In My Rotation, 7-7-09

Regina Spektor – “far”

Spektor’s new album (released on 23/6/09) is a triumph of sonic landscapes. Her voice has never sounded stronger, and the layout of the songs reads like a novel.  This venture into baroque pop is nothing new for the current New Yorker, but on this record it sounds more polished and positively produced – as in something you would get from a early Rufus Wainwright album. Bottom line is, Spektor has given us her all, and that includes radio friendly pop hits, off-the-wall oddities, and everything inbetween. -kk

In My Rotation, 27-6-09

Andrea Mann – “Photograph”

Maybe it’s fact that the soft, smokey, and cool jazz sound is such a departure from modern music, that it’s entertainingly refreshing. Or maybe I’m a little Michael Jackson’d-out from the overload of the latter part of this week. Or maybe it’s the simple familiarity of covers and standard songs. Whatever it is, Mann’s album (released 18-5-09) is a beautiful “Sunday morning” record that gets better with each listen. The atmospheric jazz that she and the band present is simply wonderful music, and even though the songs are covers, she creates them all with her own flair magic. Sorry kids, there’s no auto-tune here. And no cameos. And no high end video or sound production – It’s just really, really good music. -kk

REVAMP / ERASE & REWIND

Happy summer, people. Alright, maybe not until next week, formally, but welcome to summer in DC – sweltering hot one day, biblical deluge the next, and then, locusts in August. Good times!

As we enter into the summer season, it crossed my mind, that District Creatives.com is now officially 2 years old. In twenty four months, this site has seen just about everything – New restaurants open… and then close; Galleries open… and then close;  Artists rise to public prominence… and then leave; Presidents get sworn in, and others leaving office. And unique traffic to this website, in the range of 20-30,000 hits. Who these people are, I have no idea, but I thank you.

You know this blog isn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be when it began. I mean, for the most part, it was started in retaliation for unfair business practices by the area’s local “luxury lifestyle” publication, and my way of saying “hey, um… you’re making money hand-over-fist on your advertorials.. um.. you have to PAY your artists and designers too, don’t you?” But from that bitterness grew fondness – fondness for a city alive with more artists and culture and people that I never though I’d ever come in contact with. And more people concerned like I was, for the well being of the artist community here in the city. Running this blog put me in contact with great people like Jon Wye, Phillipa Hughes, Matt Sesow, Laura Tsaggaris, Victoria Vox, Val Proudkii, Danni Rosner, Yoko K, Jodi King, Michael Lanni, Chris Rief, Once Okay Twice, and US Royalty. And I wouldn’t have traded these meetings, conversations, shows, cocktails,  for anything in the world.

All that being said, districtcreatives.com is going to take a little bit of a left hand turn, if you will. I’ll still try to give updates on the blossoming community that’s is DC, and of course any and all suggestions are welcome, in terms of others that would like to get their name out there. But for now, don’t be surprised if you get a Nationals update here and there, or images of mine from clients I’ve taken on recently. I’m going to try and make this a more personal page, and be more about me and what matters and effects me on the day-to-day. To be honest, the amount of work I’ve been contracted for recently leaves just a little bit of time for this site, and so the research time that I used to have, is no longer available. Sooooooo… continue to support local art/artists and keep checking back. -kk

Postscript - Oh, and in the mean and inbetween time, this coming Saturday, you SHOULD MAKE TIME TO GO TO BusBoys&Poets.  Joy Ike is performing. (Sharing a show with Hiram Ring and local artist Rene Moffatt) Totally worth it. Great intimate setting, which will be perfect for Ike’s personal sonic landscapes.
http://www.joyike.com/audio.m3u/Warriors.mp3

Happy Friday

I guess this is a good day for this… the rain is falling, but ending soon, and moreover the weekend is upons us. Follow you follow me… happy weekend everyone! More next week, including Joy Ike, Duke E. Jazz-fest, and more. -kk

New (for me) Music Thursday – 6/4

Butterfly Boucher – ‘Scary Fragile‘ :  A good, “Tungstall-esque” romp thru 11 tracks. Not as emotionally powerful or invested at the singer’s debut release, but still heads and shoulders above her contemporaries. A good summer album, and soundtrack to a yet-to-be produced Zach Braff film.

Zero 7 – ‘The Garden‘ : (Boy, heavy on the Braff fav’s, huh? Sorry about that.) Zero 7’s new (to me) album contains a lot of what made them successful the first go-around; landscaping sonic movements, a wonderful integration of acoustic and electronic noise, and oh yea… Sia Fuller. The thing I really like about this album though, is the fact that it’s a lot of things at once. It’s a club album, and it’s a backyard summertime album / it’s got hit songs, and it’s got songs you want in the background. Similar to the debut album, it’s one you should have in the collection.

Fastball – ‘Little White Lies’ : My feeling is this – If you’re a one-hit-wonder, you’ve still proven that you can give the buying public a hit, and that is more that what 85-90% of every other band can do. Enter “The Way” rockers, Fastball, and their new album. For the most part, Fastball isn’t re-inventing the wheel here, but they’re making pop-rock music that I can stand, and get a little nineties rock nostalgic about.

And of course, my favorite album of the summer, (that almost no one pays attention to) is Phoenix’s ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix‘. Yea, I don’t know, just something about it. Give it a listen or something. I think you’ll like it.

-kk

Forget Prince Harry.

Prince Harry who? There’s real royalty in the states these days; US Royalty. (Ugh. Yes, that was the first thing that came to my mind. I’m an awful writer. Good photograhper… but a terrible writer.) Anyways, luckily for us, the DC-based band has a local gig. And on a Monday! What better night to go out on the town?! You know you did nothing last night, on account of Saturday night being such a sh*tshow, so hop on down to Mogul, er, H St. NE’s Rock’n'Roll Hotel. This band is worth it. They’re part of a bill tonight, sponsored by Jameson and featuring them and New Rock Church of Fire. Both bands rock, the venue is (as always) fantastic, and Jameson is discounted. …Where’s the reasoning for staying home? Exactly. -kk

Mail it in post today. Two things – One, buy Laura Tsaggaris’ new album “Keep Talking”, and TWO, buy Phoenix’s new album when it comes out next week. All. -kk

“Keep Talking” – Available today! And Yesterday Too!!

At loooooooooong last, local recording artist Laura Tsaggaris has released her rocking sophomore effort, “Keep Talking”, (5/5/09) and to celebrate the arrival, Laura is having a few local release show. Catch her new stuff, with the full band behind her at Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel this Saturday, and should you be traveling in or around the Steel City next week, (to watch the Caps/Pens) she’ll be at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh. 

Also, should you want to O-D on your dosages of “El-Tee-Saggs” this week, there’s also a new YouTube page, a new blog, a Twitter feed, a new store, and a shrine to prey to which you can buy at Urban Outfitters. 

But seriously, if you’re not in the mood to get stuck in typical, downtown Correspondants Dinner-weekend congestion and traffic this Saturday, and you’re kinda over that whole scene, and you want to see what DC singer/songwriter’s work is, at it’s finest, make it point to come and celebrate the release of one of Washington’s better homegrown albums this weekend at R’n'R hotel. : ) -kk

 

"The Rebuilding; 1st & M Street, NE"

Sorry. Lots of stuff going on last/this/next week. Look for new stuff to pop up on District Creatives in May – And don’t forget about this… 

Flaming Lips

When did this become a music blog?! 

Anyways, whatcha doin’ for Earth Day? No, “Earth Day”… This weekend… Yes, THIS weekend… Nothing? Well how does 70 degree weather and this sound? 

Flaming Lips, live on the National Mall. More details HERE. 

-kk

Shameless Self-Promotion

I had the pleasure and honor of taking photographs last week, for the Financial Times, of President Obama at the White House.  As expected, the President was in great spirits, and the shoot went great.  Here are a couple of extra shots from the 15-20 minute meeting with the FT. …Shameless, I know, but hey – at least I didn’t steal the Presidential Seal beverage coasters that my water was sitting on… I mean, I thought about it… but I didn’t do it. But I did think about it. : )   -kk

Goodwill Ambassador

Capturing emotion and narrative with the subtlest of details, local photographer Abby Greenawalt opened her most recent gallery show in DC, not in a gallery at all, but in the Czech embassy. Why in an embassy you ask? Well, the exhibition subject matter was spouses of various ambassadors, who’ve supported their loved ones in their diplomatic careers by assuming very special and quite significant roles that encompass countless responsibilities, and Greenawalt took it as her mission to show these people in the best way she knows how – by beautifully photographing the essence that makes them who they are. You have to call the embassy first to make a reservation, but do yourselves a favor and check out the wonderful work that local artists like Abby are doing, in this city. -kk

Feel The Groove…

I was college roomates with Adam Perry, bass players for Perpetual Groove.  This has put me in a weird position.  I could, I COULD regale you with stories of how I was there when Brock Butler met Adam Perry, back in 1997 at SCAD. I could also tell you all about the late night sessions that fueled the creative fire of these two guys. I could also tell you all about how Perry introduced all of us, and Savannah, to appreciate the works of Monster Magnet, Bela Fleck, and Medeski, Martin & Wood.  Or how Brock’s legendary status as one of the most prolific assasins in “Golden Eye” is one of the reasons my carpal tunnel syndrome is so bad. OR… I could just tell you that one of the country’s most amazing jam/prog/rock/dance/jam bands is finally going to be back in the area this evening. 

Perpetual Groove will be at State Theatre (out in Falls Church) , with Basshound tonight. If you want to go for a ride, and see an amazing live show, and how music should be done – Go see my first (at SCAD) roomate, and tell him that not only will Room 311 in O-House never be the same, but that he and Brock are doing big things, and all of us SCAD alumni could not be prouder. : ) (sp-more proud?…again, we all went to art school. we’re not big on spelling.) : ) -kk

Happy Friday, Pt. 2.

Whoops. Didn’t work. Let’s try again. …

Iran = You Rock

 

image from myspace.com

Being a not-so-closeted “foodie”, I often like to describe things, using food or food preperation techniques. For example, if I think that something is good but probably only to me, I’ll say that it’s “fishsticks”. Weird, I know… Or, if it’s crazy good, and everyone is aware of it, I’ll refer to cet thing with the common term of  ”bananas”. Well, in the case of Iranian rock alt-rock band Hypernova, (yes, Iran. As in, “the” Iran) the best descriptive term I could use, using my tried and true method, would probably have to be “Bananas Foster“.  : ) Hypernova is a high-powered, pedal-t0-the-floor sound that evokes a mash of early Strokes, Foo Fighters & Hard-Fi (that I’ve just coined, “HardStrokeFoo”) that honestly, if you had the opportunity to see at a live, smallish-club venue, you would probably kick yourself  if you didn’t go to…. wait. Tonight? At DC9? Yep. And tickets are 8-freeking dollars?! Yes.   Check it out. 

Oh, and for the record, that Hard-Fi video is fishsticks. : ) I

Spinning Stones / / Music Wednesday

All things music – and filed under “etc” - 

LOCAL

*** Michael Jantz & The Davenports declare a rock emergency in DC!  Authorities report high levels of easy listening, smooth jazz, and one unconfirmed Kenny G sighting. Residents are urged to flee their homes and seek shelter at Solly’s U Street Tavern, where Michael Jantz & the Davenports will be on hand to deliver lifesaving rockstenance in Meat Loaf sized doses.  //  Solly’s on U Street – 9pm / / 942 11th St NW

*** If you missed Victoria Vox at the 9 @ DC9 last Sunday, you have no other option but to wait until the 26th of March to get your Uke fix. : ) Vox will be at Maritime Museum two weeks from tomorrow, to benefit the Baltimore Montessori.  // 301 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD

*** Danni Rosner will sock you in the eye if you do not attend her Busboys&Poets show, this evening. I was late for one of her shows once, and I’m still in traction. Ok, no not really. But regardless of physical violence, check out DR at BB&P tonight.   // 2021 14th Street NWWashington 

*** Laura Tsaggaris‘ new album “Keep Talking” is available for pre-order now, but sadly is not getting released until (sigh…) May 5th. : ) Until then, travel to Charleston, SC to see her. …Or wait until April 5, in DC. (FYI, the new album is amazing.) 

NON-LOCAL / RANDOM / FEELGOOD

*** Supporting local music, playing deep album cuts, and just being probably my favorite radio station, WMVY is a Martha’s Vineyard based independent-radio station. Being originally from the Cape, I miss “real” music on the radio, like theirs. This week is their “Friends of WMVY”/fundraiser/benefit-thingie. Stream this station for an hour, and tell me that you don’t love it. : ) Then, give a few bucks to them, to support the station. Do it now! : ) 

*** While I can admit that Polly Scattergood is not for everyone, if you’re looking for an off-the-radar, Bjork-esque, etherial voice – or just something other than the list of mainstream releases this week, (Kelly Clarkson, The Dream, etc) Polly let loose her debut album yesterday. You don’t have to love it, but give it a chance. : ) 

That is all – Enjoy -kk

Nine at Nine – Monthly Singer/Songwriter Showcase

One of the best, (in my humble opinion) places to see live music downtown, is the U Street corridor’s DC9, and this coming Sunday night is their quarterly showcase of local area singers & songwriters. Come out on Sunday and see some of the best homegrown artists hit the stage - 

JUSTIN TRAWICK 
VICTORIA VOX  
VINCE SCHEUERMAN (from Army of Me) -
RANA MANSOUR - 
JUSTIN JONES -
LAURA TSAGGARIS - 
JASON AGER 
MOLLY HAGEN 
LAURA BRINO

Annnnnnd, also hear some of Laura Tsaggaris’ new album “Keep Talking”, before it’s April release. : ) -kk

VideO’the Day

Yea, so I might be the only person who likes this song & video… but you know what, it’s Wednesday. And there you go.  : ) -kk

What Are You Listening To Today?

Bjork - Vespertine (2001)

Perfect snow day/winter album. -kk