Julian Velard @ DC9 Sunday

One of my favorite singer/songwriters, Julian Velard, and his smoky Noo Yawk baritone will be be in town this Sunday, November 2nd for a gig at DC9. He’s been in England for quite awhile, but now he’s back in the states to bring his musical goodness across the pond. Not only does he have a good voice, but his piano skills are mad, and his songs will stick to you’re the inside of your skull. Check him out.

MP3: Joni – Julian Velard

Photo by Hamish Brown

A Little Country

I’m really digging a couple of country tracks at the moment. Carrie Rodriguez’s (above) fragile alt-country “Rag Doll” is beautiful, starting off with a sparse arrangement that emphasizes her delicate vocals and the inevitable tragedy of the lyrics. And it keeps getting better as the warm instrumental goodness is gradually layered on.

And the second song is some sugary pop country by Sarah Marince. She may just be a teenager, but she’s got vocals to burn on her version of the current Jimmy Wayne Top Ten hit. Yeah, she had to change a few pronouns around, but that hooky chorus is just irresistible.

MP3: Rag Doll – Carrie Rodriguez
MP3: Do You Believe Me Now – Sarah Marince

A Case of the Fridays

Well, another week has rolled around, and it’s time for another case. We’ll kick off things this week with “La Conchita” by State College’s The Rustlanders (above). It’s got a stripped-down Jayhawks-esque alt-country twang to it, with a pretty tasteful arrangement. If you like what you hear, The Rustlanders will be at The Red & The Black in DC on Thursday, October 30th.

MP3: La Conchita – The Rustlanders

And then we close out with Matthew Sweet’s “We’re The Same.” It might not be “Girlfriend,” but it’s good power pop along the lines Fountains of Wayne w/ smartly melodic guitar lines and Sweet harmonies. If you like what you hear, Matthew Sweet will be at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA Wednesday, October 29th.

MP3: We’re The Same – Matthew Sweet

A Case of the Fridays - Early Edition

It’s been an outrageously busy past few weeks, but why should that stop the music? Anyway, I’m really digging “Way Up,” the first single off of Shane Hines & The Trance’s upcoming EP, The Glory Journal. It’s a slickly produced modern-rock track (not in a bad way), with one big knockout hook of a chorus. Shane’s (above) got some vocal range. Like what you’re hearing? They’ve got a show this Saturday, October 18th in Arlington at IOTA w/ Fools & Horses.

MP3: Way Up – Shane Hines & The Trance


And we close out the week with some music from Michigan, with The Hard Lessons’ track “See and Be Scene.” It’s punchy, catchy stuff, with Thin Lizzy-esque guitar riffs, female/male vocal trade-offs, and overdriven keyboards. If you like what you hear, The Hard Lessons will be at IOTA Thursday, October 23rd with The City Veins.

MP3: See and Be Scene - The Hard Lessons

Lowry @ Dahlak Tuesday

Lowry brings their Postal Service-esque vocals, blips and bleeps and fragility to their music. They’ll be at Dahlak in DC this Tuesday, October 14th.

MP3: Whiskey - Lowry

New Butch Walker

One of my favorite artists, Butch Walker, has got a new album Sycamore Meadows dropping November 11th, and you can download the first single, “The Weight of Her” for free over at Amazon at the link here. He’s also got a video for the track “Ships In A Bottle” up here – In it, he walks through the rubble of his house that was destroyed in the California wildfires. And yes he’ll be back here in DC soon, at DC9 on November 17th to play some songs for you. And you, too.