Tonight: Height, Microkingdom, Witch Hat @ Hexagon

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.

Microkingdom - Microkingdom's Threatened Youths

Microkingdom play two shows this weekend - tomorrow at the Hexagon with Witch Hat Height with Friends, and Nuclear Power Pants, and again on Saturday in Philadelphia at The Ox with Height, Sri Aurobindo, and Soft Cat for a Friends Records showcase.

It's no question that Microkingdom are Baltimore's premiere spazz-jazzers and noise benders, as Marc Miller's guitar wizardry combined with Dr. Will Redman's percussion have become a staple around town. These dudes are on the heels of releasing their first proper full length, and to celebrate Friends Records is releasing a live cassette.



Microkingdom's Threatened Youths is Ben Bass's recording of a live show that went down at the Penthouse Gallery on February 27, 2010. Microkingdom's lineup that evening consisted of Marc, Will, and John Dierker on reeds. Above is the first song played that night, "Abundant Life Towers II".

As Chris Day's artwork suggests, the entire set was inspired by Dischord-era DC hardcore riffs that Marc furiously and relentlessly played the whole set. The result was one of the most vicious Microkindom sets to date, and an ode to a neighboring scene of the past.

Order the tape right here, or grab it at one of their shows starting this weekend.

FRCS007
Microkindom
Microkingdom’s Threatened Youths
Friends Records 2010

1. Abundant Life Towers II
2. In the News there’s a lot of information
3. In the News there’s a lot of information in the information
4. Dave Musustaine
5. Astronaut Tusk
6. Squeal Fight
7. Stepping Stone

Barn Aid is now Monday @ Golden West (and is cheaper!)

Major changes to Barn Aid were just announced, here are the new plans...

Springfield Farms is a lovely establishment up in Sparks, Maryland that supplies The Golden West and other Baltimore kitchens with local food. Unfortunately, the farm is currently undergoing a costly legal battle involving barn zoning.



Supporters of the culinary and musical variety have joined forced to put together Barn Aid, which will take place Monday, September 20th at The Golden West. Performing will be Wye Oak, Birdland (Sean and Katrina of Celebration), and DJ Jason Willett.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the farm, and tickets are on a sliding scale of 10-15 dollars. The event starts at 9 PM this Monday at the Golden West.

Tonight: Moon Duo and Sri Aurobindo at Golden West

The streak of psychedelics continues tonight at the Golden West with a heavy bill of Moon Duo (members of Wooden Shjips), Rangda, Sri Aurobindo, and Sweaty Aura.





This is a stacked bill more than worth getting there on time for, and starts at 10 PM. It will run ya seven bucks, and is all ages. Peep Moon Duo's video for "Killing Time" below.

Tonight: Pontiak / Mondo Drag @ Golden West

The Golden West is featuring all kinds of psychedelics this month. Tonight's bill is no different, with Pontiak coming back to town with Mondo Drag and The Main St. Gospel.



Pontiak have been on fire over the last couple years, releasing four full length LPs on Thrill Jockey starting back in 2008 with Sun On Sun. The most recent, Living, hits on all the same heavy frequencies as the rest, and is one of the darkest of the bunch. Just like the others it was recorded by the band themselves, but took a bit longer with a four month recording process.



Mondo Drag harvest a sound not often brought to the table in 2010. Spacey and groovy psychedelic rock and roll that will have you recalling Hendrix, Cream, and the likes. They released a new album recently called New Rituals, which came out on Alive Records.

Tonight's show starts at 10:30 and is just six bucks.

Pontiak - Laywayed from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.

Holy Ghost Party - Prog Parents plus "CHEF SOLDIERS" premiere

The debut EP from Holy Ghost Party is now available - four tracks from the duo of David Jacober and Zachary Utz, who are also 2/3 of Dope Body. This batch of new tracks is called Prog Parents, and will also be a part of an LP the band is currently finishing up.



Above is the brand new "CHEF SOLDIERS", which you'll find on the forthcoming full length DADVIBES, but not the current EP called Prog Parents. It's much like the hardly-tamed weirdo pop I've featured from these dudes before, but marches in a sunnier direction. Interwoven bursts of prog and psych are crossed with layered percussion and infectious vocals. This is done in a fashion that makes pinpointing a genre rather precarious, as there is seemingly a plethora of influences at work.

Prog Parents hits similarly from start to finish, with the instantly-addictive "Toys" and "Tricky", to the supernatural and industrial jams of "Beachwhole". This tape is an awesome introduction to these Baltimore folks, and comes highly recommended. The cassette was just released on WTR CLR, and you can snag yours right here.

HOLY GHOST PARTY - PROG PARENTS
WTRCLR008
Duration _ 15:00

1. TOYS
2. SHIT HOUSE LUCK
3. TRICKY
4. BEACH WHOLE

Tonight: Dustin Wong, Ami Dang, & more at The Soft House

Tonight the Soft House is in action, hosting a show that's sure to stimulate the ears and massage the brain. The lineup boasts Dustin Wong, Ami Dang, Greg Davis and Ben Vida, Michael Forbes, Andrew Scott Young and Weasel Walter.



This show's got a rather melodic range of sounds including ambient sitar, cosmic synths, free jazz, and guitar loop wizardry. Amanda from the Soft House also writes that there will be unique vegetarian sushi combinations available. The "spicy garden bagel roll" and "guacamole international" both sound well worth coming out for.

The show starts at 9:30 PM... "exactly!"

Lexx - "Palm Shades" video, plus "Bamboo Shoot"

Baltimore's Semya also has a project under the moniker Lexx, an outlet to relinquish beats of the crunked-out Ninja Turtles pizza-shooter variety. Lexx just tossed out another batch of jams, including one of his new favorites, "Bamboo Shoot".



This one's a slow-burner that lights up easy, with rhythms and zones that that hit you just as slick. The rest of the new ones feature all kinds of sounds - wonky rolling beats that are tweaked and twirled like the final obstacle course from Double Dare. They all pretty much make you want to get drunk and play Nintendo on the dance floor.

Lexx also just passed along a dreamy new video for "Palm Shades".



Both of these tracks can be found on BEATS VOL. 1, which can be downloaded right here from Lexx for free. Lexx also made about 12 cassettes, and would be happy to mail one along with a booklet of original artwork for six dollars if you email him here.

Show: Celebration, Sri Aurobindo, Microkingdom, & Dustin Wong - 10/29 at The G Spot

Flyer by Chris Day. Really big, screen-printed copies at show for $5 each.

BUY TICKETS HERE.

We are proud to present a Halloween show on Friday, October 29 that will feature Celebration, Sri Aurobindo, Microkingdom, and Dustin Wong. The event will take place at The G Spot, an ideal Baltimore space for channeling your inner-spook.



This will be Celebration's first non-festival Baltimore show since February, and the first since announcing plans to release Hello Paradise later this Winter on Friends Records. Expect to hear some new sounds from the band preceding this show.



Sri Aurobindo will blast yours ears backward, Microkingdom will boggle your mind sideways, and Dustin Wong will drop your jaws from the get-go. Microkingdom are tentatively scheduled to debut as a six-piece for this event, and will also be on the heals of releasing Three Compositions of No Jazz. Also, Dustin Wong will have just relinquished his highly anticipated new LP, Infinite Love.



MOLDY PROJECTIONS THAT WILL SHINE LIKE THE COSMOS.

Lonnie Walker - "Love Turn"

art by Natasha Tylea

Last week we shared the details on the Future Islands half of their split with Lonnie Walker, today we've got the B-side ready for your ears. Check out "Love Turn".



"Love Turn" is a whiskey-soaked ballad full of the free-range Americana the group has made a name for. While residing down in North Carolina, Lonnie Walker have played a heap of shows up here in Baltimore over the last few years. Much like their longtime Raleigh friends on the other side of this disc, their live performances make you bob up and down while your emotions are pulled in every which direction (but mostly just down). These dudes craft southern gems that are laced with infectiously jaded melodies, and tangled with nostalgically blunt lyrics.

Look for "Love Turn" and "The Ink Well" to pop up on the radio this Fall, and the peach-colored vinyl seven inch is available now for pre-order right here from Friends Records. The two bands will also tour together in November, details coming soon.

Twig Harper & Daniel Higgs - "Number Two"

A couple weeks ago I pointed out footage of an interview with Twig Harper, regarding his new LP with Daniel Higgs that's due out this month. I've spent the past few weeks with Clairaudience Fellowship mind-fucking my ears from time to time - seven collaborative songs from two Baltimore revolutionaries.

I will not pretend that I fully understand this LP just yet, or ever properly will, as it's just about as twisted as you'd possibly imagine. It's seven tracks of Daniel Higgs' epic spoken-word hymns (much like the poems of his Say God LP), but this go around these thoughts from Higgs are cosmically haunted by the noise of Twig Harper at the helm.



"Number Two" is the second track on the LP, and comes at a point in the album where minds are still vaguely in check, and ears are only teased by hints at what's to come. However, the universe has begun to stir, until there is only one way to go. That direction is inward, which doesn't stop throughout the latter half of this journey.

Twig Harper describes the vibes found on Clairaudience Fellowship as...

"...a setting of experience by creating a bridge inside the ear striving to see linguessence / utterance immediately prior to verbal distinction placed firmly inside a double helix weave ultra verbal mirror."

Thrill Jockey will release Clairaudience Fellowship on September 21. The vinyl is limited to 1000 copies. Harper and Higgs also will be touring together, details forthcoming.

Photos: Future Islands, Microkingdom,Dope Body, and Weekends @ The Cherch

I attended a couple of really great shows this weekend, one of which was in DC at The Cherch. Future Islands, Weekends, Microkingdom, and Dope Body all played the large living room space on Saturday night. Our new friend Jimmy Morris from Head|Underwater came out and took some rad photos of the show, and let us share.


Weekends got the BBQ-stuffed crowd ready, as these dudes were amidst another busy week where they played four separate shows in NYC, Baltimore, and DC.


Dope Body brought the goods down to DC, hurling a force of neo-sludge with the usual intensity. Zach shredded heavy, Dave wailed, and Andrew spat bricks of mortar.


Microkingdom is an entity not often brought down to the depths of our beltway neighbors. Saturday they played as the core two-piece of Marc Miller and Dr. Will Redman. They showcased a stellar rendition of "Aire Metal", and played an homage to the hometown of Dischord... all on the floor in front of the fireplace.


Future Islands held the room captive at yet another performance. They played two new songs straight from the start, including "The Ink Well". The rest of the set was heavy in In Evening Air, and Sam felt strong enough vibes to bellow vocals while crowd surfing.

More shots from Jimmy Morris after the jump.

Shows: Benefit for DJ Rice @ Floristree, and alsoFuture Islands, Microkingdom, Dope Body @ The Cherch

On August 21, DJ Rice was attacked and beaten while walking home at night in Baltimore. He spent eight days in ICU, and is still at Johns Hopkins. Some friends of his are having a benefit this Sunday at Floristree in order to raise money for DJ's medical expenses. Performing will be Future Islands, Weekends, Holy Ghost Party, Butt Stomach (Dan Deacon and Kevin O'Meara), and INEVERYROOM.



DJ is nothing short of an all around amazing dude, and on top of that has an incredibly rad music project called Teenage Souls. Above is "Ice Floe", a new track that will be on his forthcoming WTRCLR cassette. Our heart goes out to DJ and his family.


Also this weekend - on Saturday, September 4th head down to DC with a bunch of other Baltimore friends. The Cherch is hosting a show with all Bmore bands. Future Islands, Microkingdom, Dope Body, and Weekends will all be performing. Music starts at 7 PM, BBQ get's going at 5 PM. Also, BYOB. Above is the mix I made of all the bands playing this for our friend Jimmy at Head|Underwater.

Video Premiere: Dustin Wong - Infinite Love

Monday I posted about the forthcoming LP Dustin Wong is releasing called Infinite Love, and today Thrill Jockey passed along a video preview for the album.

Both the LP and CD version of Infinite Love will come with a DVD that allows you to "choose which musical path you'd like to have accompany the film, with the hope that the two different musical versions will change the experience of the movie."

Infinite Love is available October 19 from Thrill Jockey.

Hampdenfest 2010: Double Dagger, Arbouretum, Sick Weapons, Witch Hat, Mickey Free, and more

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