Happy March, Readers! To celebrate the soon-to-come beginning of spring, we have our monthly preview of upcoming 9:30 Club shows. Every month, we’ll have tickets giveaways following for each show that we preview. Without further ado, The List.
Middle Brother, Wed 3/2
Yes, this is tomorrow. Watch out for the Ticket Giveaway coming up asap. Folk supergroup Middle Brother is composed of John McCauley (Deer Tick), Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit), and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) and was formerly known as MG&V. Their self-titled debut album is released today on Partisan Records, and the sold-out vinyl “Limited Edition version includes four vinyl-exclusive tracks pressed on a separate 10”, included in the packaging. Limited to 500 color pieces.” Yowza.
OMD, Thurs 3/10
OMD just started their North American tour last week in support of their eleventh studio album, History of Modern (part I). Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark have been making music since the late ’70s, and as child of the ’80s, “If You Leave” from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack is seared in my memory as the song accompanying the most romantic scene that could possibly ever exist.
Streetlight Manifesto, Sun 3/13
New Jersey ska punk band Streetlight Manifesto close out the North American leg of their Ship of Fools: Odds and Ends Tour with a stop in DC before heading overseas. A new album from Victory Records is in the works, following last year’s 99 Songs of Revolution: Vol. 1. The band prides itself on being “Seven guys, seven different musical backgrounds, seven different personalities, one band, one unique and unmistakable voice,” and are flattered by regularly receiving compliments such as, “Man, I don’t listen to this kind of music, in fact I hate most ska bands, but you guys are something else.”
DeVotchKa, Tues 3/22
Another one of our previewed bands, DeVotchKa, is releasing an album today. 100 Lovers comes out on Anti- Records and can be streamed in its entirety on NPR, who proclaim that their uniquely romantic indie rock
“…remains totally original and truly the band’s own — the flavors of Eastern Europe, dusty desert roads, Mexico and flamenco. Moody and triumphant at the same time, the sound is totally organic, with real strings, real brass, real percussion and real handclaps. And, in our culture of bedroom albums, this one stands out sonically.”
The Mountain Goats, Fri 3/25
Every year, The Mountain Goats’ “This Year” is played on repeat by those seeking to convince themselves that they have the wherewithal to get through some tough times. Thanks for giving us hope, John Darnielle; we hope that your dream of being cast on Law and Order: SVU comes true. Darnielle et al. release their new album, All Eternals Deck, through Merge Records at the end of the month, on March 29th.
Get ready for the Middle Brother Ticket Giveaway. You won’t have to wait till the Ides of March, but we’re plotting it Brutus-style, and there can only be one lucky Caesar. When the contest goes up, hop on it faster than an Easter bunny lookin for eggs.
