remembering the last thing she said to me.

Burgeoning DC band, Tennis System, put on an epic show Wednesday night at the Velvet Lounge. I liked the psychedelic recordings queued before each song and the strobe lighting to set the atmosphere. Elements like extreme energy, noise, and volume made for a lasting impression, as it was my first time seeing them perform. It was hard to even see guitarist Drake Eidson's hand strumming the guitar because of the visual effects and intensity. Bassist Clinton Cole had his back to the audience for many of the tracks, adding to the surreal vibe. Tennis System successfully combine noise rock and melodic vocals with psychedelia and just a hint of shoegaze. I particularly liked "Esoteric" and "The Web." It was during that final track where singer/guitarist Matty Taylor catapulted off the stage and really brought everything full-circle. I look forward to the There Comes A Time EP.


U.S. Royalty are always reliable for putting on a good show. Even though I've seen them many times, the addition of some newer songs and a cover made for an interesting performance. Matthew Hemerlein joined them on a Talking Heads track called "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)". His violin really added a new sound to the group and this was my favorite of what they played. They closed with "Winter Wind," a track that showcased each member's talents and showed that U.S. Royalty just keep getting better. They stated that they are spending time writing, which means there's much more to come in the future.

Previous USR Post

love conquers hate.

Last Night I had the opportunity to attend Love Conquers Hate at the Human Rights Campaign. It was a landmark day for civil rights and LGBT rights because President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. This has been a long time coming, and it is now over eleven years since Shepard's ordeal and tragic death. Daniel and Judy Shepard spoke about hope and progress in the incredibly moving and emotional ceremony.

What is the Hate Crimes Prevention Act?

The new law gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability (HRC).

I wanted to call attention to this because it is important to write congress and let them know that we want to keep moving forward for equal rights. This victory is great, but hopefully there are many more to come.

let's go somewhere sunny, let's go and waste some money.

It is hard for me to know where to start when I know that a night has been one of the most fun I've had in a while. Ringo Deathstarr are one of my favorite bands, and whenever they come to town it makes for a great show and a wild party. I knew to expect this when I headed to Black Cat on Monday night. The bill was stacked and I was in it for the long haul.

I was excited to see State Department open up for their first performance. I've been following Patrick Kigongo's groups since the formation of Ra Ra Rasputin and was curious to see how the new group would sound live. They pulled in a good crowd and got into their set as people danced. It was a little straight rock for my tastes, but I really enjoyed "The Way to a Man's Heart is Through His Chest" and "Columbia Road", which was dedicated to Exactly's Jesse Bishop. Those songs edged a bit more to the loud, post-punk end of the spectrum. State Department are off to a promising start, but I was left wanting a bit more. As much as I like simplicity in musical composition, I would like to hear more feedback or dimension with these songs. I look forward to seeing how they progress as a group.

Last Tide were next, and they are quickly rising to the top of my list of talented DC bands. The addition of Kigongo as a second guitarist adds a lot to the already polished repertoire. This show was their EP release, so they were giving away discs and buttons to the lucky audience. They went through the EP as well as some unreleased tracks. It was an intense and ethereal set that didn't fail to highlight each members mastery of their chosen instrument. Watching them almost makes me feel like I'm in the late 80's seeing the indie scene shaping itself. The Broken Places is definitely one to add to your music collection.

And then finally came time for Ringo Deathstarr. Because the band operates out of Austin, I don't get to see them as much as I'd like. This was the first time I got to hear many of the newer tracks live, and I was impressed. I love hearing the noise and waves of feedback reverberate at the Backstage. These guys have the shoegaze experience in full effect. I admire the ease at which they place a melody over carefully measured discord to create a masterpiece. "Starrsha" will probably always be my favorite, but "So High" really got everyone into it. In the end, Kigongo was involved in all three sets as Alex Gehring handed off her bass during the last song. Happy chaos ensued with bodies and equipment hitting the stage with full force. It was the perfect ending to probably the best show I've seen all year.

The night did not end there, but what happens in Bloomingdale stays in Bloomingdale...for the most part.

Previous Ringo Post
Previous Last Tide Post

DMV so we used to the waitin.

Yesterday afternoon, a very interesting article from the Washington Post arrived in my inbox. "D.C. Hip-Hop: Can it Break the Hold of Go-Go?," by Chris Richards, will be featured in Sunday's paper. It features a look at local DMV hip-hop artists poised for national success. Check it out here!

2047.

The District of Columbia is not known for being a particularly stylish city. DURKL is a clothing company set out to expose that as a misconception. The brand was started by Will Sharp circa 5 years ago, and has since grown immensely around DC & in national and international markets. With the addition of brother Cole Sharp, and later Lucas Pierce, DURKL has become a staple amongst those who dare to be bold and "make fun" 24-7.

DURKL's unique take on streetwear has connected with musicians, emcees, DJs, producers, skateboarders, bikers, and partygoers. They have found a way to please these niche consumers by always providing something new and interesting. Never ones to shy away from color, each line includes something so out of left-field (in a good way) that I often wonder how they came up with the idea. My favorite example of this is last season's grey jeans with aqua back pockets. The Fall 2009 Collection plays on a bit of a mature edge by incorporating tailored flannels, button-downs, chinos, and snap-backs. With every line the brand grows, but still includes outrageous and funky garments. Rest assured there is always a sassy element to set these pieces apart from the competition.

The DURKL boys now have a studio and store space in the legendary Gold Leaf building. Be sure to stop in and check out the gear at 443 I St NW or peruse the online store. Prices reflect high quality, detail, and local design. It's definitely worth it.

DURKL on Twitter
DURKL on Vimby

ones and twos.

There is definitely an up-and-coming "H Street DJ culture." Venues such as Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar, Rock & Roll Hotel (upstairs), Sticky Rice, and Jimmy Valentines cater to dance nights and DJ sets. This is a great way to supplement the nightlife culture in the city as the H Street Corridor continues to gain popularity. Check me out at Jimmy's NEXT SUNDAY October 18th for indie, post-punk, shoegaze, and everything rock!

well the stakes of the game seemed fine...

The new Built to Spill album is phenomenal. When my friend told me this, I went to stream the entirety of There Is No Enemy on their Myspace. I have always liked them, but this album has catapulted them into one of my favorite bands. The softer songs like "Hindsight,"Nowhere Lullaby," and "Life's a Dream"definitely stand out. Be sure to pick it up when it drops on October 6th.