Come Early For: Bands Worth Skipping Dinner For

February 27, 2008 by Svetlana  Send to a Friend

We put this column on hiatus for a bit, but there are 2 KICK ASS opening acts this week, that I will be damned if I don’t bully you into going to see. Read carefully, and weep. Gently.

http://www.myspace.com/kerenann

Keren Ann is Russian-Israeli-Dutch by Origin, lives in Paris, and roams New York and LA and everything in between writing songs in multiple languages that are as soft and tender as they are well observed. Now, I know what you are going to say…ANOTHER FEMALE SINGER SONGWRITER….Do I really need this in my life?
Well, point taken. And while maybe you don’t need JUST another female singer songwriter in your life, you do need Keren (even if she is on the same label as Norah Jones which already has half of you raising your eyebrows, I know).
But her eponymous album from last year is easily my favorite record to unwind after a long work day to, to take the train to, and probably even hug my pillow to. And I own A LOT of records.
Just listen to this, and attempt not to have your heartstrings in rapture:

and while I managed to somehow not interview her this week, DCist did, so read up, and see you tonight.

and then, on the (very) opposite end of the spectrum this Friday we have:

http://www.kidcongopowers.com/

Ok, this show is already going to be INSANE (we’re doing a monster Apes feature tomorrow, plus “Food for Animals” kids are back and 100% worth coming out early for too) but Kid Congo (nee Brian Tristan) is the man.
Who has also lived a fuller and more kick ass life than most people do if they had nine lives to live.
I could write some frilly “punk DC legend” bullpoop now, but let me just quote his bio AND JUST PAY ATTENTION to all the things I put up here in bold, ok:

founding member of the Gun Club, Kid Congo Powers is also known for his guitar work with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on Tender Prey, The Good Son, and the Wings of Desire soundtrack, and with the Cramps on Psychedelic Jungle, Smell of Female, and Bad Music for Bad People. Kid has also played with the Legendary Stardust Cowboy, Diamanda Galas, Jonathan Fire Eater, Make-Up, Mark Eitzel, The Angels of Light, and many more. He has also created a substantial body of work as a singer, songwriter, producer, and all around entertainer with Die Haut, Congo Norvell, Knoxville Girls, and on his own. Current projects include his solo band, Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds, and his collaboration with electro-celebrity Khan, Kid & Khan. Still the hardest working man in showbiz, Kid Congo had two releases in 2005 with Khan, Bad English and Washing Machine,and, in 2006, one with the Pink Monkey Birds, Philosophy and Underwear, and a compilation of his work as a vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist, Solo Cholo.

proceed to read the full bio here
and be there on FRIDAY or forever hold your piece

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