Dead City DIY

RIP Blog

2011-04-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

As of January 2011, this blog is dead. After spending the majority of my life growing up in Great Falls, VA, going to college in Fairfax, and spending the last 4 or so years living in DC proper, I decided to leave the east coast in Jan '11 for San Francisco.

DC punk/hardcore has been a major part of my life for the last 10+ years and I am very thankful to have been a part of such a great scene / befriended so many great people. In my mind, both historically and currently, DC has been one of the greatest spots in the world for DIY music and I hope to still keep my ear to the ground even while 3,000 miles away.

If you'd like .avi files of any of the videos found within this blog, please feel free to get in touch - mcnally.mjm@gmail.com

Also feel free to post these videos on your blog/website/etc as necessary. No need to contact me.

Thanks...and please never give up your instruments for an iPod and subwoofers.

Cephalopods - August 14, 2010 - Black Cat Backstage

2010-08-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

Cephalopods played a set, sans drummer, on August 14, 2010 at Black Cat backstage w/ The Plums. Cephalopods is comprised of Hugh (Black Eyes, Horses, No-Gos, etc), Fiona (Horses, Et At It, etc) and Wells (Early Humans).

Here is the video footage

For more information on Cephalopods, check out the Ruffian Records site - Internet

Transgression / Small Bones - August 5, 2010 - Everlasting Life

2010-08-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

Transgression's final show @ Everlasting life
August 5, 2010
Washington, DC

w/

Small Bones and Necrohippies of New Orleans. Couldn't tape Necrohippies.

TRANSGRESSION - RIP

SMALL BONES - New Orleans - Internet Them

Bodycop / The Gift - July 24, 2010 - Hole In The Sky

2010-08-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

Bodycop
The Gift
Partial People

July 24, 2010
Hole In The Sky
Washington, DC

Missed Partial People's set...bummer.

BODYCOP - Washington, DC

Set closer -

Rest of set:

- Song 2
- Song 3

The Gift - Washington, DC - The Internet

- Videos to come

White Lung White Lung

2010-07-25T11:21:00.001-07:00

Not sure why I slept on White Lung for so long, but I've been listening to their Magazines 7" non-stop for the last 2 months. So good. Think 90s riot grrrl energy mixed with UK post-punk from 30 years ago. I dunno - tough to describe but seriously fucking good.

DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD - Magazines 7" by White Lung

BUY their It's The Evil LP, Magazines 7" and Atlanta 7" from Deranged.

Thanks to Puzzle Pieces blog for the upload.

Friday Downloads

2010-07-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Some late-summer jams for you -

Busy Signals - "Busy Signals"

- Catchy as all hell powerpop from Chicago. I always forget how great this album is. For fans of Fast Cars, Ramones, 20/20, Nikki and The Corvettes, etc. Thanks to Teenage Lobotomy blog for the link.

- Download

- Buy at Dirtnap Records

Diarrhea Planet - "Aloha!" EP

- Party punk from Nashville dudes. Hoping to set them up with something in DC soon.

- Download

- Internet the band

Letters To Cleo - "Wholesale Meat and Fish"

- A top album of mine for sure. This was the album they released immediately following their MTV album, Aurora Gory Alice, which was also great. This one, however, is much different. Totally grunged-out pop punk. Demon Rock, Fast Way, Awake, Acid Jed, Pizza Cutter, etc, etc...so many great tracks. I still remember the day I bought this. August of 1995, I was 11 years old and on a beach vacation with my family and checking out the record store that doubled as a surf shop. Even as an 11 year old, I was still super anal about looking through each and every album the store had to offer...stumbled upon the just-put-on-the-shelf LTC album and was psyched. Have listened to it on a regular basis since then.

- Download

Beyond Pink - "Jedan Dva Jebla Te Ja"

- All-girl, crusty hardcore from Sweden. Love this album.

Download

The Gift / Witches / State Lottery / Big Soda - July 13, 2010 - Hole In The Sky

2010-07-14T12:35:00.001-07:00

Tuesday July 13, 2010 @ Hole In The Sky

Washington, DC

The Gift

Witches

State Lottery

Big Soda

Hot Mess

Sorry to Hot Mess. I missed their set.

THE GIFT - (Washington, DC) - Internet

Rest of set:

- Song 1

- Song 2

- Song 3 - Above

- Song 4

- Song 5

WITCHES - (Athens, GA) - Internet

Rest of set:

- Song 1

- Song 2

- Song 3

- Song 4 - Above

- Song 5

- Song 6

- Song 7

STATE LOTTERY - (Many Places, USA) - Internet

Rest of set:

- Song 1

- Song 2

- Song 3 - Above

- Song 4

BIG SODA - (Brooklyn) - Internet

Rest of set:

- Song 1

- Song 2

- Song 3 - Above

Pocahaunted - June 14, 2010 - DC9

2010-06-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me know I'm a huge fan of Pocahaunted and have been since their inception in 2006 or whatever. Anyway, so, after years of waiting, they finally hit DC and totally made the wait worth it. Bummed I didn't get to see the Amanda/Bethany duo, but the hippie-psych-funk-dub incarnation is just as awesome as the native america drone duo.

Definitely the best show DC has hosted this year...and at DC9 of all places. The turnout was surprisingly decent as well.

For those who missed it...I'm sorry.

Warpaint - June 13, 2010 - DC9

2010-06-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Warpaint
June 13, 2010
DC9

Below is their set. You can click here to download a 13 minute encore - Download Encore (422 mb)

Warpaint - 1 - June 13, 2010 - Washington, DC from mjm on Vimeo.

Storm Petrel - June 11, 2010 - Tree Swing House

2010-06-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

June 11, 2010
Tree Swing House
Riverdale, MD

Storm Petrel
Broken Bodies
Fordists
Awesome Shirt

Yet another unfortunate dead-battery incident. Grabbed a few songs from Storm Petrel, who were awesome.

Tapes

2010-05-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

Catching up on a few tapes I've been listening to over the past year.

Whirl - Demo
- Download
- Shoegazey, dream-poppy...just download it.

Weed Hounds - Demo
- Download
- Slumberland Records-ish stuff. Shoegazey. Closing track is so good.

Pygmy Shrews - Big Time
- Download
- Noise rock

Merchandise - Terminal Jagger Jane's Addiction Boxset
- Download
- Opens with a rager of a punk rock track and the shoots straight into something that sounds as though it should have been on Dischord 15 years ago.

I've got a bates stamped number for every second of the summer you stole

2010-05-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

SLACK is comprised of 2 of my favorite area musicians; Jenny Toomey of Tsunami, Geek, and, of course, Simple Machines Records and Dan Littleton of The Hated, Ida, Liquorice, and so on. This was a side project Jenny collaborated on with Dan, and another member of The Hated, in spare time between the bigger of their bands. Sadly, it is the only release as SLACK, but the content of this 5 track cassette is enough to keep you listening for awhile.

The tape was released as part of Simple Machines' Tool Cassette Series back in 1991 and was used as a way to copy cassettes from lesser-known acts on an as-needed basis. Orders would come in, tapes would be copied - very cost efficient.

Anyway, this is my favorite Jenny Toomey-related project, so...enjoy...

Slack - Bates Stamper cassette
Slack - Bates Stamper cassette
Slack - Bates Stamper cassette
Slack - Bates Stamper cassette
Slack - Bates Stamper cassette
Slack - Bates Stamper cassette
Slack - Bates Stamper cassette

Big thanks to I Could Die Tomorrow and Jimmy Buttons for the postings, otherwise I wouldn't be giving this release to you...as it's pretty difficult to find online.

Weed Hounds - May 19, 2010 - Velvet Lounge

2010-05-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

Weed Hounds
May 19, 2010
Velvet Lounge
Washington, DC

w/ Veronica Falls

If anyone can help me w/ song titles, it'd be appreciated. I only own their demo tape.

Unfortunately, I was unable to catch Veronica Falls' set. I love the 7" they put out on Captured Tracks, so I was pretty psyched to see them. The show was running pretty late, though, and, as old/lame as this makes me sound, I didn't really feel like hanging out until 11:30 on a weeknight to wait for a band to play.

Julianna Barwick - May 17, 2010 - DC9

2010-05-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

Julianna Barwick
May 17, 2010
DC9
Washington, DC

www.myspace.com/juliannabarwick

I've been obsessed with Julianna Barwick's music since I first heard her Sanguine release. After that, she pushed things over the top with Florine, which is incredible. She recently had the Florine EP pressed to vinyl, in a very limited pressing of just 200. Surprisingly, she still has a few copies left, so pick it up while you can. Pretty sure Other Music still has some.

Pretty sure her set consisted of all new songs.

Extermination Angel - May 15, 2010 - 611 Cafe

2010-05-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

Extermination Angel's set from a show at 611 Cafe in Frederick, Maryland

This may be their link, but I am at work, where myspace is blocked - www.myspace.com/exterminationangel

The Gift - March 25, 2010 - La Casa in Mt Pleasant

2010-05-19T06:16:00.000-07:00

The Gift
March 25, 2010
La Casa in Mt Pleasant
Washington, DC

Every time I see The Gift, it is always in a cramped room with crushing guitar volume. Normally a good thing, however, not so much for my camera. Each video cuts out before the song ends due to the band's super heavy mosh parts.

Albums That May Have Passed You By - Tracey Thorn

2010-05-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

Tracey Thorn's "A Distant Shore" (1982) -

One of my favorite albums of all time, written by one of my favorite artists of all time. Prior to her first solo album (the second coming out just a few years ago), she worked with Marine Girls, who released, among other things, one of my favorite singles of all time (a lot of favorites going on here), the "On My Mind" 45. After A Distant Shore was released, Tracey went on to form Everything But The Girl with Ben Watt.

Download: A Distant Shore (52mb)

Sample: Marine Girls - On My Mind

The Hated - Rare Stuff

2010-05-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

If you're a fan of DC-ish area music, you're probably familiar with the Hated already. Active from mid 80s to early 90s (and beyond). Based out of Annapolis. Featured Dan Littleton who went on to form Liquorice and is currently in Ida. Features two members (Littleton, Meeder) who went on to form the criminally forgotten band Slack (who I'm sure I'll post about later) with Jenny Toomey of Simple Machines / Tsunami fame.

Anyway, your Hated fandom aside, it's pretty doubtful you've amassed a collection as large as the dude over at Blogged & Quartered. He's got a 3-disc collection worth of rare, and not so rare, Hated material. Biggest collection I've seen online.

Here's a direct link. Check out the collection and then check out the rest of Blogged & Quartered.

The Hated @ Blogged & Quartered

Film: Voyage of The Rock Aliens - December 15, 2009 - The Warehouse

2009-12-14T19:23:00.000-08:00

Film Screening: Voyage of The Rock Aliens - December 15, 2009 - The Warehouse
8pm - $2 suggested donation

It's a sad, sad world you're living in if you have yet to spend a Tuesday night with the Washington Psychotronic Film Society. Make up for missed time by hangin' tomorrow for this amazing piece of film.

For more info, click here.

Shows - Week of December 14th to 20th

2009-12-14T18:47:00.001-08:00

12/16 @ Black Cat - "Wreck the Halls" w/ Street Dogs, Stigma, Roger Miret and the Disasters
12/18 @ St. Stephen's Church - Lotus Fucker, Chaos Destroy, Merciless Game (MI), Penis Geyser (OH), Silent Way (NJ), Mirrors and Wires (NJ), New Creases (OH), Fair Root
12/19 @ Black Cat - Rock N Shop
12/19 @ Corpse Fortress - Youth of Today cover band, DRY SPELL, Rations, Pistol Bitch
12/19 @ 3rd St. coop - Monument, Loose Lips Sink Ships, others tba
12/20 @ Black Cat Backstage - Scream

forgetters - December 12, 2009 - St Stephen's Church

2009-12-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

December 12, 2009 @ St Stephen's Church:
forgetters
Police & Thieves
Max Levine Ensemble

forgetters is a new band featuring Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker / Jets To Brazil fame. I didn't know what to expect from them going into this show and ended up leaving blown away. Great, great stuff. Keep an eye out for their full length, which should be coming out sometime in February. Click here for more info on forgetters.

Check out a few more videos from their set here, here, and here.

ex-Turboslut, Exosus, etc - November 29, 2009 - 3rd St Co-op

2009-12-14T18:09:00.000-08:00

November 29, 2009 @ 3rd St Co-op:
Lovey Dovies
Pizza
The Ambulars
Little Gold
That Which Remains Unnamed

Anal Odyssey, Get Gone, Cheap Thrills, who knows. Still unnamed as far as I'm concerned, a cool band featuring former members of Turboslut, Exosus, and more. Sadly, I had to leave this show early, but I managed to catch their set.

Cub Country - November 23, 2009 - Black Cat Backstage

2009-12-14T17:57:00.000-08:00

November 23, 2009 @ Black Cat Backstage

This was a show I had been looking forward to for awhile. Cub Country was doing a small east coast tour for their new album, Stretch That Skull Cover and Smile, which I had picked up a few weeks prior at Crooked Beat and thought actually outdid their older material...especially the B side of the record.

Anyway, for those unaware, Cub Country features Jeremy Chatelain, formerly of Jets To Brazil. Check out more here.

Ghastly City Sleep - November 6, 2009 - La Casa

2009-12-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

November 6, 2009 @ La Casa in Mt Pleasant:
Tideland
Litany For the Whale
Pygmy Lush
Ghastly City Sleep

I had literally just bought my camera an hour before this show and only had time to briefly charge the battery, hence footage solely consisting of Ghastly. I'm hoping more shows are worked at this venue. Great space in Mt Pleasant.

Upcoming Shows

2009-12-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

December 2009:
12/16 @ Black Cat - "Wreck the Halls" w/ Street Dogs, Stigma, Roger Miret and the Disasters
12/18 @ St. Stephen's Church - Lotus Fucker, Chaos Destroy, Merciless Game (MI), Penis Geyser (OH), Silent Way (NJ), Mirrors and Wires (NJ), New Creases (OH), Fair Root
12/19 @ Black Cat - Rock N Shop
12/19 @ Corpse Fortress - Youth of Today cover band, DRY SPELL, Rations, Pistol Bitch
12/19 @ 3rd St. coop - Monument, Loose Lips Sink Ships, others tba
12/20 @ Black Cat Backstage - Scream
12/21 @ Velvet Lounge - Grant Hart (of Husker Du), Ambition Burning, Thee Ultimate Vag
12/21 @ 51 T St NE - Spoonboy, Ambulars (acoustic), Mistakes (NC), Howling Void (mem. Pygmy Lush), Materia Obscura (carni solo)
12/27 @ So Addictive Lounge - 733 Elden St, Herndon, VA - Drugs of Faith, Yardwork, Tideland, Pizza
12/27 @ QUARRY HOUSE TAVERN - LEMURIA, SICK FIX, FAILURES, DEAD MECHANICAL, AEROSOLS, SALVATION
12/28 @ Corpse Fortress - The Effort, Choices Made, Conspirator, Zeus

January 2010:
1/4 - @ the DOOMBOX (1859 Newton St, NW) - Chronic Youth (Gainesville Raw Noise Rock), BODYCOP (You're All Under Arrest), + the Catalyst (Richmond is a Dank Nug) - early show 6pm sharp
1/5 @ 3rd st coop - Brain Killer, Scapegoat, Diet Cokeheads, Transgression, Deathrats, and Lotus Fucker
1/11 @ Black Cat Backstage - Jucifer, Salome
1/11 @ Electric Maid - Swamp Thing, Backtrack, Alert/Outlast, Downpresser, Dead End Path
1/14 - @ 3rd St Co-op - Monument, Jettison, the Buddy System, Cuddle Circle
1/16 - @ St Stephens - COLD WORLD, coke bust, war hungry, mother of mercy, give, mobb mentality 10 dollars@6pm
1/21 - @ Velvet Lounge - Lorelei, A Study In Her, Justin Moyer

February 2010:
2/3 @ Black Cat Backstage - Alberta Cross, Hacienda
2/7 @ Black Cat Backstage - Screaming Females, Jeff The Brotherhood
2/28 @ Black Cat - The Queers, Off With Their Heads, The Scare

March 2010:
-

April 2010:
4/8 - @ DC9 - Acid Mothers Temple
4/15 - @ Velvet Lounge - Mi Ami, tba