Will Rast of Funk Art
@ Fort Reno
Q:What's your song for summer?
A:"'I Ain't Nobody's Baby' by Sharon Jones."
SUNDAY: Seattle songstress, Jesy Fortino (a.k.a. Tiny Vipers) has the gothic folk sound pegged.
With hushed tones, acoustic guitars and swelling violins, she'll transfix you into a solemn silence reminiscent of Cat Power and Joanna Newsom. But don't just take our word for it, check out "On This Side" from her first album, "Hands Across the Void."
We can't stop listening to "Dreamer," off her latest album "Life on Earth." The album is scheduled for release on July 7, but you can find the song on her MySpace page. Catch her captivating audiences this weekend at The Red and the Black.
» The Red and the Black, 1212 H St. NE; Sun., June 28, 9 p.m., $8; 202-399-3831.
Written by Express' Nicole Ocran
Photo courtesy Aero Booking
WEDNESDAY: South London singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf may be best known for his androgynous garb and over-the-top theatrics. But glitz and glamor aside, Wolf is an incredibly talented musician. Not many artists today can successfully mix ukulele, viola, french horn and piano with electronic sampling.
This cluster of noise miraculously comes together in a mix that is somehow devoid of musical clutter. Loosely labeled "romantic folk," songs like "Magic Position" and "Hard Times" showcase Wolf's penchant for cramming as much into a song as possible.
Not to mention the fact he does all of this decked head to toe in body glitter and sequined tights.
» Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St NE; Wed., June 24, 6:30 p.m., $18, 202-388-7625, rockandrollhoteldc.com.
Written by Express' Brian Austin
Photo courtesy Gered Mankowitz
WHEN THE Red and the Black opened three years ago, it was supposed to play the alt-country-ish kid sister to the indie-rockin' DC9 and self-descriptive Rock and Roll Hotel.
How times have changed.
Now all three clubs offer some of the best underground music acts from all genres.
In fact, the R&B's third birthday bash features artists miles away from singer-songwriterdom; it includes area metalheads Nihilitia (D.C.) and Salome (NoVa), which crush from the psychedelic-sludge side of things; Baltimore's Isthmus adds prog to its headbangers; and Three Faces of Eve (NoVa) will grind multi-personality disorders down to one blown mind. (Pittsburgh's Hero Destroyed, the one national act on this otherwise locals-only party, is a band of progressive-metal punks whose self-titled Relapse debut recalls Mastodon.)
Continue Reading "Clanging Metal on H Street: Nihilitia and Salome" »
ON "1901," the first song Phoenix released from its fourth album, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix," Thomas Mars sings emphatically over heavy synths and bright guitar: "Counting all different ideas drifting away/Past and present they don't matter/Now the future's sorted out."
It's a grand proclamation but a fitting one. Once one of indie rock's biggest secrets, Phoenix is finally poised for a big splash. The French four-piece has quickly become one of the most blogged-about bands in recent months, garnering ample Next Big Thing tags in the process.
"We feel like we have been a secret for a long time," guitarist Christian Mazzalai said. "Labels don't matter to us, but it is a very nice feeling to know that people are excited about our record. It builds a good pressure."
A QUARTER-CENTURY AGO, Curt Kirkwood sang, "I don't have to think/I only have to do it/The results are always perfect/But that's old news." The Meat Puppets still perform that song, "Oh, Me," and their singer remains an intelligent, skilled and accomplished guitarist and songwriter who defines himself by indifference and indolence.
Born in 1980 as a hardcore punk trio, the ever-evolving Pups grew into one of America's most popular indie bands through a surreal blend of feedback-filled hard rock and country-fried psychedelia.
A decade after their album "Meat Puppets II" got a rave review in Rolling Stone, Nirvana played three songs from it on their "Unplugged" album, accompanied by Kirkwood and his brother, Puppets bassist Cris Kirkwood. With the success of 1994's "Too High To Die," the future looked bright. Instead, Cris descended into drug-fueled misery, and drummer Derrick Bostrom quit.
MONDAY & TUESDAY: You go see plays, and never think about how they came to be. Well, now you can see the process in action. Tribute Productions' Fresh Produce at the Atlas Performing Arts Center features readings of plays fresh off the typewriter of both award winning and up-and-coming playwrights.
The plays represent various genres, and all are directed by solid local professionals. Out pick is "Lonely Planet," a re-written classic by unfairly-ignored and generally brilliant Steven Dietz and directed by Mary Hall Surface (pictured). It plays on Tuesday night.
» Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE; Mon., June 8 and Tues., June 9; 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $15 donation for two plays; 202-399-7993.
Written by Express' Brian Austin
Photo courtesy Folger Consort
» Name: Aeryn Kwon
» Job: Sushi chef, working behind the counter at the eclectic Asian restaurant Sticky Rice.
» Education: Northern Virginia Community College for Pharmacy Tech.
» Salary: $30,000 - $40,000
» What She Does: The 23-year-old is a sushi "cook" — as she puts it, since females aren't allowed the coveted title of sushi "chef." The notion of a female sushi chef is almost unheard of in the Asian food world. In Japan, some say, it's because women wear perfume and makeup, and the smell will permeate the food. While she respects the customs behind the dish, Kwon isn't subject to the bias: "I work in a place that doesn't make me feel that."
Continue Reading "Steal This Job: Sticky Rice Sushi Chef Aeryn Kwon" »
MONDAY: Ah, the Jameson Ball. It's just like an inaugural ball, except ... OK, even if it's not at all like an inaugural ball, you probably won't remember it in the morning.
U.S. Royalty and New Rock Church of Fire will provide live music and you'll get plenty of free swag from Jameson — along with $3 shots from 10 p.m. onward.
» Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE; Mon., June 1, 8 p.m., $20; 202-388-7625.
Photo courtesy Jameson
SATURDAY: Ramzy Suleiman is a self-proclaimed "creative troublemaker," and his addictively jazzy tunes reflect that mischievous spirit. A singer, songwriter and musician, the front man of D.C. funk band Joppa was born and bred in the area, though he now attends Berklee College of Music in Boston. Lucky for us, he's back this weekend to gig on H Street NE. Check him out in the Red and the Black's intimate setting, and enjoy his energy and enormous talent before he gets too famous to charge $6 for tickets. The Mostly Bad Virus is also on the bill.
» The Red and the Black, 1212 H St. NE; Sat., May 30, 9:30 p.m., $6; 202-399-3831.
Photo courtesy Ramzy Suleiman
WHILE GROWING UP in Versailles — a wealthy suburb of Paris — the members of indie-pop rockers Phoenix had a very simple attitude.
"When you grow up in a city that's like a museum you have to mess with things," singer Thomas Mars said. "I remember just the fact that you'd be in a band and make noise in this giant museum would be a problem for people living there."
The title of Phoenix's fourth album follows that line of cheeky thinking by co-opting the name of one of history's greatest composers: "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" (V2 Records).
"I think it's like the mustache on Mona Lisa — it's really childish," Mars said. "Without knowing it, I'm discovering why we chose the title [and] why it's appealing. ... It's messing up with something iconic."
The album also messes with Phoenix's sound. Nearly every song has a hint of electronica and the driving singles "Lisztomania" and "1901" show the quartet brimming with confidence.
Express asked Mars to take us on a track-by-track tour through "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix." Stream the whole album here and follow along.
Continue Reading "Liner Notes: Phoenix, 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix'" »
Addison Road