Nine-11 Thesaurus

Here's some a capella freestyles from a few members of Nine-11 Thesaurus, the next youth hip-hop group working with Sam Hillmer's (ZS) RepresentingNYC group:


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Let's Grow!

Over the last month or so I can't help but read a lot about the state of DC music. It seems like everyone has an opinion - good or bad. But I think the fact that there is even a discussion is telling. We can't reclaim the halcyon days of DC's musical past. In fact, why would we want to? It's been done. Let's create something new!

It seems as though a good number of DC bands, MCs, and artists are working really hard to provide DC with a great reason to be proud of this town again. And I can do nothing but respect that. Let's be critical of each other as artists so we foster an atmosphere of growth. But let's also show respect and recognize the stark difference between criticism and pure negativity.

All this is really just foreshadowing. After reading David Malitz's piece in The Washington Post's Going Out Guru's section, I was struck by how well he broke it down. Here's a snippet:

Look, there's no denying that D.C. rock was once more of a force then than it is now. There's a reason people still identify Dischord (or even Teenbeat or Simple Machines) as the D.C. standard bearer. Nothing has really come along with the singular impact to knock any of them from the throne. But that doesn't mean it's a wasteland out there. And one need only to have been at this past Saturday night's show at the Cherch to know that things are alive and well.

Malitz goes on to describe Saturday's house show this last weekend at the Cherch. And in it, he captures the balance between building community and bar-raising musicianship. In many ways, this article is the beginners guide to supporting DC music.

I cannot claim to know all facets of this city's music. Many more artists are picking up instruments and making a racket than they were five years ago. If you haven't noticed that, then you're living under a rock. Creating something new will mean growing pains here and there. But I'm willing to put in the time to see where this thing goes.

Make sure to read the rest of Malitz's piece here.
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Record Pool Tomorrow at Dahlak

My good friend KC and I will be djing tomorrow at Dahlak (1771 U St. NW DC). We're calling it Record Pool and it should be a good, laid back time with some of our favorite new and old jams. We'll be playing, but not limited to funk, soul, afrobeat, house, dancehall, r&b, boogie, and whatever else feels good.
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Brand Nubian and Cornel West Theory Live on Saturday

The venerable Brand Nubian play Liv nightclub this Saturday and The Cornel West Theory open up. Don't worry, I wasn't going to let you forget. The Washington Post's Going Out Gurus picked the show as a must-see. Here's what they had to say:

With hits like "Slow Down" and "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down," Brand Nubian's first two albums are cornerstones of golden age hip-hop. With distinctly different voices and flow balancing each other, the two emcees work was the best of the pre-Wu Tang hip-hop. After their heyday in the street eras of New York hip-hop, their subsequent albums had gems like "Word Is Bond" and "Don't Let It Go to Your Head." Grand Puba, Lord Jamar and Sadat X hit D.C. at Liv with a gang of DMV talent including the Cornel West Theory and DJ RBI.

If you didn't catch the flier the first time, here you go:


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Extra Life's Head Shrinker Video

Stereogum premiered Extra Life's "Head Shrinker" video last week. It's pretty amazing, but make sure to grab a hold of something before you start:


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The Art of the Blog/No Kings Collective Event This Friday

Readyset DC is kicking off their new The Art of the Blog_ monthly blogger meet up as well as a great gallery party featuring the launch of the No Kings Collective. It all goes down this Friday at the new club District (used to be Chloe) in Adams Morgan. I will be djing both events and have lined up some choice jams. You should stop by. Here's the blogger meet up flier:

And here is the gallery party flier:

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Buddyhead Review Imperial China's Phosphenes

Reviews continue pouring in for Imperial China's Phosphenes. Buddyhead, one of the sites we check regularly, just posted a great write-up. Here's the money quote:

Phosphenes is one of the best records we’ve heard this year, and Imperial China, in our opinion, has proven itself to be the most exciting new band to come out of DC in a long time. We recommend that you pick this album up at your earliest convenience.

I can't argue with that. You can purchase the CD from Sockets directly or head over to iTunes and purchase the record digitally.
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Sockets at SXSW

Sockets will be traveling to Austin in late March (March 17th - 22nd to be sure) for SXSW. Luckily, a bunch of friends will be going as well, so it's going to be a blast. Ryan (Sockets intern and all-around good guy) was going to be there already, so I decided that I would join in on the fun. There's going to be a Brightest Young Things party on March 20th with some great bands, so make sure to look out for more details soon. Bands include: Casper Bangs, Stricken City, Pree & Frau Eva, True Womanhood, Laughing Man, US Royalty, and more. Should be good times.

Hit us up at our email (socketsrecords (at) gmail (dot) com) if you'll be down there. I want to make sure to highlight the good stuff happening that week.
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Video: Fly Girlz Soundtrack Proenza Schouler 2010 Fashion Show

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Going out Gurus Pick Saturday's Cherch House Show

From today's Washington Post Going Out Gurus weekend picks:

Remember when the 9:30 club (F Street version) used to have those "3 bands, 3 bucks" shows? Now, $3 at the 9:30 club will get you about 6 oz. of Budweiser. But inexpensive local shows live on, albeit often in a house and not a club. This show at the Cherch (1616 New Jersey Ave. NW) features three of the area's most promising bands. Hume, the highlight of last month's Sockets Record showcase, plays a unique mix of Afropop/post-rock/power pop. True Womanhood's just-released debut EP, six songs of finely-crafted textures, surging walls of sound and dramatic vocals easily puts the trio near the top of the "Local Breakout Bands" list. And the Laughing Man is always good for some ragged blues-folk-drone jams. Joining in on the fun will be Brooklyn's Dinowalrus, who create spastic art-rock that sounds like it's played through giant amps made of old Pac-Man arcade games.

This Saturday (and Friday!) should be a great show at the Cherch.
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The Fly Girlz are Soundtracking Proenza Schouler Runway Show

This is great/weird/crazy news. Via Matthew Schnipper over at the Fader:

Not really sure what to say about this one aside from 8PM EST, Brooklyn teenage girl rap group The Fly Girlz, on whom we filmed a mini-documentary, will be the soundtrack to at super high fashion duo Proenza Schouler’s autumn/winter 2010 runway show and you can watch this live at proenzaschouler.com.

Read more over at the Fader's blog.
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Imperial China Reviewed by Adequacy.net

Photo by Mark Silva

The good folks over at Adequacy.net just reviewed Imperial China's Phosphenes. Here's a little snippet of the review:

Many of the modes of composition and instrumentation come together on the kaleidoscopic instrumental “Corrupting the Grid,” perhaps the apex of the album. How often do instrumentals have that kind of focusing effect and staying power? It’s by turns nuanced and pummelling, straightforward and oblique, arty and accessible. It’s where This Heat may have landed had it kept making music into this century.

Make sure to read the rest of the review here. Also, to buy the album from iTunes directly, go here!
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Imperial China's Phosphenes Available on iTunes

China's new record, Phosphenes, is now available via download at iTunes. Make sure to grab it here!
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Theo Angell, Zomes, Moon Pie Play Cherch This Friday

If you're looking for a place to crash this weekend, might I suggest the Cherch. Not only do they have a great show this Saturday, but also have rescheduled an amazing show (due to SNOWMG!). Here are the details:

KOHOUTEK
ZOMES
THEO ANGELL
MOON PIE

Friday, February 19th
@ the Cherch
1616 New Jersey Ave NW
8PM
BYOB / $5 donations, plz
*Local gourmet Gimme Dem Cupcakes will also be on hand to sell delicious, vegan treats! Indulge.
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True Womanhood, Laughing Man, and HUME Show Saturday

There's going to be an amazing show at the Cherch with four great bands this Saturday. This one is a must-see:

Laughing Man 8:30 PM
True Womanhood 9:30 PM
DINOWALRUS 10:30PM
HUME 11:30Pm

Saturday, February 20th
8PM / BYOB
$5 donation plz
@ the Cherch
1616 New Jersey Ave NW
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HUME Red Onion In Store Performance

This Friday, February 19th, Britton Powell of HUME will be playing an in-store performance at Red Onion Books and Records. Here are the details:

Britton Powell (of HUME)
Red Onion Books and Records
1901 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
7:30pm
FREE!
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Cornel West Theory Featured on Rule 4080 Mix

The Rule 4080 blog posted a great mix last week that features "An Angel for You" from The Cornel West Theory's album Second Rome. Download it here.
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Protect-U Interview in Yellow Green Red

Photo taken from Yellow Green Red blog

Protect-U are featured and interviewed in the Yellow Green Red blog. Enjoy:

Arguably the most curious of Future Times soldiers is that of Protect-U, the electronic duo of Mike Petillo and Aaron Leitko, taking cues from retro-futuristic funk, new-age, house and disco, and sculpting those forms with a wiry, post-punk frame of mind. They’re still pretty new, with only one 12″ and a compilation track to their name, but the initial reports aren’t just intriguing hints of things to come - each of these three tracks is precisely crafted and wildly blissful.

If you haven't grabbed a copy of the Double Rainbow 12", then please take a moment out and do it at your earliest convenience.
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Aaron Thompson's Music in Art202 Film

More music by Aaron Thompson featured in video. This time, DC Arts Commission short film Art202: The DNA of Perseverance featuring DC artists Holly Bass, Binahkaye Joy, and Solomon Wondimu. The film was shot and edited by Chris Keener. Enjoy:


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Aaron Thompson's Music featured on CNN

Here is a somber look at prescription drug abuse. The piece features music by the amazing Aaron Thompson:


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Stream New Extra Life LP

Interested in hearing some new Extra Life? Yeah, me too.

Go to LOAF Recordings' website to stream tracks from the new album Made Flesh. Just saw a video for the track "Head Shrinker" and the thing is bananas. Stay tuned for more details on that video in the next month. It's going to be a good Spring/Summer for Extra Life, I can feel it.
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Snow Day Sessions: Hume

This is pretty damn awesome: The DC City Paper just posted a few tracks from an impromptu recording session in the snow with HUME's Brit Powell. From the City Paper:

Hume guitarist/songwriter Britton Powell suggested taking advantage of these icy, yet picturesque, conditions to record some music outdoors. Despite the short notice a few bands were gracious enough to stand on the Washington City Paper parking deck and bash out a few songs amid the storm. Obviously, this wasn’t the most charitable environment for an outdoor concert. Fingers froze up, guitars drifted out of tune, chilly winds billowed into faces.

Brit did a Bjork cover. This made my day:


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Brand Nubian and The Cornel West Theory

Head over to Liv nightclub to see Brand Nubian (!!!!!) and The Cornel West Theory on Saturday February 27th. This should be an amazing show:


I finally have an excuse to post one of my favorite tracks of all time:


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Dirty City Shows

Britton Powell sent me a great new Tumblr site called Dirty City Shows that lists DIY shows in Washington, DC. Well worth checking this site often.
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Daily Princetonian Article on The Cornel West Theory

The Daily Princetonian, Princeton University's newspaper, just posted an illuminating story on The Cornel West Theory. Check it out:

Type 1: it's not an error; it's not a disease. It's a new musical phenomenon from a band of poets, preachers, intellectuals and artists who call themselves the Cornel West Theory. At first glance, the six-member group is a hip-hop band with emcees, a drummer and live electronic instrumentation. But take a closer look and it becomes clear that the Cornel West Theory cannot be defined in such traditional terms.

Make sure to read the whole story here.
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Imperial China March 2010 Tour

Imperial China just sent over the tour poster for their shows next month. Spread the word!

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Upcoming DC House Shows

- Feb 2 @ 3rd st. co-op (1807 3rd Street NE DC) - Little Lungs (nyc pop punk), D.O.C., Deathrats

- Feb 6 @ Sidebar Tavern The Reticents, COPSTABBER, Angry & Broke (ex Living Wrecks), Post Freedom, The Dissolutions. Doors at 8 All Ages.

- Feb 6 @ The Cherch (1616 New Jersey Ave) - Theo Angell, Chris Grier, Inspector 22, Moon Pie 8pm

- Feb 12 @ Corpse Fortress (906 Philidelphia Ave, Silver Spring) - trifecta part 2

- Feb 13 @ The Crab's Claw (1631 Irving St NW) - Fredrik (Sweden) + more

- Feb 14 @ Electric Maid - Windows down(mem. broken bodies/buddy system/ex-cuddle circle), bookworm, Tolk(mem. broken bodies), joe mangum, madaline ava show starts at 2! will be over by 830

- Feb 19 @ St. Stephens - Outbreak, Forfeit, Troops Of Tomorrow, Broken Bodies + more

- March 10 @ 3rd St Co-op - Deathrats, Deep Shit (WI), Pizza High Five (OH), Bodycop

- March 12 @ Electric Maid - The Carrier, Police & Thieves, Broken Bodies, Sacred Love + more tba
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Sockets Showcase Video: The Cornel West Theory

Matt from LS Films just posted video from last month's Sockets Showcase of The Cornel West Theory performing "Captives". Enjoy:


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New True Womanhood EP

I'm really feeling the new True Womanhood EP Basement Membranes. Environmental Aesthetics released it digitally last week.

It was recorded at Brooklyn's Death by Audio by David Levin (sound engineer for A Place to Bury Strangers) and at J. Robbins' (Jawbox, Burning Airlines) studio, Magpie Cage. I hear the band is working with J. Robbins again to record the proper full-length. Really excited to hear what this great DC band does next!


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Fringe Era Mix 13: Luke Stewart

Among the many talents of friend Luke Stewart, he is currently one-third of DC favorite, Laughing Man. Luke also holds down an amazing show on WPFW centered around his jazz collection. I asked Luke to do a Fringe Era mix a while back and instead of sending me some tracks, he came my place and mixed the tracks live. This epic mix of eclectic jazz was done on a cold Sunday afternoon when our heat was being fixed, so Luke was definitely blowing on his hands in between records. This one is a long one, and all the better for it. Enjoy:

DOWNLOAD Fringe Era Mix 13: Luke Stewart (zSHARE)

1. "Jazz Fi-Si" - David S. Ware
2. "The Phantom" - The Lightmen Plus One
3. "Inside Straight" - Cannonball Adderley
4. "Kawaida" - Kawaida
5. "Clarrise" - Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkistra
6. "Krisis" - Dizzy Reece
7. "Sendai" - Ken McIntyre
8. "Nairobi/Chants (Traditional)" - JuJu
9. "Barundi" - Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
10. "At an Arabian House Party" - Raymond Scott
11. "And Then They Embraced" - Marion Brown and Gunter Hampel
12. "Buster Bee" - Oliver Lake and Julius Hemphill
13. "Black Magic Man" - Joe McPhee
14. "Mean Ameen" - Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble
15. "The Outer View" - George Russell
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