Author Archives: Luanne Lim

TVD Ticket Giveaway: Brett Dennen at the 9:30 Club, 2/26

By Luanne Lim | Published: February 20, 2014

With a single featured on the show Parenthood, and an album called his “strongest effort yet,” I’d say that even after ten years in the industry, folk singer-songwriter Brett Dennen is still going strong.

Dennen began his music career in 2004. Two years later, after the release of his second album, So Much More, the Californian artist landed in the spotlight, earning comparisons to artists Paul Simon and Tom Petty. Dennen recently released his fifth studio album, titled Smoke and Mirrors. Released last October, the album marks Dennen’s return to the acoustic, folk sound that launched his career nearly ten years ago.

Dennen is currently on tour, performing in venues across the country before heading to Europe later in the year. As a part of the US leg of tour, Dennen is playing at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday, February 26, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 5 Comments

TVD Ticket Giveaway: M3 Rock Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion, 4/25-26

By Luanne Lim | Published: February 17, 2014

It’s almost that time of year again when music festivals roll into town, bringing bands and music lovers of all genres together for a day or weekend full of music, booze, and possible leg cramping.

These fun-filled weekends come in a variety of sizes and genres. The nationwide Vans Warped Tour is basically a traveling concert, hitting up numerous cities in a span of 50+ days. On the west coast, there’s indie, grunge-rock Coachella and SXSW. On the east coast, there’s the CMJ Music Festival for up-and-coming artists, and the hard-rock and metal M3 Rock Festival.

This year, the M3 Rock Festival celebrates its sixth year of bringing metalheads together for one big hurrah at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. Though tickets went on sale last month, if you still haven’t gotten yours, have no worries! We’re giving away two-day passes each month leading up to the festival.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 10 Comments

TVD Ticket Giveaway: Those Darlins and Diarrhea Planet at the Rock & Roll Hotel, 2/15

By Luanne Lim | Published: February 7, 2014

Two up-and-coming bands hailing from the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll are checking-in to DC’s Rock & Roll Hotel on Saturday, February 15, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets.

First on the line-up is the country-rock band Those Darlins. Formed in 2008, the quartet is known for creating and adopting their own blend of country music.

The band’s three albums successfully display their flexibility with sound, each being inspired by different genres than the previous. Those Darlins’ third and most recent release, Blur the Line, was released last October along with two singles “Oh God” and “Optimist.”

To add to Those Darlins’ list of tour mates, which include Mumford & Sons and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, are fellow Nashville rock ‘n’ rollers Diarrhea Planet. The two bands are embarking on a February tour together. Rounding out the line-up for the DC show is local favorite Paperhaus, which is both the name of their band and the popular DIY concert space they reside in.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 16 Comments

TVD Ticket Giveaway: Galactic at the 9:30 Club, 2/13

By Luanne Lim | Published: February 5, 2014

Despite the name, the members of Galactic do not come from some other galaxy. Their sound, on the other hand, is a little out of this world.

“Out of this world” may have been a bit of an exaggeration, but Galactic’s tunes are reflective of the band’s hometown of New Orleans. A little bit of jazz mixed with bits and pieces of electronica, hip hop, and funk, the sextet have successfully blended the genres in each of their albums from their formation in 1994.

Since their most recent album release last year, Galactic has been traveling and playing shows around the world. Though their hasn’t been word of a new album (yet), the jazz-funk band has released a new single titled “Dollar Diva” just last month. Along with the new single came the announcement of a US tour, and as a part of their tour, Galactic is making a stop at the 9:30 Club on Thursday, February 13, and we have a pair of tickets to give away!

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 6 Comments

TVD Ticket Giveaway: Sharon Jones & the
Dap-Kings at the Lincoln Theatre, 2/10

By Luanne Lim | Published: January 24, 2014

Reigning victorious after battling stage two cancer, soul/R&B singer Sharon Jones jumps right into the new year with a new album, new tour, and new life.

After recording her fifth and latest album Give the People What they Want, Sharon Jones did not get to promote the release with a tour, physical release, and the usual. Instead, she spent her 2013 battling cancer and taking chemotherapy. Though postponing tours is not what the singer had planned for last year, she emerged victorious and cancer-free.

The anxiously awaited Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ fifth album Give the People What they Want was released earlier this month. To promote the new album, and partially to celebrate Jones’ good news, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are embarking on a tour that begins on February 6. As a part of the tour, Jones and her band are stopping by The Lincoln Theatre in DC for not just one night, but two: February 10-11. The February 11 show is sold out, but we do have a pair of tickets to the February 10 show that we’re giving away!

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 11 Comments

TVD Ticket Giveaway: Lauryn Hill at the Lincoln Theatre, 2/9

By Luanne Lim | Published: January 23, 2014

Often called “one of the greatest female MCs of all time,” former Fugee emcee Ms. Lauryn Hill celebrated the 15th anniversary of her solo masterpiece The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill behind bars. Recently released, the singer, rapper, humanitarian, producer and actress isn’t letting a short stint in federal prison slow her down.

Shortly after being released, the five-time Grammy winner has already made her comeback into the music world through the release of her latest single titled “Consumerism.” The single was posted on the same day Ms. Hill was released with the statement, “it is a product of the space she was in while she was going through some of the challenges she has been faced with recently.”

In addition to the release of “Consumerism,” Ms. Hill didn’t hesitate to get back on the stage. She announced a brief Homecoming tour, which kicked off in New York City. As a part the Homecoming tour, the five-time Grammy winner stopped by the 9:30 Club in December, and she’s back in DC again on February 9 at the Lincoln Theatre. We happen to have a pair of tickets to give away!

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 20 Comments

TVD Vinyl Giveaway: Quilt, Held in Splendor Prize Pack

By Luanne Lim | Published: January 22, 2014

Go to college. Graduate college. Start a successful band with your pals and tour across the world. Sounds just about right for the psych-folk band, Quilt.

Quilt’s founding members were sewn together through the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The musically diverse trio composed of John Andrews, Anna Rochinski, and Shane Butler are known for their eccentric sound that showcases well-arranged two- and three-part harmonies. Quilt’s upcoming release Held in Splendor reflects the trio’s on-point harmonies as well as their great instrumental additions and arrangements.

The release of Held in Splendor is still almost a week away, but to make the wait a little bit easier, we’re giving away a Quilt prize pack! The prize pack includes the band’s self-titled LP, the “Arctic Shark” 7″, and the upcoming Held in Splendor LP.

Posted in The TVD Storefront | 15 Comments

TVD Vinyl Giveaway: Battleme Prize Pack

By Luanne Lim | Published: January 16, 2014

With several songs featured on hit TV shows Chuck and Sons of Anarchy, Battleme has a lot under its musical resume for a “side project.”

Off-stage, the self-described “slacker pop” musical act Battleme is known as songwriter and producer Matt Drenik. A guitarist and singer for Texan band LIONS, Drenik began Battleme as a side, creative project. His solo project eventually took off on its own after the recording and release of his self-titled, debut EP in 2010. Since then, Battleme has released a few LPs and EPs under a variety of labels. Recently, Battleme signed with LA record label El Camino, with whom he released his four-song EP Weight on the Brain.

Battleme is set to release its second full-length album titled Future Runs Magnetic through El Camino next month. In anticipation of the new album, we’re giving away a Battleme prize pack that includes a sticker, a physical “tour” CD version of Weight on the Brain, a 10″ white vinyl EP, and a T-shirt.

Posted in The TVD Storefront | 4 Comments

TVD Giveaway: Peter Gabriel, the Complete Solo Studio Albums

By Luanne Lim | Published: January 7, 2014

For the first giveaway of the new year, we’re not giving away just one album… We’re giving away a complete set.

Imitation is said to be the best form of flattery. If the saying is true, then cover songs, if done well, can be seen as a form of respect from one musician to another. In the case of former Genesis band member, current solo singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel, cover songs were the inspiration behind a two-part music project titled Scratch My Back/And I’ll Scratch Yours.

The project involved what was described by Gabriel as a “song exchange” between other musicians and himself. He would cover an artist’s song, and in return, said artist would take a creative swing at one of his songs.

The first part, Scratch My Back, was released in 2010. The second, And I’ll Scratch Yours, comes out in the US today.

And I’ll Scratch Yours features the other half of the song exchange: the artists covering Gabriel’s songs. The album contains twelve different takes on twelve of the English musician’s tracks, including hit singles “Shock the Monkey” and “Big Time.”

Posted in The TVD Storefront | 23 Comments

TVD Vinyl Giveaway: Inside Llewyn Davis Original Soundtrack LP

By Luanne Lim | Published: December 19, 2013

Christmas is less than a week away, and seeing that it’s the season of giving, we’re giving away the soundtrack to one of this year’s finest films according to the Associated Press. Find out how you can snag a copy of it as a present from us…

The film Inside Llewyn Davis was released in a limited amount of theaters on December 6. Prior to the film’s release, Inside Llewyn Davis was screened at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film follows the rough journey of folk musician Llewyn Davis (based on real life folk artist Dave Van Ronk) as he tries to make it in the 1961 New York music scene.

The indie film, directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, has already won awards and is nominated for three Golden Globes. The award-winning film centers on an aspiring musician, so of course, it should have an impressive soundtrack. The track list includes folk songs from Dave Von Ronk himself as well as Bob Dylan, Marcus Mumford, and Justin Timberlake, just to name a few. As mentioned above, we’re giving away a copy of the soundtrack on vinyl.

Posted in The TVD Storefront | 19 Comments

TVD’s 9:30 Club December Concert Preview

By Luanne Lim | Published: December 4, 2013

The end of yet another year is here! December is the time for holiday greetings and gay happy meetings, at least according to that overplayed Christmas song. It’s also the time for giving and spending time with friends and family, and what’s better than spending quality family time at a concert? Or giving that extra free ticket to a friend?

To help you get in that giving mood, here’s the December preview of shows coming to the 9:30 Club all month long and an extra chance to win tickets to the show of your choice from the list below.

The Hives, Tues 12/10

Swedish rock and rollers The Hives have been blowing minds with their ground shaking, glam-punk style since 2007. The five-piece successfully continue their legacy of reinventing rock and roll by following a rather simple cycle: “release new Hives record, conquer world by touring, repeat.”

If that cycle is correct, the next step after their 2012 release of Lex Hives would be to tour. And tour, they have. Just yesterday, the Hives announced their upcoming gig with Australia’s Big Day Out event. Before the band rocks the down under, you can catch them at the 9:30 Club on Tuesday, December 10.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 3 Comments

TVD Vinyl Giveaway: Someone Still Loves
You Boris Yeltsin,
Fly by Wire

By Luanne Lim | Published: November 19, 2013

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Not a statement of adoration, but the name of a Springfield, MO band.

SSLYBY, for short, is named after the former Russian president. The trio, composed of Will Knauer, Phillip Dickey, and Jonathan James, formed after meeting at a Super Bowl party in 1999. Since then, the Missouri band has toured in many countries, including Russia and Japan. The band has released numerous LPs and full-length albums that are praised for their charming and likable indie-pop sound.

Adding to their collection of feel-good albums, SSLYBY recently released their album Fly by Wire through Polyvinyl Records. The album features ten new tracks, written and recorded in the attic where the band made their debut album, Broom. Fly by Wire has been pressed on special limited-edition Coke-bottle clear vinyl, and we’ve got one to give away!

Posted in The TVD Storefront | 25 Comments

TVD Recommends:
Ha Ha Tonka at the Rock and Roll Hotel, 11/16

By Luanne Lim | Published: November 15, 2013

Not a hoedown, just good ol’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. Ha Ha Tonka isn’t your average honky-tonk band. They actually aren’t a honky-tonk band at all.

The Missouri band has an Americana-meets-indie touch. Showcasing this successful fusion, Ha Ha Tonka has just released a new album titled Lessons. To promote their fourth record, the band is touring the country, making a stop at the Rock & Roll Hotel tomorrow, November 16.

Ha Ha Tonka hails from the Ozarks, turning the name of Missouri state park into their own. The band has been a part of an episode of Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and has recently had their song “Pied Pipers” featured on ABC’s hit show Nashville. “Pied Pipers” can be found on Lessons.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Ticket Giveaway: MGMT at DAR Constitution Hall, 11/26

By Luanne Lim | Published: November 14, 2013

We’ve got something for you to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: a pair of tickets to see MGMT when they stop by DC on Tuesday, November 26.

Since the success of their first full-length album Oracular Spectacular in 2008, MGMT has quickly become a big-name indie-rock band. From the start, MGMT was recognized as an “Artist to Watch” by Rolling Stone and have since made it on several Top Ten lists, including Last.fm’s, Billboard’s, and BBC’s. Two years after their debut, the band received Grammy nods in the categories of “Best New Artist” and “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals” for their single, “Kids.”

Adding to their successes, MGMT has opened for Sir Paul McCartney and has toured with fellow indie-rockers of Montreal. September brought the release of the band’s self-titled, third studio album. To promote the new record, the indie-rockers are currently on tour, making a stop at DC’s DAR Constitution Hall on Tuesday, November 26, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 36 Comments

TVD Ticket Giveaway:
J. Roddy Walston
& The Business at the 9:30 Club, 11/7

By Luanne Lim | Published: November 6, 2013

For musicians, making it into an issue of a big music magazine like Rolling Stone would be considered making it big. Though many bands have been featured in countless magazines, not many can say that their touring van was featured in the New York Times. Well, rockers J. Roddy Walston & the Business can.

That weird fact embodies the spirit of the rather eccentric band. J. Roddy Walston & the Business was formed in 2002 by front man, guitarist and pianist J. Roddy Walston. The rock band, presently composed of Billy Gordon, Logan Davis, and Steve Colmus, originated from Cleveland, Tennessee but is now based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since their formation, the band has been touring in a church van, named “the Diaper,” that was purchased by Walston for $4,000.

Want a chance to see the famous “Diaper” and its inhabitants? We’ve got a pair of tickets to see the rock n’ rollers when they make a stop at the 9:30 Club, tomorrow, 11/7.