Weekend Wind-Down No. 10: Ambience
–Words and list by Michael Hogan
This is another example of extreme wind-downs. I’ll be honest with you, not much happens during this hour of music, but it’s “nothing” in the best sense of the word. I’ve brought together a gorgeous collection of songs that create feelings, set moods, and paint atmospheres using very, very little. None of these songs use any definitive structures in the traditional sense, and few have any percussive structuring at all.
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For Their Tour Finale, The Glitch Mob Pulls Out All The Stops (Show Review)
–Reviewed by Michael Hogan
My biggest failing as a human being is how cranky I become when I’m tired; I become the most unpleasant person in the world. I’ve been working on it recently, and I’m starting to realize when I need to be put to bed, but I still make stupid choices every now and then. My most recent objectively poor choice was going out right after spending the better part of a week working a festival, not sleeping and overworking myself in near freezing conditions.
Mere hours after my return to DC from Nightmare Festival I was headed Echostage to see The Glitch Mob. I had grabbed a bite to eat, but I hadn’t yet gone home; I was still wearing my mud covered jeans from the rain-soaked final night of Nightmare. This, I reasoned, was one of those situations that begged me to suspend any logic and reason – not to mention the impending crankiness that my friends and unsuspecting strangers would be forced to bear the brunt of.
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Weekend Warm-Up No. 10: Post-Hardcore
–Words and list by Michael Hogan
A while ago I tried to explain post-hardcore to someone who had literally never heard of the genre or any of its bands before. Even though I am a self-proclaimed expert on the subject – someone who played in a post-hardcore band with a couple minor, unsuccessful tours, a pretty good album, and an overly-pretentious view of musicianship under its belt – I actually failed quite miserably. I still have no idea what to say.
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AltFreq Weekend Planner (11/20-11/22)
–Written by Kevin Madert
It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the events going on in the area, so we’re here to let you know what’s happening in live music over the next few days. Watch out on Sundays for our “Weekly Planner,” where we’ll cover the remaining four days of the week. S/o to friend of the blog Jared Oppenheim for the solid suggestion.
Thursday 11/20:
DC
(ALTFREQ PICK) Kill The Noise @ 930 Club – Another Thursday night, another stacked Steez Promo lineup. This time around the Majestic as Fak tour is headed for the 930 Club, headed by longtime genre innovator Kill The Noise. With support from steady-beat wizards Botnek, real trap duo Two Fresh, and local favorite Bortz, you can bank on a rowdy good time that’ll bounce and wobble into the wee hours. (Tickets / Info)
AOMG US Tour (Ft. Jay Park, Simon Dominic, Gray, Loco, DJ Pumpkin) @ Echostage – (Tickets / Info)
Thursday People (Andres & Farid) @ Flash – *$5 all night* (Info)
Brian Posehn @ Black Cat – (Tickets / Info)
Baltimore
(ALTFREQ PICK) Moon Hooch @ Soundstage – There’s not much we can say about this hell-raising trio that we haven’t already said plenty about, so we invite you to peruse our artist spotlight as well as our review of their most recent album, This Is Cave Music. If those don’t convince you, get off your ass and go anyway; trust us, you’ll stomping and jumping before you know what hit you. (Tickets / Info)
Friday 11/21:
DC
(ALTFREQ PICK) Dillon Francis @ Echostage – Love him or hate him, there’s no denying moombahton maestro turned multi-genre DJ/producer Dillon Francis has style. From his often out-there, always hilarious videos to his consistently humorous presence on social media, he’s got an effervescent image and a knack for getting people talking – not to mention an ear for crisp, quality productions. Joining him on the “Money Sucks, Friends Rule” album tour are TJR and Hoodboi, rounding out what’s sure to be another sell-out at DC’s most mega of clubs, Echostage. (Tickets / Info)
(SOLD OUT) The New Pornographers @ 930 Club – (Info)
Danny Daze @ U Street Music Hall – *Free for 21+ before 12 AM; Free with RSVP (Click Here) (Tickets / Info)
Dubtribe Sound System (Live) @ Flash – (Tickets / Info)
Black Clouds @ Black Cat – *Dreamcation release show* (Tickets / Info)
Allah-Las @ Rock And Roll Hotel – (Tickets / Info)
Twiddle @ Gypsy Sally’s – *21+ show* (Tickets / Info)
Baltimore
Jonathan Richman (of Modern Lovers) – (Tickets)
Saturday 11/22:
DC
(ALTFREQ PICK) Bliss w/Will Eastman @ U Street Music Hall (LATE SHOW) – Bliss – the long-running series of house events in Washington DC spearheaded by Blisspop head and U Street Music Hall co-founder & co-owner Will Eastman – often brings in headliners from all over the world and packs the tiny basement club to bursting. It’s the nights like this Saturday when Eastman (an accomplished DJ and producer in his own right) takes over the top billing that are a mark of just how respected he and his contributions to the DC scene are. This event is free for 21+ before midnight, but only as space permits; from experience, I’d recommend arriving early. (Tickets / Info)
(SOLD OUT) The New Pornographers @ 930 Club – (Info)
Laidback Luke pres. Super You & Me @ Echostage – (Tickets / Info)
Jessie Boykins III @ U Street Music Hall (EARLY SHOW) – (Tickets / Info)
Resident’s Night @ Flash – *Free before 11 PM ($12 after)* (Tickets / Info)
Blonde Redhead @ The Howard Theatre – (Tickets / Info)
Drop Electric @ Black Cat – (Tickets / Info)
Atlas Road Crew @ Gypsy Sally’s – *21+ show* (Tickets / Info)
Baltimore
(ALTFREQ PICK) Twiddle @ The 8×10 – Hitting the spectrum somewhere between jazz-tinged bluegrasss and funk-soaked reggae, this Vermont quartet can only jam under the radar so long before they’ve outgrown the compact, comfortable closeness of venues like the 8×10. For a group that so confidently weaves between genres $10 is a steal of a Saturday night; when a group’s music is self-described as “HiDef Shred Face Melting Barnyard STOMP,”you’re in for a get-down. (Tickets)
Dillon Francis @ Rams Head Live – (Tickets / Info)
The Dean Ween Group @ Ottobar – (Tickets)
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New Tune Tuesday (11/18/14)
–Written by Kevin Madert
In case you weren’t aware, Tuesdays are a music lover’s best friend. Although some of these came out a little less recently than today, they’re all essentially new and they’re all definitely worth a listen. If you think we’ve missed something (and with the sheer amount of music released daily, we probably have) drop me a line at kevin@thealternatefrequency.com. Sharing is caring, after all.
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Weekend Wind-Down No. 9: Mixed Bag #1
–Words and list by Kevin Madert
It’s chill, it’s random, it’s pretty cool. Deal with it.
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