Brightest Young Things

This spring, Julianne Brienza, the founder of the Capital Fringe Festival, sat down with me to talk about her vision of expanding the festival beyond theatre. After milling things around a bit, it was decided that this summer I would organize a series of music events. And, well, to make a long story short, I have done just that.

Those of you who know me know by now that even if you don’t agree with me all of the time, I know what I am talking about when it comes to music. So I utilized that skill to reach out to people who I thought would lay a firm foundation for this inaugural season.

There are two main tracks at the Fringe this summer, (incidentally, all of which is named “FAST”; Julianne liked the humor of “fast track”), the first being the full bills taking place later in the evenings. All of these are $10, all ages, and, yes, include a bar.

I’m not known for brevity, but I’ll do my best.

Here we go:

If you don’t know, BLDGS is Collin from Sentai’s new(er) indie psych band, and they are fantastic.

The Plums includes one Mark Masters, a man who knows a thing or two about music.

Finally, Lo Moda is not to be missed as they are ex-Candy Machine and Fascist Fascist.

Electric World - Lo Moda

be here - Buildings

I don’t really feel as though I need to offer any explanations for this. As the kids are saying this week: “LEEESSSSS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

So Damn High (Will Eastman remix) 128 - Ruby Isle

Xrystal Eye (Dmerit Remix) - Triobelisk

Sean Peoples’s fantastic and long standing DC based label, Sockets Records, has agreed to host a night with us. From trend setting hip-hop, to quirky pop, this night will please everyone.

stephen - the Cornel West theory

http://socketsrecords.blogspot.com/
(Need I remind you)
Summer Mix

Another mainstay of the music scene in DC is the much loved All Our Noise website. A quality spot to keep up with music in the District and beyond, and definitely a quality group to also have host a night at the Fringe. Putting not only Seas and Typefighter on the bill, they also have an offering from the Thornley Brothers of one US Royalty. I don’t feel I need to say more.

(Imeem simply could not help me here, but this might shed some light)
http://www.myspace.com/typefighter
http://www.myspace.com/calmsofcapricorn

http://www.allournoise.com/

Even since I saw Head Roc hand him the mic to freestyle at a show, I have been a die-hard fan of Flex Mathews. It’s probably that kind of impression that earned him “Best Rapper” in the year’s City Paper reader’s poll. Add to that Disturbed Individuals, with Hy from Food For Animals, and Arda Mus, and we will all definitely be getting up to get down.

When Nothing Goes Right - Ardamus

What can I really say about Baltimore’s hardest working arts collective? You name it, they’ve done it. They carry the torch for arts in all directions these days. Come see what happens when they focus on the ears.

Mostly A Friend - Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez

http://www.whamcity.com/

Beyond having amazing local artist BLK w/BEAR (I mean, come on people, he did a collaborative album with Rothko), and the ever-impressive Insect Factory, I could not be happier to announce that
Religious Knives is coming all they way from NYC to spread a little ambient psych cheer. A side project of experimental band Double Leopards members Mike Bernstein and Maya Miller, Religious Knives has gone on to create many beautiful albums, always to great acclaim. You should come to every show, but, if at gunpoint you had to pick just one, this would be it.

Downstairs - Religious Knives

On the “edgier” side of things we have a little slice of metal. Orphan is more garage than metal, but is lauded on the west coast by Aquarius Records, on the east coast by Vice magazine, and everywhere in between. I found them on the aQ site, and instantly ordered their album after hearing a sample. Grimmer still, several members of the No Neck Blues Band and, friends got together to make a black metal band. Not only is it surprisingly good, but Malkuth is pretty damn KVLT. And this is from someone who actually knows what he is talking about. (Unfortunately the opener had to cancel, but I’m working out an awesome replacement. Stay, drop D, tuned.)

(*sigh* These again I’m afraid)
http://www.myspace.com/orphannyc
http://www.myspace.com/malkuth666

That is the exhaustive first half of the FAST track, as it were.

We are selling a limited number of pre-sale tickets for these shows here (and get them now, as they are going fast):

http://capfringe.org/f_a_s_t.html

And for information about the Fringe in general, you can check the whole site out:

http://capfringe.org/

All of the shows take place at 607 New York Ave NW,
either in the SHOP AT FORT FRINGE, or the BALDACCHINO GYPSY TENT BAR.
I’ll be back a little later to tell you about the second leg of FAST, which are the free shows. Stay with me.