Last weekend Friends Records hosted an epic lineup that included Thank You's final U.S. appearance and a rare (and powerful) set from Oxes. This all-Baltimore lineup also included the likes of Witch Hat and Sri Aurobindo, and Valerie was there to capture all the action. Don't sleep on Oxes' forthcoming 12". Also - thank you, Thank You.
There have already been a handful of "show of the year" candidates, but this Saturday's G Spot bill is a hefty contender. As pointed out in Tuesday's piece that included a chat with band founder Jeff McGrath, this will be Thank You's last show in the United States of America before heading over to Europe for their final tour that concludes at ATP.
In addition, this will be the world's first chance at scoring the first U.S. Oxes release since 2005 - a new 12" called Bile Stbudy that will be limited to 650 copies.
Joining these two heavyweights Saturday evening will be Witch Hat and Sri Aurobindo, both fresh off new vinyl releases. Don't sleep on Brown in a Dog or Eyes, and definitely don't wait too long to grab tickets for this monster of a show.
This article and song originally premiered earlier today on Impose Magazine.
Witch Hat is the rising Baltimore punk trio of Chris Day, Noel Freibert, and Conor Stechschulte. Connor and Noel have been creating blunt and physical horror tunes together since 2006, while Chris (Vlonde, Bear & Pieces) joined in 2008. Brown in a Dog is to be the band's first proper full length, after nearly ten self-released cassettes and CDRs. The vinyl is out in a few weeks, but here is the first taste.
Believe it or not this six minute stomper is the edited version, with the album's proper cut clocking in at over nine gruesome minutes. "Blood People" is a tale of very close friends physically conforming to one another to escape the drowning sorrows of day-to-day life. It drives the album's relentless tone deep into your skull, a journey full of both material despair and "hard-nosed tom-foolery."
The starkly grotesque Brown in a Dog was produced in a body shop paint booth by Baltimore's Craig Bowen. It was mastered by Charlie Pilzer, whose eclectic career includes a Grammy for mastering and restoring the Anthology of American Folk Music.
With the arrival of Brown in a Dog will also come the release of a split 7-inch that includes exclusive cuts from Zomes (Asa Osborne of Lungfish) and Witch Hat. Both the the new 12-inch and the 7-inch are available in a few weeks on Friends Records.
Pre-order Witch Hat's Brown in a Dog LP right here.
Dope Body continue their "bro-rock" onslaught to support Nupping, and last month they were joined by Baltimore's Witch Hat and Philadelphia's Creepoid at the Golden West.
Valerie Paulsgrove was there to capture the action, never missing a chance to catch Andrew Laumann contort his face in ways we never thought were possible. Keep your ears peeled for Witch Hat. Chris, Connor, and Noel just finished up a new LP and it looks to be available sooner rather than later, more details to come.
Friends Records begins its takeover of the Windup Space tonight with Sri Aurobindo, Witch Hat, Birds of Avalon, and Happy Family. RSVP here, and to tomorrow's show here.
Sri Aurobindo's follow-up to their debut long player Cave Painting is near, and will be coming in the form of a double A-side 7" limited to 300 copies. The first taste was premiered yesterday on YVYNYL, an unmastered version of the track "No Coincidence".
"No Coincidence" is a raucous beast, but an offering that also shows off another side of these psychedelic warriors from Baltimore. From the depths of their garage comes this sonically-dense pop-laced scorcher, right in time for summer. A mastered version will appear on one side of this 7", while the other will house "Eyes" - another new track.
Both songs were produced at Chris Freelands's Beat Babies studio just outside of Baltimore. All artwork was designed by Will Pesta, who also did the flyer for tonight's show at the Windup with Sri Aurobindo, Witch Hat, Happy Family, and Birds of Avalon.
RSVP to tonight's show here, and pre-order the limited 7" from Friends Records here.
Another week full of fantastic shows begins tonight at Floristree, where Double Dagger, Thank You, Witch Hat, and dance collective BOBBY will all be performing. Yes, please.
Thank You are fresh off releasing their new LP via Thrill Jockey, easily one of the best records to come out of 2011 thus far. Double Dagger have been a bit quiet as of late, so it'll be good to see them playing out live again here in town. Also, Double Dagger's Twitter account stated this morning, "We're doing something at tonight's Thank You show at Floristree that will make you love us or hate us." So, there's that.
Witch Hat have likely been creeping up your favorite-loud-band-list, and I'm sure tonight's performance will be no exception to the rule. Dude's have been absolutely slaying it as of late. As for BOBBY, expect more experimental dance beauty to entertain you between sets, much like their performances with Future Islands and Oxes last year.
Above is the premiere for the new BOBBY video, directed by Nat Munari of Oxes fame. This epic seven minute long affair will give you a good idea of what to expect from these lovely ladies, and is more proof that Nat's video skills are beyond amazing.
The show tonight probably starts around 10 PM and will probably cost money.
It is also now available on vinyl, your choice of either white-colored wax or black. The packaging was all designed by Chris Day, who took it to another level with this one. The vinyl also comes with a CD, so you'll get your digital fix of no jazz as well.
Tonight Microkingdom will be performing as a rarely seen five-piece, adding even more cosmic chaos to the mix. They'll be joined by some of our favorites, the always raucous Witch Hat and the ever-transcendently psychedelic Violet Hour.
Tonight's show is at the Windup Space, starts at 10 PM, and costs seven dollars.
Microkingdom play tonight at Metro Gallery, and again in Baltimore on Friday, January 21 with Witch Hat and Violet Hour for their record release show at the Windup Space.
The new Microkingdom record has been over three years in the making, but will take to it's proper physical form in just a few weeks. The vinyl has already arrived in Baltimore - 250 copies on white-colored wax, and 250 copies on black. Artwork designed by Chris Day arrives soon too, and Three Compositions of No Jazz will be available in a couple weeks.
"Surgery Ghosts" is the the last song on the new LP, and the end to this particular psycho-sonic adventure with Marc Miller and Dr. Will Redman. A fitting capstone indeed, as the six minute track finishes with a signature Marc Miller guitar exploration that sounds like he is using some sort of intergalactic operating table as a playground for tweaking industrial noise. While John Dierker is the only other musician found on the rest of the record, this track also features help from Otto Mullen on organ.
It is a dark and stormy beast of a closer, letting up and crashing down in waves of sound that do not belong on earth. Tactfully scattered forms of demanding beats and unparalleled noise compositions remind you where of you've come from, a journey of a record containing uncharted landscapes and exploratory sonics fit for the best of 'em.
Tonight marks the last show by Sick Weapons, a band that's been blasting ears and spilling drinks for the past couple years here in town that will surely be missed.
Even though tonight at the Golden West is their last show, there's still talk of their debut album being released at some point on Reptilian Records. The track above is a taste, and was shared with us earlier this year when I had the chance to interview Ellie Beziat.
They'll be joined by the stellar support of Witch Hat and Beyond Say. Starts at 10 PM.
Tonight the Hexagon is still in action, hosting what might be the last Height show at the venue. The fate of the space is still up in the air, but tonight is confirmed with Height with Friends, Nuclear Power Pants, Microkingdom, and Witch Hat all on the bill.
Height and Microkingdom both play tonight and tomorrow, with a show up in Philly tomorrow night at The Ox. Microkingdom's next scheduled local performance isn't until October 29th at the G Spot with Celebration, while the next time you'll be able to catch Height in town is at the Ottobar Novemeber 5th with Wye Oak.
Witch Hat's brute force and Nuclear Power Pant's oddball soul should round out a hell of a good time, a diverse cast worth getting there on time for. Doors are at 9 PM.
This year's Hampdenfest goes down next Saturday, September 11. The festivities take place from 10 AM to 7 PM on the avenue, with three stages for music.
Expect sets from Double Dagger, Arbouretum, Sick Weapons, Mickey Free, Witch Hat, Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez, Surroundings, Rapdragons, and plenty more. The event is totally free, and this year also includes a "Toilet Race" and the "Charm City Beard & Mustache Championship". Better start grooming those 'staches now.
Get the full schedule for Hampdenfest 2010 after the jump. ATOMIC BOOKS STAGE (36th & Falls Rd) 11AM - The Stents 12PM - Yeveto 1PM - Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez 2PM - The Snowmen 3PM - Witch Hat 4PM - Red Weasel 5PM - Sick Weapons 6PM- Double Dagger
MONSTER STAGE (36th & Chestnut Ave) 11AM - The Matrimonials 11:50 - The Slow Jerks 12:40 - The Convocation 1:30 - Dead Mechanical 2:30 - Deep Sleep 3:10 - Surroundings 4:00 - The Pilgrim 4:50 - Desert Boys 5:50 - Arbouretum 6:30 - Mickey FreePARTY STAGE (36th & Elm Ave.) 11AM - ex-Replicas 11:30 - Sister Ex 12PM -The Remingtones 12:30 - June Star 1PM - Sal Bando 1:30 - Bad Liquor Pond 2PM - Garage Sale 2:30 - The Mill Billies 3PM - The Go-Pills 3:30 - The Jennifers 4PM - 5PM - The Charm City Beard & Mustache Championships 5:15 - Rapdragons 6PM - Landspeedrecord 6:30PM - Slow Jets
DJ TENT (36th & Roland Ave.) 11 - Ryan Nation & Patrick Brander 1 - Dan Wylie 2 - King Gilbert 3 - Djeneral Mayhem 4 - Craig Sopo 5 - DJ Exclaime & DJ Fleg
Clusterfuck is back on full force this weekend in Baltimore, with some options for your ears every night starting this evening. Tonight one great option is at Open Space, where you are invited to "stand in the cement room" and catch Swamp Tease, Witch Hat, Ancestral Diet, and Taboo. Choosing another path might find you at the Ottobar, where Turbo Fruits and Sal Bando play with our favorite local psych force Sri Aurobindo.
Friday evening offers the probable highlight of the weekend, as Celebration play a very special show at the Creative Alliance. The night begins with $6 chili and drink specials, but is capped off with an acoustic AND electric set by Celebration. While their Electric Tarot project might appear to be at a standstill online, the band had been hard at work recording some new tunes. You can still get a peek at some of these new jams from our audio of their last show at LOF.
Check out your three options for Saturday after the jump. Saturday offers a killer variety of options, most likely a decision that's meant to be made on the fly depending on your mood. If you want to be a part of the likely destruction of the Golden West, head there to catch Drunkdriver. This is a rowdy and fantastic punk band from New York, and my thoughts and prayers are with the moose on the wall.
If destroying restaurants ain't your thing, you've got two more options. Everyone's favorite local free-punk jazzers Microkingdom are at the Penthouse Gallery with Daytime, Sky Way, and Not the Wind, Not the Sky. Daytime's Mirrored World still get's late night plays in my rotation, a disc I mentioned digging late last year.
Last but not least, the always polite Thank You headline the Zodiac. This one's supported by Silk Flowers, DJ John Eaton, and the uncomfortably entertaining Funny Clown. This one will run you just 3 dollars and starts at 10 PM.
Lost Ghosts Records is a fantastic little label based in Baltimore that has released some pretty big noise this year. I've gabbed about some of Bear & Pieces' output already this year, Chris Day's solo project who is also a member of Witch Hat. Expect to see more talk of Lost Ghosts Records here, as I was recently handed a pile of amazing releases from these fellas.
After indulging in about half of this glorious pile, the release from Daytime is certainly one that stood out. Clocking in at just around 30 minutes, these four tracks take you through a journey unique to only a Mirrored World. This album is a dive into hushed computer noise that somehow manages to paint pictures of sunny skies and blue clouds. While some of the sounds might sound harsh on their own, when layered together they sound bright and uplifting. This theme continues throughout all four tracks, and is what makes this release so unique.
This is not for the faint-hearted, as the ambient drones sound best at high volumes and particularly sound great with a nice set of headphones. The static eventually becomes soft and fuzzy, ridding the feeling of any jagged edges and distortion even though both are prevalent throughout. Daytime's ability to turn dark into light is inspiring, and quite impressive.
The third track "Without Colors", is aptly titled as it is the most stripped down of all four. It uses the same layers, but less complex arrangements of each layer in order to give it a more basic feel. It's this track that really allows you to take a step back and see where all the noise is coming from, before throwing you right back into the clouds on the closing song.
Grab this CDR while you can from Lost Ghosts Records, as its limited to only 50 copies.
Hampdenfest is back, and the music lineup is chock full of some of the city and region's finest. The festivities go down this Saturday, September 12th on the Avenue.
Festival organizers did a great job picking out bands this year, and with three stages there are some tough decisions to make. Imperial China and Vincent Black Shadow both play at 3 PM, and choosing between these two face-melters should prove difficult.
Baltimore's Lost Ghosts Records is home to a few lesser known endeavors, most of which are certainly worth your while. Heavy on art and personal touch, the tunes ain't too shabby either.
If you didn't catch the label's release show at the Zodiac a few weeks back, chances are you've missed out on some pretty fantastic artists. Bear & Pieces has put out a plethora of limited-run releases, and is the focal point of Lost Ghosts. Chris Day is the entirety of Bear & Pieces, and also a member of Witch Hat.
Chris's solo project is full of swirling melodies, ambient bedroom soundscapes at their purest. With looping guitar churns that fade in and out, rich layers are often dwarfed by blissful simplicity. While diving into Wisdom Has No Gaurd and the digital "Allison" single are recommended, Rooples : Query portrays his work in a very appealing light. This disc is highly limited with only 30 pressings available, and features three hefty tracks from the late summer of 2007. One might assume Chris utilized the common practice of laptop editing, a standard with most lo fi bedroom artists these days. But, Rooples : Query is amazingly all recorded straight to tape. This provides just enough sunny analog fuzz, and leaves the work to bare all of it's natural essence.
These tracks are highly recommended when in need of some heavy zoning out, and are the perfect accomplice to any need for late night inspiration. The sound bites mixed into his other works are enjoyable, particularly when the "sky falls" on Wisdom Has No Guard. But the stripped down nature of this release is truly hypnotic, and quite beautiful.
You can find some of the Bear & Pieces releases as free downloads over at the Lost Ghosts blog, including a recording of his set opening up for Ponytail at Floristee in 2008. Splurging the five bucks for any of these albums is an obvious choice, and do be sure to check out some of their other fine artists.
Clusterfuck is back on full force this weekend in Baltimore, with some options for your ears every night starting this evening. Tonight one great option is at Open Space, where you are invited to "stand in the cement room" and catch Swamp Tease, Witch Hat, Ancestral Diet, and Taboo. Choosing another path might find you at the Ottobar, where Turbo Fruits and Sal Bando play with our favorite local psych force Sri Aurobindo.
Saturday offers a killer variety of options, most likely a decision that's meant to be made on the fly depending on your mood. If you want to be a part of the likely destruction of the Golden West, head there to catch Drunkdriver. This is a rowdy and fantastic punk band from New York, and my thoughts and prayers are with the moose on the wall.
Hampdenfest is back, and the music lineup is chock full of some of the city and region's finest. The festivities go down this Saturday, September 12th on the Avenue.
Baltimore's Lost Ghosts Records is home to a few lesser known endeavors, most of which are certainly worth your while. Heavy on art and personal touch, the tunes ain't too shabby either.
