Music Park: Of Montreal @ Ottobar — 10/24/18

Posted on 10/29/2018 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Athens, experimental pop, Georgia, indie pop, Kevin Barnes, of Montreal, Ottobar, Polyvinyl Records, psychedelic.

Of Montreal thrills a packed Ottobar on Oct. 24, 2018. (Photo by David LaMason)

Of Montreal, the band fronted by the charismatic and wildly creative Kevin Barnes, has been going strong through various permutations for more than 20 years. The Athens, Georgia-born band has released 15 full length albums (not including EPs and singles) — during that time, they’ve experimented with styles (straight ahead pop à la Beatles to country tinged Americana to dance).

Although the songwriting is brilliant and the songs tough to get out of your head, the band’s live show (and by “show” I mean it in the most literal sense) has come to be Of Montreal’s signature, and that show arrived at Ottobar on Oct. 24.

Music Park: Quiet Slang @ Rock and Roll Hotel — 7/12/18

Posted on 07/16/2018 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Beach Slang, Charlie Lowe, indie rock, James Alex, Philadelphia, Polyvinyl Records, pop-punk, power pop, punk, Quiet Slang, Rock and Roll Hotel.

James Alex of Quiet Slang pours out his heart at the Rock and Roll Hotel on July 12, 2018. (Photo by David LaMason)

Beach Slang — the loud, driving, heart-on-your sleeve band led by James Alex — has been making their brand of Replacements-tinged powerpunk for a few years now. Beyond the rough and noisy exterior, Beach Slang songs are about connecting with the feeling of being different or an outsider or being yourself despite what others think.

But there’s a soft center to that hard exterior. So when James Alex announced the new quiet focus on Beach Slang songs with a project called Quiet Slang, it seemed like a natural extension. The resulting album, Everything Matters But No One Is Listening, is a beautiful retelling that sounds natural instead of forced, particularly when presented at Rock and Roll Hotel on Thursday.

Ticket Giveaway: The Get Up Kids @ 9:30 Club, 7/15/18

Posted on 06/13/2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, emo, free tickets, Kansas City, Missouri, Polyvinyl Records, The Get Up Kids, ticket giveaway.

The Get Up Kids (Photo by Dalton Paley)

The Get Up Kids released Kicker, a new EP and their first new material in seven years, on June 8 via Polyvinyl Records! The band will tour with a stop at 9:30 Club on Sunday, July 15. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!

Snapshots: Post Animal @ Union Stage — 6/2/2018

Posted on 06/05/2018 by Brenda Reyes in Live Review and tagged Chicago, Polyvinyl Records, Post Animal, psychedelic, Union Stage.

Post Animal performs at Union Stage on June 2, 2018. (Photo by Brenda Reyes)

Straight from Chicago, Post Animal brought psychedelic sound with tons of heavy metal influences and hints of pop to Union Stage on Saturday. When I Think of You in a Castle, their debut album published on April 20 by Polyvinyl Records, is one of those albums that you can listen to without skipping a track.

Don’t Miss: Post Animal @ Union Stage, 6/2/18

Posted on 05/10/2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Chicago, Polyvinyl Records, Post Animal, psychedelic, Union Stage.

Post Animal (Photo courtesy Polyvinyl Records)

Post Animal, a psych-rock five-piece from Chicago, recently released When I Think of You in a Castle, their debut full-length record, via Polyvinyl Records. The guys perform at Union Stage in support of that album on Saturday, June 2.

Snapshots: Palehound @ Union Stage — 2/10/18

Posted on 02/19/2018 by isaiahhattix in Live Review and tagged Boston, Ellen Kempner, lo-fi, Palehound, Polyvinyl Records, psychedelic pop, Union Stage.

Ellen Kempner fronts Palehound at Union Stage on Feb. 10, 2018. (Photo by Isaiah Hattix)

Palehound performed at Union Stage recently in a tour following their release of A Place I’ll Always Go, the band’s sophomore full-length album published last summer via Polyvinyl Records. Isaiah Hattix snapped Palehound in action during their co-headlining show with Weaves

Don’t Miss: Palehound @ Union Stage, 2/10/18

Posted on 01/26/2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Boston, Ellen Kempner, lo-fi, Palehound, Polyvinyl Records, psychedelic pop, Union Stage.

Palehound (Photo by Shervin Lainez)

Boston trio Palehound today release a 7-inch single YMCA Pool and shared a new track called “Sea of Blood.” The single chases the release of A Place I’ll Always Go, the band’s sophomore full-length album published last summer via Polyvinyl Records. In a few short weeks, Palehound hits the road with Weaves, and the co-headlining tour lands at Union Stage in DC on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Don’t Miss: White Reaper @ 9:30 Club, 12/30-12/31/17

Posted on 12/08/2017 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, garage, Kentucky, New Years Eve, Polyvinyl Records, power pop, Spoon, White Reaper.

White Reaper (Photo by Jesse DeFlorio)

Spoon is set to ring in the new year at 9:30 Club on Dec. 31. In fact, Spoon have sold out two shows for Saturday, Dec. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 31. If you’re going, don’t miss White Reaper, the garage punk band from Louisville, Kentucky, opening both shows!

Music Park: Beach Slang @ Black Cat — 11/28/17

Posted on 12/01/2017 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Beach Slang, Black Cat, emo, James Alex, Philadelphia, Polyvinyl Records, pop-punk, punk.

Beach Slang pour their hearts out at Black Cat on Nov. 28, 2017. (Photo by David LaMason)

It goes without saying that Beach Slang have been having a difficult year. There was the well-publicized changes in band members in 2016, immediately followed by the first of two thefts where all of their gear was stolen. The second coming this past month in Seattle where their tour van was stolen. But it’s a testament to the spirit of Beach Slang that they not merely continue on or go through the motions, but they consistently play some of the best heart-on-your-sleeve-seat-of-your-pants rock ‘n’ roll every night. And at Black Cat, James Alex and Company poured out those hearts on Tuesday.

Music Park: Japandroids @ Rams Head Live — 10/30/17

Posted on 11/02/2017 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Anti Records, arena rock, Baltimore, Brian King, David Prowse, indie rock, Japandroids, Polyvinyl Records, Rams Head Live.

Japandroids brings down the house at Rams Head Live on Oct. 30, 2017. (Photo by David LaMason

How can so much brilliant sound come from two people? If you’ve heard anything of the thunderous rock of Japandroids — the duo of Brian King (guitars/vocals) and David Prowse (drums/vocals) — you’d have some clue to the answer. One part Bruce Springsteen and two parts Replacements with more than a dash of punk rock thrown in for good measure, Japandroids brought spectacle and inspired energy to Rams Head Live in Baltimore Monday night!