All Our Noise

Lady Lamb The Beekeeper

Raul — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:29:20 +0000

Songwriter Aly Spaltro has long been accustomed to rolling solo when it comes to her craft. During her days in Brunswick, Maine a few years back, she began writing tunes in secret. She’d stay after hours in the basement of the video store she worked at, penning songs that would ultimately become a part of her debut album, Ripley Pine, released this past February on Ba Da Bing Records.

When it came time to record the album Aly saw some of the songs which were originally conceived of as solo pieces, evolve into more epic sounding arrangements. And her tour this past May in support of the album, featured Lady Lamb The Beekeeper as a 4-piece band, rather than simply a solo effort.

We caught Lady Lamb The Beekeeper during their last stop on the tour, at the Black Cat, and captured some of their set here for you.

Lands & Peoples

Raul — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:51:53 +0000

Over the course of a couple of EPs and a full length album last year, Baltimore’s Lands & Peoples, have been honing their experimental pop sound. In both live and recorded form, the Baltimore band has treated us to a multi-layered blend of unconventional melodies and vocal harmonies.

Back in the Fall, we were invited to Soft House to hang out with the band as they performed a new tune for us, “Everyday.” They’ve got some new material in the works, though while you wait, you can still grab a copy of their record, Pop Guilt, here.

Lands and Peoples play Golden West on June 12, with Julian Lynch and the Luyas.

Jessica Pratt

Raul — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:58:12 +0000

When you first put on Jessica Pratt’s record, there is an immediate feeling of having stumbled upon something old that has only recently been rediscovered. The young San Francisco songwriter’s sound so moved White Fence’s Tim Presley that he started a new label, Birth Records, with the expressed intention of releasing her music.

On her just wrapped tour with Father John Misty earlier this month, we spent some time with Jessica backstage, where she treated us to a couple of new songs not yet on any album. And from the first words she sings you are instantly transported out of time.

Supernova Performance Art ‘Big Bang’ Giveaway!

Raul — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:24:22 +0000

This weekend kicks off the Supernova Performance Art Festival, a weekend long affair hosting more than 75 artists from around the country, and beyond. A collaboration between the Rosslyn Bid and the Pink Line Project, the festival will take over Rosslyn, VA with performances not only at Artisphere, but in offices, building rooftops, the Metro station, parks and in various other locations throughout the city.

You can expect to witness and engage in challenging arts experiences over the course of the weekend, through a variety of unique performances. As curator Eames Armstrong states, “Performance art evades simple definition because no simple definition can contain it. Each unique performance challenges us to shed preconceptions, misgivings, expectations, in favor of a direct response to a direct action.”

With amazing performances from artists such as Holly Bass, whose recent work has included an exploration of the allure of booty, and Jeffrey Cudlin, who will lead a group of urban rock climbers through a day long excursion across the rough brick and concrete terrain of Rosslyn, and a host of others throughout the weekend, the range of work is wide and diverse.

While the festival spans the entire weekend, Saturday is when the bulk of the action takes place, when a full day of performances culminate with a big blowout at night. The Big Bang Party happens at Artisphere, and will be part rock show, part performance art event, part massive dance party in celebration of the festival. Featuring Ultra Naté, Heavy Breathing, Carolina Mayorga’s infestation of ants, video projections, art installations, performances by artists Steven Frost, Peter Grzybowski, Eleanor Barba, and tons more.

Check out the Supernova site for the schedule of events and more information on the artists, and you can order your tickets to the party here. But also, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to the blowout right here at AON. All you have to do is tell us in the comments, which artist you are most looking forward to checking out this weekend, and we’ll select a winner on Thursday.

Good luck!

The Blank Tapes

Raul — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:01:07 +0000

Over the last decade, Matt Adams has been recording lo-fi pop tunes as The Blank Tapes on his trusty eight track. Originally from Southern California, Matt has since taken his vintage vibe up north to San Francisco.

The band’s latest record, Vacation, is their first for Oakland imprint Antenna Farm Records, and their first recorded with the aid of an actual studio.

Matt recently brought his band to DC, and joined us during an amazing spring day out on the patio of The Lodge. Check out the band as they play “Don’t Ever Get Old,” from the new album, and “Beach Party.”

Mount Moriah Live at DC9

Raul — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:59:44 +0000

Following their recently released sophomore album, Miracle Temple, Mount Moriah wrapped their tour a few weeks back with an energetic set at DC9. Watch as they perform a few songs off the new album.

Soft Cat

Raul — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:37:08 +0000

We recently spent the day hanging out with Baltimore baroque pop ensemble Soft Cat on a Maryland horse farm, where they treated us to an intimate performance of a couple of their new songs.

On their latest album, Lost No Labor, the band is joined by friends from other Baltimore bands such as Secret Mountains, Weekends, Small Sur, Strange Fur and Wing Dam. Nearly two years in the making, Lost No Labor was released earlier this month through Human Kindness Overflowing, a non-profit record label that supports humanitarian efforts through online donations from record sales.

Wooden Wand

Raul — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:43:54 +0000

For more than a decade, James Jackson Toth has been recording his multi-faceted brand of Americana, that has sometimes been experimental, psych-folk, country-tinged.

On his most recent tour we caught up with James, and he played a couple of songs for us — “Supermoon (The Sounding Line)” and “Days This Long.” Both songs come off of his latest album, Blood Oaths of the New Blues, out now on Fire Records.

Mac DeMarco Live at DC9

Raul — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:02:53 +0000

After putting out one of our favorite albums of last year, we were pretty amped to see Mac DeMarco back in DC this winter.

This sold out show featured a real high energy set that mixed songs off the debut record, Rock n’ Roll Night Club, with some from last year’s 2. DeMarco even peppered in a couple of rando covers in for good measure and overall crowd satisfaction.

Check out the clip above, witha few stand out performances from the set, “I’m A Man,” “Annie,” “Ode to Viceroy,” and “Freaking out the Neighborhood”

TORRES

Raul — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:34:08 +0000

Although relatively new on the scene, Nashville songstress Mackenzie Scott has been quickly making a real impact performing under the name Torres. Having garnered praise from the likes of Fader, RCRD LBL and a best new track anointment from Pitchfork for single “Honey,” Mackenzie and her band have been building a steady momentum in 2013.

We invited Torres to come play a few songs for All Our Noise, and are pleased to be able to share them with you here. Watch as the band takes us through an intimate living room performance of album tracks “Waterfall” and “Mother Earth, Father God.”

photos: Maggie Famiglietti