Spike'd Sundays: Sundays @ Capitol Skyline Hotel

SPIKED SUNDAYS - Calling all those who believe life doesn't get better than a burger, a beer and pooldeck of bikinis!

Hosted by Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn of Capitol Hill's Good Stuff Eatery.

Beach balls, rubber duckies, bad language, and BBQ throw-downs welcomed and encouraged! The classic Capitol Skyline Hotel, designed by Morris Lapidus (architect of the Fontainebleau in Miami) has turned a corner. A wet, glistening, chlorinated corner. It's called The Capitol Skyline Pool. Inspired by a city that's exploding with style, yet starving for some edge, we've transformed the grand, glorious Miami-Beach-like pool into an Oasis of "anything goes."

Cover: $10 at door (includes free burger) and all drinks, all summer, are $5 or less. Pool parties run until Labor Day

Capitol Skyline Hotel Pool...prrrrretty nice

The Govinda Gallery

David Burnett's photography collection entitled 'Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley' is on display at the National Harbor location of the Govinda Gallery.  There are two locations of the Govinda Gallery.  One is in Georgetown and the other is at the National Harbor across the water from Old Town Alexandria in Maryland.  I first came across the Govinda Gallery with my friend Ashley.  While she was living in Georgetown the two of us went to an exhibit by Henry Grossman called 'Kaleidoscope Eyes: A Day in the Life of Sgt. Pepper,' which showed an intimate depiction of the Beatles while they were recording Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.  The gallery is very small but the exhibits are primarily based around music.  Recent exhibits included Stanley Mouse' Grateful Life (Marsh drew many of the quintessential images we now associate with the Grateful Dead).  The next exhibit opens sometime after June 14th and I'm excited to see what the it will bring...hopefully something along the same lines as the killer past exhibits.  Check out the three aforementioned exhibits below: 

Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley by David Burnett

Kaleidoscope Eyes: A Day in the Life of Sgt. Pepper by Henry Grossman

Grateful Life by Stanley Mouse

And for good measure I'll add my favorite song from each of these artists (although it's hard to choose just one): 

Bob Marley, The Wailers - Three Little Birds

The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever

The Grateful Dead - Uncle John's Band

Au Revoir Simone: Rock and Roll Hotel 5/30

Au Revoir Simone is performing at the Rock and Roll Hotel this Saturday May 30th. They are the headliners and their two opening acts, The Antlers and Jeff Lewis, aren't to shabby themselves. Doors open at 8:30 and the show begins at 9:30. Tickets are $12 presale or $14 day of show. Au Revoir Simone is an electronic, indie pop band from Brooklyn with a light, fresh sound that is easy on the ears but still stays true to both the electronic and indie genres. An interesting factoid I found online: the name Au Revoir Simone comes from the movie Pee Wee's Big adventure when Pee-Wee is says "au revoir Simone" to a minor character. Check out Au Revoir Simone below:

Au Revoir Simone on Myspace

Spotlight Lollapalooza: Rye Rye

Rye Rye is an up and coming rapper straight out of Baltimore. She is young and has a fresh sound that is very hardcore and upbeat. I first came across her music while I was in line at American Apparel with my friend Kareem. Kareem was bopping his head to the beat and the guy behind the register asked if he liked Rye Rye.  Kareem (and myself included) had no idea who she was but I went and checked her out that night and it was love at first listen. Rye Rye was discovered by MIA, is one of the first artists on MIA's new record label N.E.E.T, and even collaborates with her on the track "Bang" (which was featured in the new movie Fast and Furious). Rye Rye will be performing at Perry's Tent and I hope that I will be able to catch her show. With so many unbelievable acts performing at Lollapalooza, I'm going to have to pick and choose carefully which artists to check out, which ones I can miss, and which might be performing in the DC area in the near future. Check out Rye Rye below:

Rye Rye on Myspace

Some more by Rye Rye

Rye Rye - Bang ft. M.I.A.

Rye Rye Feat. M.I.A. - Bang (Teen Wolf Remix)

Rye Rye - Reasons

Rye Rye - Wassup (Crookers Remix)

David Guetta: FUR 5/24

David Guetta is DJing at Fur Nightclub tonight.  The show costs $30 bucks and he goes on at midnight.  David Guetta is one of the top DJs in the world and has a few hits here in the United States.  Fur is always a ridiculously good time so I suggest you try it out tonight, since there is no work tomorrow.  Check out some of his song below: 

David Guetta on Myspace

Liberation Dance Party: DC 9 every Friday

Check out Liberation Dance party every Friday at DC 9. Liberation Dance Party features cool new music by both up and coming artists as well as some established favorites and includes music videos playing up on a screen. A very cool scene and always a good time. As an incentive to get there early, they offer an open bar from 9 - 10:30pm. Drink your free booze then dance your face off: not a bad Friday night after a long week! I have attached the website for Liberation Dance Party and a link to songs from last weeks playlist which include many artists I have already covered on DC Disco and many that I will be covering and/or seeing in the upcoming months. ps. Liberation Dance Party has an exciting artist in residence for the month of June...one of my favorite new bands, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head (but I will discuss them next week).

Liberation Dance Party's Website

Last Weeks Playlist

Here are my top 10 (in no particular order) from last weeks playlist...ENJOY!
MGMT - Kids
Yelle - ACDG (Tepr rmx)
Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - Sophisticated Side Ponytail
Royskopp - Happy Up Here
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Kid Cudi - Day 'N' Nite (Crookers Remix)
Hercules and Love Affair - Blind
Junior Boys - In The Morning
Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don't Stand A Chance (Chromeo Remix)

The Hangover

Two of my friends and I went to the Washington, DC premier of "The Hangover." The film was directed and produced by the same people who did Old School and it is very evident with certain scenes and cameos. I won't say too much about the movie except that it is definitely worth the price of admission and insanely funny and crude. The move stars Bradley Cooper (Sack from Wedding Crashers), Ed Helms (Andy from The Office), Justin Bartha, and Zach Galifianakis. Other stars and cameos also include Heather Graham, Jeffery Tambor, Mike Tyson, Rachel Harris, and Rob Riggle.

Check out the trailer for "The Hangover" below:

Tally Hall: DC Nine 5/21

Tally Hall is playing at DC 9 tomorrow, Thursday May 21st. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are only $10. I have actually seen Tally Hall before. They played a show at Denison my senior year and they were very entertaining. I had never heard of them nor had any intention of going but my friend Pete convinced a bunch of us to go. Well worth it. The highlight of their show is the cover of Biz Markie's one hit wonder, "Just a Friend." When I saw them at Denison, the lead singer used a megaphone and went into the audience while singing. Overall they have a funky, upbeat sound with a nerdy vibe but their music is worth checking out. You'll get a little rock, a little rap, a little bit of everything.

Tally Hall on Myspace






More from Tally Hall:
Tally Hall - Just A Friend (Biz Markie)
Tally Hall - Smile Like You Mean It (Killers Cover)

At the Movies: Coming Attractions Trailer Night

This is my first post dealing with the another one of my favorite things to do in DC: going to the movies, especially at the E Street Cinemas.  The first movie I saw there was Slumdog Millionaire before it was out in most if any other movie theaters and I have been back several times.  Tomorrow night the E Street Cinema, along with the DC Film Society, is hosting a Coming Attractions Trailer Night for the upcoming hits of this summer.  Many of the trailers for the big name movies coming out will be featured: Terminator Salvation, Funny People, and Bruno just to name a few.  There will also be many others along with voting on which movies you have to see this summer and which ones you'd rather miss.  It's $8 and starts at 7pm.  The link for the E Street Cinemas is on the right but as you can guess it is on E Street very close to Metro Center.  I would highly recommend this to anyone that wants to get excited about summer movies or just flat out enjoys the previews as much or more than the features themselves.  Below are links to trailers of movies that I can't wait to see this summer, which will be reviewed after I've seen them: 

500 Days of Summer

Whatever Works

Rudo y Cursi

Summer Hours

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Bruno

Funny People

The Informers

Public Enemies

Humpday

The Brothers Bloom

Rock the Boat

Taking Woodstock

Paper Heart

The Boss

Bruce Springsteen is playing at the Verizon Center tonight at 7:30 and I am too broke to even consider going...(tear). If anyone is going please let me know how the show is. Thank you. That is all.

LOLLAPALOOZA!

I just bought my ticket to Lollapalooza and am so stoked! Lollapalooza is a 3 day music festival held in Chicago and the lineup is sick. Now I just need to buy my plane ticket to Chicago. There are 130+ bands, DJs, and other musical acts. I'm going with my friend Will and hopefully his brother and also know a few other people who have already got tickets. It's held in Grant Park in Chicago from August 7-9. Even though it's months away, I'm already excited for it. Over the past several years Lollapalooza has been a single festival in Chicago but when I was growing up it was a traveling show. Of the 130+ bands, the headliners include Depeche Mode, Tool, The Killers, Jane's Addiction, The Beastie Boys, and Kings of Leon. I'm actually more excited about the acts that aren't headlining (with the exception of the Killers and Kings of Leon.) I have seen several of the bands already including Andrew Bird, Vampire Weekend, and Ben Folds and will see a few more this summer before August. I will be featuring some of the artists I am looking forward to seeing on DC Disco every week until August 7th when I board the plane to Chi-town. I'm anxiously awaiting the day to day and stage lineup that has yet to be announced. It's going to be an unbelievable show and an experience I hopefully won't ever forget.

Below is the full band list including the DJ acts:

Depeche Mode, Tool, The Killers, Jane’s Addiction, Beastie Boys, Kings of Leon, Lou Reed, Ben Harper and Relentless 7, Thievery Corporation, Snoop Dogg, Rise Against, Andrew Bird, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, The Decemberists, Neko Case, STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9), Animal Collective, Band of Horses, Of Montreal, Arctic Monkeys, Coheed and Cambria, Ben Folds, Fleet Foxes, Silversun Pickups, Kaiser Chiefs, Crystal Castles, Bon Iver, Santigold, Atmosphere, Dan Auberbach, Cold War Kids, Deerhunter, Lykke Li, Robert Earl Keen, Peter Bjorn and John, Heartless Bastards, Gomez, Glasvegas, Federico Aubele, Dan Deacon, Passion Pit, The Raveonettes, The Gaslight Anthem, The Airborne Toxic Event, White Lies, Ra Ra Riot, No Age, Asher Roth, Los Campesinos!, Bat For Lashes, Chairlift, Gang Gang Dance, The Virgins, Amazing Baby, Portugal. The Man, The Knux, Ida Maria, Delta Spirit, Friendly Fires, Manchester Orchestra, Constantines, Ezra Furman & The Harpoons, Hockey, Miike Snow, Alberta Cross, Hey Champ, Sam Roberts Band, The Henry Clay People, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Cage the Elephant, Living Things, The Low Anthem, Blind Pilot, Langhorne Slim, Other Lives, The Builders and The Butchers, Eric Church, Joe Pug, Kevin Devine, The Green Cards, Carney, Thenewno2

Featured performers spinning at Perry’s:

Bassnectar, MSTRKRFT, Simian Mobile Disco, DeadMau5, Boys Noise, KiD CuDi, Crookers, A-Trak, Hercules and Love Affair (DJ Set), The Bloody Beetroots (DJ Set), LARiots, Kaskade, The Glitch Mob, Hollywood Holt, Rye Rye, He Say, She Say, Car Stereo (Wars), Dark Wave Disco, Moneypenny, Yello Fever, Animal Collective (DJ Set)

Lollapalooza's Website

Lollapalooza on Myspace

MTV: Killers, Tool, Beastie Boys To Headline Lollapalooza 2009

Atmosphere: 930 Club 5/16

Atmosphere is bringing their fresh beats and unique sound to the 930 Club this Saturday, May 16th. Doors open at 7pm and the show is unfortunately already sold out. I was first introduced to Atmosphere by my roommate and friend Will well before my music epiphany/awakening. At first I wasn't sure that I even liked them but as time progressed so did my musical tastes and now they consistently pop up on my iTunes (thanks Will). Atmosphere is very different from most rap you'll hear today. Check out Atmosphere below:

Atmosphere on Myspace

FATBACK! : LIV 5/16

Fatback is a an old school, funk and soul dance party that happens once a month on the third Saturday of each month. There is no cover and no dress code so come as you are. Over the years it has changed locations and now due to its growing popularity, it has taken over LIV Nightclub, which boasts the two floors right above Bohemian Caverns on U Street. Fatback, as my friend so perfectly described, is like hipster prom. The crowd is decidedly hipster but anyone and everyone fits in. The music is great and the dance floor is a hot, sweaty, and raucous scene. Everyone should check it out and if you can't make it this time, clear your schedule for the third Saturday of June where you can find me, my friends, and the hipster population of DC raging to the beats.

*Check out fatbacks website
*Pictures from a previous Fatback courtesy of BYT
*Listen to Fatback Mix Volume 10

Middle Distance Runner: Rock&Roll Hotel 5/16

Middle Distance Runner is playing at the Rock and Roll Hotel this Saturday May 16th. Doors open at 8pm and the opening acts start at 9. I was first introduced to this band by a friend and they have a pretty cool, upbeat, indie sound. If it wasn't for my next post is about, I would definitely try to check them out. Listen to Middle Distance Runner below:

Middle Distance Runner on Myspace

The Shins: 930 Club 5/14

The Shins are performing at the 930 Club this Thursday May 14th. Doors open at 7pm. While the Shins have been around a long time, I am gonna be honest here and admit that I had not heard of them until I saw Garden State, which featured both New Slang and Caring is Creepy. Their sound is calm, upbeat and refreshing. Check out more of their stuff below:

The Shins on Myspace





a few more from the Shins:
The Shins - Phantom Limb
The Shins - Young Pilgrims
The Shins - Caring Is Creepy

Animal Collective: 930 Club 5/11

Animal Collective is playing at the 930 club tonight, May 11th. The show is SOLD OUT but I am sure you could find some tickets on craigslist, albeit waaaay overpriced. I only recently discovered Animal Collective thanks to a friend down under but am already an avid fan and their music is continually popping up on my iTunes. I'm told by another close friend and music blog junkie that they are amazing live. If you have tickets already, lucky you, if not, you should try to come across some. Doors open at 7pm. Check out the sounds of Animal Collective:

Animal Collective on Myspace

The Nine @ DC9: 5/10

The Nine @ DC 9 showcases nine DC local singer/songwriter/musicians. For $8 you can listen to some great tunes all while supporting local music. The line up is as follows: Justin Trawick, Olivia Mancini, Nathan Robinson, Maureen Andary, Stripmall Ballads, Adrian Krygoski, Molly Hagen, Mattew Hemerline, and Rene Moffatt. Come to think of it, I have seen Molly Hagen play before at an open mic night at a bar in Arlington (can't remember which one) awhile back and she's pretty damn good live. If the rest are as good live as she is you've got a pretty safe bet on a night full of solid music. Doors open at 7 and the show begins at 7:30. Check out the artists myspace pages below:

Justin Trawick on Myspace

Olivia Mancini on Myspace

Nathan Robinson on Myspace

Mauren Andary on Myspace

Stripmall Ballads on Myspace

Adrain Krygowski on Myspace

Molly Hagen on Myspace

Rene Moffatt on Myspace

***Mattew Hemerline is not on Myspace but you can check out his website here.

Artist Watch: Maya Lin @ Corcoran

Maya Lin: Systematic Landscapes is currently at the Corcoran Gallery until July 12, 2009.  I first heard about Maya Lin when I was in high school.  At the age of 21, Lin won a national contest for her design of the Vietnam War Memorial.  It was very controversial that a young, asian woman won this contest for her simple, yet highly effective design.  To this day, it still illicit' emotion from many people who see it.  Her work in Systematic Landscapes is large scale and timely in our culture of environmental awareness.  Systematic Landscapes costs $10 or $8 if you are a student.  The Corcoran is located at 500 17th Street NW. 

Centerpiece of Systematic Landscapes: 2x4 Landscape

Atrist Watch: Walead Beshty @ Hirschhorn

Walead Beshty has his art work on display at the Hirschhorn until September 13, 2009. Beshty is a young artist hailing from Los Angeles who specializes in modernist photography and sculpture. I have attached a video of Walead Beshty from his 2008 exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art on the Upper East Side in NYC. The Hirschhorn is on the national mall and part of the Smithsonian which means that it is completely free! No excuses! Go see it!


Walead Beshty commenting on his work @ The Whitney

Here is some of his other work:

Fischerspooner: 930 Club 5/10

Electronica sensation Fischerspooner is playing at the 930 club this Sunday May 10th. Their funky, futuristic sounds is definitely worth checking out or at least worth a listen. Doors open at 7pm and its too bad they aren't doing a DJ session as well. Check out Fischerspooner below:

Fischerspooner on Myspace

Fischerspooner - Never Win

Fischerspooner - Emerge (Daft Punk Remix)

Fischerspooner - Supply And Demand

Fischerspooner - In A Modern World

Chester French: 930 Club 5/9

Chester French is opening for Lady Sovereign at the 930 Club this Saturday May 9th. It's the late show and doors open at 11pm. This duo of Harvard grads is best known for their song, "She Loves Everybody" and for inspiring headlines in the gossip rags since instrumentalist Max Drummey was briefly married to Sir Bob Geldof's daughter Peaches. Their pop/rock music is upbeat and extremely catchy. This is another example of a group I think should not be an opening act, especially for Lady Sovereign. Check out some music by Chester French below:

Chester French on Myspace

Here's a little taste of what to expect from their live show:

These United States: Black Cat 5/8

These United States are playing at the Black Cat Friday May 8th. The show costs $12 and the opening act starts at 9pm. Hailing from Louisville, KY, These United States are decidedly Southern-folk rock but with a young, fresh sound and perspective. Listen to These United States below:

These United States on Myspace

These United States - Honor Amongst Thieves
These United States - First Sight

Junior Boys: Black Cat 5/5

The Junior Boys are performing at the Black Cat Tuesday May 5. The show costs $15 and the opening act, Max Tundra starts at 8pm. Junior Boys have a funky electronic sound which would make for some good dancing. Check them out below:

Junior Boys on Myspace

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings: 930 Club

A new voice in soul music has arisen and her name is Sharon Jones.  Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are playing at the 930 Club on Friday May 8 and Saturday May 9.  The show costs $30 and doors open at 8pm on Friday and 6:30pm on Saturday.  Check out Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings below: 

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings Myspace 

Cut Off Your Hands: Black Cat 5/1

I went to the Cut Off Your Hands show at Black Cat this past friday May 1st and was blown away by their performance.  They were one of the opening acts for U.S. Royalty but in my opinion, they should have been the headliner.  Their infectious blend of rock and punk, along with their great on-stage energy was highlighted by what I would consider their biggest hit to date "Oh Girl."  One of the great things about the show was the fact that they were the opening act.  As a result, one of my roommates, Megan, and I was able to find a perfect place to stand to fully enjoy the experience.  Cut Off Your Hands hails from New Zealand and has the potential to become a hit in America...maybe they could band together with their fellow Kiwis 'Flight of the Concords' and together inject this country with a little taste of New Zealand.

Cut Off Your Hands Myspace