Show Review: Dance Gavin Dance @ Empire 4.26.15
–Written by Michael Hogan
Before I get started, this is a rather bittersweet review, because Empire, the Springfield, Virginia venue formerly known as Jaxx, is shutting down as of May 5th. To get things out of the way, that is a real shame, and the venue will be sorely missed. I have personally been going to shows at the venue for at least a decade now; back when it used to be Jaxx, I saw a few great metals bands like Shadows Fall and the like. It has since been remodeled into Empire and while it has remained the home of the majority of the good metal and post hardcore shows coming through the area, it has recently been putting on a handful of really good EDM shows as well, one of which I was fortunate enough to play back in February. I have a lot of history at Empire/Jaxx, and I know it will be missed by me, and many others that have called this venue home for years.
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Review: Dayseeker – Origin
–Written by Michael Hogan
First off, I’d like to apologize, at this point I really must be sounding like a broken record. Blah, blah, blah, another good post-hardcore album, but I swear it’s been a remarkable year for the genre. And this is honestly a release that I didn’t see coming. Dayseeker is one of those bands that I have heard about time and time again, but I never took the time to listen to. I was sure they were going to be good, but of course, I was full of excuses; I was too busy, there were too many other things I wanted to listen to, and so on. Everyone I spoke to was excited about this album, and yet I never bothered to look up their previous work to figure out what I was in for. I’m almost glad I didn’t though, it gave me a clean slate with a remarkable album and an even more remarkable band. Earlier this month, when I had to review Dance Gavin Dance’s Instant Gratification, I knew I was holding it against Acceptance Speech, and I would be lying if I didn’t say that it introduced a not insignificant amount of subconscious bias into my perception of the album. I didn’t have that here, I listened to Origin in the freshest way possible. I had no preconceived notions of what to expect, I didn’t even have any idea what the band sounded like, and I feel like that helped make the experience all that more organic and honest.
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Review: Dance Gavin Dance – Instant Gratification
There aren’t many albums out there these days that have true staying power. Music has become disposable like most everything else. There are so many good bands out there putting out good music so rapidly that there is little reason to stay loyal to any one album for an extended period of time, lest you might miss the next remarkable flash in the pan. Not to sell the music short, of course, but it’s become so easy to record good music and make it accessible, that so many artists are putting out such highly quality music all the time. It seems like every week a new album of the year contender is released. Team this up with society’s collective ADD, and you get music that gets tossed aside like a day old newspaper.
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Review: On “FWR05,” Friends With Robots Show Us The (Post) Future
–Written by Kevin Madert
Our favorite Boston-area production collective is at it again: Friends With Robots made our week on Tuesday, releasing the fifth installment of their monthly mixtape series. The collection overflows with pepped-up post-future bass music, offering the listener seven tunes well-suited for the euphoric warmth of spring.
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Review: Shlohmo – Dark Red
–Written by Mike Hogan
Right now, I’m sitting on my back porch watching my dog run around and eat sticks. I should probably stop him, but he’s looking pretty content right now. And I have to say, I’m pretty content with myself as well, too content to be bothered to move. It’s about 65 degrees, sunny, and I’ve got a beer by my side. Life doesn’t really get much better than this. But my laptop is doing it’s best to tear this rather satisfying moment apart. It’s currently playing through Shlohmo’s newest full length, Dark Red, and to summarize, I’m not sure if an album title has ever quite so accurately encapsulated the imagery created by the music it contains before.
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Better Every Time: The Moon Hooch Effect (Show Review)
–Written by Kevin Madert
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it until it’s no longer true: There’s nothing like a Moon Hooch show. Wednesday night in Vienna, VA, 200 people bore witness to the trio’s unmatched musical acumen and stage presence within the intimate confines of Jammin’ Java. Wenzl McGowen, Mike Wilbur, and James Muschler steamrolled through an hour and a half with honed precision, interspersing familiar fan favorites with well-received new material and putting on one hell of a show in the process.
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