We Were Promised Jetpacks and Twin Radio, Jammin' Java, June 14, 2013

Twin Radio at Jammin' Java, 6-14-13

We Were Promised Jetpacks, Jammin' Java, 6-14-13

Adam Thomson of WWPJ, 6-14-13

Eric and I went to see We Were Promised Jetpacks at Jammin’ Java on Friday, June 14, 2013, mostly because it was a Friday night and I thought it would be a fun show. We arrived so early that we went to the Outback Steak House across the street so Eric could eat and I could watch. (No way I’m eating steak. Bleh!) Call it an early Father’s Day dinner.  We arrived right before the opener, Twin Radio, went on, and connected with two women I’ve met at several Indie Concert Meetups before: Laura and Jane. The other half of the group were no-shows, maybe because the show sold out.  FYI, Jammin’ Java’s idea of sold out is entirely civilized. The floor was not crowded at all. Laura and Jane told us about their recent cross-country drive that included stops in Austin and Memphis and other music hot-spots. It sounded like a lot of fun.

Twin Radio is a local band that really tried hard to engage the audience. You could tell they were very happy to be on stage and gave it their all, but they weren’t actually good. I don’t even know the names of the kind of bands they were emulating. Rock that an 11 year old boy might mistake for cool – something you’d hear on a top 40 station. Sometimes I wondered if they might have a Christian rock leaning, but I couldn’t make out the lyrics – mostly I was going from the big “Jesus” tattoo on the lead singer’s arm. I found the use of a keytar (guitar style keyboard) hilarious. That singer spent most of the time (poorly) pantomiming the song lyrics that you couldn’t understand over the rest of the music.  I think his mom might have been in the audience. I think the whole band were DC-suburbs born and raised. Eric signed up for their mailing list when they offered him a sticker. He said he felt sorry for them.

We Were Promised Jetpacks still have 2 distinct styles: jam-band (I hate that one) and gorgeous vocals over hard-driving rock (LOVE that style).  So I loved exactly 50% of the show and wanted to fall asleep the other 50%. Same as last time I saw them, but this time I got to be REALLY close to the stage. Unfortunately, the lead singer is no longer the cutie-pie he once was. That boy loves himself some beer – and it shows in his waistline.  Young guy, but he’s passed the pudgy mark and is on the way to truly fat.  His accent is still gorgeous, though, and he still looks like he has his eyes closed when he sings.

Of Monsters and Men, Haim, & Half Moon Run at MPP on June 11, 2013

Of Monsters and Men, MPP, 6-11-13

I went to the Of Monsters and Men show (lawn tickets) with the Indie Concerts Meetup group at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Tuesday, June 11, 2013, and I had a great time.  First, I saw Sharon, but she and her friend had standing room floor tickets, so we just said hello and they went to try to get a good spot. Then I found Krystle and Scott(?), who were really fun to hang out with. Krystle I had met at an earlier Meetup. HJ, a new acquaintance, showed up late because of a trip to the emergency room for a bad cut, but she was just as music geeky as me, so we had fun chatting right before OMAM.  It was a fun social evening, in good weather, though the ground was a bit soggy from recent rain.
Half Moon Run are still cute Canadian boys, and they sounded really good, but the lighting was dim and they didn’t engage the audience much. They did mention that their album was only recently released State-side, so it’s no wonder I couldn’t find the couple songs I liked after the first time I saw them (last year, opening for Metric, I think).
Haim had a new boy-toy drummer. A brunette instead of the blond from the last show. Their energy was MUCH lower than the last time I saw them, and the state lighting was again very dim. I know they are supposed to be a great live show, but if I had only seen this performance, I would not believe it. The potty-mouthed sister was still potty-mouthed, despite the huge number of kids and tweens in the audience.
Of Monsters And Men put on a very good show, though I quickly realized that I really haven’t explored the majority of their music. Most of it was slow, and you know I am not a fan of slow music at concerts. They had much better stage lighting (and actual stage set), and their costumes were entertaining. They talked to the audience a few times, which was great – I love their accents.

Dirty Projectors and The National, Merriweather Post Pavilion, 6-6-13

Horrible shot of Dirty Projectors, 6-6-13, MPP

Horrible shot of The National, 6-6-13, MPP

I arrived late for Dirty Projectors on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at Merriweather Post Pavilion because of the rain and subsequent traffic jams, and that was a pity, because I bought this ticket specifically to go see Dirty Projectors. It was raining and I had a lawn seat, but Merriweather was nice and let the lawn folks into the unsold Pavilion seats in the loge area. So I got to see most of the act out of the rain. They really are amazingly impressive musicians. I think it would have been incredible to watch them in an intimate venue. The voice control alone is astonishing. I didn’t even mind that they barely acknowledged the audience.

Jill and Bernie arrived in time for The National. I wasn’t impressed. They had some good lights on stage, and I learned that the band members are quite a bit older than I had imagined, but it sounded just like the recordings and there wasn’t all that much audience interaction to beef up the stiff performance. I left early and was perfectly fine with that.

Charli XCX and Little Daylight at U Street Music Hall 6-3-13

Little Daylight at U Street Music Hall 6-3-13

Charli XCX at U Street Music Hall 6-3-13

I went to see Charli XCX with Trish at U Street Music Hall on Monday, June 3, 2013. We got dinner a block away at Chix first (I recommend it highly, by the way), so we were late to Little Daylight. The few songs I saw them perform were good, but not memorable. Charli XCX is a wunderkind British singer-songwriter. She wrote “I Love It” by Icona Pop and has a new album she’s supporting. She got rave reviews for her live show at SXSW, so I was excited to see her. I felt she delivered, though I had a horrible view for most of the show. The songs are all pop rock – the kind you can dance to and sing along with.  She talked to the audience some, and she was energetic on stage. I hope I get to see her again from a better vantage point. Trish HATED the cover song she did – some 80s crap that I can’t even remember now.



Hey Marseilles at Ram's Head On Stage 6-23-13



Cole Cash at Ram's Head on Stage 6-23-13

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, June 23, 2013, Geri and I both took our 8-year-old daughters to see Hey Marseilles at an all-ages matinee at Ram's Head On Stage in Annapolis, which is a seated dinner-concert venue. It was a great time! I was sorry to see such a bad turn out, though. Not even ¼ of the seats were filled.  The last time I went to a matinee, it was nearly full. The music was beautiful. The artists authentic and engaged. They looked joyful playing on stage. I thought the lead singer sounded more like Colin Meloy in person than recorded. The band is chamber-pop from Seattle and includes a cello (played standing) and viola. Most memorable was when the lead singer talked about the girl’s milkshakes.  He called them temptresses for drinking them in front of him (he has a serious milk shake addiction.)

The opener was Cole Cash, a duo from Annapolis, MD. They were folksy/country sounding and did several covers.  (Maybe all covers. I couldn’t tell.) The woman has a beautiful voice. The man, not as good, but sounded great with her in duets. They played guitar and slide guitar.