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!