The Rumpus (“Hey, is the Rumpus still a thing?” edition)

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!