Wye Oak is already posted, and over the next 11 days we’ll be posting the rest of the live audio and tons more coverage from our first annual Aural States Fest! Thanks for coming out!

All photos: Shantel Mitchell

OK, I am sure I am not alone in thinking that this was one of the best shows that I’ve been to in awhile. Not only did this show run so smoothly with both stages in action at all times, but it was also a night filled with some of the best bands from Baltimore and DC. I mean, 12 bands on two club stages over a period of about 6 hours – for only $10 bucks: who could want for more? Well, there was also free coffee (thanks to Zeke’s Coffee in Parkville) and door gifts for those who came early – filled with vinyl, CDs, books, and other goodies (thanks to Soundgarden, Atomic Books and a slew of record labels).

This was the perfect event. If you were there, I am sure you are agreeing with me and if you weren’t, well then you missed an awesome show! Here are my photos from the evening. I was able to get all of the bands but two: Title Tracks and Hollywood (so sorry!). I picked out a few from each band. If you want to check out everything, you can see them here.

Andy Abelow

Andy Abelow, a solo artist who also performs in Small Sur started the evening, featuring accompaniment by Austin and Bob from Small Sur, Caleb Stine, John Varrone and Bethany Dinsick.

Read the rest…

Photo credit: Shantel Mitchell

As usual, Jenn and Andy did us at Aural States a “solid,” and played a solid set jam-packed with new material.

Wye Oak
Aural States Fest
Sonar-Club
Baltimore, MD
January 30, 2009

Band:
Jenn Wasner-guitar, vocals
Andy Stack-bass, guitar, vocals

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck4(cards)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)

Download the full set formatted as: MP3s or FLACs.

Streaming MP3s after the jump.

Read the rest…

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MP3: Arbouretum – All that will be has become, all that has come isn’t gone

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MP3: Wye Oak – Obituary

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MP3: Pleasant Livers – Touchdown

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MP3: CANNOT BE STOPPED - Piano Hag

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MP3: Lo Moda – Ready to go (Gospel Song)

Aural States Fest begins tonight with performance night at Sonar/the Talking Head.  Doors/free stuff @ 630PM while supplies last from most of the artists and our sponsors:

• Soundgarden
• Atomic Books
• Unruly Records
• Ehse Records
• Megaphone Records
• High Zero Festival
• West Main Development
• Video Americain
• Zeke’s Coffee

Here’s what people around town are saying:

• Mobtown Shank
• Baltimore City Paper: Critic’s Pick & Noise feature
• Baltimore Sun: Midnight Sun
• Express Night Out: Top Stops
• Alex Mudge on WYPR 88.1′s Maryland Morning: Good Art Won’t Match your Parka
• Greg Szeto on WYPR 88.1′s The Signal with Aaron Henkin
• Urbanite: The Scene Jan 09
• Filter Magazine: DC Regional Pick
• Metromix Pick
• Bmore Musically Informed

Check our world premiere download of the first track off Sri Aurobindo’s upcoming debut full-length. Catch them live tomorrow, Jan 30th @ Sonar; they are up first on the Club stage at 9PM.

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MP3: Sri Aurobindo – Nobody’s Child from the forthcoming full-length

Some address the genre of psychedelia as a treasure of the past- best left alone. Crucial individuals of Sixties counterculture set the bar for Rock ‘N Roll- that tripped out, feel good groove of peace and naked people. But just as other breeds have, this acid-rock can evolve too, and Sri Aurobindo (pictured right, credit: Andy Cook) are right on track. Scheduled to play the first day of our 1 year anniversary bash (Aural States Fest) this Friday night, Brandon Arinoldo, Danny Chenault, Mike Furniere, and Mike Romano met me on an icy Sunday night in Hampden to let us in on the soon to be released, self-titled album and what to expect at the show this weekend: conscious, free-flowing Bohemians spreading the good vibes of avant-garde psychedelia.

Aural States: How did you all meet? What’s the story behind your collaboration?

Read the rest…

Having grown up in Baltimore City it never dawned on me that the late night dance tracks on the radio were exclusive to this city–that didn’t come about until high school. Now, the sound is showing up everywhere. And the publication XLR8R is no exception.

This month’s podcast features a mix by the Chavy Boys of London, an Unruly Records super-group of Scottie B, Shawn Caesar, and King Tutt (if you haven’t listened to any of their Money Lotion series, do so!) To describe the mix I’d have to fall into genre cliche catch-words like “Bangin,’” because, frankly, this mix is bangin’. The DJ Technics remix of Radiohead’s “Everything in it’s Right Place” is particularly memorable.  Also, don’t sleep on DJ Class’ “I’m the Ish” which may be Baltimore Club’s breakthrough into the top 40.  People Like Jermaine Dupri (click here for viddy of JD losing it in the studio to this track) and, apparently Puffy are getting interested in this sound now.

This mix could be an interesting nod to what to expect in the future from Unruly Records–the mix abandons the Lyn Collins break periodically for some four-on-the-floor action. One would assume that is the King Tutt influence at work, or perhaps Shawn’s roots in Deep House.

Link for the mix after the jump. Read the rest…

OK everyone, gather round! The line-ups and venue info are all finalized. Here we go:

January 30th (Performance Night) @ Sonar Club Room/Talking Head Club

$10 // 2 stages // Doors 630PM // Music 730PM // Tickets

Free grab-bags including CDs, MP3s, merch & Video Americain rentals. Handed out to paid entrants starting at doors until supplies run out.

Arbouretum

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MP3: Arbouretum – Buffalo Ballet

Wye Oak

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MP3: Wye Oak – For Prayer (Live)

Lo Moda

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MP3: Lo Moda – Buildings Dansante

Pleasant Livers

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MP3: Pleasant Livers – Destroy Tokyo

HOLLYWOOD

Sri Aurobindo

Small Sur

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MP3: Small Sur – Roots

Andy Abelow feat. Caleb Stine, Austin Stahl, Jamie Saltzman, Brendan Sullivan, Bethany Dinsick

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MP3: Andy Abelow – Inside This Calm 

Title Tracks (ex Q and Not U, Georgie James)

Imperial China

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MP3: Imperial China – Mortal Wombat (Live)

Caverns

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MP3: Caverns – Brodown High Noon

CANNOT BE STOPPED

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MP3: CANNOT BE STOPPED – Dull Fangs

January 31st (Dance Night) @ Whole Gallery

Donations

CEX

Craig Sopo

Garret McIndoe

Luckily, my editor is on in-between semester break. Otherwise, I’m sure he would be in T.A. mode and grade my late post accordingly…

However, I dragged my feet somewhat deliberately. What’s the point of a 2008 summation if you don’t have at least a little critical distance between current time, and the past year? One doesn’t write a book report until the book is actually finished. A conclusion about a hypothesis can’t be reached until the experiment is actually completed. You don’t say, “Wow, baby…that was some good sex,” until the deal is sealed–unless you’re an ego-tripping moron with a teenager’s maturity level.

January 29, 2008 was my emergence from the world of sub-par print music journalism into the realm of much more serious online music writing. I don’t take credit for the upgrade; that goes solely to Greg Szeto, the music editor at my former publication, and the founder and managing editor of Aural States. I know good coat tails when I seem them, and I was really excited to jump into this venture with Greg. 

The results have been unthinkable, really. Much of the work I’ve felt the best about, and been the most proud of in the past several years has been for Aural States.
For me, 2008 has been a year of amazing music–recorded, live, and starting recently, making it again. To be accurate this journey’s proper beginnings are in the fall of 2007, but isn’t it weird how events usually arise from prior events in sequential order? Event chains, I think they are called.  I have been into music all my life, but 2008 is unique in the fact that I actually, in some small way, took a spot in a broader network of music, and culture-of-music people. I began blogging, and people were actually reading what I wrote.

This status of blogger doesn’t feel quite like it fits yet. Around Baltimore, indie/hipsters types (definitely loaded words, which are commonly mistaken for being synonymous with “music types”) don such close-fitting clothes. Perhaps, feeling as though this is a role I need to grow into is a healthier stance, than having skin-tight clothing restricting, and inhibiting movement (read: critical movement, and development).

Also, clothes being the signifiers that they are designate people into one group. I personally don’t fit into one single group musically, and probably not socially, either. From my understanding (and I think it’s an accurate understanding) the same goes for Aural States. To be clear, this does not mean AS has to be everything musically to fulfill our eclectic mission statement, but we simply need to be who we are, and only who we are.

And who are we? Music geeks: pure, unabashed, genuine music geeks.

My (Highly Subjective) Most Memorable Live Performances of 2008 (in no order, and it’s more than 10)
Read the rest…

Enjoy this exclusive track leak from Caverns!

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MP3: Caverns – Dance you son of a bitch

It’s been a while since I’ve listened to something this fun.

My first impression of Caverns was a very positive one, and they’ve never dropped the ball live since.  Caverns boldly produce instrumental hard rock music, with the only vocals for miles being a lone adrenalized shout.  Calling into play bits of melodic hardcore and metal, yet retaining a technical outlook that strays in and out of math and prog, this is Dilinger Escape Plan dabbling with the catchier elements of pop and less abrasive, equally aggressive metal sans obnoxious cookie-monster vocals.

On this EP, they manage to hone their style into an engaging release they can be proud of. Read the rest…

So we will be 1 year old in January (the 25th to be exact). I never thought I’d have the intestinal fortitude for this to go on so long.

But here we are. Bigger, badder, more aurally pleasing than ever.

And to celebrate, we are bringing you one mother of a budget-conscious, music-filled weekend. Here are the details:

Aural States Fest

Celebrating 1 year of bringing aural pleasure to Bmore, DC and everywhere else.

Jan 30th: Sonar Club Stage/Talking Head Club (Performance night)

featuring some of the best in Baltimore:
Arbouretum (http://www.myspace.com/arbouretum)
Wye Oak (http://www.myspace.com/wyeoak)
Lo Moda (http://www.myspace.com/lowmoda)
Small Sur (http://www.myspace.com/smallsur)
Sri Aurobindo (http://www.myspace.com/sriaurobindo)
Andy Abelow (http://www.myspace.com/andyabelow)

and DC:
Imperial China (http://www.myspace.com/imperialchina)
Caverns (http://www.myspace.com/caverns)

Jan 31st: Hexagon Space (Dance night)

featuring–

Cex-Live PA Dance Set (www.myspace.com/cexnotflex)

Craig Sopo- DJ Set (moreorless.cc/)

price will be $10 for Jan 30th, TBD for Jan 31st.

stay tuned for additions to the line-up, and other exciting announcements…