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Entries tagged with 'Baltimore'
Posted Aug. 23, 2007,
Mika Miko and The Death Set Live... in Baltimore!
By Shanon Kelley
The final stop on my grand road trip was Baltimore, Maryland. I hadn't been there since college and the only thing I remembered was that 1) John Waters lives there, and 2) the local brew of choice, National Bohemian (aka "Natty Bo") costs roughly 50 cents a can. This time around, however, I was most interested in the music scene. It's pretty awesome. Imagine if the entire music scene for NYC was that of East Williamsburg -- i.e. the loft party/punk band/crappy sound/sweaty kids scene -- and you'd hit the nail on the donkey for what the entire scene in Baltimore is like. It's cool, but it definitely made me appreciate the diversity of NYC a bit more.
Anyhoo, while I was in town I went to a loft space called Floristree and caught The Death Set (pictured below) and the amazing all-girl punk rock quintet, Mika Miko. They kicked ass! I only have one decent photo (pictured above) of one of the lead singers shaking it while shouting into her phone mic. They're amazing. Seriously. Go see them!
Posted Jul. 9, 2007,
Dan Deacon Kills It
By Shanon Kelley
I think my new favorite solo performer is none other than Baltimore's own Dan Deacon. I saw him play for the very first time this Sunday at McCarren Park Pool. He was one of the first to play and was visibly nervous -- he wasn't sure anyone would stand close enough to listen. But boy was he wrong! As soon as his set was announced, kids swarmed his laptop center down on the floor of the pool. He was surrounded the entire time, making it one hell of a dance party for 4:00 in the afternoon. Just look at the happy faces on those fans!
Posted Jul. 2, 2007,
The Death Set: Rejuvenating Punk Rock!
By Shanon Kelley
I don't know if anyone else is aware of the punk movement that is currently taking place in Brooklyn, Los Angeles and now Baltimore, but it kicks major ass. Bands like Matt and Kim, Japanther, Best Fwends, Ponytail, No Age, Dan Deacon and my new favorites, The Death Set, are all part of this.
Basically what these bands all have in common is minimal instrumental use (or talent for that matter), but maximum distortion and frenzied energy. Best Fwends only use two mics and an ipod, while Matt and Kim use only synthesizers and a drum kit. These bands are generally comprised of just two members, but they consistently bring the house down. And I mean that literally -- most of these bands' live shows include people hanging from the rafters.
While I love all of these bands equally, The Death Set have really impressed me lately. These two boys from Baltimore use nothing but an ipod, some guiters and distorted mics including telephone-mics just like Japanther. The vocals are high-pitched to the point of sounding pre-pubescent, but the lyrics beg to take a bite out of you and the energy is just how you want it to be -- relentless.
Check out this mp3 below and more on their MySpace page. Then go see them August 17th at the Grasslands in Brooklyn, but be careful! People often end up bloody after their shows.
The Death Set - Paranoia mp3