Author Archives: Luanne Lim

Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Olivia Jean entered the spotlight as a part of garage-goth band The Black Belles. Now, she’s ventured into the realm of solo artist with her debut LP, Bathtub Love Killings via Jack White’s Third Man Records imprint.

As critic Jim DeRogatis noted last month, “Given the way she plays with pre-Beatles pop images, as well as how she relies on sultry delivery and plenty of attitude much more than on a perfect-pitch voice, the comparison between Olivia Jean and Lana Del Rey is inevitable. But as I made abundantly clear in my reviews of Born to Die and Ultraviolence, Lana’s bad girl posing is seriously undercut by her willingness to pander to the bad boys (possibly to the point of self-abuse), while Olivia isn’t playing anyone’s game but her own, much less serving as anyone’s doormat.

“This is what makes her a true child of Wanda Jackson, one of the many artists she’s backed as part of the Third Man family and house band, and more power to her.”

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The boys are at it again! After announcing their break-up in 2006, Death from Above 1979 reunited in 2011 to appease the public demand for a performance, embarking on a year long tour. Three years later, the duo found themselves back on the road and back in the studio.

A decade since the release of their debut album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, the Canadian punk-rockers announced the release of their second album back in June. Titled The Physical World, Death from Above 1979’s latest release hit the online shelves this past September. According to Death from Above 1979 members Sebastien Grainger and Jesse Keeler, the album was “written and recorded between 2012 and 2014 in some real life Rorschach test where past and present are perfectly symmetrical and equally terrifying.”

In support of their album release, Death from Above 1979 is embarking on an international tour. The duo recently announced UK tour dates, but prior to crossing the pond, Grainger and Keeler are performing across the U.S. and Canada. Among their stops is a show at the 9:30 Club on Monday, December 1. Don’t have tickets yet? No worries, we’re giving away a pair!

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After a long interlude to pursue other careers, indie-rock band The Dismemberment Plan reunited back in 2010 to play a few shows and inevitably revive a new wave of dance punk music. Last year, the reunion extended into the studio, which produced comeback D-Plan album, Uncanney Valley. 

Formed in 1993, the DC indie-rockers paved the way for an era of dance punk, and even after the band—composed of Eric Axelson, Jason Caddell, Joe Easley, and Travis Morrison—called it quits in 2003 to pursue other goals, the fanbase they established in their prime years grew, allowing them to pick up where they left off eleven years later.

A comeback is not an easy task for most bands, but the four-piece makes it look simple. Between reissues of previous albums, the release of Uncanney Valley, and touring all over the world, The Dismemberment Plan is having a resurgence, continuing with the addition of three shows to a small string of performances. Among the three added dates is a show at the 9:30 Club on Friday, November 28—and we’re giving away a pair of tickets.

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Three years after the U.S. release of his first full-length album, singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow released his follow-up LP, Post Tropical, this past January. 

Making his music debut in 2010 with a folk, acoustic album, Early in the Morning, Irishman James Vincent McMorrow takes a new approach to his second release. Recorded in eight months on a pecan farm near the Mexican border, his second album, Post Tropical, emerged. Differing from his debut, McMorrow incorporates electronic instruments, creating a soulful, R&B sound.

Just ending the European leg of tour, McMorrow will be touring the U.S. in November. He will be performing at DC’s Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, November 8. We happen to have a pair of tickets, and we’re giving them away, along with a copy of the new album!

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Sydney-based duo The Presets are known for putting on spectacular live shows. This fall, the electronic pair will be bringing a brand new show to the U.S. as a part of this year’s Check Yo Ponytail tour.

The Presets, composed of Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes, formed in 2003. Between the two of them, the pair’s musical resume includes performances at Coachella and SXSW, as well as opening for Daft Punk. The pair has also been awarded several ARIA awards for their singles and albums. Since the release of their album Pacifica in 2012, The Presets have put out two singles, “Goodbye Future” and “No Fun” this year.

In addition to writing and producing their own music, Hamilton and Moyes have worked on songs for other artists, including Lenny Kravitz.

The Australian duo will be among the artists featured on this year’s Check Yo Ponytail Tour, hosted by IHEARTCOMIX. Begun in 2006, Check Yo Ponytail (CYP) is “an open-genre, multimedia-driven events series” that “has premiered some of today’s top performers with a few tried and true legacy acts in between,” according to CYP’s official site.

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Swedish band Little Dragon captivates audiences with songs that are as fantastical as the mythical creature in their name. 

The synthpop four-piece comprises Yukumi Nagano, Fredrick Wallin, Håkan Wirenstrand, and Erik Bodin. The quartet formed in 1996 and has released four albums. Their fourth and most recent album, Nabuma Rubberband, was released this past May. Nabuma Rubberband takes on a different approach than its predecessors, having been inspired by “Janet Jackson’s slow jams Yukumi used to listen to walking around Gothenberg during the unrelenting winter,” according to a statement released by the band.

To promote the new album, Little Dragon is playing a handful of dates in America as a part of an international tour. Among these is a stop at D.C.’s Echostage next Wednesday, October 15, and we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away!

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Officially welcome the month of October by rocking out with some scientists… as in the band We Are Scientists.

We Are Scientists is an interesting name for a group of indie-rockers, but it is slightly less obvious than “We Are Musicians.” Scientists of music, the three-piece comprising Keith Murray, Chris Cain, and Andy Burrows formed over a decade ago. After meeting while attending college in California, the band relocated to New York to record their debut album. Twelve years after the release of their first album titled Bitching!, We Are Scientists released their fifth studio album TV en Français this past March.

The band is currently on an international tour—the “Spatter Analysis Tour” has the band on the road throughout the month of October. This Friday, October 3, We Are Scientists are performing at U Street Music Hall along with Surfer Blood and Eternal Summers. If you haven’t bought tickets yet, no worries! We’re giving away a pair!

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Just recently Trampled by Turtles released their ironically named album Wild Animals. 

Maybe it’s not so ironic… but the album marks the seventh release for the Minnesota-based band. Refusing to be defined by a singular genre, the five-piece has been blending elements of various genres, forming a different, hybrid sound that continues to evolve with each new release. Wild Animals, according to the band’s official bio, “is the sound of a band at the peak of their potential, strengthened from a decade together, winning some and losing some, but growing none-the-less.”

Adding to the fun and excitement of Wild Animals, Trampled by Turtles will be among the many bands playing at this year’s Route 29 Revue hosted at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on Saturday, September 13. The other bands that will be featured in the revue are Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Iron and Wine, The Devil Makes Three, Guster, and Hurray For The Riff Raff.

Want to go? We have a pair of lawn tickets to give away! But wait, there’s more… the winner will also receive an autographed vinyl copy of Wild Animals.

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July is a busy month for actor turned singer-songwriter Jay Brannan. Not only is he set to release a new album on the 15th, but Brannan is embarking on an international tour that begins the next day. 

Last year, we talked to Brannon about his entry into the music world, which came after landing a role in the 2003 film Shortbus. In addition to being in the film, Brannan also wrote the song “Soda Shop” for the soundtrack. Like numerous artists today, Brannan used YouTube as a platform to gain a following and extend his reach into the music industry. Among his popular uploads is a video where he sings “Soda Shop” whilst on the toilet.

Since his YouTube success, Brannan has performed his original songs all over the world and has released many albums. His latest album Always, Then & Now will feature the singer’s acoustic originals.

Brannan will be touring across the US, Canada, and Europe to promote his new album. He will be performing at U Street Music Hall on Saturday, July 19. He recently released a music video for the song “Blue-Haired Lady” off of the new album. The music video premiered on Billboard.com.

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Though she placed as a quarter-finalist on 2010’s America’s Got Talent competition with her skills as a “hip hop violinist,” Lindsey Stirling has risen to fame through a new form of media—YouTube. 

Taking the violin to a whole new level, the Arizona-raised violinist, dancer, and composer Lindsey Stirling has proven to audiences everywhere that the violin isn’t limited to just classical music. Integrating her violin skills into Top 40 songs and video game theme songs, Stirling gained a massive following on the popular social media website, YouTube. Stirling’s collaborations with other YouTube sensations, including acapella group Pentatonix for their cover of Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive,” has earned the violinist a YouTube Music Award in 2013.

Since her start in 2010, Stirling has been on three tours and has released two albums. Her second and latest album, Shatter Me, was released this past April. In December, Stirling announced tour dates for her upcoming US Tour. As a part of the tour, Stirling is performing at Echostage on Tuesday, June 24, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets!

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With a recently announced debut solo album on the way, Wilco frontman, Jeff Tweedy is heading on tour in June with a few different bandmates.

Last summer, indie-rock band Wilco found themselves touring across North America as a part of Americanarama. This summer appears to be following the same route, but only for one member: Jeff Tweedy. The frontman and producer is embarking on a 16-date North American tour with a new band line-up. Tweedy’s summer backing band consists of Jim Elkington on guitar, Darin Gray on bass, Liam Cunningham on keyboards, and Spencer Tweedy (yes, his son) on drums.

Tweedy’s solo tour begins in Detroit on June 5. A few days later, the singer-songwriter is playing a show at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore on Monday, June 9, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets!

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