Matthew Ryan CD Giveaway

Sandpapery-voiced singer-songwriter Matthew Ryan is probably one of the best artists you’ve never heard of, and he just released another excellent album, Matthew Ryan Vs. The Silver State, earlier this year. He’s got a show coming up at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA Sunday, September 7th.

In preparation for it, I’ll be giving away a free copy of his new CD to a commenter on this post, to be selected at random. I’ll be taking comments/entries until this Friday, September 5th. Please make sure that your comment or login includes a way to reach you.

MP3: It Could Have Been Worse – Matthew Ryan

James on KCRW

I just found out that one of my favorite bands, James, did a live session on KCRW back on June 5th with a setlist that included “Whiteboy,” “Oh My Heart,” “Hey Ma,” “Upside,” “Waterfall,” and “I Wanna Go Home.” You can check out the video from the session here, and James will be coming to the 9:30 Club September 18th.

Black Cat Saturday

Black Cat will have three local acts on the docket this Saturday, August 30th – post-punkers Cobra Collective, the catchy indie-pop of Bellman Barker, and the nearly-ethereal Andy Zipf. Take a listen…

MP3: Joe Goda – Cobra Collective
MP3: Top of the Stairs – Bellman Barker
VIDEO: So Am I – Andy Zipf

A Case of the Fridays

Yeah, it’s a bit last-minute, but we kick things off this week with Theresa Andersson’s “Birds Fly Away.” It’s got a light and shimmery summer Motown vibe to it, with some nice percussion and neo-soul vocal stylings. If you like what you hear, Andersson (above) will be at DC9 Saturday, August 23rd.

MP3: Birds Fly Away – Theresa Andersson

And we close things out with “Sincerely, Jane” by Janelle Monae. She’s got some big vocals, old-school style, and the track mashes together many genres, R&B, soul, hip-hop, with some nice horn accents, and I’m sure you can find a few more. Anyway, if you like what you hear, she’ll be at IOTA Tuesday, August 26th.

MP3: Sincerely, Jane – Janelle Monae

Locals Invade the 9:30 Club Friday

This Friday night the 9:30 Club will feature four DC bands on the docket. It’ll be a wide array of music, ranging from the ultra-catchy modern rock sounds of No Second Troy to the Americana musings of The Reserves, to the quirky indie pop of Exit Clov, and back to the grand indie rock stylings of Telograph.

MP3: Masquerade – No Second Troy
MP3: MK Ultra – Exit Clov
MP3: The Fever - Telograph

Juniper Lane Reports Back

In case you’re wondering what it’s like to open for Coldplay, Eddie Pasa, drummer from Juniper Lane has put up a cool little blog entry about Juniper Lane’s experience opening for the Brits August 3rd here. And you can watch JL’s video for “Backwards” above.

2008 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest Deadline Approaching

If you've been procrastinating entering the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, you might want to get a move on things. The final deadline for entries is this Friday, August 15th. Go here for more information how to enter.

A Case of the Fridays

We kick off this week with Mercy Mercedes’ “Shiver Me Timbers.” It’s shimmery power pop at its best, with some extremely catchy sing-along choruses. And if you like what you hear, Mercy Mercedes (pictured above) will be at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, VA Tuesday, August 12th.

MP3: Shiver Me Timbers – Mercy Mercedes

And we close out the week with “Sequestered in Memphis,” by The Hold Steady. From the triumphant Bruce-like piano strains on the intro, it’s a good one. Lead singer Craig Finn digs his distinctive vocal stylings into the rollicking bar-rocker – and love the shout-along “subpoenaed in Texas, sequestered in Memphis” chorus. Yeah, their show at the 9:30 Club Thursday August 14th is sold out, but that’s what Craigslist and Stubhub are for.

MP3: Sequestered In Memphis – The Hold Steady

Instrumental Analysis 2nd Anniversary Show

The Instrumental Analysis Music Blog is having a 2nd anniversary party at IOTA this week, and it’s so big that it's spread out over both this Friday and Saturday nights, August 8th and 9th. Friday night’s line-up will feature The Apparitions, These United States with The Cotton Jones Basket Ride. And then Saturday night’s show has got The Apparitions, These United States with Bellman Barker on the docket.

MP3: West Won – These United States
MP3: Two Bees - Bellman Barker
MP3: God Monkey Robot - The Apparitions
MP3: The Spinning Wheel – The Cotton Jones Basket Ride

Fotoweek DC

The Fotoweek DC contest is taking entries up until August 18th. You can be an amateur or a professional, and there's several different categories - I know there’s quite a few excellent rock photographers out there, so hopefully the local music scene can be represented visually as some of the finalists.