DC ROCK CLUB
Long live rock, I need it every night

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

2009 Austin City Limits Lineup

I don't know if I can bring myself to attend a festival where Dave Matthews Band is one of the headliners. Maybe I'll just go to the after shows instead of forking over the $180 for an ACL ticket. Who am I kidding? I'm sure I'll go and I'll have a great time.

I've bolded the bands I'd like to see:

Pearl Jam
Dave Matthews Band
Beastie Boys
Kings of Leon
Sonic Youth

Ben Harper
Thievery Corporation
Flogging Molly
The Decemberists
The Dead Weather
The B-52's
Ghostland Observatory
John Legend
Mos Def
Bon Iver
!!!
Coheed & Cambria
Bassnectar
Levon Helm Band
Raveonettes
Medeski, Martin & Wood
DeVotchKa
The Toadies
Andrew Bird
Sound Tribe Sector Nine
Raul Malo
Arctic Monkeys
Rebirth Brass Band
Girl Talk
Sara Watkins
Los Amigos Invisibles
K'Naan
Citizen Cope
The Greencards
Heartless Bastards
Walter "Wolfman" Washington
Preservation Hall
Black Joe Lewis
The Knux
Dan Auerbach
Grizzly Bear
Dr. Dog
Eek-a-mouse
Blitzen Trapper
Airborne Toxic Event
Lily Allen
Robyn Hitchcock
Michael Franti & Spearhead
John Vanderslice
Todd Snider
Zac Brown Band
Deer Tick
David Garza
Henry Butler
The Avett Brothers
The Felice Brothers
Federico Aubele
Damien Horne
Soul Stirrers
Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band
Danny Brooks
Nelo
Dexateens
Sarah Siskind
Keith Gattis
Jonell Mosser
Jeffrey Steele
Mimicking Birds
Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights
Vince Mira
Jypsi
Papa Mali
Henry Clay People
Cotton Jones
Sarah Jaffe
Suckers
Sons of Bill
The Low Anthem
Lisa Hannigan
L.A.X
Terri Hendrix
Marva Wright
The Parlor Mob
The Wood Brothers
Alela Diane
Bell X1
The Dodos
Alberta Cross
School of Seven Bells
Sam Roberts Band
Rodriguez
Brett Dennen
Poi Dog Pondering
Daniel Johnston
State Radio
Asleep at the Wheel
Here We Go Magic
The Virgins
Reckless Kelly
The Scabs
The Walkmen
White Lies
Clutch
Phoenix
Passion Pit
Leatherbag
The Gospel Silvertones
The Durdens
Loose Cannon
Lunch Money
Telephone Company
Milkshake
Q Brothers
Ralph's World
Quinn Sullivan
Palm School Elementary

Cut Copy Paste

The good people at Butterteam.com have neatly spliced together the most excellent scenes from Rad with Cut Copy's Far Away.



If you liked that, you'll like this one too.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Dirty Spoon



Spoon at the Scoot Inn
Austin, TX
April 21, 2009


I'm pressed for time so I'm reusing my Twitter comments and supplementing them with a few notes. Quick Summary: It wasn't as good as when I saw Spoon at The Parish in October or when we saw them at the 9:30 Club but it was still outstanding.

8:09 PM: at Spoon show with @SideOneTrackOne

I went with John from Side One: Track One. It's always great to see shows with John. He's a funny guy but more importantly he makes insightful observations which I then steal for my review.

8:13 PM: Black Nasty is on now. Black? Not quite. Nasty? Good god yes.

Black Nasty isn't much of a front man. He just stands there and lets his x-rated lyrics take their effect on the crowd. I'm sure his style (a combination of Easy E and satirical groups like The Dead Milkmen) is quite popular with adolescent boys. I listened to Too Live Crew as a kid so I can relate. However, now that I'm a little older the gimmick grows stale after a while. One or two disgustingly funny songs is okay but 10 to 15 is too much.

8:21 PM: Britt Daniel now standing in front of me blocking my view. What a dick.

So, the lead singer of Spoon is standing right in front of me. Do I say something or play it cool? Of course I say something. I have a blog to write. Plus, I'm a jock sniffer/suck up extraordinaire. It's what I do people. Here's how it went down:

We both chuckled at the ridiculously raunchy lyrics of Black Nasty. So I suggest they cover one of his songs. Britt said, "Yeah, maybe. Of course, I'd have to learn one first." Then I suggest he drop a few of Black Nasty's lyrics into one of his songs. "You know, just work 'lick my balls' into The Underdog somehow." After that he left.

8:59 PM: Hoping Spoon busts out some new songs.

9:13 PM: Spoon delivers! Three new songs to start the set. All are winners too. When does the new album come out?

The three new songs were "Written In Reverse", "I Saw Light", and "Got Nuffin". The first had a dirty jazz vibe like something you'd hear in a smokey nightclub. There were a few piano interludes but as a whole the song had a pulsing rhythm that was hard not to like. The other two songs will be sure to please fans of their last album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.

9:16 PM: Preview portion of the evening is over as they play Beast and Dragon Adored.

9:43 PM: Crowd getting into the show as they play more of the old stuff. Or people are just getting drunk. One of the two.

Spoon are consummate professionals. They're live shows have intensity but are never wild. There's never a sense of danger because they're always firmly in control. However, I noticed something when they play Austin. Their hometown shows are more laid back, the band is looser, and the show seems less calculated. Britt fucked up a bunch of lyrics and had to start one song over yet somehow this added to the experience. Does that make sense?

9:52 PM: Another new song by Spoon called "Is Love Forever?"

Before "Is Love Forever" they played "Me and the Bean". Daniel explained it was written by John Clayton. I assumed he wasn't referring to the the ESPN NFL Analyst so I did a little research. The song is a cover of a mid-90's Austin, Texas band called The Sidehackers. Ever hear of them? Me neither but I'm going to check them out now.

10:01 PM: Upright spooning at Spoon? I need to get away from the couple next to me.

10:03 PM: @eguild i'm dead center in front of the sound board. Good spot but the lovebirds next to me may force a move.

My only compliant was the annoying couple next to me. They were swaying back and forth like they were at the Junior Prom. It didn't help that the girl would periodically yell "I love you Spoon!!!!!" Also, I really didn't need to see the guy palming his girlfriend's ass like it was a basketball. A big, mushy, basketball.

It was an outside show on a weekday so they ended at 10:30. Some complain about the noise ordinances but if they allow me see a great band like Spoon and be in bed by 11:00, well, they can't be that bad.


Set List:

Written In Reverse (New Song)
I Saw Light (New Song)
Got Nuffin (New Song)
The Beast And The Dragon, Adored
Rhthm & Soul
Someone, Something
The Ghost Of You Lingers
Stay Don't Go
They Never Got You
Don't Make Me a Target
Me And The Bean
Is Love Forever? (New Song)
Don't You Evah
Everything Hits At Once
I Summon You
Trouble Comes (New Song)
My Mathematical Mind
Black Like Me

Encore
Chicago At Night
The Underdog
Small Stakes

Thursday, April 23, 2009

And the winner is: Not David Malitz

The Pulitzer Prizes for Journalism were announced this week and David Malitz did not, I repeat did NOT, win for his acclaimed Please Explain To Me series at PostRock. I thought a penetrating look at concert t-shirts was a shoo-in for a Pulitzer. Kind of like playing a handi-capable person usually means Oscar gold. I guess not. So, for those of you keeping score at home: Pulitzer Prizes - Malitz 0, DC Rock Club 0.

Malitz is full of pluck though and is gunning for a prize next year with his new Really Quick Spins feature. Each week he gives his opinion on 5 or 6 new albums. I like that he covers groups I'm not familiar with (Still Flyin', Eat Skull, The Coathangers) as well as many of my favorites (Art Brut, The Thermals, Superchunk). The reviews are concise, informative, and spot on. And by "spot on" I mean he usually shares my opinion on bands (see his review of Super Furry Animals). As long as it makes me feel smart, I'll keep reading.

Hmm, I wonder why newspapers are failing...
[photo credit: Jay Premack and The Washington Post]

A little advice for Malitz in his passionate pursuit of the Pulitzer Prize (which doesn't really exist but play along). Stop associating with DC Rock Club. We're the kiss of death. Take The Sunday Source for example. They feature us on the cover and a few months later the whole section is sent to the scrap heap. Or paper heap. Whatever. The point is if you associate with us you're forever tainted. It's like staring in a Vincent Gallo movie or playing for the L.A. Clippers. Nothing good can come of it.

How would you like to star in my next movie?

The Eagle Has Landes

Alexi Murdoch (w/Dawn Landes)
Rock and Roll Hotel
April 21, 2009

First, this is my worst review title ever. You try and work something out of "Dawn Landes."

Nepotism alert: Sacklunch's cousin Josh plays guitar for Dawn Landes, so that's basically who we were there to see. Even Sack's parents came along for this one. Fun fact: Sacklunch's dad looks like a cross between Josef Stalin and Tom Skerrit. Somewhat less so since he shaved his Ned Flanders-style mustache, but at any moment he'll either ship you off to Kolyma or give you a motivational talk about how you're the best fighter jock in the whole goddamned Navy, even if you do wear goddamn fruity tighty-whities instead of boxers.

Dawn Landes plays a nearly form of country and western. Think Lurleen Lumpkin, but with 31% less twang. It's pretty good music but like most bands we see, I feel like it's better listened to on the weekend when you're reading the New York Times (she goes straight for Arts & Leisure, I pick up the Magazine) rather than stuffed into a crowded venue. I wish I could make a portable sink to take with me to these shows so I could do the dishes while the band plays, so I can re-create that mellow weekend vibe. Maybe do some dusting and vacuuming as well. Here's an interesting YouTube I found of her covering "Young Folks," by Peter, Bjorn and John, in bluegrass style:



Landes would make a great manic pixie dream girl, and she also seemed to have really small feet, so small that I couldn't figure out how she wasn't toppling over. Sack's cousin played some good ax--I kept a keen eye out for mistakes (minor falls instead of major lifts, mashed barre chords, things of that nature that only a Sorbonne-trained musician like myself would catch) but didn't see anything to raise my hackles. Also he came and spoke to us after the set so we looked like big shots, which was cool.

So I left after Landes played, so I missed Alexi Murdoch. I will note that the Rock and Roll Hotel was packed--packed!--and I don't think it was for Landes, as good as she was. So there's an indicator of how popular Alexi Murdoch is. Apparently he spent the last two years in the Himalayas. Sacklunch did something similar after college and when he got back his Jew-fro had grown really long and nappy, and he looked like Dred Scott. Anyway, I didn't stick around for Alexi as it was late on a Tuesday night. The only song I really know by him--"Orange Sky'--reminds me of something they'd play on Gossip Girl, after one of the girls has found out her father has just been indicted for being involved up to his elbows in the Rwandan genocide, and she's gone to her room to brood and reflect on how unfair life can be for the young and the prosperous. That is to say, if you can listen to Alexi Murdoch for 90 minutes, you're a better man than I am.

"Orange Sky," Alexi Murdoch


Did any of our readers stay for Alexi Murdoch? Am I being unfair? Let me know in the comments, I'm curious. I'm a big enough man to admit when I'm wrong.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Is That Dave Coulier?

Emma Peel and I played name that tune, iPod v iPod, on our flight from Boston Sunday. I wasn't able to identify The Thompson Twins straight away, but Tears For Fears presented no challenge.

There's a monkey wearing a Red Sox jersey in this video. Does this mean Tears For Fears are anti-Red Sox, pro-Red Sox, or have some opinion about monkeys?

Enjoy another literal video:



Monday, April 20, 2009

The drug of the nation

I've been watching TV tonight. This is what I've learned:

1. Access Hollywood is informative. Believe it.
2. The casts of Knots Landing, Home Improvement, Magnum P.I., Married With Children and M.A.S.H. have recently reunited (for some awards show thing - dunno). And with the exception of Selleck, all look horrible. As the # of HDTV viewers increases, I'll bet we see people over 40 pushed off screen quickly. I'm talking about you Mary Hart.
Also, Alan Alda gave this awkward kiss to Loretta Swit at whatever old-timers-day thing they were at:
3. Miss California lost her shot as Miss USA (and therefore her chance to compete against all the other galactic Misses). The actual Miss USA winner didn't sound much smarter. "I'm gonna be famous!" No, Miss CA is going to be famous...so famous she's infamous.
4. I should tivo Pardon The Interruption (PTI) on ESPN. It merits disk space. Tonight, Kornheiser spouted off about my/our Binghamton Colonials again.
5. The Washington Nationals wore jerseys with their names spelled wrong this weekend (I was in Boston- so I missed this bit of local amusement). 1 and 10?
6. I saw the end of a Seinfeld episode I haven't seen in over a decade. The Nose Job episode isn't a lost treasure, but as I flipped by, the penis v. brain chess match was underway. I forgot how ridiculous Seinfeld looks in this.
7. G4 - the gaming network - celebrates 420. I forget what they were showing when I flipped by, but I remember it being good.
8. Access Hollywood's website had an article on Capitol/EMI's re-release of 3 Radiohead albums, with lots of bonus stuff. I'm not sure how I ended up at the AH website, and while I thank Access Hollywood for informing me of this, that news is over a month old already.
9. I surprised myself by watching the NBA tonight. The NHL too.
10. Disney is promoting its new movie Earth as being better than March of the Penguins. Balls. MOTP won the Academy Award in 2005. Show the bird some respect, mouse.
11. The band Live played the Birchmere last night. I liked their Mental Jewelry album. Apparently they have a new single entitled "Forever," which is impossible to search for online. Oasis owns that space.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

A View With A Room

The Room
A Special Encore Presentation
Potsy's House
April 1, 2009


The Room is one of the most ham-fisted movies ever made, and I think I've now seen it about 11 times. I can't remember where I first heard about it, but I bought a copy of it sight-unseen for my friend Stutts when he moved into a house in my neighborhood in 2006. Later in 2007 we had an official Rock Club viewing, and we all hailed the naive art Tommy Wiseau secreted upon the world. Now, here we are in 2009, and I note thusly that everyone from Entertainment Weekly, to The Times of London, to The Onion A.V. Club, to Tim and Eric, to the Akron Beacon-Journal (yes, even the Beacon-Journal), have jumped on The Room bandwagon.

Look, I'm used to DCRockClub.com's status as tastemaker, but this is ridiculous. A tip of the hat to us would have been nice, okay?

The EW article describes how Wiseau's masterwork is all the rage among Holllywood's comedy community:

The film's so-bad-it's-freakin'-awesome vibe has attracted a devout army of aficionados whose membership includes the cream of Hollywood's comedy community. Role Models star Paul Rudd and Arrested Development's David Cross are both fans, as is Jonah Hill, who uses a still from the movie as his MySpace photograph. Heroes star Kristen Bell hosts Room-viewing parties at her house and last year attended the film's monthly Laemmle screening with Rudd, Hill, and Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright. ''There is a magic about that film that is indescribable,'' she says.
Okay, great. I will note that the category of so-bad-it's-freakin'-awesome most definitely does not include The Object Of My Affection, starring Paul Rudd, which was one of the worst fucking movies I've ever seen, probably edging out even Spanglish. I remember watching it with a new housemate way back in the 90s and as it ended I was just about to turn to everyone and say, man, wasn't that shit? and I noticed our new housemate was totally crying. Hmm, bad move inviting her to live with us. Really bad move.

We screened The Room yet again a few weeks ago for a few friends who hadn't yet seen it, and believe me, no one was disappointed. And note that The Room has no connection to The Room Store, in case you're wondering. I often wonder about the thinking behind the Room Store's marketing and choice of Teena Brandon as their spokes-hermaphrodite. Some day they'll pull her into the conference room at 1 Room Store Towers, and fire her--sweetie, I'm sorry, but we've found a 13-year-old Laotian David Bowie impersonator who's even more androgynous than you, and what's more, he's non-union, so you're fired. Brutal. I found this YouTube of the Room Store girl--enjoy:



Anyway, back to The Room. Personally, I wouldn't mind living in the world of The Room, as imagined by Tommy Wiseau, for the following reasons:

  • People always greet you, no matter what
  • Emphasis on physical fitness--always playing football
  • Gunman are swiftly apprehended, detained, disarmed, and escorted to the police station
  • People get terminal illnesses but keep kicking ass
  • Bellybutton sex

Look, just see The Room, now. You probably didn't trust us when we said it was good, but now that fucking Paul Rudd says so, will you go?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Walls walls more walls

It's Tuesday and while waiting for 44 to speak at Georgetown University this morning, I read about Phil Spector's conviction in the WPost. What a crazy looking mo fo. From a wall of sound to four walls and a toilet.


Sunday, April 12, 2009

Case Closed

Neko Case @ 9:30 Club Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 $30?

If you were really interested in how this show went down, you'd have gone somewhere else for a more timely review. But like most of the other things I write on this space, this is more for my own benefit and failing recall than anything else.

Having sacrificed the Brian Jonestown Massacre (with Joel!) in favor of a lop-sided NCAA championship game, and having settled for yet another viewing of the best worst movie ever made - rather than making it out for a night of music - this week's (make that last week's) Rock Club adventure featured the musical stylings of neuvo pornographer, Neko Case.

I have seen Neko Case once before, at Austin City Limits. Allow myself to quoth myself:

I will say, however, that Neko Case is the kind of artist that would be good to see whilst on a date with a young lady. Upright spooning could ensue.
Funny to read that now, as I was actually on a date of sorts this time around, though no upright spooning ensued. Ironically, it was my lack of an actual spoon earlier in the evening that was instrumental in the date debacle. So let's just say that I enjoyed the Neko Case Experience [on my own]- just me and Neko (and the other lady who sings and talks a lot on stage).

I have previously compared Neko Case to the Indigo Girls with super fans reacting as though I poured rubbing alcohol in their eyes. I'm just saying that there is that midwestern - country sound that sticks out for me, and there was plenty of it evidenced in the show on Wednesday. Lots of tunes about animals and the environment with a sample of her frog noises - "Marais la Nuit" - to open the set. Images projected in the background of whales and tigers and the like, and a giant owl head keeping a watchful eye over the edge of the staging highlighted this meme and was the part I could have lived without.

That said, Neko Case's voice makes everything okay - even when there's no upright spooning. "Deep Red Bells" was one of the few tracks that I truly recognized, and it was delivered in such a way that it haunts me days later. I didn't care for the tracks that she described as spooky, but she kept my attention the whole night through. I look forward to hearing her play some summer evening at Wolf Trap 15 years from now. I can't say the same about the Indigo Girls.

Things I learned from this concert:
  1. Neko Case was born in Alexandria, VA. She didn't mention this, but I looked it up after the show.
  2. Neko Case is tight with the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.
  3. CVS is not the same as 7-eleven.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

XM Radio


I recently got a new car (well, new to me) and it came with XM Radio. I'm now deciding which stations to program. The only station I knew was The Bridge which plays mellow rock. When Sacklunch, Potsy, and I sailed from Annapolis to Newport, RI that was the station we listened to the most. Apparently it's maritime law that you must listen to mellow rock when sailing. "Southern Cross" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash is also required listening or the Coast Guard will sink your boat.


So, does anyone have any suggestions for which stations I should program, besides The Bridge? So far, I like XMU (indie rock), 1st Wave (Classic '80s alternative) and Little Steven's Underground Garage Rock (figure it out). Are the 60's, 70's or 80's stations any good? What about the sports, news, or entertainment channels?

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Def Jam Air

Tuesday = video clip.



Virgin makes music and flies planes. They should integrate the two before someone else does.

Monday Massacre

We were scheduled to see Brian Jonestown Massacre last night at the 9:30 Club. We didn't go. With Jimbromski out of town, and the NCAA championship available in HD, Rock Club succumbed to the path of least resistance, and rock lost another battle to sports.

The mellow sounds of BJM could not compete with chips and salsa, cookies, scotch and basketball. Hearing that Joel was back in the BJM fold was hugely disappointing today. He is worth the price of admission alone.

Instead, we settled for the Michigan State massacre (1st half anyway). Just when the people of Michigan thought they had something good coming their way. Face.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Upcoming Austin Shows

I've recovered enough from SXSW to plan my upcoming shows. Here are some bands I hope to review over the next few months:

April
Friday, April 17 - The Parish - White Denim
Tuesday, April 21 - Red Scoot Inn - Spoon
Thursday, April 23 - The Parish - Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
Friday, April 24 - The Mohawk - The War on Drugs
Friday, April 24 - Emo's - The Kills

May
Wednesday, May 6 - The Mohawk - Wye Oak
Saturday, May 9 - The Mohawk - Screaming Females
Friday, May 15 - The Mohawk - Loxsly
Saturday, May 16th - Emo's - Chain & The Gang
Saturday, May 16th - Stubb's - TV On The Radio

June
Friday, June 5 - The Mohawk - Bonnie Prince Billy
Thursday, June 11 - The Mohawk - Holy Fuck
Tuesday, June 16 - The Parish - Grizzly Bear
Friday, June 19 - The Mohawk - St. Vincent

I'm most excited for The Kills and Bonnie "Prince" Billy. I missed The Kills at Austin City Limits but I loved their 2008 release Midnight Boom. Bonnie "Prince" Billy just released yet another great record called Beware. He isn't known to do a lot of touring so I'm anxious to see him this go around. Here's "I Am Goodbye" off the new record. I ask you, how awesome is this song? Answer: Very.

Friday, April 03, 2009

Final SXSW Recap

A friend warned me that SXSW rewards research and preparation. I did little of either this year. I never made a schedule of bands I wanted to see. I just bounced from show to show, trying to catch up with as many my friends as possible. It worked well but I'll be more organized when the rest of Rock Club is here for SXSW 2010.

I didn't keep a running tally of bands which was another mistake. I cobbled a list together after the fact and I'm sure I forget a few. I watched a total of 41 bands play 47 sets (see below). Looking back it's a blur. Another thing I need to do next year: more pictures. Oh, and some video.

Top 5 Performances:
1. Future of the Left
2. The Decemberists
3. Kurt Vile
4. Thao and The Get Down Stay Down (Kill Rock Stars Party)
5. Harlem

Top 5 Surprises:
1. The Decemberists
2. Kurt Vile
3. Salvador Duran
4. Dignan
5. Efterklang

5 Bands I Wished I Had Seen:
1. Dirty Projectors
2. The Soft Pack
3. The Chesterfield Kings
4. Devo
5. Dan Auerbach

5 Bands I didn't Mind Missing:
1. Metallica
2. Tinted Windows
3. Tori Amos
4. Juliette & the Licks
5. Cold War Kids

Full List:
Thao and The Get Down Stay Down (three times)
Carol Bui (twice)
Horse Feathers (twice)
Deleted Scenes (twice)
The Thermals (twice)
Dans La June
Gomez
The Decemberists
Middle Distance Runner
Dignan
Rotary Downs
Harlem
Felix Obelix
Deleted Scenes
Efterklang
Camera Obscura
Alela Diane
The Homosexuals
Richard Swift
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
Bishop Allen
Julie Dioron
Phosphorescent
Silk Flowers
Crystal Stilts
Gun Outfit
The Upsidedown
Salvador Duran y Sergio Mendoza
The Future of the Left
Casiokids
Kurt Vile
Wovenhand
Major Stars
Crystal Stilts
King Khan and the Shrines
Cursive
Japanther
Vivian Girls
Trash Talk
The Thermals
The Bronx

Thursday, April 02, 2009

March Madness: Mission Accomplished

Congratulations. I'm glad your ass is still intact.

Last month I wrote about our friend Steve who runs Baby, You Got a Stew Goin'. He was attempting to see 100 bands in one month. We set the over/under at 91 bands. I was skeptical he'd do it. Jimbromski predicted he'd end up "dead in a ditch pants unbuttoned bleeding from his buttocks." Fortunately, that was not the case.

I'm proud to say that Steve proved us wrong. You can see a list of the bands over here. I think the final tally was at least 110 bands. Very impressive. I hung out with Steve at SXSW and he seemed to be thriving on the challenge. Perhaps he'll try to top his number next year...

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Saturday Scenery: The Deleted Scenes-Black Cat 3/28/09

I am going to keep this pretty brief, as I think we have written enough about this band over the last few months. We saw them play on the BC Backstage back in December and Jumboslice recently saw their SXSW show down in Austin and subsequently interviewed the band. In any case, the DC contingent ventured out on Saturday (with the addition of Mrs. Sacklunch and Potsy's affable friend from the Great White North) to check the band out again.

We missed the first opener as we were busy watching the US vs. El Salvador WCQ (that's World Cup Qualifier for all you hipster doofuses out that that are above watching sports), but caught a bit of 2nd opener The Drones. I enjoyed the first song I heard, the second one a bit less, and the by the third song, I was downstairs enjoying a smoke. I heard they played a really awful tune (at least to my wife's ears) while I was gone. Anyway, I am neither here nor there in regards to The Drones. Kind of meh. Also, the bass player played with her back to the crowd most of the set. I don't get that. Stage fright? Breakout of acne before the show? Shriveled twin? Turn around please, I don't want to see your ass all night.

Deleted Scenes came on around 11:30 to a decent crowd, about a 1/2 full upstairs, is my best guess. I have to say, I kind of like this band, one of the better DC bands out there. (Sorry, Telograph). I listened to a bit of their debut album, "Birdseed Shirt", and I think the live shows are much more interesting than the disc. Lead singer Dan Schuerman seemed really pleased to be playing on the main stage and the crowd seemed to be full of superfans. Probably the best song of the evening was "Turn to Sand", here is a little taste:


Definitely a band to watch. I am not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but the bass player has a striking resemblance to Lou Diamond Phillips with a "Berries and Cream Lad" haircut. I don't really get the "I Am Sam" reference, but Dan S. does look a slight bit mentally challenged when he sings, more Corky than Sam. Just sayin'....