You know I’m a fan of Savoir Adore (see my previous post and mp3), and I have yet to see Exit Clov (also a fan!) and Middle Distance Runner live.  So I am very much looking forward to Saturday night’s show at Rock n Roll Hotel. Savoir Adore is from Brooklyn, and opens for the bill of great DC bands.

Saturday, June 5
Savoir Adore, Exit Clov, Middle Distance Runner
@ Rock n Roll Hotel, 9:30pm, $10

Free Energy, from Philadelphia, exploded onto the music scene seemingly overnight last year. The band, however, released their first full-length album, Stuck on Nothing, just this past March. The album was produced by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy and released on his label, DFA. Free Energy is feel-good guitar rock, boasting a new sense of polish on their LP. The band is on tour with Jukebox the Ghost, and will continue touring with Mates of State later this summer. You can download a track from their new album below.

Sunday, May 30
Free Energy, Miniature Tigers
@ Rock n Roll Hotel, 8pm, $12

Free Energy on Myspace

Download: Free Energy – ‘Hope Child’

I’ll be out of town, I’m going to the beach! But I’ll be missing out on some of excellent sounding shows. Check back tomorrow for more about Free Energy and their stop in DC this Sunday.

Have a lovely holiday weekend.

Thursday, May 27

Besnard Lakes, Land of Talk
@ Black Cat, Backstage, 9pm, $12

Friday, May 28

Greenland, Frau Eva, Orbit to Leslie, Armchairs
@ Velvet Lounge, 9pm, $8

Sunday, May 30

Free Energy, Miniature Tigers
@ Rock n Roll Hotel, 8pm, $12

I’m a huge fan of The Jealous Girlfriends, and therefore, a Holly Miranda fan as well. She has taken some time off from fronting the band to release her debut solo album, The Magician’s Private Library, earlier this year. Her solo work is ethereal, dream-like, with a bit more reverb, production, etc., than you might expect, but it is her unique voice quality that really draws you in and keeps you there. You can download the lovely track ‘Waves’ from her album, below.

Holly Miranda headlines tonight at the Black Cat, with Grooms opening. She’ll soon be on her way to a few dates in Australia, and recently finished up a tour with Tegan and Sara.

Monday, May 24
Holly Miranda, Grooms
@ Black Cat, Backstage, 9pm, $10

Holly Miranda on Myspace

Download : Holly Miranda – ‘Waves’

Thursday 5/20

Mumford and Sons, The Middle East SOLD OUT
@ 9:30 Club, 7pm

Friday 5/21

The Dance Party, Party Bros, Yes Giantess, Once Okay Twice
@ 9:30 Club, 8pm, $15

I’ve done pretty good covering the rock and roll portion of this site, time to take care of the other part- the tea! So I finally made my way over to Arlington’s new Northside Social to give the chai a try. I’m always on the lookout for a good one. Especially the creamy kind with foam, or cinnamon on top, not the kind I make at home in my own kettle, boring. Northside Social, or NoSo, as friends adoringly call it, makes a very decent chai. It doesn’t taste like it was made from a mix (though it probably was), and is made not-too-hot. My only complaint? I think it was made with skim milk. I prefer it creamy, à la whole-milk, not so watery. Next time I’m over there, I will certainly inquire about this.

I’ve been to Northside Social, or NoSo, as my friends adoringly call it, several times now, and can say they have a very decent wine selection, too (try the Blaufranken!). After all, they claim to specialize in coffee and wine. I haven’t tried the food yet, but I have some friends who are big fans of the deserts and pastries. Luckily, this place is a mere three blocks from where I go to class, so I think I have a found a new pre/post class ritual!

Northside Social
3211 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, Virginia 22201

It’s been a while, I know. Last week got pretty scary with final exams and projects and work. Bad excuse, I know that, too. With that said, however, I’m really excited to write about Matt Duke today; he’ll be at Jammin’ Java Tuesday evening. I’ve seen him live many times (back in Philly, of course) and, in fact, worked for his record label Mad Dragon Records (though he’s now on Ryko). His albums are top notch (everything from haunting ballads to pop gems), but they don’t even begin to convey the way he puts on a show. If you’re familiar with Matt Duke, I’m sure you understand.

His last full-length release, Kingdom Underground, was out more than a year ago. Last summer Duke released an EP aptly titled Acoustic Kingdom Underground. You can download the lovely title track below.

Tuesday, May 11
Matt Duke, Joey Ryan, Ian Axel
@ Jammin’ Java, 7:30pm, $13

Matt Duke on Myspace

Download: Matt Duke – ‘Kingdom Underground (Acoustic)’

Freelance Whales (from Queens, NY) are back in DC this weekend after playing a sold-out show at Iota with Fanfarlo earlier this winter. This time they’re billed with another top band, Shout Out Louds. And just two weeks ago Freelance Whales re-released their debut album Weathervanes on Frenchkiss Records. Impressive for a band that first began playing shows  in 2009.

I can tell you already this will be one of my favorite releases of the year. The album is full of electro-pop gems, and you can download one of my favorite tracks, ‘Generator ^ Second Floor,’ below.

Sunday, 5/2
Shout Out Louds, Freelance Whales
@ 9:30 Club, 7pm, $15

Freelance Whales on Myspace

Download: Freelance Whales – ‘Generator ^ Second Floor’

Plenty of really great shows going on, one for each night of the weekend! I’m all for Savoir Adore on Saturday (whom I’ve posted about before), and Freelance Whales, from Queens, on Sunday, who have really got a strong DC following. Look for more details about some of these shows and mp3s tomorrow.

Have a lovely weekend.

Thursday, 4/29

Kaki King, An Horse
@ 9:30 Club, 7pm, $20

Friday, 4/30

Bellflur (CD Release), Seamonsters, Seas
@ Iota, 9pm, $12

Saturday 5/1

Savoir Adore, Impossible Hair, Hiding Places
@ Velvet Lounge, 10pm, $8

Sunday 5/2

Shout Out Louds, Freelance Whales
@ 9:30 Club, 7pm, $15

Kaki King is cool, we know that. So it’s a good time to take a look at the duo opening the show, An Horse. From Brisbane, Australia, they released their debut album, Rearrange Beds, a year ago. And just last month they released an EP of remixed album tracks called Beds Rearranged. They’re music is definitely guitar-driven, so it’s fun to listen to the remixes take the songs in a totally different direction. The EP features remixes by The Phenomenal Handclap Band, and RAC Collective. You can download the Bodega Girls remix of the lovely track “Listen,” below.

Thursday, April 29
Kaki King, An Horse
@ 9:30 Club, 7pm, $20

An Horse on Myspace

Download: An Horse – ‘Listen (Bodega Girls Remix)’