Walking into the MICA North Ave. parking lot was like stepping into an alternate universe to me. Accustomed to the outstandingly complete normalcy of Carroll County living, everything involved at Saturday’s Whartscape was akin to alien scenery in my eyes. If anyone attending knew who I was or what I looked like–and you probably didn’t, you crazy ass MICA kids, I apologize for probably having stared just a tad too much.

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MP3: Wye Oak – Take It In

Don’t miss the CD release party next Tues July 21st at the Ottobar. You can also hear a full stream of the album here.

Even before this release, Baltimore natives Wye Oak had quickly ascended my personal list of favorite artists.  With this, they cement themselves into the most rarified air of my all-time beloved musicians.  All the pitfalls you hear and fear of the sophomore album are utterly non-existent as Jenn and Andy make a strong and organic thrust forward with The Knot (the first truly new album since signing to North Carolina-based Merge Records about a year and a half ago).  They provide strong evidence that traditional songwriting has plenty of life left in it (take that leftfield and avant-garde!).

The thing that makes The Knot so grand is that it is a natural polishing of all the facets of their debut gem If Children.  Jenn’s soaring vocals and big-riff, crashing guitars, Andy’s finessed drumming and mysterious, warm synth work, all these see some fantastic maturation.  The interplay of all these elements becomes even more awe-inspiring in the context of a wider range of peaks and valleys, expansions and contractions.  These elements give their sound a fresh sense of cavernous space and epic proportion that makes If Children appear almost claustrophobic by comparison.

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Leprechaun Catering
Whartscape
MICA Parking Lot (North Ave)
Baltimore, MD
July 12, 2009

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck21(subcard)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)

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1. MP3: Improv

Notes:
Outdoors show/Stage B
Audience very chatty
Wind issues
SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC

Who knew the word “transvestite” would be uttered aloud in the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to such ringing laughter from a raucous movie house audience.  The Landmark and the Charles Theater have nothing on the BSO showing of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.

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Photo Credit: Joey P
AK Slaughter
Whartscape
MICA Parking Lot (North Ave)
Baltimore, MD
July 12, 2009

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck21(subcard)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)

Download full set as MP3 or FLAC

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1. MP3: Egypt
2. MP3: Clap Attack
3. MP3: Wild Man
4. MP3: Tickle This Would Ya
5. MP3: Krush Groove
6. MP3: Mast Production

Notes:
Outdoors show/Stage B
Audience very chatty
Wind issues
SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC

Pleasant Livers
Whartscape
MICA Parking Lot (North Ave)
Baltimore, MD
July 11, 2009

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck21(subcard)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)

Download full set as MP3 or FLAC

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1. MP3: Big Headed Baby
2. MP3: Do The Wally
3. MP3: Sizzle In My Pants

Notes:
Outdoors show/Stage B
SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC

Photo credit: Dorret
Sick Weapons
Whartscape
MICA Parking Lot (North Ave)
Baltimore, MD
July 11, 2009

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck21(subcard)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)

Download full set as MP3 or FLAC

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1. MP3: Today I Listened to Born Against
2. MP3: If You Love Me Take Me To The Hospital
3. MP3: Jackson Bad Dog
4. MP3: I Want My Brains Back
5. MP3: Love Me
6. MP3: Orgy on the China Train
7. MP3: I Get Fucked for the Fuck of It*

Notes:
Outdoors show/Stage B
*Ed Schrader cover
SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC

Philadelphia Camerata Orchestra‘s goodwill tour hit B-more with its first concert in a three-part series honoring two bicentennials: the death of Haydn and the birth of Mendelssohn.  An Die Musik offers two more nights of music at 8 pm on July 16 and July 20. Cellist Steven Framil is the star of the series, hands down.  This is not the first time I’ve heard him, and it won’t be the last.  Both times the audience has been so thin that it’s a sin.  Come for Steve alone, and you’ll not be disappointed to get his friends in the Camerata.

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MP3: Darlings – Teenage Girl

Giving away two tickets to the Lovvers / Deep Sleep / Rah Rah Replica / Darlings show at the Talking Head this Saturday July 18th.

Let us know who you want to see most and why in the comments.  Winner will be chosen on Friday July 17th!