Rocktober is well underway here in the District, and it’s time for our second installment for our October preview. Thanks to the kind folks at the 9:30 Club we will be hooking up TVD fans with a pair of tickets to each of the following shows:
The Wombats (early show), Fri 10/21
It is not often an indie band from across the pond goes platinum their first time around; The Wombats, however, did just that with their 2007 debut LP, A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation. With “impressively supple vocal harmonies and a broad sense of humor,” according to Pitchfork.com, this Liverpool trio quickly won critics over. The Wombats have upped the ante of ’80s-infused electro-funk-pop with their 2011 release, This Modern Glitch—a “polished, uplifting, chart-bound electro indie-pop,” as described by BBC Music. You can catch these enjoyable British and their retro synths Friday at the 9:30 Club along with NYC-based rock quartet, The Postelles, and New Jersey rockers, The Static Jacks.
Medeski Martin & Wood, Thu 10/27
With a sound that infuses funk into a unique groove-based jazz, Washingtonians are in for a music experience in “avant-groove” for the Medeski Martin & Wood show. This American jazz trio is celebrating twenty years of releases that truly showcase their exploratory nature in music. While Pitchfork.com may declare that jazz is dead, MMW certainly have not given up on the allure of improvisation in the genre. One can expect a great jam session in an unconventional sense with Medeski Martin & Wood.
Little Dragon (early show), Sat 10/29
It’s time to kick up the electro beats as Swedish quintet, Little Dragon, roll into town later this month. NPR describes this band as one that “makes pop music for folks who think they hate pop music.” With their latest full length, Ritual Union, the soulful vox of lead singer, Yukimi Nagano, brings a mellow tone set to a quirky, upbeat tempo provided by fellow band mates: Erik Bodin, Fredrik Wallin, Arild Werling, and Hakan Wirenstrand. So if you are ready to dance on a Saturday, but your date just wants to chill, let’s just say you can certainly meet in the middle at the Little Dragon show and not be disappointed.
Battles, Sun 10/30
Rounding out Rocktober will be American experimental rock super group, Battles. Comprising of Ian Willams (Storm & Stress), Dave Konopka (Lynx) and John Stanier (formerly of Helmet), this talented rock trio will hit DC in support of their second full-length, Gloss Drop. While it is never easy to recover from the departure of a band member (founding member, Tyondai Braxton, no less), Battles managed to embraced the group’s change and deliver a release that NME.com describes as being “powered by a tireless, ingenious sense of play… [a] playfulness displayed by quantum physicists and pure mathematicians.” District concert goers can experience this group’s dynamically fun style for themselves at the end of the month.
All right TVD readers, that’s the rundown for the remaining shows this month. Keep your eyes peeled for your chance to win tickets to each of these concerts. We might even throw a little extra in there for you for a couple of these shows. Perhaps… even tomorrow?
