therumpus's posterous http://therumpus.posterous.com Most recent posts at therumpus's posterous posterous.com Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:52:00 -0700 The Rumpus ("Wild Summer Nights" edition) http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-wild-summer-nights-edition http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-wild-summer-nights-edition

Two straight months of jam-packed new editions of the Rumpus? Oh yeah, we're back, baby...


7/22 Reckless Kelly @ the 9:30.  Is it safe to return after the lamentable jamband impression they delivered when they played the State a year or two ago?  I dunno, but it’s a moot point for me (since I’ll be in NYC, having seen the potent power pop of the Nats and Paul Collins’ Beat the night before), but if anyone goes and would care to report back, I’d sure like to know.  Listen to “Best Forever Yet.” 

 

*8/2 Chris Mills (opening for the Beanstalk Library) @ the Black Cat Backstage.  Chris and his band were amazing when they appeared at DC-9 in mid-June, and I, for one, am already ready for another helping of their inimitable rock ‘n’ roll sound.  I said listen to “Atom Smashers” last time, so this time I’ll recommend “Calling All Comrades.”  Oh, and while you’re at it, check out the Jonathan Richman listing below for some bonus Chris Mills content.

 

8/5 Archers of Loaf @ the Black Cat.  Aw, hell yeah.  I love me some Crooked Fingers and all, but long before there was ever a Crooked Fingers, there was Archers of Loaf, heroes of the Chapel Hill indie sound of the ‘90s.  They’ve reunited for a tour, and D.C. is one of the tour stops.  Sold out.

 

8/8 Fake Problems @ the Red Palace.  Their last D.C. show was cancelled due to a blizzard in the northeast, but I was fortunate enough to catch them last month while in Atlanta on a business trip.  Having now seen them in Austin, Richmond, and Atlanta, it’ll be nice to finally see the band (whose Real Ghosts Caught on Tape was among my top 5 albums of 2010) at “home.”  Listen to “Soulless” at their MySpace.

 

*8/12 Locksley @ Red Palace (opening for the Dirty Guv'nahs).  Finally!  Locksley haven’t made the apparently arduous trek from NYC to D.C. since January of 2010 (and their latest album wasn’t even out at the time!), so this is a long-overdue return.  Hopefully we’ll get another headlining show on their next trip, but this opening slot will have to tide us over for now.   Listen to “21st Century,” a platter of power pop perfection which has been among my Top 25 Most Played songs on iTunes for probably a solid year now.

 

*8/12 Kurt Baker @ Ottobar (Baltimore).  Playing a short set during “Insubordination Fest.”  Why, oh why, does Kurt Baker, the power pop professor behind the Leftovers, have to be playing the same night that Locksley finally return to D.C.?  I’ve seen Kurt more recently than I’ve seen Locksley, so this round will go to Locksley, but please come back soon, Kurt!  Listen to “Don’t Steal My Heart Away,” as hook-tastic a single as you’re likely to hear this summer.

 

8/13 & 8/14 Steve Earle and the Dukes (& Duchesses) featuring Alison Moorer @ the Birchmere.  Yes, the ticket price is admittedly more than a little bit steep, but it’s Steve Earle at the Birchmere with a full band.  Need I say more?  Listen to “This City,” Steve’s killer track written about New Orleans and Katrina for Treme, and which closes his new album.

 

8/14 Alkaline Trio @ the Black Cat.  It’s been a few years since I’ve seen these guys, and since this is their first time back in D.C. after years of Baltimore dates, it might be necessary to cast a vote for D.C. being included again as a regular tour stop.  Listen to the cleverly titled “Dine, Dine, My Darling” (yes, Alk3 is a band that’s never shied away from their adulation of the Misfits).

 

8/27 The Pietasters@ Jammin' Java.  I should think that it’s well past time for the ska revolution to arrive in the sleepy hamlet of Vienna, VA.  Listen to one of their many classics, a top 10 hit in a just world, “Out All Night.”

 

9/1 The Hold Steady @ the 9:30.  Much as I love ‘em, I don’t know that I necessarily need to see them again on this tour, but if you dig ‘em and haven’t already seen ‘em with the new, keyboard-less lineup, you have no excuse.  Listen to “Hurricane J.”, the latest album’s best song, inspired by Richard Price’s “Lush Life” (and yes, I loved the song before I learned that bit of literary trivia).

 

9/6 The National @ Merriweather Post.  Yuck to Merriweather, but Listen to their new song, “Think You Can Wait,” from the movie Win Win, streaming at the official movie site.

 

*9/10-11 SPX.  Craig Thompson returns to SPX with Habibi, his first major work since Blankets … but that’s just the tip of the indie comics awesomeness that will descend on Bethesda come September.  You’ll hear a lot of chatter about Comic-Con in San Diego this week (well, this week as I type), but trust me, for quality comics per capita, Comic-Con ain’t got nothing on SPX.

 

9/12 George Pelecanos @ Politics & Prose.  With The Cut, dropping 8/29, Pelecanos introduces his newest character, Spero Lucas.  He’ll be reading and signing copies at P&P.

 

*9/12 You Am I (opening for Sloan) @ the RnRH.  I’ve only seen You Am I once, five or so years ago at SXSW, but based on that single unforgettable display of firepower, I’ve considered them to be the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band that Australia has ever produced.  Note: If your taste in rock ‘n’ roll runs more toward the Replacements than ... well, anything else, the smart money says you’re more than likely to agree with me.  Listen to “Pinpricks.”  (Click “Audio Player” in the nav bar of their official site to stream that song, and the rest of their latest album if you wish.)


*9/14 Marah (acoustic) @ Jammin' Java.  If a recently released poster promoting an upcoming tour of Spain is any guide, this show could represent the first Marah show in the States to feature the long-awaited return of Serge!  ‘Nuff said.


*9/16: Marshall Crenshaw “30th Anniversary Tour” @ the Birchmere.  Anybody know if this tour will feature Marshall and the band performing his debut album in its entirety (as was done over three nights in NYC this spring)? The answer will determine whether I’m at the Birchmere on 9/16 or at … 

 

*9/16 Kaiser Chiefs @ the 9:30.  I have yet to check out their latest material (released in a rather ingenious “create your own version of the new Kaiser Chiefs album” promotion, and incentivizing fans by paying them a pound for each copy they sell), but they’re such a great live band that being familiar with the material will hardly be a requirement to love the show. 

 

*9/25 Wilco, with Nick Lowe @ Merriweather Post Pavilion.  Why, oh why, would Wilco return to the awful-beyond-belief Merriweather after having sampled the loveliness and pristine acoustics of Wolf Trap?  And they’re compounding the insult to discerning fans by bringing the great Nick Lowe with them this time?  Bah.  Listen to Nick Lowe’s “Checkout Time,” a first glimpse of his upcoming album, The Old Magic.  Wilco’s new album, The Whole Love, drops 9/27. 

 

*9/29 Elvis Costello @ the Warner Theatre. Elvis brings his much-lauded “Revolver” tour (with its “spinning set list”) indoors following what must have been one hell of a sweaty Wolf Trap outing in June. 

 

*10/5 Jens Lekman @ 6th & I Historic Synagogue.  Touring behind a new EP, An Argument With Myself, I will sadly have to miss this one as I’ll be in L.A. for work that week.  Ah well, I was able to see Jens in Seattle a couple years back when I was there for work, so I reckon we’re even.  Listen to (and download as a free gift from Jens) “The Opposite of Hallelujah” and “You Are The Light” (coincidentally the very two songs that made me an instant fan years ago). 

 

*10/20 Jonathan Richman @ the Patterson (Baltimore).  Rather than wax rhapsodic over Jonathan myself yet again, I’m going to recommend that you check out this awesome love letter of a post that Chris Mills wrote about him for Magnet.  Listen to “That Summer Feeling” ‘cause it’s summertime!

 

*10/21 The Postelles (opening for the Wombats) @ the 9:30. Hands-down, their self-titled LP is my album of the summer, and they just this very evening announced the release ofSummer Undercovers, a brand new four-song EP of choice covers that's available as a free download on their site. Listen to "Can't Stand Still" from their debut album. 

 

10/23 Jackson Browne @ the Warner Theatre.   I’ve never seen him live, but this could be the gig that changes that.

 

*11/12 Memphis 59 @ Hill Country BBQ.  To my ears, they’re the most refreshing new alt-country band to come down the pike in years … and they’re local to D.C.!  I caught their first set at Hill Country when they played there in June, and it was a tasty mix of originals and covers, including a terrific alt-country reimagining of the ‘Mats classic “Can’t Hardly Wait.”  Listen to “Me Myself and Eyes.” 

 

*12/16 The Pietasters, with the Slackers @ the 9:30.  Christmas with the Pietasters?  A Very Pietasters Christmas?  I can’t believe I’m writing Christmas references in July…

 

* As ever, new / modified entries are denoted with an asterisk and/or boldface, take place in the D.C. area unless otherwise noted, and if you're reading it here, it’s recommended live music!

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/820229/John120.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YMO65Qyvo3v John Anderson therumpus John Anderson
Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:11:00 -0700 The Rumpus (“Hey, is the Rumpus still a thing?” edition) http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-hey-is-the-rumpus-still-a-thing-ed http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-hey-is-the-rumpus-still-a-thing-ed

Yes, yes, it’s been a while.  By way of explanation, here is a partial list of the cities I’ve been to since last we spoke:  San Francisco, Sydney, Beijing, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Austin, Atlanta, and Boston.  So, yeah, I’m dancing as fast as I can … I have, however, been diligently keeping the Rumpus Calendar up-to-date all the while, so if you missed any of the following (partial list of) shows which appeared there over the past few months, it might be time to think about subscribing to the Rumpus Calendar’s RSS Feed: Tommy Stinson, Kevin Smith, Old 97’s, the Pipettes, the Downtown Fiction, Frank Turner, Alejandro Escovedo, Steel Train, the Airborne Toxic Event, Glasvegas, Against Me!, and Brian Wilson. 

 

*6/11 The Postelles @ Red Palace.  Their debut album has only been out for under a week now, but it’s already shaping up to soundtrack my summer. Sharply observed NYC-based power pop for the 21st century?  Sign me up!  Listen to “Can’t Stand Still,” then download “123 Stop” at Amazon for free, then just buy the damn album already!

 

*6/15 Joe Ely (full band) @ the Birchmere.  The new album, Satisfied at Last, isn’t leaving me entirely, um, satisfied, so this show may be a game-time decision for me.  Of course, on the same night, competing for my concert dollar, there’s also…

 

6/15 Elvis Costello & the Imposters @ Wolf Trap.  It’s the return of the “wheel of songs,” a stunt he hasn’t pulled in decades (if I recall correctly), and given its guarantee of rarities, and an unexpected setlist in general, it’s sure to be mighty (like a rose).

 

*6/16 Chris Mills @ DC9.  One of the most criminally unknown songwriters of our time has got a new retrospective CD out (featuring a couple of new songs, so there’s something for the hardcore fans too), and is touring with just him and a drummer, which is a new configuration for Chris.  Hey, if it works for Jonathan Richman, why not Chris Mills?  Listen to “Atom Smashers.” 

 

*6/22 The Pietasters @ Lee District Park (Franconia).  Pietasters!  Ska!  Free!  “How ‘bout some Guinness?”  Listen to one of their many classics, a top 10 hit in a just world, “Out All Night.”

 

*6/23 Neil Gaiman @ the National Press Club.  6:30 p. m.  Reading from and discussing the 10th anniversary edition of American Gods.  Sold out.   

 

*6/24 The Parlotones @ Red Palace.  Caught these guys in Austin this year, and if you’ve ever wondered if a hook-filled, guitar-and-synth-centric rock band could ever hail from South Africa… well, listen to “Push Me to the Floor,” the song that initially caught my attention, and decide for yourself.

 

*6/29 Tim Easton, with the Madison Square Gardeners @ Jammin' Java. Tim Easton, a titan of Americana (whose second album featured Wilco as his backing band), paired with the power poppin’ Madison Square Gardeners, who are opening the show and backing up Tim?  How can that possibly disappoint?  Listen to Tim Easton’s “Next to You,” and the Madison Square Gardeners’ “Record Store.”

 

*7/15 Harper Blynn, with the Damnwells @ Royal Lake Park, Fairfax.  It’s Friday night at a lakeside park in Fairfax, it’s a couple of tasty power pop bands out of NYC, and it’s free.  Any questions?  Listen to Harper Blynn’s “Bound to Break,” and the Damnwells’ “55 Pictures.”

 

*7/16 Jesse Malin & the St. Mark's Social, with Biters @ Ottobar (Baltimore) I’m so excited for this show that it’s stupid.  For what will be the final leg of the Love it to Life tour, with Jesse and the band firing on all cylinders, they’ll be joined by Biters, about whom I crafted a love letter of a post for Twangville as part of my coverage of this year’s SXSW. Listen to Jesse’s “Burning the Bowery,” and listen to Biters’ “Born to Cry” and “Melody for Lovers” from my Twangville review.

 

*7/22 Reckless Kelly @ the 9:30.  Is it safe to return after the lamentable jamband impression they delivered when they played the State a year or two ago?  I dunno, but it’s a moot point for me (since I’ll be in NYC, having seen the potent power pop of the Nats and Paul Collins’ Beat the night before), but if anyone goes and would care to report back, I’d sure like to know.  Listen to “Best Forever Yet.”

 

*8/5 Archers of Loaf @ the Black Cat.  Aw, hell yeah.  I love me some Crooked Fingers and all, but long before there was ever a Crooked Fingers, there was Archers of Loaf, heroes of the Chapel Hill indie sound of the ‘90s.  They’ve reunited for a tour, and D.C. is one of the tour stops.  Sold out.

 

*8/8 Fake Problems @ the Red Palace.  Their last D.C. show was cancelled due to a blizzard in the northeast, but I was fortunate enough to catch them last month while in Atlanta on a business trip.  Having now seen them in Austin, Richmond, and Atlanta, it’ll be nice to finally see the band (whose Real Ghosts Caught on Tape was among my top 5 albums of 2010) at “home.”  Listen to “Soulless” at their MySpace.

 

*8/13 & 8/14 Steve Earle and the Dukes (& Duchesses) featuring Alison Moorer @ the Birchmere.  Yes, the ticket price is admittedly more than a little bit steep, but it’s Steve Earle at the Birchmere with a full band.  Need I say more?  Listen to “This City,” Steve’s killer track written about New Orleans and Katrina for Treme, and which closes his new album.

 

*8/14 Alkaline Trio @ the Black Cat.  It’s been a few years since I’ve seen these guys, and since this is their first time back in D.C. after years of Baltimore dates, it might be necessary to cast a vote for D.C. being included again as a regular tour stop.  Listen to the cleverly titled “Dine, Dine, My Darling” (yes, Alk3 is a band that’s never shied away from their adulation of the Misfits).

 

*8/27 The Pietasters@ Jammin' Java.  I should think that it’s well past time for the ska revolution to arrive in the sleepy burg of Vienna, VA.  Listen to one of their many classics, a top 10 hit in a just world, “Out All Night.”

 

*9/1 The Hold Steady @ the 9:30.  Much as I love ‘em, I don’t know that I necessarily need to see them again on this tour, but if you dig ‘em and haven’t already seen ‘em with the new, keyboard-less lineup, you have no excuse.  Listen to “Hurricane J.”, the latest album’s best song, inspired by Richard Price’s “Lush Life” (and yes, I loved the song before I learned that bit of literary trivia).

 

*9/6 The National @ Merriweather Post.  Yuck to Merriweather, but Listen to their new song, “Think You Can Wait,” from the movie Win Win, streaming at the official movie site.

 

*9/12 George Pelecanos @ Politics & Prose.  With The Cut, dropping 8/29, Pelecanos introduces his newest character, Spero Lucas.  He’ll be reading and signing copies at P&P.

 

*10/23 Jackson Browne @ the Warner Theatre.   I’ve never seen him live, but this could be the gig that changes that.

 

 

* As ever, new / modified entries are denoted with an asterisk and/or boldface, take place in the D.C. area unless otherwise noted, and if you're reading it here, it's recommended!

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/820229/John120.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YMO65Qyvo3v John Anderson therumpus John Anderson
Sat, 22 Jan 2011 08:44:00 -0800 The Rumpus ("Yo, Jojo!" special edition) http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-yo-jojo-special-edition http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-yo-jojo-special-edition
I have no idea how I managed to forget to include these shows when I assembled the latest Rumpus earlier this week, but it struck me like a thunderbolt that I had done so yesterday.  Suffice it to say, however, I did a little happy Jojo dance when these shows were first announced, and promptly added them to the Rumpus Google Calendar, but somehow forgot to add the listings to the Word doc I keep...


*2/26 Jonathan Richman @ the 9:30.  His new album, O Moon, Queen of Night on Earth, is his best since 2004’s Not So Much to Be Loved as to Love, but that’s neither here nor there since what really matters is Jonathan Richman is coming back to town, people!  A singular talent, Jonathan is one of my all-time favorite artists to see live, truly one of the highest order of “ya gotta see ‘em live” performers.  So, it’s clear what I’m saying here, right?  Listen to “I Was the One She Came For.”

*2/27 Jonathan Richman @ the 8x10 (Baltimore).  See above.  It’s a Jojo-rrific weekend in the D.C. area!

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/820229/John120.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YMO65Qyvo3v John Anderson therumpus John Anderson
Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:12:00 -0800 The Rumpus (“Whoops, There Goes Another Year” edition http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-whoops-there-goes-another-year-edi http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-whoops-there-goes-another-year-edi

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Yes, yes, let’s all agree that I suck for not having released a new Rumpus in months and just move on, shall we?

Actually, before we do so, if I may say a few words in my defense, I did go “dark” during the slowest months of the year in terms of announcements of new/worthy shows/tours, as evidenced by just how few new listings you’ll find below for the months ahead.  The good news, however, is that the South-by Effect, when bands begin routing tours around SXSW in mid-March is just around the corner, so happy times will soon be here again.

Onward!

*2/1-2/2 Girl Talk @ the 9:30.  The good news:  Girl Talk’s new album, All Day, is available as a free-and-legal download… and it’s awesome.  The bad news:  Both shows sold out instantly, and nobody I know (your humble reporter, alas, included) was successful in scoring even a single ticket for either night.  Here’s hoping for a ticket drop or a sighting of that rarity of rarities, a non-scumbag-wannabe-scalper surfacing on Craigslist looking to sell extras at face value.  Of course, if all else fails, there are always bound to be extras floating around outside at face value on the night of the show.  In the meantime, I’ll just be over here listening to All Day again… ‘cause that sucker is a guaranteed mood-enhancer.  Listen to All Day - in its entirety, of course, as intended and as precision-crafted for maximum effect.  (Update: Happily, since originally writing the above, I have scored a pair on Craigslist for face + fees.  It’s always nice to be reminded that not everybody selling tickets there is out to gouge fans.)

2/5-2/6 Chromeo @ the 9:30.  Chromeo’s set at this year’s Virgin Festival was far and away the highlight set of the festival for me.  Presenting a seamless blend of some of the most infectious electronic sounds and styles of the ‘70s, ‘80s, and today, and blending it with genuine heart and soul, this Canadian duo has got it all going on.  Listen to “Bonafied Lovin’” at Chromeo’s MySpace (bearing in mind that while the studio recordings are quite good, as with so many bands appearing in this space, the live show is truly where the magic is).  First night sold out, but a second night has been added.

*2/13 Henry Rollins @ National Geographic Live.  Celebrating his 50th birthday in the city of his birth with a pair of spoken word shows focusing (as befits the venue) on his travel adventures ‘round the globe.  Alas, both shows sold out before I had a chance to act on the news that they were occurring.  Looks like I’m in for another exciting round of Ticket Quest (see Girl Talk listing above).  Sigh.

* 2/14 Josh Ritter @ the 9:30 Club.  The anchor show for Josh’s special “Valentines Brawl” February tour, this one promises to be something special … but it’s already sold out, so if you and your baby were planning on going, I hope you got tickets already.  (If not, see the Girl Talk listing above for your instructions.)  Listen to “Lantern” from the latest album, or better yet, check out the video for “The Curse” and prepare to be wowed.  Seriously, if you have a heart, prepare for it to melt upon viewing this video. 

*2/18-2/19 Second annual Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival @ National Harbor.  Last year’s inaugural offering was a blast, despite the too-long lines for fresh-shucked oysters, but it sounds as if they’ve straightened out the kinks and there should be smooth sailing ahead with this year’s model.

*2/19 The Downtown Fiction @ Jammin’ Java. I haven’t seen these Fairfax-based purveyors of Indie Pop Rocks since the South-by show I blogged for Twangville last year, and to say that I’m looking forward to this hometown throwdown would be an understatement.  Listen to “Living Proof.”  Warning: It’s so hook-filled that one might get stuck in you.

*2/25 Marshall Crenshaw @ Jammin’ Java.  Billed as “An Evening with Marshall Crenshaw,” this feels like the perfect opportunity for me to reconnect with Marshall Crenshaw seeing as the last time I saw him play live was at a Q107-sponsored show at Lake Reston back in the early ‘80s back when he was a prince of power pop.  Note: This is an early show with a 7:30 start, and will be over before 10 due to…

*2/25 Griffin House @ Jammin’ Java.  A late show (10 p.m.) taking place at Jammin’ Java immediately following the Marshall Crenshaw gig listed above.  It’s singer-songwriter night in Vienna, folks!  Listen to “If You Want To,” the song of Griffin’s that caught my ear in last year’s South-by .mp3 torrent.

*3/6 The Ready Set, with the Downtown Fiction (and others) @ Rams Head Live (Baltimore).  Billed as the “Glamour Kills” tour, it’s like a mini-version of the Indie Pop Rocks set referenced above that I caught in Austin last year, what with two of the three bands I saw that night performing on this bill.  Check out the “Love Like Woe” video.

*3/8-3/9 The Pogues @ the 9:30 Club.  Ah, ‘tis the return of one of my favorite annual traditions, the Pogues’ St. Patrick’s Day American Cash-Grab.  Sláinte!

 

* As ever, new / modified entries are denoted with an asterisk and/or boldface, take place in the D.C. area unless otherwise noted, and if you're reading it here, it's recommended!

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/820229/John120.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YMO65Qyvo3v John Anderson therumpus John Anderson
Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:25:00 -0700 The Rumpus (“Now Even More Social Medialicous!” edition) http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-now-even-more-social-medialicous-e http://therumpus.posterous.com/the-rumpus-now-even-more-social-medialicous-e

10/26 Social Distortion, with Lucero, and Frank Turner @ the 9:30.  OK, this is just an insanely cool triple-bill, and seriously, how often does that happen?  Only know Social D from their early ‘90s hits?  Well, they’re still tearing it up, and the power of the live show is undeniable.  Lucero are their brothers in punk spirit, though rather than aping Social D’s brand of punkabilly, Lucero have carved out their own brand of bourbon-soaked, country-accented rock (and, with their most recent release, have made a latter-day masterpiece of horn-fueled southern soul).  As for Frank Turner, well, just imagine a younger (but just as passionate, just as political, and just as angry) Billy Bragg, and you’ll be in the neighborhood.  Listen to “Far Behind” at Social Distortion’s MySpace, the Love and Rockets-referencing “The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo” at Lucero’s, and “Try This at Home” at Frank Turner’s. Sold out.

*10/26 Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the True Loves @ Jammin’ Java.  Paperboy’s retro-soul sounds represent door number two of three can’t-miss picks for your live music dollar this Tuesday.  If Social D and Lucero’s growly vocals and muscular punk/rock sounds aren’t exactly your speed, maybe Paperboy’s smooth blue-eyed soul sounds will fit the bill?  Listen to the Philly soultastic sound of “Come and Get It” at Paperboy’s MySpace.

*10/26 VENUE CHANGE, as all shows at DC-9 are cancelled for the foreseeable future.  This show will now take place at the Rock 'n' Roll Hotel:  Gentleman Jesse & His Men @ DC-9.  Can’t get into the sold out Social D / Lucero show?  One block away at DC-9, Gentleman Jesse & His Men, power pop purveyors of the highest order, have got the cure for what ails you.  I’ve seen them twice now, and the last time through town they brought a boatload of killer new songs with them.  From what I heard that night, the follow-up to Introducing Gentleman Jesse may very well be even better than that tasty debut.  Listen to “Don’t Wanna Know,” one of the new songs, at Gentleman Jesse’s MySpace.

10/27 Me First & the Gimme Gimmes, with Teenage Bottlerocket @ the Black Cat.  What we have right here is the punk rock double-bill of the season, my friends.  For those not in the know, the Gimme Gimmes are a veritable punk supergroup, and they’re also the World’s Coolest Cover Band.  Their schtick is to take massive hit songs that everybody knows, and puckishly punk ‘em up.  Teenage Bottle rocket kicks a bunch of ass too, so get there early to see them for sure.  Listen to “The Boxer” at the Gimme Gimmes MySpace, and listen to “Radio” at Teenage Bottlerocket’s MySpace.

*10/29 Stereo Skyline, opening for the Summer Set @ Jammin’ Java.  Speaking of peerless pop, Stereo Skyline dabbles in a little sub-genre which I like to call “Indie Pop Rocks” (and to which I wrote a love letter of a blog post for Twangville earlier this year).  Their debut album came out over the summer and it’s a more polished affair than was their irresistible debut EP (most especially the insanely catchy bubblegum pop of “Heartbeat,” which appears again on the album, albeit in an overproduced version), but their pop hooks pack an undeniably top-40-sized wallop. Listen to “A Little More Us” at Stereo Skyline’s MySpace.  Warning: It’s so sweet that you might want to have your toothbrush nearby.  Sold out.

*11/4 Moneybrother, opening for Bedouin Soundclash @ the RnRH.  The too-short set opening for Jesse Malin last month at DC-9 didn’t scale the heights of the world-beating SXSW showcase I saw them play a few years back, but at least one band member was clearly new at the time, and I’ve got to figure that with another couple of months of touring under their belt, they’ll be be fully in the groove by now (and, one hopes, playing a set list that includes more of the earlier classics than were presented on the tour with Jesse Malin; which is not  to say that the new album isn’t great though!).  None of their very best songs are available on their MySpace, so check out the studio version of “Reconsider Me” (the song of theirs that initially caught my ear) at YouTube.

11/13 Sarah Vowell @ Lisner.  David Sedaris, the first half of what was originally sold as a literary comedy package of sorts, was a riot earlier this month, and Sarah Vowell will no doubt hold up her share of the bargain, and then some.  I’m pretty sure that a Rumpus “subscriber” has a (great) ticket available for this show, so drop me a line if you’re interested.  Warning: You may have to sit next to me.

*11/29 Brandon Flowers (of the Killers) @ the 9:30.  Flamingo, Flowers’ first solo effort, may not often sound like a Killers album (though it certainly does at times), but that’s all to the good, as he’s written what could easily be construed as a thematic sequel to Sam’s Town, and Flamingo boasts at least as many great songs as that early Killers effort.  Alas, none of the best songs are available to stream in their entirety, but listen to (the studio versions of) “Hard Enough” (feat. Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis), “Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts,” and/or “Was it Something I Said?” on YouTube, and I trust you’ll see what I mean.

*12/1 Free Energy, with Foxy Shazam @ the RnRH.  What’s that you say?  Two of my favorite new acts (and makers of two of my favorite albums) of the year on the same bill?  Oh, hell yeah.  Check out what I had to say about the first time I saw Foxy Shazam in the Twangville post where I described them as the “most indescribably awesome new band of SXSW 2010.” ‘Nuff said.  As for Free Energy, I’ve seen them three times already this year and the live show only gets better and better (and the debut album, Stuck on Nothing, produced by LCD Soundsystem’s  James Murphy, is as infectious a slab of pop goodness as you’re likely to hear this year), and I’ve been fortunate to see them joined onstage for my favorite song (“Bang Pop”) by their previous tourmates Mates of State and Titus Andronicus already … if that streak continues with a guest appearance by Foxy Shazam on 12/1, I might just float out of the building that night.  Listen to “Bang Pop” at Free Energy’s MySpace, and “Wanna-be Angel” at Foxy Shazam’s MySpace.

*12/2 fun., Steel Train, and the Postelles @ the 9:30.  Are you kidding me?  Combined with the “Foxy Energy” show the night before, these two shows represent the finest non-South-by back-to-back nights of live music of the year for me … five amazing bands over two nights in two D.C. venues, every one of which puts on a Rumpus-certified terrific live show.  Outside of Austin in March, back-to-back nights of live music pretty much don’t get any better than this, folks.  Listen to “The Gambler” or “All the Pretty Girls” at fun.’s MySpace, “Bullet” at Steel Train’s MySpace, and “123 Stop” at the Postelles’ MySpace.

*12/9 Crooked Fingers @ Iota.  Though it pains me to say, their live show and set list selection often doesn’t live up to the majesty of their recorded artistry, but there’s an ever-present fragile beauty to the live show nonetheless.  (But damn, if ever there were a band I wish I could write the set l list for…)  Listen to “Sleep All Summer” (aka gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh) at Crooked Fingers’ MySpace.

*12/15 Jesse Malin & the St. Mark’s Social, with Marah @ Jammin’ Java.  Bringing their “It Came Upon a Midnight Beer” Rock & Roll Christmas Show to the NoVA ‘burbs, this one promises to be a special night.  Over the years, I’ve logged many hundreds of miles to see (separately) both of these artists play Christmas shows, and some of those were among the best shows I’ve ever seen Marah and Jesse Malin play.  Bringing a Christmas Show on the road, and featuring both bands?  Genius!  Unless you’re a rock ‘n’ roll-hating Grinch, you won’t want to miss this.  Listen to “Burning the Bowery” at Jesse Malin’s MySpace, and “Angels of Destruction” at Marah’s MySpace.

*2/5 Chromeo @ the 9:30.  Chromeo’s set at this year’s Virgin Festival was far and away the highlight set of the festival for me.  Presenting a seamless blend of some of the most infectious electronic sounds and styles of the ‘70s, ‘80s, and today, and blending it with genuine heart and soul, this Canadian duo has got it all going on.  Listen to “Bonafied Lovin’” at Chromeo’s MySpace (bearing in mind that while the studio recordings are quite good, as with so many bands appearing in this space, the live show is truly where the magic is).

* As ever, new / modified entries are denoted with an asterisk and boldface, take place in the D.C. area unless otherwise noted, and if you're reading it here, it's recommended!

Reminder: I’ve created a Google calendar for the Rumpus and it’s been marked public so, if you’re so inclined, you’re welcome to subscribe to it via RSS (and thus find out about new Rumpus-worthy shows when they’re announced/added to the calendar and without having to wait for me to get around to actually scribing a new edition).  Here’s the XML for RSS readers, and here’s the URL to view it as a calendar.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/820229/John120.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YMO65Qyvo3v John Anderson therumpus John Anderson
Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:13:00 -0700 So, What's the Rumpus? http://therumpus.posterous.com/so-what-is-the-rumpus http://therumpus.posterous.com/so-what-is-the-rumpus

So, what's the Rumpus, you ask?  In brief, it’s the primary outlet I’ve employed (for over a decade now) in doing my bit to turn cool people onto cool music, and to (ideally) get said cool people out of the house and experiencing said cool music in a live setting. 

There are a couple of other things I should probably mention.  The first is that the Rumpus isn’t entirely music-based, as other cultural events (e.g., notable author readings, film festivals, shows at art museums) also appear with regularity, but the vast majority of the content you’ll see here is going to be music-centric, and all of the content is a result of my particular tastes and passions.  If it turns out that you share those tastes, we should get along famously.  If not, well, there are a million other music blogs out there.  The other item of note is that, unless noted otherwise, all of the events included in the Rumpus take place in the Washington, D.C. area.  Hint: If you live in a major U.S. city (or even a semi-major one), odds are probably good that the same bands will be visiting your town too, so if you hear something you dig here, I encourage you to check your local listings. 

Anyway, after years of listening to a variety of friends encourage me to create the Rumpus as a blog (rather than just the limited-by-design email version), I’ve finally decided to take the plunge.  With thanks to my friend Sean for suggesting that Posterous would offer the perfect solution, in that I could simply keep doing what I’ve always done, and just add one more email address to the email distro (the Posterous address for this page), I ultimately came around and decided to make it so.  I don’t foresee gussying it up for the online edition, but I suppose anything’s possible.

I should also note that I did take one baby step along the way to committing to the Rumpus as a blog, and that was when I posted the most recent “edition”  over on my friend John Scalzi’s Whatever blog during a six-week guest blogging stint I did in that space.  That "test pressing" seemed to be pretty well received, so I’d like to thank Whatever readers (and, especially, commenters) for providing the final impetus I needed to set the Rumpus free from its email shackles and try and make its way in the world. 

After all, I’ve gotta figure that by widening the potential audience of the Rumpus via Posterous, I’m far more likely to accomplish its primary goals (recap: turning cool people onto cool music, and getting said people out of the house and experiencing said music in a live setting more often), so what the hell, why not go ahead and add my voice as just one more drop in the ocean of amateur rock writers out there in the blogosphere?

I’ll leave you with this, and then we’ll get this party started:

Discover some new music … go see some live shows … like milk, it does a body good.

 Even more importantly, it’s good for the soul.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/820229/John120.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YMO65Qyvo3v John Anderson therumpus John Anderson