Against Me!

Quick one for Sunday. Gainesville, Florida's socially conscious, folk influenced punk band Against Me! have a brand new album, New Wave, and a gushing review (4 1/2 stars) and interview piece in the new issue of Spin. Similar in style and content to bands like Rise Against (no relation - but you can't tell me that having the word "against" in the title of your band doesn't pigeon hole you) where Against Me! sets themselves apart is in their blatant love of folk music and those who have bridged the punk-folk gap (see Billy Bragg and Ted Leo as examples).

Check out Borne on the FM Waves (mp3) featuring Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara. It is probably the best summer song I've heard all summer.

Ian Svenonius - Talk Show Host?

If I were ever to make a list of the DC artists I 've seen at shows over the years the top spot would be a close race between Ian Svenonius (of Nation of Ulysses, Make-Up, and Weird War) and Allison Wolfe (of Bratmobile). Both are impossible to miss, with individual styles all their own. Seeing Ian at shows at the Black Cat or even around DC, I was always struck by three things. 1). He is a misleadingly small man (as is Guy Picciotto, for that matter), 2.) His hair is fucking amazing and 3.) He is the definition of sartorial. In many respects, his offstage persona was in direct opposition to his onstage persona. While onstage he is the white James Brown from PG County, offstage he appeared (to me) to be quiet and almost unapproachable.

Now Ian has his own talkshow called Soft Focus on VBS TV. Filmed live before a studio audience at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC, Ian interviews such titans of music as Chan Marshall of Cat Power, Ian Mackaye and Henry Rollins. What comes across is that Svenonius is a hilarious person asking probing questions while keeping it light. In my judgement, any person who can get Ian Mackaye to laugh on camera has got serious talent.

Check out Soft Focus on VBS TV.

Palomar - live in DC

NYC-based indie popsters (and friends of DTT) Palomar returned for a pre-Fourth of July show at the Black Cat in DC. Finishing off a 10 day mini-tour of the east coast and midwest that saw them playing with the likes of The Wrens, Bob Mould and Voxtrox, the band played a set that focused on material from their last two albums. The set opened with my son's favorite "Knitting for Pleasure" featuring Sarah Brockett's prodigious fingerwork on the bass. Other highlights included "The Planeiac", "Our Haunt", "You're Keeping Us Up" and "Albacore". The 12-year-old young man working the soundboard needed a little help in learning how to mix in vocals but despite the difficulty at times hearing Rachel Warren's voice the band sounded great. Check out their new album All Things, Forests (Misra) their best effort to date.

Our Haunt (mp3)