Enough interesting stuff came up this week on video that it merits a post.  Check it out (bandwidth warning!). Read the rest…

Locals Arbouretum release their first music video off the excellent Song of the Pearl. Too bad the release is on Pitchfork and they seem to enjoy passive-aggressive attempts at snarking and skewering our hometown heroes’ latest efforts.

Check out our takes on their past 2 efforts, Song of the Pearl and Kale, as well as our interview with Dave.

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MP3: Arbouretum – False Spring

Don’t miss Arbouretum’s CD release party at the Talking Head this Tues Mar 3!

I don’t think I cast any illusions about the fact that I consider myself a writer, particularly of fiction (though if you weighed my recent output, you’d be hard-pressed to divine that). It comes as no surprise then, that I am particularly fond of music, and albums, that seem to spawn from a writer’s mind. While musical cohesion obviously takes precedence above any other aspect of an album’s content, lyrical richness that approaches that of prose, elevates any musician to another plane of artistry.

Dave Heumann, the creative impulse behind Arbouretum, exemplifies this combination of traits. In my writings on Arbouretum, I’ve cast Heumann as a gifted storyteller and I’m comfortable in venturing to say he is a writer at heart (I think there’s some support for this standpoint in our interview with him last year). But I’d say that Heumann has finally resolved his musical vision, coalescing it with his lyrical ability into a document that may represent a new apex for the project.

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Dave Heumann and the rest of Arbouretum delivered a thunderous and powerful set; one of the best I’ve seen them mete out.  Their sound filled the Club room, its weight perfectly matched to the room’s size.

Arbouretum
Aural States Fest
Sonar-Club
Baltimore, MD
January 30, 2009
Also posted to the Live Music Archive

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

Download full set formatted as: MP3 or FLAC

Stream and download individual MP3s after the jump.

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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.

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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

Photo credit: Greg Szeto

Again, another exclusive audio offering from Aural States and Jeff the Baltimore Taper!

Pick your poision, ZIP files of the entire set in two formats (should be available after 1PM today):

FLAC or MP3

Or click through to stream and download individual MP3s.

Arbouretum
The Talking Head
Baltimore, MD
November 7, 2008

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck4(card)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)
http://baltimore-taper.blogspot.com/ Read the rest…

Arbouretum & Pontiak play the Talking Head this Friday, Sept 5 with Psychic Paramount and Sri Aurobindo. Not to be missed.

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MP3: Pontiak – Dome under the sky

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MP3: Arbouretum – Buffalo Ballet

John Cale is the highly prolific co-founder of a little band called the Velvet Underground. There is no shortage of love for his work, but this masterful EP collaboration of Arbouretum and Pontiak may be the best expression of it.

Arbouretum and Pontiak are both highly respected and talented groups of rockers steeped in folk, psych and garage rock traditions. Arbouretum works in a bit more of a meta, grander scale working more in the realms of folk and an almost supernatural force while Pontiak explores a more micro level, bringing the visceral crunchier psych jams and freak-outs.

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Arbouretum is the band, Kale is the album. It’s a split album done with Pontiak and featuring some John Cale covers, as well as new material.
Aural States sat down to chat with Arbouretum frontman Dave Heumann about a month ago at the Cylburn Arboretum, of all places. The wind rustling through the trees can be heard in the background on my hand-held recorder.

Also, be sure the check out Arbouretum and Pontiak at the Talking Head on September 5th.

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Whartscape 2008′s Friday show was at the 2640 Space, a church undergoing renovation assisted by the Red Emma’s collective. In exchange for their services, they get to hold events provided there is no alcohol sold/drunk on the premises…house of God and all.

This year’s line-up has more variety with a less shotgun-based approach of toss whoever, together whenever (as intimated by Adam in our interview). And what more perfect theme for the 2640 Space than a night focusing on folk, performance art and generally softer music and calmer music than the electronic spazz rock Wham City is better known for. The hallowed and empty space, presided over by stained glass cut with sacred and holy images, is one cavernous room. An orator’s dream, as well as any musician or vocalist.

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