Ragers are relative. Describing the new Title Tracks record, a press release from Windian Records in the label's signature caps lock reads: "THE LP'S FIRST SINGLE 'TURN YOUR FACE' DEFINES THE SIMPLISTIC, MODERATE SOUND OF THIS BAND, POUNDING IT OUT IN A DESPERATE CALM."
Desperate calm? Maybe compared to the rest of Windian's punk-as-fuck roster. But [...]
Cool news via Camp Dischord: You can now hear and download Sometimes Sounds Collapse by The Elusive—Chris Richards and John Davis' five-piece before they founded Q and Not U. The six-song EP was recorded in N. Potomac, Md., in fall 1997. It's mathy, ecstatic stuff with mind-scrambling percussion—and, come to think of it, not unlike a [...]
So you've been sick of reading about the best albums of 2010 for several weeks now: That means it's time for Pazz and Jop! The Village Voice's annual mega/meta-list of the year's best albums and singles is now online and, the winners are...well, you know who won. Albums: It's the guy who won every list. [...]
My editor suggested in a post yesterday on the Wammies awards ceremony that I might want to add my two cents regarding this year's nominees, and he’s right. The slate of nominees for the 25th anniversary Wammies contains a familiar ratio of impressive choices, mind-boggling omissions, and troubling mistakes (2008-formed Baltimore band Mama's Black Sheep as “New [...]
On Oct. 24, 2000, Dischord Records released No Kill No Beep Beep, the debut album by Q and Not U. Ten years later, the album stands out as an apex of Washington, D.C.’s post-punk narrative. The cover is an arresting, whimsical snapshot of the punk-rock community that spawned the record—the band asked its friends and [...]
Times are tough. Money's short, your boss asked you to stay late with no overtime yet again, and your girlfriend is still pissed about that Eat, Pray, Love joke you made over dinner. You're a mess, and you're not quite sure how you got here. Dwelling on the past won't fix a thing; what you need [...]
The Writer's Center's Story/Stereo series, our favorite free live-music program not set in the summer months, will begin its second season Sept. 3 with a performance from John Davis, the former Q and Not U and Georgie James member and current Title Tracks leader. And he'll be playing songs from all three groups. It's the [...]
Good morning! Did you read our Summer Music Guide? Has it helped you figure out what bands you're seeing tonight—you know, between Title Tracks at St. Stephens, the State Department at Rock & Roll Hotel, Ugly Purple Sweater at New Community Church, and Hercules & Love Affair's DJ set at U Street Music Hall? We [...]
In a dour turn of events, independent radio stalwarts WOXY bewildered music fans by closing up shop today around 10 a.m. due to financial problems. The digital-only station was a beacon of fresh, new music since it began rocking the FM airwaves in 1983. WOXY was kind to a number of D.C. bands, often playing [...]
Once again last night, the Washington Area Music Association’s 24th Annual Wammies at the State Theatre in Falls Church exhibited the inspiring and troubling aspects of this self-described “umbrella organization of Washington area musicians, concert promoters, lawyers, recording engineers, managers, graphic artists, and related businesses working together to address areas of common concern.” Hosted [...]
