The Baltimore Weekly Re-Up

April 7, 2008 by Greg  Send to a Friend

Fill up your tank, it’s a B-more worthy week in music with a bunch of area-exclusive shows up here including Toots and the Maytals, Spoon, Minus the Bear and Wye Oak.

Monday April 7

Carl Grubbs (sax) and Eric Kennedy (drums) @ An Die Musik

Critically acclaimed, Coltrane-schooled jazz saxophonist Carl Grubbs engages in what is sure to be an interesting pre-concert conversation on his career followed by a duo-performance in the great, intimate performance space of Baltimore’s classical and jazz mecca, An Die Musik.

Wye Oak @ Soundgarden (in-store performance)

Indie-folksters Wye Oak play up close and personal at a free in-store performance at the Soundgarden in Fells Point. The store itself is probably worth a trip to B-more.

I am also running a Wye Oak contest at my blog. Top prize includes a signed copy of debut Merge release If Children and 2 tickets to their CD release show Thursday. They have upped the ante for the ambitious with potential for a date with Andy. Contest details here.

Tuesday April 8

BUTT STOMACH, Smart Growth @ the Talking Head

Dan Deacon and Kevin O’Meara (Video Hippos) peddle their kiddie-freak-out termed “future shock” with Smart Growth opening (solo Denny Bowen of Double Dagger) with some drum/synth action fusing deep house and electro with new wave and post-punk.

Wednesday April 9

Minus the Bear @ Recher Theatre

I dig them. The last time I tried to see them, I didn’t get tickets in advance and was left outside the Black Cat, a half tank of gas lower than when I started and kinda wet from the rain. They are quality nonetheless. I won’t begrudge them my last bad experience.

Thursday April 10

VHS or Beta @ the Ottobar

I know they are going to RnR Hotel, but I like the Ottobar better for some shows. This would be one of them. Dance the night away.

Wye Oak @ the G-Spot

Wye Oak CD release. Go. If you’re cheap, enter the free tickets contest here.

Friday April 11

Spoon, Walkmen, White Rabbits @ Sonar

This is a fucking no-brainer; probably show of the month for me. I have written much on the White Rabbits after my first exposure to them earlier this year when I saw them as support for Walkmen. Anyone who references the Specials as a strong influence get bonus points in my book. Spoon are just Spoon; didn’t you hear they took over SXSW this year? And say what you will, but Walkmen always attack their live show with admirable gusto.

And this bill is not making its way to DC; next closest is the Norva. BOOYAH.

Saturday April 12

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, These United States @ the Talking Head

I have a soft-place in my heart for earnest Casio-pop. You really can’t argue with CFTPA, one of the founders of the movement. Your favorite DC locals These United States play support.

Dan Blacksberg @ the Red Room

As a former tromboner (trombone) and a current tubist (tuba), I also have a soft-place for brass. Especially under-appreciated brass (aka not-trumpet). So this is a personal no-brainer. And man Blacksberg can wail.

Sunday April 13

Scream Club, Emily Rabbit @ Metro Gallery

I’m in a dance-party kind of mood for this upcoming weekend I think; Scream Club could fill this void ably. Also, come see what the drama is all about with Emily Rabbit as one of the supporting acts.

Toots and the Maytals @ Rams Head Live

The man is a legend. I have strong views on Toots and his rightful place and status in reggae history compared to his actual popularity and status relative to other reggae icons. The man is a born performer and stills burns it up on stage.

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