Aug
30
This weekend Baltimore played host to a new festival: the Baltimore Independent Music and Arts Festival. BIMAfest featured over 100 musicians, mostly local acts but some from as far away as L.A. Sadly, my weekend was also full of lots of real life stuff, so I was only able to attend a couple of shows, during which I witnessed both fantastic performances and poor organization. I hope that most folks involved with this event got what they needed out of it so that I might do it in style next year after everyone has learned from mistakes. Reviews of shows Friday night at the Ottobar and Saturday night at the Hour Haus follow after the jump. (more…)
Aug
12
On Saturday there will be a benefit show at the Ottobar. Several DJs will spin and local dance tunes creators Lazerbitch will play. Proceeds will go to the Ottobar. Why? Well, nobody can talk about the specifics publicly, but the club is the subject of a lawsuit, one that apparently has something to do with its insurance policy. Legal bills are a hardship for Ottobar ownership so they are openly asking their customers to chip in by purchasing $10 tickets for this event or even to donate via Paypal. Missiontix, the site that handles ticket sales for Ottobar shows and other hip events in Baltimore, is even waiving service charges for ticket sales for this event.
Although it sounds like a good time and I believe that this is a good cause, I’ll take a pass myself. Instead, when I attend a BIMA fest show there in a couple of weeks I’ll just drink more heavily than normal. Maybe I’ll buy a t-shirt. If they have copies available I may even buy a DVD of DJs, the crazy sex-n-drugs soap opera set at the Ottobar. If you have been thinking about checking out the Ottobar, get there for this benefit or another upcoming show. A lot of people would appreciate it.
Jul
30
This year’s HFStival is at the Merriweather Pavilion this year. Be sure to get your tickets soon for the September 18th show.
Line-up: (more…)
May
27
Tickets here
Details after the jump. (more…)
May
20
On the first Friday of every month a group of deejays who call themselves the Charm City Summit host a soul dance party in the basement bar at Baltimore’s Lithuanian Hall. Cinematic sleazemaster John Waters is a frequent attendee, including the last two events. This week Charm City Summit will be throwing a special event to support the charity Bike Free. Founded by “The Preacher” Paul Lebelle, one of the host deejays, Bike Free will purchase bicycles and helmets for the children of soldiers deployed in our nation’s Middle East campaigns, with a goal of providing 1000 helmets and bikes as Christmas presents this year. In addition to the regular line-up of deejays spinning soul platters, there will be three bands: Lazlo Lee & the Motherless Children, Soul Scrolls, and Solar Temple Suicides. Make the scene and support our troops and their families!
May
11
We all know the cliche of going to see a band that has been around for decades. You pay to see them play the old songs you love. After they play one you have to suffer through new numbers you hate while you go get another beer. Maybe they never get around to the songs you want to hear. Well, you won’t have to deal with that if you come out to the Black Cat tonight or the Ottobar tomorrow to catch punk legends The Buzzcocks. They’ll be playing their first two albums in their entirety. So their most ardent fans will hear every song they probably want to hear, and anybody who has listened to college rock (or alternative rock, or modern rock, or whatever it has been called at a given moment) for the last few decades can scream along with “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t've),” “Orgasm Addict,” and “What Do I Get?”
Apr
24
Get ready to Rock! The M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion is on June 19th. Gates open at 11am for a day of metal, hair bands and hardcore.
Pavilion Stage
Scorpions
Cinderella
VInce Neil
Kix
Winger
L.A. Guns
Trixter
Jetboy
Dingleberry Dynasty
Festival Stage
Warrant
Nelson
Dizzy Reed
Bang Tango
Mass
Black Mambooza
Z02
Apr
14
Otherwise unheard of in this part of the country, “underground” concert venues are part of the charm of Charm City. To the joy of many and the frustration of others, both Rolling Stone and The City Paper have recognized Floristree as the best rock venue in Baltimore in recent years. Now the Granfalloon is stepping forward as a contender. Sorry we can’t tell you the specific location of this venue. Its hosts would not appreciate that, since these kind of events exist at best within the gray areas of a few regulatory regimes.
The exclusionary speakeasy vibe combined with the visual and aural art on display and the fab crowd to make for a very cool event Saturday night, when Arboretum and The Expotentials played the Granfalloon. More details follow after the jump.
(more…)
Mar
02
Washington City Paper is compiling a “Best of D.C. 2010 Readers’ Poll”. Check it out under “Arts & Entertainment”. There are plenty of categories about music: Best Jazz/Blues Venue, Best Local Band, Best Local Hip-Hop Artist, Best Music Venue, Best Outdoor Venue, Best Place to See Local Music. It’ll be interesting to see the results. Share your opinions in the comments section.
Feb
20
98 Rock hosts a local music showcase every Monday at Bourbon Street. Unfortunately, they advertise the branded affordability of the night — $4.98 cover, $.98 open bar for the first 98 minutes, and $.98 drink specials after that — better than they advertise the schedule of bands. I cannot find a listing of this week’s bands anywhere. Maybe that’s the point. You’re supposed to come for the cheap drinks and hope to be pleasantly surpised. However, my sources tell me that this Monday, 2/22, the best line-up of Baltimore garage bands in months will take the stage: The Expotentials, Fishnet Stalkers, and Lazlo Lee & The Motherless Children. It’s a good thing the brick walls of The Quarter are bare, since these bands would peel the paint right off of them.
This weekend Baltimore played host to a new festival: the Baltimore Independent Music and Arts Festival. BIMAfest featured over 100 musicians, mostly local acts but some from as far away as L.A. Sadly, my weekend was also full of lots of real life stuff, so I was only able to attend a couple of shows, during which I witnessed both fantastic performances and poor organization. I hope that most folks involved with this event got what they needed out of it so that I might do it in style next year after everyone has learned from mistakes. Reviews of shows Friday night at the Ottobar and Saturday night at the Hour Haus follow after the jump. (more…)
