Tonight there’s not many shows on the outskirts but here in Baltimore there’s a few events that should be solid if you’re interested.  First Big In Japan starts their every Sunday in August ritual at the Wind Up Space.  Also if you’re looking for a good old fashioned Sunday charmer of a show head over to El Rancho Grande to see Sean Walsh and the National Reserve, Paul Masson, and Benjamin Pranger.  Finally for a night of noise, wonder, and beautiful loudness head over to the Talking Head to check Heavy Hands, Sri Aurobindo, and Weekends.  Enjoy!

The first day of August is here and apparently Baltimore just remembered that it’s supposed to be sweaty, hot, and humid in the summer.  Dang…I was hoping it forgot.  Anywho there’s a slew of shows to help keep your mind off the heat and it starts right here in town.  Tonight there’s a can’t miss show at the Golden West Cafe with the soft sounds of Peter & The Wolf, MacGregor Burns, Soft Cat, and Beans.  Over at Sonar Jason Dove plays with The Pietasters, The Players Band, Brutal Truth, Pig Destroyer, and Triac while the Ottobar has Polvo, Free Electric State, and Magic Babies.  Down in DC Comet Ping Pong has Sean Welsh & The National Reserve, David Shultz and the Skyline and Carlos I’m Pregnant.  Also Tori Amos plays Constitution Hall while Foreign Born rocks the Rock and Roll Hotel with The Veils and Faces on Film.  Up north in Philly Free Energy takes on the Fillmore at the TLA with Tinted Windows and Locksley while the Morning After Girls hit up the 941 Theater with Three 4 Tens and Adam & Dave’s Bloodline.  Enjoy!

mp3: Foreign Born – Union Hall

mp3: Free Energy – Dream City

mp3: Peter and the Wolf – Holy Water

Tonight in Baltimore don’t miss out on the craziness of the Dan Deacon Round Robin at Sonar with Deerhunter, No Age, Ed Schrader, White Rainbow, and Infinite Body also performing.  That’s on the main stage.  On the club stage another great Tax Lo Dance Party is in effect with Dave Nada, Simon Phoenix, Cullen Stalin, and Jackie O.  Meanwhile also right next to that the Talking Head has a benefit show for Shannyn with Love Or Perish, Sick Weapons, The Art Department, and Future Islands on the bill.  Down in DC M. Ward plays another night at the 9:30 Club with Chain and the Gang while Shortstack, Lorelei, and The Moderate play the Black Cat.  Up north in Philly Foreign Born play Johnny Brenda’s with the Veils and Faces On Film while Soft Power and Gildon Works take on Kung Fu Necktie.  Also the Danger Danger Gallery has Ear Pwr, Lovvers, Popo, Toro Y Moi!  Enjoy!

mp3: Dan Deacon – Build Voice

mp3: Deerhunter – Rainwater Cassette Exchange

mp3: Future Islands – Little Dreamer

Photos of Future Islands by Abe Sanders

Tonight down in DC M. Ward takes on the 9:30 Club with Chain and The Gang whilst Poor But Sexy, XYZ Affair and Prabir and the Substitutes kill it at DC9.  Also the Fort Reno extravaganza continues with Title Tracks, Casper Bangs, and Grendel Babies.  Across the way in Arlington Iota has a good one with Cass McCombs, Jennifer O’Connor, and Mike Bones.  Up north in Philly there’s a plethora of shows tonight including Birdie Busch, Drew mills, and Le Fits at Kung Fu Necktie.  Also Cage plays the First Unitarian Church, Fleet Foxes hit up the Electric Factory with Espers, and Polvo rock Johnny Brenda’s with Obits.  Finally the famous duo of Billy Joel and Elton John play Citizens Bank Park.  Enjoy!

mp3: Cass McCombs -  Dreams Come True Featuring Karen Black

mp3: M. Ward – One Hundred Million Years

mp3: Polvo – Beggars Bowl

Photo of M. Ward by Wendy Peyton

It’s Wednesday y’all so why not spice it up a bit and head on down to Rams Head Live here in Bmore to catch some Wu-flavor with Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Redman.  If that’s not your style then perhaps you’d be down for …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, FFHH, Squaaks, and Eat People who play the Ottobar.  Or perhaps you were one of the lucky fans who obtained tickets to one of the two sold out Fleet Foxes shows at the 9:30 Club tonight down in DC.  Espers opens for them both times.  If you want a larger style show/venue then maybe the Green Day/Kaiser Chiefs event at the Verizon Center is where you’ll be.  Also a much more intimate, yet still off the charts show will be at DC9 when Cage plays.  Watch out!  Up north in Philly Destroyer and Iran continue their tour with a stop at the First Unitarian Church while the Yeah Yeah Yeahs show their bones when they blitz into The Electric Factory with Devlin And Darko and Amanda Blank.  Also Illinois and The Builders and the Butcher play Johnny Brenda’s while Neko Case and Jason Lytle take on the Kimmel Center.  Enjoy!

mp3: Ghostface Killah – One

mp3: Cage – Ballad Of Worms

mp3: Fleet Foxes – Heard Them Stirring

Photo of Cage

Tonight in Baltimore Neko Case brings her cyclone of sound to the Rams Head Live and has a special guest, Jason Lytle!  Down in DC Destroyer and Iran play the Black Cat while Illinois and The Builders and the Butchers play DC9 – both sweet shows if I do say so myself.   Also in DC are Black Gold who play the Rock and Roll Hotel.  But the mega show is in Virginia at everyone’s favorite venue Nissan Pavilion.  Depeche Mode are playing there and Peter Bjorn and John open for them.  Wow.

mp3: Depeche Mode – Something To Do

mp3: Destroyer – Your Blood

mp3: Black Gold – Plans and Reveries

mp3: Neko Case – The Next Time You Say Forever

Photo of Illinois

Tonight in Baltimore is  the super sweet show of Black Moth Super Rainbow and Dan Friel at the Ottobar.  Should be fun for all – sonically and visually.  Down in DC there’s another good one at Fort Reno with Pree, North America, and Stoney Lonesome.  Also up north in Philly Cast Spells take their tour with So Many Dynamos to Danger Danger Gallery.  Many Arms is also on the bill.  Enjoy!

mp3: Black Moth Super Rainbow – Tooth Decay

mp3: Cast Spells – Potted Plant