So last we left the list I had just talked about the great show with the lovely Pipettes and oh so talented sisters Smoosh.  Now we continue with the reviews: 

Bloc Party - DAR Constitution Hall
www.myspace.com/blocparty

Well this was actually the night after the Pipettes show and the only real reason I remember that is because two girls from the Pipettes show were also at the Bloc Party show wearing the exact same dresses (they were cute so I took a longer look than normal, im male, sue me).  Anyway, the last time I had been to Constitution Hall was for my high school graduation, so its been a few years.  There was assigned seating which was nice for the most part because the opening bands werent really that hot and standing during bad bands gets quite annoying.  The Annuals started the show and did an ok job.  They had many songs that were just sounded so unoriginal and bland.  I felt like I was listening to something created and mass marketed by a music label that has never listened to original song in their life.  To The Annuals' credit though, they did have some original songs, but they were few and far between.  I heard they did a better job of it at Bonaroo, so maybe they have improved sence then and they already have a good start with a guitarist that was really kick ass, that kid has a future.

The next band to open was The Noisettes.  I dont really want to go into my issues with this band, but lets just say they lived up to their name.  The band is really talented musically, but the lead singer just sweaks every other verse.  I wanted to claw my way through my ears to my brain just to make the pain stop.  Almost as bad as the second opening band for The Faint.

Finally Bloc Party came on.  Thank God.  What a total 180, these guys were so amazing.  I wasnt in to them that much, just listened to their newest CD a few times, but man did they make my interest in them go way up.  The lead singer moved around, hit all his notes and just got the crowd hugely involved.  Everyone was on their feet dancing the whole time dancing to Bloc Party bringing the house down.  They played a mixture between A Weekend in the City and Silent Alarm and seemed to play every crowd favorite they had.  Bloc Party played a really long set, close to two hours that included two separate encoures.  The first one was three songs long with many great solos and audience involvement.  The second one was only one song, but had the lead singer running through the middle of the floor and singing on top of a chair.  The whole performance was simply electrifying and I cant wait for the next one.

The Sea and Cake / Loney Dear - Black Cat (Main Stage)
www.myspace.com/seaandcake / www.myspace.com/loneydear

I put these guys together because originally I went to this show to see Loney Dear as I had no real idea who The Sea and Cake were.  They were the headlining band so I pretty much got an extra performance out of it.  Anyway, the opening band were The Zincs (www.myspace.com/thezincs) from Chicago.  I dont think anyone in the place knew who they were, but it turns out we were all plesently suprised when they started their set.  They seemed to be pumped to be playing in DC and it was also their last show with Sea and Cake / Loney Dear.  They played a very energy filled show that had everyone dancing.  I really hope they come back again, their mixing style of rock between indie and alternative worked really well for them.

Next up was Loney Dear.  This was the show I had been waiting for ever sence I discovered him (them) on KEXP.  The band played lots of songs from the newest record to much acclaim from the audience.  Everyone went crazy when Saturday Waits and I Am John came on.  It was a great set with lots of talking to the audience (I always like when the band is personable) and great music.  I was really happy to catch them before they took an extended break from touring in the US.

The Sea and Cake then came on.  I didn't really know any of their music and still don't really as they play a little mellower stuff than I like, but their live show was really good.  One of the guitarists had something like 10-15 footpetals, it was pretty crazy.  The people in the crowd that knew them (pretty much everyone that was there) went crazy for what I can guess were some of their favorites.  During a couple of the songs they had some great solos, guitar and drums alike.  I would definately go see them again so I hope they come back to DC sometime soon.

The National - 930 Club
www.myspace.com/thenational

Man, I had been looking forward to this show for awile.  I actually got my dad to take some pictures, but all but one I think came out blurry, so I may upload that one later on and edit it in, but probably not.  Anyway, I got there early enough to catch all of the acts, but I dont really remember the names of the two opening acts.

The first act was a duo playing drums and the violin with a laptop to help flesh out the rest of the "band."  They played a pretty good set and it was all instrumental music which I enjoy quite a lot.  There weren't too many people there, which meant I got to get up pretty close which was nice.  At the end of their set some of the guys from The National came out with a cake as it was the drummer's birthday.  They got the whole place to sing happy birthday to him, it was great.

The next band was pretty interesting, as I guess all bands from Montreal.  They were really young kids that seemed like they hadn't really found their sound yet.  They were all over the place and it made it really hard to get into and I think that was their problem.  They would have a great indie song then go into more mainstream pop then start a soulful ballad.  The female vocalist that sang the ballads and some of the songs had a beautiful voice and I think these guys would be really successful if they stuck to a more well defined sound, but I am the last one to try and tell a band how to play their own music.  I would never try to restrict someone's creative inspirations, so if they are sucessful doing what they love then more power to them, it is just not for me and not everything is.

Finally came the national.  I was supposed to meet a coworker but she ended up getting 2/3 of the way there and then the mob would not let her go any further, haha.  The show was actually broadcast and recoreded on npr and you can download the show at: All Songs Considered.  So anyway, this was the first time for me seeing the National live and I couldn't have been more excited.  After listening to Boxer over and over I couldnt wait to see these guys perform my favorite songs live.  They did a really great job mixing in most of the new songs and a bunch from Alligator.  My favorite song on Boxer is "Green Gloves" and I was scared they weren't going to play it, but thankfully it was the first song in their three song encore.  There were plenty of amazing solos during the songs and Matt's vocals and enthusiasm were on all night.  They finished out the show with the greatest version of "Abel" I have seen/heard ever.  Pitchfork actually has a video of it from last year's Pitchfork Music Festival: Here.  It was a great night and they are coming back for a two night stay the 6th and 7th of september so be on the lookout for that!

Avi & Celia - Madam's Organ
www.myspace.com/aviandcelia

This was a pretty crazy night that ended up with a coworker passed out on a toilet for an hour in a half in another coworker's apartment (on a wednesday).  This has nothing to do with music, but I thought it was a funny annicdote and he's not going to live that down for awile.  All in good fun.  Anyway, back to the music.  These guys are a bluegrass band from Vermont that I was introduced to by a coworker.  They were making their way up and down the east coast and we were lucky enough to get them to stop in DC.  I almost didn't get because I was 4 days from turning 21 and they started carding 15 minutes early.  However, because my coworker rocks and she works there part time, she got me in and the rest, they say, is history.  Avi and Celia played two 45 minute to an hour sets with songs from their cd (which I purchased and have listened to a bunch...it's great) and lots of old bluegrass favorites.  Everyone in the bar was really feeling them and lots of dancing and drinking was involved.  They were really fun people and we got to hang out with them in the bar afterwards.  I look forward to their return.

The Tin Can Band / Slumber / Hinges / Rifle Recoil - Rivendale
www.myspace.com/thetincanband
www.myspace.com/theslumber
www.myspace.com/hinges
www.myspace.com/riflerecoil

This wasn't really a show per-se but it was a bunch of my favorite bands/friends getting together for the sake of great music.  Tin Can Band started off with some great songs with back up and by himself.  It was a good set, got the energy pumped through to everyone there ready for a great night.

Next up was my good friend Slumber.  We all know how awesome he is and I can't really put into words the excitement I felt after hearing the set, but I will try.  He started off with the band consisting of his brother on base, Hinges doing back-up guitar/vocals and piano, and one other on drums.  They started out with a three song piece that included I'll be your friend and Wine.  Unfortuneately I dont remember the other song.  I do, however, remember that I closed my eyes during part of it and realized that I could be at any of the major venues in DC because they were that good.  The guitar, drum and base solos were some of the best I've ever heard.  After the piece was finished (about 10-15 minutes long) I still had the music flowing through me and it brought me to my feet cheering, something that has never happened before.  The rest of the set was equally as good, with Slumber doing a few solos.  I can't wait for this guy to finish his CD and get his amazing talent out to the world.

Next up was Hinges and I always look forward to his sets.  He did some great work and had a back-up band as well including Slumber, Sam, and Will on drums.  There may have been one other person, but I'm not sure.  Hinges played a bunch of songs from his forthcoming CD (so much good music coming soon!) and some oldies as well.  The good tunes just kept flowing and everyone was vibbing with them.

Last up was our friend and experimental musician extrodinare Rifle Recoil.  If you have never seen him live, it is pretty hard to describe as he is all over the place doing recording loops, keyboard solos and does more normal guitar/vocal songs.  For one of the songs Sam got the unfortuneate task of sitting and holding the lamp for the entire ten minute song, but he was a trooper.  The music was fantabulous, although there was no freestyling to be had as much as I wanted/shout requested it.  All in all it was great to see how much all these guys have improved over the years.  I can't wait to see what the future has in store for them and I can really see all of them getting big and touring the country.  I will post on here as soon as I know when these guys have cds released.  The after-party was lots of fun and an adventure all its own, but that is a story for another day.

George James / Middle Distance Runner - Black Cat (Main Stage)
www.myspace.com/georgiejames / www.myspace.com/middledistancerunner

Unfortuneately I cannot write a detailed review for this show.  As much as I would like to and the fact that it was only 10 days ago, the reason I cannot is that the show was only part of the nights activities instead of the main reason for going out that night.  Also, I was pretty drunk on the way there as I had been drinking for two hours already.  I arrived in the middle of the Middle Distance Runner set (har har) and enjoyed their set.  The boys are really improving with time and it seems that they will be breaking through to the national level any time now.

The real band I came to see (or was invited to see by my coworkers) was Georgie James.  I had not really heard of these guys before this unfortuneately, but was pretty blown away when I saw them.  They played a great set and really had the crowd going crazy for them.  I was dancing with the people I was with the whole time and loving the keyboard/vocals.  They came on for an encoure, but only played one song which I was pretty bummed about, but what can you do.  Definately looking out for the next show where I wont be in such an inebriated state.



Ok, well that is it for part two of the live reviews.  I will get part three up sometime this week before I go up to Connecticut to visit a friend next weekend.

It will include:
- Built To Spill
- Pela / Two If By Sea
- The Vita Ruins
- The Hailing / Slumber

I will be missing out on some great shows while I'm up in Connecticut such as the Drive By Truckers and Battles but you cant make it to them all.  If you take a look over at Instrumental Analysis they have a great calender set up with all the local shows coming up.  I am planning on going to the Zulu Pearls CD Release party at the Rock-and-Roll Hotel on the 24th and seeing Tokyo Police Club/Ra Ra Riot there on the 7th as well.  I'm hoping there are some other shows that come up (another Hailing/Slumber show is in the works for August I believe) that I get to go to as after this upcoming weekend I will be missing, the summer is kinda bare.  I'm sure I will find something and then report it back to you guys!

I am also planning on doing some CD Reviews of some of the new stuff that doesn't really get any decent recognition out there.  Right now I'm planning on reviewing Live at KEXP Vol. 3 and Sense Boardwear - Diamonds in the Ruff (Vol. 4 Compilation CD).  Later today I will also be doing my mix and Artist spotlight so check back for that.