New Idea Society - The World Is Bright And Lonely; Watch The Video For "Don't Sleep"

Formed by Mike Law (of Eulcid), New Idea Society is a project also comprised of Chris DeAngelis, Stephen Brodsky, Mike Ushinsky, and Andrew Schneider. That lineup may or may not be exact, depending on which day you see the lineup. The band's new album, The World Is Bright And Lonely, was just released on Exotic Fever Records (and this post rounds out my recent lovefest for EF's new releases. See also the new Pash: The Best Gun review.)

New Idea Society, as a rule, takes viral hooks and infectious rhythms, sugarcoating dreary prose that is firmly planted in the sullen and borders on the nihilistic. Law's voice wears well the despair that the music deceptively masks on "Dress Shirt". The band eschews the minor chords and emo yelps of certain peers, favoring a dissonance of brighter tones to counter the despondent themes of the lyrics. Also challenged is the 3-minute formula of the popular standard, as the title track "Part II: The World Is Bright And Lonely", an homily directed apparently to someone opening their eyes and finding themselves a day late and a dollar short, breaks the 8-minute mark, and the twelve-track album clocks in at over 50 minutes.

Often spare in its sound ("Press Reverse"), Bright And Lonely is chock-full of subtle instrumental experimentation, and was recorded primarily live, giving the album a natural and warm sound. The vocals are somewhat forward, grabbing the listener's attention without becoming scurrilous or too disparaging. The first single from the album, "Don't Sleep", is the Bright part of New Idea Society's world, while "Dress Shirt" is a more representative sample of the Lonely side. "Don't Sleep"'s jaunt and pop make it an obvious single, while "Dress Shirt" is a close runner-up. The former has an ambience of joy, speaking to the urgency of infatuation, while the latter's guitar melody and wardrobe-inspired lyrics form an anthem for the broken and jaded.


Click the album art above or go to Exotic Fever to purchase the album.

Here's a video for "Don't Sleep" from the album:

Pash - The Best Gun; Free MP3 - "Down"

Say hello to Fredericksburg, Virginia's Pash. Two years after their debut, Pash have delivered The Best Gun, a pop (without the cheese) rock record fueled by galloping drums ("Kill The Rich Boys I & II"), danceable riffs ("Down"), and often heart-shattering lyrics.

Unleashed on Exotic Fever Records on August 28, The Best Gun is crafted with full-rock bangers like "The Battle Ended There" and subtly instrumented, melodic and accessible hits such as "The Best Gun". Urgent vocals powerfully propel The Best Gun, riding the power chords of "What Do We Always Say" and resting on the jangle of "The Promised Land" before sounding off a cataclysm in "Down". Even though Pash can sometimes sound lean for a quartet, the band is always listenable, never pretentious, and crafts clear, bright songs with pop culture potential.

The Best Gun is a rapid-fire 11 song repertoire, and the album's loud report will leave your ears ringing long after all of Pash's bullets have left the chamber on this release.

Click the album art or visit Exotic Fever at exoticfever.com to buy the CD.

Free MP3: Pash - "Down"

Hang The DJ at Rock and Roll Hotel Tonight at 9 PM

DC music blogger 5 Acts is hosting a DJ night at Rock and Roll Hotel in DC this evening at 9PM. If you're in town, check it out! Can't say I know what's going on, but I'm all about supporting those who support the music community!

Lejeune - For Club And Country; Free MP3 - "Spanish"

Out of DC, Lejeune are an indie-pop quintet who come together like Voltron (I just got to make a Voltron and a Wu-Tang Clan reference in an indie review . . . score!) to combine pop, country twang, new wave, and romance to produce For Club And Country, their second full-length.

Blending acoustic and electric guitars with keys and thick bumps and grooves on the low end, the album marks the culmination of a growth period for the band as they expand on their sound and deliver more confident tracks. The post-punk intro on "Spanish" leads into the new-wave Morrissey/Michael Stipe intermixed vocal style of Sam Bishop, and Matthew Richardson's guitar leads on "Replaced By Robots" display Lejeune's nascent style that should tear all 'new-wave revival' comparisons asunder. As apparent as the comparisons to acts before them may be, Lejeune's past is not as precious as its present. This is a band that burns brightly on its own.

Purchase For Club And Country at CDBaby.

Free MP3: Lejeune - "Spanish"

Bright Eyes Adds North American Tour Dates For Fall 2007

More Bright Eyes tour dates for the fall (including DC and VA):

09-13 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
09-14 Boise, ID - Big Easy Concert House
09-15 Spokane, WA - Big Easy Concert House
09-16 Olympia, WA - Capital Theatre
09-18 Fairbanks, AK - University of Alaska - Fairbanks
09-19 Anchorage, AK - University of Alaska - Anchorage
09-20 Anchorage, AK - University of Alaska - Anchorage
09-22 Seattle, WA - Quest Field (End Fest)
09-23 Eugene, OR - McDonald Theatre
09-24 Chico, CA - Senator Theatre
09-29 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl with M. Ward
10-03 Mexico City, Mexico - Vive Cuervo Salon
10-19 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
10-20 Kalamazoo, MI - State Theatre
10-21 Champaign, IL - Foellinger Auditorium at University of Illinois
10-22 Milwaukee, WI - Riviera Theatre
10-23 Lawrence, KS - Lied Center at University of Kansas
10-24 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
10-25 Sioux Falls, SD - Ramkota Exhibit Hall
10-27 Billings, MT - Shrine Auditorium
10-28 Missoula, MT - University Theatre
10-30 Edmonton, Alberta - Events Center
10-31 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwan Hall
11-02 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Burton Cummings Theatre
11-03 Fargo, ND - The Venue at Playmakers
11-04 Iowa City, IA - Main Lounge at University of Iowa
11-06 Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
11-07 Birmingham, AL - Alabama Theatre
11-08 Charleston, SC - The Plex
11-09 Winston Salem, NC - Millennium Center
11-10 Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
11-11 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
11-12 Wilmington, DE - Grand Opera House
11-14 Binghamton, NY - Magic City Music Hall
11-15 Rochester, NY - Main Street Armory
11-16 Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall
11-17 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
11-18 Worcester, MA - Palladium
11-19 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall

Album Review: The Antiques - Sewn With Stitches

If you've been searching for the right sound to accompany your all-black attire and the cloud of gloom that follows you around, look only to DC's The Antiques. Lock yourself in your room and listen to "Closed Curtains". The dark baritone of the male vocals, followed by the scathing and piercing female part, gets magnified by the accompanying organ, making for a sadistic breakup song to cry alone under the sheets to with the lights off and the stereo cranked to 11. Where the organ reaches into the internal depths of despair, the reverb of the guitar in "Tied To Nowhere" provides a reprieve. Still despondent, but less "the sky is falling" and more "let's tear it down."

Not one to be victimized throughout, singer Greg Svitil stands up on "You're Everything I Don't Need" and walks away from someone who is "everything I don't need and nothing I can use." The bright and jangly guitar of "You're An Act That Can't Be Followed" brightly underscores the story of a would-be suitor who throws himself at the object of his desire, only to be ignored. This is followed by the murky "Brown Balloons", charged by drums and bass and phased guitars. Echo and reverb effect dilute the vocals of this almost-love song.

Stepping wildly outside the confines of gloom-pop on "Bedsit Bones", the guitars funk up a hook reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall Pt. II", opening up the blinds just a bit and letting the sunshine in.

Sewn With Stitches is deeply cynical, rife with self-loathing, forlorn, and absolutely quaking with unrequited love. Fortunately for the Antiques, if found that love would be their demise. They'll have to go on suffering to bring more of their shoegazing, hopeless-yet-glimmering pop.

Free MP3 Download: The Antiques - "Closed Curtains"

Future of Music Policy Summit 2007

Mark your calendars for the 7th Annual Future of Music Policy Summit on September 17 and 18 at the GWU Betts Theater in Washington, DC. Learn about what the music industry is currently facing and what is being done both in law and technology that will have major impacts on music's future.



Planned events include keynotes, breakout sessions, panels, and more. And no doubt that networking opportunities abound!



There are scholarships available for working musicians (but not for working bloggers like myself).

Instrumental Analysis 1st Birthday Party/Show!

A big congrats to my esteemed colleague Joe over at Instrumental Analysis for the first birthday of IA, and the totally awesome show he's got lined up to celebrate at Rock and Roll Hotel in DC on August 10.

In attendance to rock your indie socks will be Le Loup, Bellman Barker, Lejeune, and Jette Kelly. Tickets are ten bucks. Show starts at 9:30.

Well done, IA (whose birthday is actually August 1, but I don't want to forget!). Here's to another year!

Your 60-Day Window of Shows: 6/28-8/25

JUNE
6/28 The Fray, OK Go, Mae @ 9:30 Club
6/30 The Polyphonic Spree @ 9:30 Club
6/30 Rodrigo Y Gabriela @ Rams Head Live

JULY
7/1 Robbers on High Street, The Redwalls @ Ottobar
7/3 Morrissey @ Rams Head Live
7/5 The Fiery Furnaces, dios(malos) @ Black Cat
7/7 Tortoise @ Black Cat
7/8 Built to Spill @ 9:30 Club
7/8 Chromeo, Flosstradamus @ Sonar
7/10 Mickey Avalon @ Sonar
7/11 Pela @ Black Cat
7/17 Dirty On Purpose, The Besnard Lakes @ Black Cat
7/20 Violent Femmes @ Power Plant Live
7/21 Deerhunter, Battles, Singer @ Ottobar
7/23 The Ponys @ Black Cat
7/23 Marnie Stern @ Ottobar
7/24 Marnie Stern @ Rock and Roll Hotel
7/25 James Morrison, Ben Folds @ Verizon Center
7/26 Great Northern @ Black Cat
7/27 Paid Dues International Hip Hop Festival: Brother Ali, Hangar 18, Sage Francis, Mr. Lif, Living Legends and more @ Pier Six Pavilion
7/28 The White Stripes @ The Patriot Center
7/30 The Polyphonic Spree, Jessica Hoop @ 9:30 Club

AUGUST
8/2 Fiona Apple @ Pier Six Pavilion
8/4 Virgin Festival @ Pimlico Race Track
8/7 Ra Ra Riot, Tokyo Police Club @ Black Cat
8/8 My Brightest Diamond, Rasputina @ Ottobar
8/8 Blonde Redhead, Beach House @ Rams Head Live
8/8 Ra Ra Riot, Tokyo Police Club @ Sonar
8/11 The Cribs @ Black Cat
8/16 Neko Case @ 9:30 Club
8/21 Wolf Parade, Octopus Project @ Black Cat
8/21 Camera Obscura @ Sonar
8/22 Octopus Project, Stereo Total @ Ottobar
8/25 Limbeck, The Format @ 9:30Club

Digital Media Conference In Silver Spring Today

If you're in Baltimore/DC today and have $600 to burn on the registration fee, the Digital Media Conference is taking place in Silver Spring, MD. I won't be there for two reasons: (1) I work, and I'm in court this morning; (2) I don't have six hundred bucks. Both very good reasons.

But it looks like an informative event with lots of players in presence. Here's the agenda:

8:00am-9:00am
Registration, Breakfast & Networking

9:00am-9:10am
Welcome, Introductions & Opening Remarks

Conference Co-Chairs
Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire
Paul Sherman, Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Tech Wire Publications

Panel 1
9:10am-9:45am
Whatís Next: 5 Digital Media Trends to Watch
Did the meteoric rise of MySpace and YouTube catch you by surprise? Three leading analysts give their opinions on the top five digital media trends to watch in the years to come.

Presenters
Joe Bates, Director of Research, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
John Barrett, Director of Research, Parks Associates
Jen Wu, Analyst, M:Metrics

Panel 2
9:45am-10:30am
A View from the Top: The State of the Digital Union
This panel of digital media insiders will discuss the current state of the industry, including hot button issues such as how big media companies will balance the opportunities presented by digital distribution with the possible cannibalization of existing businesses? What are the most likely business models for user-generated content? What is the future for ad-supported free distribution of digital content - including music, video and games - online? What is the next big thing in digital media in the next 12 months to 2 years and who will be the winners and losers in the years to come?

Panelists
Jim Brady, Vice President & Executive Editor, washingtonpost.com
Bruce Campbell, President, Digital Media, Discovery Communications
Ted Cohen, Chairman, Mobile Entertainment Forum Americas
Ed Moran, Director of Product Innovation, Deloitte
Betsy Scolnik, President, National Geographic Digital Media
Moderator: David Card, VP, Research, Jupiter Research

10:30am-11:00am
Networking Break

11:00amñ11:30am
Keynote
Robert Greenwald, Filmmaker, Director & Producer
This past year weíve seen the internet explode with entertaining YouTube videos and short films. Acclaimed filmmaker Robert Greenwald has taken the short form a step further with videos designed to allow viewers to take action and create change. Greenwald will discuss how he and his company Brave New Films are creating viral video campaigns that bring about tangible change. Distributed for free, via the internet, email, by partner organizations and through earned media, the edgy videos cover timely topics. For example, the recent FOX ATTACKS (FoxAttacks.com) and IMPEACH GONZALES (ImpeachGonzales.org) series- In a matter of days millions watched these shorts, and hundreds of thousands took action on the issues they address. Greenwald will discuss how he and his colleagues create these short films and the campaigns that carry them across the internet and into the world of real change.

11:35am-12:20pm
Panel 3 - Track 1: Beyond the Buzz:
Is There a Business Model for Social Media & User-Generated Content?
The success of social networking sites MySpace and YouTube has created a buzz about user-generated content. Does the mass attraction to these sites represent a power shift from a traditional top-down model of corporate media to a bottom-up model focused on consumer generated content? How can traditional media businesses connect with this consumer mindset? Can content created by consumers be the backbone of a viable business model? This panel will discuss these questions and more.

Panelists
Phil Bronner, General Partner, Novak Biddle Venture Partners
John Funge, CEO, Incando Corp / Founder, Pickle
David Greene, President, ClinicaHealth
Haroon Mokhtarzada, Co-Founder & CEO, Freewebs
Judith Meskill, VP, Programming / Social Media Officer, BabyCenter.com
David Silver, President, Santa Fe Capital Group
Moderator: Daniel Todd, Co-Founder / President, Zango

Panel 3 - Track 2: Webcasting Royalties: The Battle Heats Up
This panel of copyright experts will discuss the ongoing battle over webcasting royalties. What are the implications of the most recent Copyright Royalty Board ruling for webcasters? Who are the stakeholders? Who are the likely winners and losers? What's next in this battle over digital content and copyrights?

Panelists
Michael Huppe, General Counsel, SoundExchange
Kurt Hanson, Publisher, RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter
Jonathan Potter, Executive Director, Digital Media Association
Patricia Polach, Associate General Counsel, American Federation of Musicians
Michael Riksen, VP, Government Relations, NPR
Dick Huey, Board Member, SoundExchange (representing Matador Records)
Moderator: David Oxenford, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

12:20pm-1:15pm
Lunch

Panel 4
1:15pm ñ 1:45pm
Whatís Next in Web 2.0?
This panel of innovators, creators and thought leaders from leading Web 2.0 companies will look ahead at what we can expect in technological innovation in the years to come.

Presenters
Social Media Widgets: Mike Sommers, SVP, Product Management, KickApps
Virtual Worlds: Damon Taylor, Producer, The Electric Sheep Company
Moderator: Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire

1:50pm-2:35pm
Panel 5 - Track 1: The Digital Evolution of the Music Business: What's Next?
This panel of industry experts will discuss the future of digital music, including pricing, online and mobile music product offerings and business models, next generation devices and the future of digital rights management (DRM). What business models, devices and marketing plans will drive the industry? What role will DRM play in the industry's future? Who will be the winners and the losers in the years to come.

Panelists
Jim Griffin, Managing Director, OneHouse LLC / Co-Founder, Pho group
Timmy Grins, Co-Founder & CEO, ItsHipHop.Tv / Artist, Arcane
Brent Muhle, General Manager, Nettwerk Music Group
Eric Siebert, VP, Content Development, Clear Channel Radio
Dave Ulmer, Senior Director, Entertainment Products, Motorola Media Solutions
Moderator: Aydin Caginalp, Partner, Alston & Bird

Panel 5 - Track 2: Advertising 2.0: New Opportunities for Marketers
It used to be that publishers were creators of content online. Given the escalation of consumer voices and the myriad platforms they have to express themselves, publishersí roles are evolving towards aggregators and editors of content online. How do consumer voices in the content mix affect editorial voice, media planning, even creative executions? What new opportunities exist for marketers to tap into communities and niches? How do publishers retain the richness and diversity of their readersí voices, yet maintain their own editorial tone and integrity? And what impact does the inclusion of consumer generated content have on the metrics publishers tout to differentiate themselves?

Panelists
Eric Koefoot, Founding CEO & Publisher, U.S. News Ventures
Keith Tomatore, VP, Sales & Operations, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive
Erik Hauser, Founder, Swivel Media / Director, Experiential Marketing Forum
Christopher Marentis, CEO, Clearspring Technologies
Randy Mountz, VP, Sales, PayPerPost
Moderator: Rohit Bhargava, VP, Interactive Marketing, Ogilvy Public Relations

2:35pm-3:05pm
Networking Break

3:05pm-3:50pm
Panel 6 - Track 1: Internet Video & Big Media: Friends or Foes?
In March, Viacom sued Google/YouTube seeking more than $1 billion in damages in a suit that represents the most aggressive move so far by an old-line media company against the highly popular but legally questionable practice of posting copyrighted media content on online video sites. At the same, NBC Universal and CBS, a sister company of Viacom, have struck licensing deals with Google / YouTube, and both Viacom and NBC Universal are pursuing their own strategies with popular video sites, such as Viacomís ComedyCentral.com. What business models will prevail for online video sites? What does the future hold for YouTube and Google Video? How are big media companies going to utilize online video sites in the years the come?

Panelists
Ahmet Ozalp, Partner, Atlas Venture
Fred McIntyre, SVP, AOL Video, AOL
James McCaffrey, EVP, Operations & Strategy, Turner Broadcasting Systems
Nick Panagopulos, Co-Founder, President & CEO, BrainBox Entertprises, Inc.
Art Bushnell, VP, Sales & Business Development, Voxant
Moderator: Mike Vorhaus, Managing Director, Frank N. Magid Associates

Panel 6 - Track 2: FCC Outlook:
Who Will Be the Winners & the Losers in 2007?
This panel of experts will discuss the hot button issues being addressed by the FCC. The discussion will cover a range of issues impacting media and technology businesses, including cable industry pricing; digital television; media ownership; competition; spectrum, indecency and broadband deployment. The panel will consider how FCC rulings are likely to impact the future of the businesses operating in the digital media space.

Panelists
Mark Fratrik, Vice President, BIA Financial Network
Julie Kearney, Senior Director & Reg. Counsel, Consumer Electronics Association
Carol Mattey, Nat'l Leader, US Regulatory Consulting Practice, Deloitte
Ken Ferree, Partner, Business Practice Trial Group, Sheppard Mullin
Victoria Phillips, Assistant Director, Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic, Washington College of Law, American University
Moderator: Gary Arlen, President, Arlen Communications

Panel 7
4:00pm-4:45pm
Mobile Media: The Next Big Thing Beyond Ringtones
Until recently, the business of mobile media has been mainly about ringtones. However, with the launch of new devices and services this year, a whole new world of mobile media possibilities is being realized. This panel will discuss the current state of the mobile media market in the US and look at the opportunities beyond ringtones, including games, video and marketing, in the years to come.

Panelists
Eric Eller, SVP, Products & Marketing, Millennial Media
Jon Jackson, CEO, Mobile Posse
D.P. Venkatesh, Founder & CEO, mPortal
Miguel Banuelos, Head of Mobile Mktg & Promotions, Ericsson Mobility World, NA
Gregg Smith, COO & EVP, Acuity Mobile
Moderator: Ted Cohen, Managing Partner, TAG Strategic/ Chairman, Mobile Entertainment Forum Americas

4:45pm-5:15pm
Keynote
Alex Welch, CEO & Co-Founder, Photobucket

5:30pm-6:30pm
Cocktail Reception

Skinny Puppy Tour Dates

Skinny Puppy are currently on tour, for all you industrial fiends out there. They'll be in DC and Baltimore next week.

SKINNY PUPPY MYTHRUS Tour 2007

June 11th Washington DC / 9:30 Club
June 12th Baltimore, MD / Sonar UPDATE: THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELED.
June 14th Atlanta GA / Center Stage
June 15th New Orleans LA / House Of Blues
June 16th Houston TX / Warehouse Live
June 17th Dallas TX / House Of Blues
June 19th Tempe AZ / Marquee Theater
June 21st San Francisco CA / The Fillmore
June 22nd Los Angeles CA / Henry Fonda Theater
June 23rd Los Angeles CA / Henry Fonda Theater
June 24th Anaheim CA / House Of Blues

EUROPE
August 6: Utrecht, Holland ~ Tivoli
August 7: Berlin, Germany ~ Columbia Club
August 8: Krakow, Poland ~ Klub Studio
August 9: Prague, Czech Republic ~ Roxy
August 10: Budapest, Hungary ~ Sziget Festival
August 12: Hildesheim, Germany ~ M'era Luna Festival
August 14: London, United Kingdom ~ Astoria
August 15: Manchester, United Kingdom ~ Academy 2

Exotic Fever Fest 2007: June 15 and 16 in Washington, DC

Exotic Fever Records is a great indie label in Washington, DC, and they are having a fantastic festival on June 15 and 16 (incidentally, the same weekend as Bonnaroo, but when Tool is headlining what used to be a jam fest, who wants to go to that?) at the Warehouse Next Door on 7th Street NW in DC.

Here's the schedule:

Friday, June 15:

Mass Movement of the Moth
New Idea Society
Den of Thieves
Kathy Cashel
Worn In Red
A Study In Her

Saturday, June 16:

Pash
Bellafea
Liza Kate
Sean McArdle
The April Decca

The fest is 6 bucks a night. Way cheaper than Bonnaroo.

Tonight at Baltimore's Bedrock: No Second Troy

I got an email last night from some neighbors down in DC: No Second Troy. If you're in Baltimore tonight looking for a nice show, head over to Bedrock (near the Hippodrome) and check these guys out.

Give No Second Troy's music a listen on their MySpace.

Album Review: City-State - Monument; Free MP3: "Great Lakes"

New today from DC's City-State: Monuments, the band's debut LP and the follow-up to 2006's Wolves +4 EP. Monument was recorded with original member Matthew Kalinowski, who has since parted with the band and Forrest Yingling has taken his position (guitar/keys) in the current lineup. The album is a bit brief, weighing in at seven new songs (plus 2 remix tracks of songs from the EP), but what the album lacks in length it makes up in depth.

Monument is at all times ominous, somber, and melancholy, a razor blade to the listening vein, pouring out catharsis with every track. Even on the brighter, beaming songs like "Arlanda Terminal" the sound returns to the bleak influences of Joy Division and even Television (the latter of which had its start in Delaware, how about that?). "Great Lakes" is a darkly beautiful gem, which vaguely pulls forth a comparison to Portishead with its tympanic keyed intro and aesthetically dreary vocals.

City-State takes their name from the unique situation that Washington, DC finds itself in, being a city but never a state. As emotionally taxing as that must be, there is much more between the lines of this album than political subdivisions. The perfect soundtrack to short days and long nights, Monument is one more example of great music in the Baltimore/DC metro.

Free MP3 download: City-State - "Great Lakes"

Scheduled shows for City-State:

6/2 - the Khyber (Philadelphia, PA)

6/16 - Galaxy Hut (Arlington VA)

7/28 - The Red & The Black (Washington DC)

Click the album art above to buy Monument by City-State.