Camera Obscura with The Essex Green at 9:30 Club

Monday evening, I went to the 9:30 Club to see Camera Obscura play.
Opening up was a Brooklyn band called The Essex Green. I only thought they were okay- well intentioned but just not great.
They had a pop-rock sound like The New Pornographers, but without a woman with a voice as strong as Neko Case and without a lyricist like Dan Bejar.
Needless to say, I was not surprised by their Gram Parsons cover.
Camera Obscura played at the Black Cat last year, but it was nice to hear them at 9:30 because of the better sound system. It was also an impressively crowded club for a Monday night show. Despite a few technical difficulties with the acoustic guitar, the band was great.
They mentioned how they like local band Georgie James, and lo and behold, John and Laura from that band could be seen watching Camera Obscura from the balcony.
I just also want to add, the young lady in front of me looked just like the sister from Dexter on Showtime,

The Beach House and High Water at Floristree Space

Last night after the movies, I returned to the Floristree Space for a show. It was the CD release for local band Arbouretum on Thrill Jockey.
Opening was a band called Highwater. They were pretty interesting- a quartet featuring drums, bass, keyboard and cello. They had a nice slow rock sound and the lead singer reminded me of Neil Young and John Fogerty.
Up next was local "Pitchfork effect" band, The Beach House. They have been getting a lot of blogger buzz since their debut release last year. I'm glad that in Baltimore, they still play DIY places like Floristree. They introduced a few new songs that sounded great.
Alas, I was tired after they were done, so I missed the headliners. Sorry.

A Connection to Letters From Iwo Jima

So, I went to see Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima last night. I loved it. It's a pretty damn great war film telling a story about a side of WWII I hadn't seen before.
One of the leads, Tsuyoshi Ihara, who plays Baron Nishi, is friends with my cousin in Japan! I had dinner with him about 2 years ago. He was impressed that I knew him, but alas it was because I was a nerd. I placed him in one of the Gamera films.

Emily Haines & Soft Skeleton with Tall Firs at 9:30 Club

The 9:30 Club was really cold last night for the Emily Haines show. It was also my first seated show there. To top that off, DC now has a smoking ban in all bars and clubs!
Opening up was a band called Tall Firs. I was a little disappointed in their low-key electro-acoustic style at first, but after their third song I began to enjoy their set. I liked it when they played off each other's guitar sounds, and I actually was enjoying a dissonant section when they stopped and admitted they had goofed up on a song.

Emily Haines was really good. Upon first listen to her record, it was really quiet and a little boring, but the songs live were much better. I didn't think she needed to have a projector and a Powerbook for visuals because it was nice just to watch her play music.
I enjoyed her crowd banter, and was really impressed by her humble nature. She's considered one of the "indie hotties", but she was very sweet. She ended with a really nice cover of Neil Young's "Expecting to Fly".

Back from Blog-cation

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last couple weeks.
What with the holidays and all, I decided to take a break from posts.
It has been eventful though:
- Xmas with the family
- Went to Brooklyn to hang with some friends
- Enfant Terrible and his girlfriend got engaged
- My friends in Michigan had a baby!
- Licking pants and Studio Acorn opened a new storefront
- Spent New Year's in Carroll County near the corporate headquarters of Jos. A. Bank Clothiers
- went to get new glasses and found out I need reading glasses - I'm Old!