: Be My Downfall – Justin Currie, solo
MP3: The Last To Know – Del Amitri

Kathleen Edwards @ Birchmere

I’m looking forward to seeing the Canadian alt-country stylings of Kathleen Edwards Monday night (4/14) at the Birchmere. I saw her there about a year ago, and she put on a very good show, with a very tight backing band, and was very gracious afterwards, meeting up and talking with fans. Anyway, she’s just released a new album, Asking for Flowers, that’s been getting very strong reviews.

MP3: Asking For Flowers – Kathleen Edwards

The Dig @ The Red & The Black Thursday

Brooklynites The Dig will be in town at The Red and the Black this Thursday, April 17th touring in support of their new Good Luck and Games EP. My favorite track of theirs, “New Love” is a very satisfying psych-pop-rocker that’s got a bit of a hard-driving Beatles sound to it, both instrumentally and vocally. I’m liking “Marianne,” too – it’s full-sounding edgier pop-rock, that’s more pop than rock, with some nice harmonies. Take a listen.

MP3: New Love – The Dig
MP3: Marianne – The Dig

New Birdmonster

While in Texas last month the boys from Birdmonster stopped in at WOXY and laid down a live session. And lo and behold, you can check out a video from that day of a brand new song, "I Might Have Guessed,” right here. Their new album is due out early this summer, and they'll most likely be back touring in the DC area again.

Black Cat Benefit for National Coalition for the Homeless

This Tuesday night (4/8) at the Black Cat, The Beanstalk Library (above), Battles/Cans, and PS24 will be donating all proceeds from their show ($10 cover charge) to the National Coalition for the Homeless, so stop by if you can. Check out The Beanstalk Library’s ultra-catchy pop gem “Elephantitis” below.

MP3: Elephantitis – The Beanstalk Library

photo by Shervin Lainez

racingpaperplanes

The other day I got an email from a band from Sweden called racingpaperplanes. When I went to check out their stuff, I thought I’d be hearing bubblegum pop or Euro-techno. Much to my pleasant surprise, it was heartfelt alt-country, and I was digging it. The Richard Wilson-led project has got a new CD due out in 2008, and the first single, “In and Out of Coma,” has a bit of a Tom Petty jangle to it. “In the Company of Ghosts” is from a previous album, but I really love its gentle dreaminess and how it descends into lovely harmonized choruses.

MP3: In and Out of Coma – racingpaperplanes
MP3: In the Company of Ghosts – racingpaperplanes

Matt Nathanson @ 9:30 Club

One of my favorite acts, Matt Nathanson, has got a new video out for “Come On Get Higher,” a bouncy, sing-songy sort of catchy pop song. You can check it out here. He’ll be rollin’ into town April 4th opening for Lifehouse at the 9:30 Club in DC. Tickets are already sold out, so you better go to stubhub, kids.

MP3: Come On Get Higher – Matt Nathanson

photo by chapman baehler