American Authors and Mowgli's at Rock and Roll Hotel, August 7, 2013 by guest blogger Sharon Rosenblatt

Yeah! My very first guest blogger!  And she's a real writer - she's even been published in legit things. You can tell she takes writing seriously by how she actually mentions the music in her review, unlike me. The reason I gave Sharon a gift card was because the 4 venues that used Ticket Alternative in DC suddenly jumped ship for another ticket distributor, so it was use it or lose it, and I already had enough shows on the books to make my kids mad at me for a month.  So Sharon took it off my hands.  Thanks Sharon! Anita

I apologize for the delayed review. However, I realize that the timing couldn’t be more perfect because the Mowgli's are coming back to DC on November 13, 2013, with the Royal Teeth and X Ambassadors. Now, with no further ado, my almost two-months delayed review!

I think the most difficult part of being a fledgling Indie music fan like myself is the blank stares I receive when I say I’m going to a concert. Sure, part of the fun is bragging to people that the band I’m going to see is the ‘next big thing’ but it does get a little lonely on Mt. Smugness. Luckily, I am well-versed in the art of peer pressure, and that is how I coerced brought my boyfriend Anthony to a concert of a band he’s never heard of and one I only know from Spotify. So, to all you cooler people than me, I present my review of the Mowgli’s and American Authors.

Most of the credit goes to the goddess of this blog, Anita, for offering me use of her gift card to Ticket Alternative. I scoured through pages of bands, and recalled that I had maybe somewhere heard of the Mowgli’s. Ah, that’s right, the lineup for Lollapalooza, yet another music festival I’m too broke to attend. I saw that American Authors was opening, and I knew their hit song “Believer” from the few times I get to listen to Alt Nation in cars other than my own.

Usually, my MO is to buy tickets to bands I know more than one song to, but Anita was graciously offering, and I decided to break tradition. So, getting over my fear of driving to H Street to the Rock and Roll Hotel, I dragged a cheerful Anthony with the promise that if we made it before 8, the beers were cheaper and the wings were half-off.

As someone who has never been to the Rock and Roll Hotel, let me just say it was love at first sight. My favorite venue is typically your Merriweathers, but my heart secretly yearns for a gritty, grimy bar that is full of human spirit.

Too late to hear the first opener (but we did make it for $3 PBRs and half-priced wings), a Philadelphia band called Buried Beds, Anthony and I busted our way to the front of the sweaty crowd to watch American Authors set up. I’m not sure if many of you will agree, but watching a band doing their own set up and sound check is very humbling, and makes me love them more. I could tell that this quartet from Brooklyn was going to rock because their foreplay was setting up kickdrums. Also, it never hurts when they do sound checks on banjos. This wasn’t going to be my average concert.

You might know American Authors from spot in the Lowe’s commercial, or like me, you can’t get enough of “Believer” from your Spotify station. Don’t try to Google them, because you get links for syllabi about American literature. Not for much longer. This band is going to be big. They are a lovable group of hipsters from Brooklyn who released their EP in September. With only about half a dozen songs, they make up for lack of quantity with musical power. American Authors is a very happy band that has a good amount of spunk.

I didn’t know all of the songs, but I couldn’t help but bop around. The lead singer banged on the drums, and I enjoyed the positive vibe. American Authors values friends, family, and making your own luck. This isn’t the band you’re going to listen to when your boyfriend leaves you—American Authors is cheerful and a little edgy. With titles like Best Day of My Life, Luck, and Home, you’re in for an endorphin rush that’s coupled with twangy banjos and soulful mandolins.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: As a result, I’ve now seen American Authors twice since this concert. They opened for the Airborne Toxic Event at Rams Head earlier in September, and again at a free concert I attended in Philadelphia. They’re much better in a smaller venue, instead of an outdoor concert full of posers. I’m looking forward to seeing their newer releases, but until they write more songs, it might be a while before they perform at 9:30 [Club].

Once the sweat dried off me and my claustrophobia abated, I was geared for the Mowgli’s. The video for “San Francisco” is the stuff that butterflies, sparkles, and ponies are made of. Like American Authors, the Mowgli’s are a happy band. Not surprising, considering they are all from California. A modern-day answer for the Beach Boys, the Mowgli’s have a commanding presence that can lift the sourest of moods with songs like “Emily”, “Hi, Hey There, Hello” (which my boyfriend and I are trying to learn as a duet with him on guitar), and the always inspiring “Carry Your Will”. The lyrics aren’t poetry or particularly intellectual, but the harmonious sounds of guitar and drums will leave you grinning and dancing.

If you’re into a little bit of West Coast rock coupled with a rush of serotonin, the Mowgli’s are your band. They’re alternative enough to fulfill your musical needs without being mainstream, but still not off the deep end because they are California hippies. The Mowgli’s are a massive band (I think I counted six or seven members), and they could demand a crowd at your larger venues as an opener, but I think it would diffuse them. Did anyone see them at Lollapalooza? I’d like to see how that would compare.

Check out the videos for San Francisco or The Great Divide (also the title of their second album). Then, considering joining me in November, as part of the DC stop on the Mowgli’s Random Acts of Kindness Tour.

http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/375525?utm_medium=bks&utm_medium=459899

 

Free Fest, Merriweather, September 21, 2013

Little Green Cars, Merriweather, 9-21-13

 I arrived at Freefest at around 10:30 am on Saturday September 21, 2013, determined to get a parking spot in the main lot of Merriweather.  It worked.  I got in, got my T-shirt and cup (because I wasn't lucky enough to score a free ticket), and hung out in the dance forest until Ghost Beach went on. They were very good live, as I expected, since I'd seen them open for Robert DeLong the week before. They know how to work a crowd.  After a while, I went to check out the other acts playing. First, I stopped by the Knocks. They were two guys at computers using samples. There was nothing entertaining about their live show. I don't understand their appeal. Then I stopped by Sky Ferreira. That girl has a great voice, even if I'm not all that found of her pop tunes.   Next I went to Little Green Cars, who started out folksy and progressed towards a more rock sound during their set. They were a very pleasant surprise.  All of the band members sing - all 5. Beautiful harmonies.  I stopped by Washed Out briefly, but I don't love his music, so I left for CHVRCHES - one of my main reasons for coming to the festival.  The lead singer was tiny, and looked almost fae. Beautiful voice and face. Reminded me of Grimes without the artist attitude and pot. Her two band-mates were on platforms next to her, and it just accentuated how short she was. They did a lot of new songs, including one that featured male vocals.  The performance wasn't amazing, but it was good enough to see again when they come back to town. The rain started during this act, and Dana arrived just as they were finishing their last song. The next act - and the other reason I was excited for this festival - was Icona Pop. Dana and I got up fairly close to the stage, so we could actually see some of the stage show without the screen. The duo had a LOT of party girl energy, and they looked like their supermodel selves. They were very good live - worth seeing.  They sounded good, though they did clearly have a fair amount of their background music recorded, not live.  I thought they would have had a wilder, more gimmick-filled show, but no such luck. No one I saw all day had a great gimmick.  The rain really started to come down during Icona Pop. Dana and I wandered around for a while listening to City and Colour in the background (meh) but the next act I wanted to see wasn't for 2 hours, so we both ended up calling it a day at around 5:30 pm.  Since the rain never let up, and the photos I saw online were nothing special, I feel good about that decision. 

Washed Out, 9-21-13

Chvrches, Merriweather, 9-21-13

Chvrches, Merriweather, 9-21-13

Icona Pop, Merriweather, 9-21-13

Icona Pop, Merriweather, 9-21-13

Dana, Merriweather, 9-21-13



Anita, Merriweather, 9-21-13

Ghost Beach, Merriweather, 9-21-13

Imagine Dragons and Neighbourhood, Merriweather, 9-20-13

Imagine Dragons at Merriweather, 09-20-2013

It was a beautiful night at Merriweather on Friday, September 20, 2013, and Eric, Natalie, and I enjoyed it with lots of friends. Jill brought her son, his friend, and the friend's dad. I brought my friend Laura, her daughter Phebe (Natalie's friend) and husband Shank, and Trish met us there with Jack in tow (her son). There were a lot of kids at this show, and not just in our group.

Natalie and I arrived at 4:30 pm to use gatecrashers to grab a big spot on the lawn (sold out show), but it turns out that gatecrashers doesn't work like I thought it would. It's very helpful if you have a standing-room floor ticket, but if you have lawn ticket, all it does is get you inside the food area, then you wait in a crowd until the gates officially open to run for a spot on the lawn.  It worked to our advantage on accident, but it was almost 6 pm before we claimed a spot on the lawn. Then we waited, and waited, and waited.  Traffic was very tough that night, and Eric didn't show up until the first opener, Envy Corp, was about to start. Natalie and I spent most of their set buying food. I barely even noticed their music. People in our group started trickling in during their set.

Neighbourhood was the second opener, and they were potty-mouthed, but very good live. Active on stage and sounded great. Worth seeing. It got dark during their set and I was VERY glad I had brought Halloween flashing LED bracelets with me to the show.  Eric held them over his head as a beacon in the crowd when people needed to find our group. Hint for parents: bring glow-y things to concerts when you bring kids. SO much entertainment value.

Imagine Dragons were excellent performers. They are straight up pop, but they were engaging and sounded great, too. The lights show on stage was varied and entertaining. It relied heavily on a giant screen behind the performers. They were not foul-mouthed, which was better for the 6 to 13 year old ears in our group.

Waxahatchee at Black Cat on 09-17-2013

Waxahatchee at Black Cat 9-17-13

I went to the Screaming Females concert at Black Cat on September 17, 2013, specifically for the opener, Waxahatchee. I didn't even stay to see the first song by Screaming Females, and during the first opener, Tenement, I sat and checked my phone for the entire set. Tenement was punk-light, and I didn't care for them.

Waxahatchee has amazing intensity on her recorded albums. Her voice was every bit as good in person, but the emotions didn't come through as well live. I think she was dialing it in after being on the road so long. She is not much of a performer. I don't think she even swayed to her own music.  She talked to the audience maybe twice. So it was a disappointing show. I won't seek her out again, but I will keep listening to her recorded music.

Robert DeLong and Ghost Beach at U Street, 9-10-13

Ghost Beach, U Street, 9-10-13

Robert DeLong, U Street, 9-10-13

I went to Robert DeLong and Ghost Beach at U Street Music Hall on a Tuesday night (Sept 10, 2013) with Trish and a couple of her friends, wondering if it was possible for the show to live up to the fabulous time I had seeing DeLong in the same venue 7 months prior. It vastly surpassed that prior experience.

The opener, Ghost Beach, was very talented live. They've got at least one recognizable song out, and their performance on stage was extremely engaging. They really know how to work a crowd. They will be at Free Fest next week and I look forward to seeing them there again.

Robert DeLong is AMAZING live.  I haven't danced that much at a show for as long as I can remember. I'm sure it helps that I love his music and know it pretty well, but even the people we were with who'd never heard of him really enjoyed themselves. I couldn't see at all, and I know from experience it's fascinating to see him create the music, but I didn't mind because the music and the atmosphere was just that good.

As a side note, Trish made fun of me for coming to the show in face paint, but I was vindicated. Face paint is a thing at DeLong shows - there were volunteer face painters there. (I know I've seen him recruiting face painters on Facebook.)  So there. ;-)

STRFKR and Small Black at 9:30 Club, September 4, 2013

Starfucker, 9:30 Club, 9-4-13

Small Black, 9:30 Club, 9-4-13

I bought this show ticket on impulse after realizing that I had 2 or 3 of the songs from Starfucker's 2013 album as well as 1 of Small Black's on my favorites lists. I figured there were good odds that I'd enjoy the show. It was a Wednesday night show and I didn't know anyone else going, so I hosted a Meetup for the Indie Concert group, and it was really well attended. Everyone who came was nice and interesting, and most of them were able to find us in the club. I arrived when the doors opened and got a great spot on the balcony for our group. It looked like a promising night, until the music started.

The first opener was Feelings, a solo electronic act gentleman from California who seemed to be channeling Ross from Friends while trying to sound like Robert Smith from the Cure, but failing. It was a gutsy move, but a horrible train wreck.  Poor guy.


Small Black were much better.  They bopped around on stage a little and seemed to be excited to be there, but I found their extended catalogue rather dull. I think they could be good someday, but they need some additional songs that people will want to sing along with. Most of what they played wasn't sing-along caliber.

Starfucker disappointed me. Most of their act was spent imitating statues. They barely moved on stage at all, and almost never acknowledge the audience in front of them. They relied entirely on their lights show to entertain, and annoyingly, audience-facing strobes were a part of that show. The lead singer (a man) wore a hausfrau dress and never commented on it. Not sure what the deal was with that, but apparently, it's common at their shows. Worst part of the show was the sound mixing. The vocals were really difficult to make out. Even when one of my favorites came on, it took me a while to identify it because I couldn't hear the vocals clearly. I ended up leaving before the end of the set.  I won't bother to see them again live.