experience [a life] review.

2009-10-26T19:04:00.001-04:00

Description: Grand opening of The Fridge DC gallery on September 17, 2009, featuring urban artist DECOY. Photos by Priscilla de Lima-Ledesma

Link: http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/live-dc/livedc-astronautaliswax-tailor-dc9

Astronautalis/Wax Tailor @ DC9 - 10/8/2009

DC9-ights beautiful.

Astronautalis—aka Andy Bothwell—starts yelling like a freaking hurricane Thursday night at DC9 when he steps up. Circling the stage and strangling his microphone, Bothwell gets riotous as he speak-chants his intro to the emerging crowd.
Currently set up in Seattle, Washington, Astronautalis hooks me straight away. His raw, throaty, baritone-ed vocals crawl up my spine; and his inventive lyrics knock Prica off her feet. He rocks from heel to tiptoe against his mic stand as he sing-speaks, and the set quickly turns into a give-me-one-more-song-please-I’ll-do-anything protest from the audience. Rap plus indie-rock plus country equals captivating-listening-pleasures.

“I’ll come back one day when I’m famous and buy you all jet skis,” he promises near the end. I wish Astronautalis had played to a bigger crowd Thursday night (and a few less underage-ers); I think D.C. would have fucking loved it. If he comes around again check him out—he’ll be headlining I’m sure. So umm yeah Andy, I will pick out my jet ski now.

The headliner Wax Tailor—aka JC Le Saout—led the night in a more mellow direction. Armed by some complementary friends with exquisite voices, sultry orchestral instruments (electric cello, I swoon for you), and flow-y fabrics, Wax Tailor provided a hypnotic sway-from-side-to-side experience. Pretty serious group of French accents and sexy tonal waterfalls—staccato-ed by MC Mattic’s steady words. I enjoyed the melty voice of Charlotte Savary, and the sensual body movements rippling through the crowd in reaction to the hip hop, jazzy sounds of their set. It is, as Priscilla points out, some good music for having sex. But still, I gotta say, I was a little bored at the end. Could have used a little more stimulation (insert terrible joke here).

Open the Fridge

2009-09-25T18:00:00.001-04:00

Published by: BrightestYoungThings

Description: Grand opening of The Fridge DC gallery on September 17, 2009, featuring urban artist DECOY. Photos by Priscilla de Lima-Ledesma

Link: http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/art-design/photos-open-the-fridge

Open the Fridge – 9.25.2009 @ The Fridge DC

Flickering candles, crimson crushed velvet, hints of incense, and a confessional booth. Saturday evening visit to church—no wait—grand opening of The Fridge DC.

As we mentioned last week, The Fridge kicked off its first solo exhibit, Memento Mori by by urban artist DECOY, on Saturday.

The exhibit looks great. Giant paintings of bold color and religious imagery rock the walls and ceiling, and stain glass panels adorn the skylights in Alex’s bright gallery space. DECOY herself looked stunning and was all smiles as she answered questions and floated around the room. Add in some stellar food and music, and we enjoyed a hella wonderful Saturday evening opening.

Check out Priscilla’s fresh photos below, and then get yourself to The Fridge before October 10 to catch DECOY’s show.

The Fridge is Here

2009-09-16T17:00:00.001-04:00

Published by: BrightestYoungThings

Description: First peek at The Fridge DC gallery, a new gallery in SE. Photos by Priscilla de Lima-Ledesma

Link: http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/art-design/the-fridge-is-here

The Fridge Is Here – 9.16.2009 @ The Fridge DC

“Are you waiting for Alex? Have you met him yet? He’s awesome!”

Priscilla and I are sprawled against an alley wall off 8th St., SE—waiting for Alex Goldstein to show up to let us in to his brand, spankin’ new gallery, The Fridge DC.

I figure karma must be working out well for you if a chance alley-short-cut-taker stops to ask strangers if they are waiting for you—and then immediately lights up to share his thoughts.

“I have a bid on one of the pieces in there,” our new friend says with wide eyes, pointing across the alley, “I really hope I get it!”

A few minutes after our new friend moves on, Alex walks up—followed snugly by his sweet-faced dog Rocky. He introduces himself and swings the steel door to the gallery open. My heart flip-flops.

Walking into The Fridge after their soft opening of sorts, the open-air-ed, sun-spotted gallery space is comforting. A can of mixed nuts sits half-eaten and open on the counter. Dog treats are scattered, and piles of burned CDs tucked in paper sleeves are sliding off each other on the shelf. My eyes flicker back and forth between the neon-palette-d, experience-exploding art on the walls—and it feels like a night that we’re sorry we missed.

There’s a story to be shared here at The Fridge. It’s a DIY, one-point-for-the-team, look-out-for-those-who-helped-you-way-back-when kind of story. And, when talking to Alex, it’s hard to imagine a person from whom you’d rather hear it.

Alex is graphic designer, artist, DJ, and general creative instigator. A Rockville native, he has love and connections up, down, and across the district. As one of the founding members of the DC51 Artist Collective, Alex is playing and working in his own backyard of artistic friends.

“We hang together; we work together,” he says as he switches the music on from the near ceiling-high DJ booth in the corner of the gallery. Pretty sweet set-up, Alex.

The soft opening event a couple weeks ago, “Graff/Skate,” was a somewhat test-drive for the gallery—hosted to jumpstart the local graffiti artists participating, as well as raise money to build two ¾ pipes for a D.I.Y. skate park (sick, right?). Kudos to curator Ster—who picked a powerhouse of local graff artists to loudly and brightly adorn skateboards for the silent auction that served as the week’s exhibit.

The Fridge will host artists and musicians for eight to ten months of the year—presenting both solo and group shows. The exhibiting artists will be required to teach at least two classes during the length of their exhibit. The remaining months of the year will be open to the intriguing sights and sounds of DC.

Starting Saturday, September 19, The Fridge will feature its first solo exhibit—local urban artist phenomenon DECOY and her exhibit Memento Mori. Stop by from 6-9 p.m. for the opening reception, and check out DECOY’s work here. The exhibit will run through October 10—stop by and show some love!

The Fridge DC
516 8th St., SE, Rear Alley
Washington DC 20003

Brazilian Night @ ST.EX

2009-08-25T12:06:00.002-04:00

Published by: BrightestYoungThings

Description: Brazilian dance night on August 20, 2009 at Café Saint-Ex. Photos by Priscilla de Lima-Ledesma

Link: http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/photo-posts/photos-brazilian-night-st-ex

Brazilian Night (DJ Neville C.) – 8.20.2009 @ St. Ex

Lex and I decided two things on Thursday night: it would be nice to have bigger boobs, and we wanna be Brazilian.

Can’t lie, wasn’t too excited when we first showed up at Café Saint-Ex to a half-empty room of no-way-in-hell-I’m-dancing bystanders. But, flash forward 20 minutes, and the scene had flipped to a packed basement of twirling dresses and twisting hips. Thankfully, Priscilla and a stunning entourage of Brazilian ladies had arrived to get the Brazilian love moving.

DJ Neville C. was mixing hot Brazilian tracks from across the decades all night—dance dance, St. Ex, dance. My small boobs can’t be helped, but maybe if I dance with Priscilla and her friends again I can pick up some Brazilian dancing skills. Check out Priscilla’s out-of-control-incredible pictures and let’s share the Brazilian love more often—where to next?

Ghost to Falco/BUILDINGS/Tosin and Matt

2009-08-18T17:47:00.004-04:00

Published by: BrightestYoungThings

Description: Buildings CD release show on August 19, 2009 at Big Bear Cafe. Special guests Ghost to Falco and Tosin & Matt. Photos by Priscilla de Lima-Ledesma

Link: http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/live-dc/ghost-to-falcobuildingstosin-and-matt-big-bear-cafe

Ghost to Falco/BUILDINGS/Matt and Tosin – 8.13.2009 @ Big Bear Cafe

“Are you interviewing me?”

Nope, just observing the wonders of a Thursday night.

Backset off Florida Avenue where west meets east, and hugged by a garden of basil and tomatoes, Big Bear Cafe intimately entertained 40 or so DC music lovers on a steamy Thursday night. The etsy-accessorized young crowd was all bright smiles and hugs as they gathered in the space to hear Ghost to Falco, Buildings, and Matt and Tosin. Looking out from the coffee shop turned funky venue, we enjoy the view of sepia-toned row houses sweetly framed by the cafe’s giant ivy-draped windows, veiled in the soft light of street lamps.

Collin’s mirrored, wide-open eyes never seem to rise to meet anyone else’s directly as he greets them. He speaks rapidly and kindly, trailing his sentences off under his breath. Scanning passively through the crowd, he collects donations at the door and sets up the scene—every so often reaching to gently tuck his piece-y hair behind his ears.

We ask him about Buildings, the band we have come specifically to check out, and learn that he’s a band member. “Oh wow, really?”

“Yep. I’m about to prove it to you,” he says as he leaves the room. He returns two minutes later wearing an olive, wonderfully-wrinkled tunic. I didn’t understand at all how this proves anything until much later.

First band up, Ghost to Falco. The first beat down on the drums practically knocks my heart straight up into my throat, and I am hooked. From that initial collision, there is a consistent tension and crescendo to their set, with each slam of the drums seeming to break something somewhere. I inhale and realize that I’m actually holding my breath—almost in slight panic—as each crash down on the drum shatters my thoughts. It’s addictive.

Three television screens flicker in the back of the room, with one word illuminating each screen: “Ghost,” “to,” and “Falco”. Static-y, black on white, and white on black, they hold the mood steady, and I’m still unable to let go of my breath. The TV screens cast a fluorescent, sterile glow on the floor, as the vocals creep throughout the energy-pumping clashes and rifts.

And then it ends, as abruptly as it began. And I exhale.

Next, Buildings. Celebrating the release of their first CD “Endless” (Sockets Records), Buildings takes the stage sans its fourth member (who is currently tending to Brooklyn). Collin is now joined by two other like-styled band members in tunics (it all makes sense to me now).

The projector mixes neon reds, greens, and blues across Collin’s face and shoulders as the band begins to play. Eyes blink and hands clap-clap-clap across the large screen behind the band. Collin’s head bangs up and down, and in and out, of the visuals. The audience begins to bob and move.

One tuft of Collin’s hair flaps up and down with each chord, and the all-instrumental tracks fill the tiny room to volume saturation. Full color projections with equally colorful melodies and bass lines mix with tap-y, tin-y, unabridged percussion—swelling into refreshingly experimental happiness and warmth.
The music stops.

“Can we borrow a bass pedal real quick?”

Only during that sudden break do I wholly recognize the depth of my current infatuation with Buildings.

The bass pedal is replaced, and the rest of the set is a hot, brilliant, mess. A speaker is pushed up against the drum to keep it from skipping forward away from the slam of the foot on the pedal, sticks are catapulting and clattering across the floor, projections are tremor-ing in the background, and everyone in the room is shaking. I adore it.

“That’s it, we’re buildings!”

To settle down the night is a one-week-new collaborative effort by Tosin and Matt. Matt on bass, violin and vocals; Tosin on guitars. Tosin’s guitar melodies are intricate and stimulating, and Matt’s string-ed layer overtop is haunting and clever.

“I said I play music. He said he plays music.”
“And then we believed each other.”

The push and pull of a violin bow across the strings hypnotizes the audience. They sway side to side while the staccato plucking punctuates their melodic movement. The raw duet-ing between the two musicians—the occasional out-of-tune-note on the violin included—fits seamlessly into the coffee shop scene.

Ghost to Falco was riotous and magnificent; Buildings were entrancing and filling (I can’t wait to see them in full attendance sometime soon); and Tosin and Matt were charming and intimate. Thursday night wonders: beautiful city, beautiful people, and beautiful music.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

2009-08-10T21:31:00.009-04:00

Published by: BrightestYoungThings

Description: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, a 10-piece folk-rock band from L.A. on August 10, 2009 at DC9 in Washington DC. Opening act Sean Bones. Photos by Priscilla de Lima-Ledesma.

Link: http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/live-dc/live-dc-edward-sharpe-the-magnetic-zerossean-bones-dc9

Sean Bones/Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros – 8.5.2009 @ DC9

Where you from? “Brooklyn,” he says as he wipes his hair back over his forehead and lets his eyes roll back.

It’s difficult to write up Sean Bones after Wednesday night’s show at DC9. Mainly because after experiencing the life change that was Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, it’s difficult to remember anyone else being there that night.

I don't really have much to say on the calm (and not-so-inspiring) reggae-laced croonings of Sean Bones beyond a fleeting flashback to that summer way-back-when. Good thing Priscilla has killer photos, check it.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: This show is for people that love each other. And this review is from a girl who now adores you.

Jade.
Alexander.

Playing to a sold-out, packed show at DC9, the audience was pulling for every song, calling out requests as they sang out loud (more accordion!). After seeing Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros for the first time, I get it too. I will definitely be a repeat attender.

The band sure has a lot of stuff to play with. Tambourines, maracas, guitars, keys, bells, a wailing trumpet, beating drums and sticks, and of course, an accordion.

And this band sure has a lot of personality. Alex, Jade, a pirate, a beautiful blue dress-ed blonde, a few plaid shirts, a bare chest, and some comfy canvas slippers.

The 10-piece folk rock band from L.A. is magnificently led by Alex Ebert. Their 60s sounds and lyrical happiness is nearly impossible to resist. Layered with 10,000 different instruments, the oftentimes psychedelic—and even shirtless—family of friends crammed on that teeny tiny stage is truly captivating.

Alex is a brilliantly dirty looking mother. With one arm draped across his mic, and the other waving his magical mystery crew along, he leans in as he June-and-Johnny-Cash duets his lady Jade. And Jade gets low. She bends to the ground, crouches as she twists, and shakes her head as she sings and drums up to Alex.

When Jade smiles, Alex smiles back. And we all instantly smile at DC9.

The interaction that is Alex and Jade (Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my ma and pa, not the way that I do love you) is intriguing, and must have a beautiful backstory (let’s find out soon). They sing to each other while standing a breath apart—their voices weaving in conversation. The throw-back charisma of their relationship is heart-healing-ly charming and effortless.

We drove from L.A., yo, just for this show.

The Magnetic Zeros clearly have a good time, and fully embrace the opportunity to share something special with their audience. Full of smiles, they sing and play with an evident love for the feel-goody-ness of their music—and each other. Jumping on and off the stage, bouncing up and down, standing on chairs—it all ignites a screw-the-man-let’s-jump-on-their-tour-bus kinda night.

Holy moly me oh my. Yes Alex, this is a special gathering of complete strangers. Complete strangers who now love each other.

I hope everyone at DC9 had as warm and as heartfelt an experience as I did Wednesday night. Go see Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros as soon as you can—you’ll have a life change. Or at least leave the show hugging the people around you.

ooo ahhh haaa ah ooo ahhh haaa ah…

Farewell Fort Reno

2009-08-03T16:26:00.001-04:00

Published by: BrightestYoungThings

Description: Used as the feature story (top story slot) on August 3, 2009. Outdoor concert summer concert series at Fort Reno Park in Washington, D.C. This week's bands were Grendel Babies, Casper Bangs, and Title Tracks. Photos by Priscilla de Lima-Ledesma.

Link: http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/featured/farewell-ft-reno

Grendel Babies/Casper Bangs/Title Tracks – 7.30.2009 @ Fort Reno

Take me on a date Fort Reno.

Thursday’s sticky sunshine cooled down just enough to create a stellar evening for Fort Reno’s last show of the summer. With a mixed audience of suburban families, angst-awkward teens, attempted romantic dates, and row house roommates, it made for a diverse crowd—all of whom will undoubtedly be back next summer to enjoy more local music. Grendel Babies, Casper Bangs and Title Tracks did not disappoint—leaving my heart aching for a few more weeks of music at Fort Reno.

Everyone needs to get some strange here and there, and Grendel Babies, you were my little bit of strange for the night. Delicate white dresses with kick-you-in-the-face gladiator sandals type strange. I need and adore.

Marilena Zackheos (vocals/keyboard) and Jennifer Cho (violin) artfully twist their talents together to create a story and experience that is all things evocative, animated, mysterious, and poetic.

Earmuff your kid moment: Zackheos’ haunting “I’m your slave” vocals alongside Cho’s throaty violin notes—forget Britney, you two got it. Plus you could kick her ass with those sandals.

Catch me Casper Bangs, I’m swooning. The adorable Rob Pierangelli—dressed all in white—serenaded the audience overtop catchy keyboard and xylophone melodies. Perfect timing for the sun to creep down over the park, and a head bob from left (one, two) to right (three, four).

So much to love moment: Pierangelli’s sudden two-footed hop in the air while crashing into a chorus—hop on over to me Casper.

Take me for a ride Title Tracks. Toss me in the air and then spin me. Gotta love the energy—and the hair-tossing, smile-engaging, oops-did-I-just-catch-myself-doing-the-shimmy, dance mania that started as soon as John Davis got going.

Whatever your pleasure, you can’t deny that Davis has spunk, and that his catchy beats and lyrics had you jumping.

Heart-happy moment: The four bouncing boys that started the dance mayhem—can’t start a fire without a spark.

Scare me, soothe me, shake me—thank you Fort Reno—you gave me everything I needed.