Wednesday Night : Make a Snow Monkey or... Rock

This week I'm two shows and one school night away from being a bad girl: Seven Door Sedan plays Asylum in Adam's Morgan and Greenland will be at the Black Cat.
Why are two of my favorite bands playing on - of all things- a Wednesday?
Because DC can't help but rock as anyone who was at the Sunset Grille last Sunday can attest when they saw Bill Kirchen earn his Purple Heart of Rock. (And I'm not kidding when I say Bill bled for the Cause, but that's another story.)
Even now I am plotting with myself-can I get a nap in on Thursday?- because these bands are definitely worth the extracurricular behavior.
See for yourself.

Message From DC's Greenland

Only the cool cats go out on Wednesdays- and THIS WEDNESDAY there is a very cool show at the Black Cat when Greenland (sans Tony who is on tour) will open up for Richard Lloyd.(sans Television) Ten clams.

Get Out And Spend

(Greenland - photo by shervin lianez)

DC Rocks hopes you are not bowing under the weight of holiday angst, but if you are- don't forget there are outlets, and I'm not talking about Potomac Mills. Start the weekend early in Virginia with the annual Santa Jam thing- a benefit and lots of bands at The State Theater Thursday night- or you can head over to JVs and lay back with Dan Hovey- ace guitarist.

Saturday night in DC's northwest quadrant there's Greenland- the opening band of three at Comet Ping Pong. Also on Saturday-in the can't be two places at once category- another great show - Sister Ex and The New Standard will be rocking Surf Club Live.

Spend that hard earned dough wisely-a few dollars will go a long way in supporting our local music scene which could easily become a casualty of the economy.
Plus- gosh darn it- you could have fun.

Dance x 4= Great Show

Thursday may be the new Friday, but this week that ole reliable- Saturday night- stands out with four wild and crazy good young bands conveniently located under one roof at the Rock and Roll Hotel down on H Street. I would go to this show just to see one of my personal favorites Greenland-so I was pleasantly surprised to find out there was even more talent on the bill as follows:

 The Dance Party-

I've not seen them, but they've gotten raves for their high energy pop sound and played plenty of well received gigs.

The Nunchucks-

Another high energy band. We've written about these guys before and had a great time at their shows. 

Ra Ra Rasputin- Lyn2 and I saw them  at Fort Reno last summer and were impressed.  Another band that can do.

All of these groups have that indie tag going for them- original music and personality galore. 

So if you are looking to lose those Autumn blues- come out and shake the dust off your tail feathers. Four bands -just TEN BUCKS!!!!  Show starts at 9.

Greenland Gets Text Messages from Beautiful UFOs

In this case Greenland is a band not a country and includes a guy named Jamie Green. After seeing them live a few times and getting their CD Call Message I'm starting to get addicted to their dreamy post punk rock thing. Lots of good song writing including the one called We Are Clipper Ships which has lyrics that kind of slay me. (and the bit about text messages from UFOs.) I asked Jamie about the other bands on the bill. Here's what he said:
Mother
We share a member. I love love this band. Two songwriters, one taking his cue from Syd Barrett the other from Nick Lowe. Amazing rhythm section and wonderful harmonies. The song writing's fluid and organic- totally not flashy. These guys actually beat us for the title of laziest band in D.C.
Tiger And The Snow- this has been a really interesting band to see develop; sort of hushed female pop vocals over shoe-gazey Stratocaster and a really cool bassist / drummer rapport-like an older and younger brother.
Also on the bill is a young band from Fredericksburg: Carlos Im Pregnant.

See all four this Saturday night at The Rock And Roll Hotel down on H Street in the Northeast quadrant of Washington DC (located somewhere on the outer edge of The Milky Way Galaxy)

I'd Go If I Were You

Prabir and the Substitutes- they're here today -gone tomorrow, but they're coming back this Sunday to Iota in Arlington so all those who didn't get to see them Friday have one last reprieve.
I want everybody and I mean EVERYBODY within the sound of my voice to go since I can't be there myself. It'll be a great show with Greenland and the Nunchucks-two more local bands. I heard a band once on the radio-I'm sure they are famous in their own right-but all I could think of was wow they sound like Greenland. DC's got it all. Go find it.

Count 'em

(prabir and the boys)

I didn't know it was happening until the middle of the last band's set Sunday night when my faithful companion turned to me and said- you've seen eleven bands this weekend. Eleven bands. In this order: Honkytonk Heart, Reverb Galaxy, Beatnik Flies, Atomic Mosquitos, The Flea Bops, Thrillbillys, The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, The Grandsons, Ruthie And The Wranglers, Prabir and The Substitutes, and Greenland. I went to JVs out in Falls Church- a tiny dive with a bar and booths. I went to The Surf Club which has yet to change from the honky tonk road house it has always been out on Kenilworth Avenue, and I went to The Black Cat downtown- a staple of the DC rock scene since back in the early nineties. I heard all kinds of music- from seasoned rockers to young punks and except for a $20 benefit none of the shows were over $8, and all of them were good if not excellent.

There's plenty on the calender this weekend starting with GHz Thursday night at Bangkok Blues. John Zidar-drummer and the zee in GHz writes: In case some of you still don’t know, Bangkok Blues was remodeled last year and looks better than ever, with a lighted stage and a great house sound system. The place is now owned by an excellent sound man, Darrell Taylor, and he has turned BB into a great place to see and play music, which is why we have selected this venue to record our first live album! Darrell’s also a great guy who treats musicians well, and we want to support any venue that runs its business the way he does.

The last time I saw GHz there, Mary Ann Redmond-local songstress- sat in for a number or two- no extra charge. That's the great thing about local shows.

(GHz w/Mary Ann Redmond)

Try it. Just see one band.
(At least it's a start.)

And if you go Thursday please say happy birthday to John -the guy banging on the drums.