May 11th, 2010
Click here to view more great live photos of the show.
Photos by Chris Svetlik
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So newdust and co. threw what ended up being a pretty killer party at PAPER SUN last Saturday. The bands all played great sets. From the bombastic guitar of Delicate Steve, to the smoke filled mystery of Midnight Kids, to Long Walks on the Beach burning the house down with his single “metaPhysical”. Thanks again to Jess Dye, Paper Sun, Lane Pearson and everyone else who made this event pretty much the best Saturday I have had in a long time. If you missed it don’t worry… we are already brainstorming the next one. Cheers!
PS: If anyone has more video or pictures of the event let me know and I will post it.
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Artist: Delicate Steve
Song: Sugar Splash.mp3
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Artist: Midnight Kids
Song: Dreamers.mp3
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Artist: Long Walks on the Beach
Song: I didn’t want to make out.mp3 |
May 4th, 2010
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Midnight Kids is a fantastic shoegaze band (don’t know? check out My Bloddy Valentine’s Loveless and that will get you started) out of DC. Their EP Basement Dreams is appropriately titled. When you listen to the record, images of smoke filled rooms and flashing neon lights come to mind – which is what I think they are going for here. Their music is ethereal enough to be interesting but does not cross the line into the cliche. The haunting vocals, spacey keyboards, and powerful guitars send you through a melodic time warp taking you back to when distortion and fuzz were king and the louder you played the better. Not to mention the ryhtym section of this band is doing all it can to keep this guy’s toe tapping. Plus they have a song in French… so rad. Enjoy!
ATTN DC: Midnight Kids is playing at the Long Walks on the Beach metaPHYSICAL single release party on May 8th at PAPER SUN. I have a feeling they are really really loud…
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Artist: Midnight Kids
Song: One Side.mp3
Album: Basement Dreams EP |
May 2nd, 2010
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Delicate Steve hails from New Jersey and is fronted by DIY musician Steve Marion (who also runs a pretty rad label/collective called Small Boy Pants). Delicate Steve’s music takes a bit of a commitment. Because there are no vocals, Delicate Steve makes you work for those sweet pop melodies buried beneath the fuzzy percussive layers of guitars, analog synths, and drums. (Think about if Ratatat only listened to Sung Tongs by Animal Collective) ”Butterfly” is a perfect representation of the album Wondervisions. It starts off simple with a good beat and then builds and builds and builds, and then… right when you think its going to end the song just smacks you right in the face. These guys have earned a few fans here at newdust and we are looking forward to seeing them live. Enjoy!
ATTN DC: Delicate Steve will be playing at the Long Walks on the Beach single release party on May 8th at PAPER SUN!!! Be there…
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Song: Butterfly.mp3
Artist: Delicate steve
Album: Wondervisions |
April 1st, 2010
| Long Walks on the Beach or Fritz to his friends, is a one man DIY solo project based here in DC. His music sounds as if it should play as the credits roll during a mid-80’s John Hughes movie. When he is not working his day job in broadcast journalism Fritz is spending hours perfecting the perfect vocal sound for his latest single. Lucky for us, he was able to take a break from all that and chat with newdust on the phone about his music and the story behind Long Walks on the Beach.
Newdust: Tell me about how this got started? Short history? |
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| LWOTB: Well this has always been a DIY/solo thing. The project started after college with a simple 4 track and it just expanded from there. Its great people (and blogs) are starting to pay attention. |
| ND: What sort of equipment do you use to get your sound? |
| LWOTB: I use a laptop (mac of course), sm57’s through an audio interface. I mix it all right there, all in house. It is really learn as you go. I don’t really know what I am doing which is great because it makes every song like an experiment. |
| ND: What other DIY acts or movements do you look to for inspiration/innovation? |
| LWOTB: The no-fi/lo-fi, bedroom movement, garage rock whatever… is getting a lot of attention. It is defined by limitations and it causes artists to push the envelope. Locally, DC has a lot of great venues with a swath of scenes that move in out which is always refreshing. To be honest I am inspired by a lot of local art. New York/Brooklyn/Baltimore also influences DC and myself of course. Overall it (DIY) is great because it makes the playing field even, the starting point is the same. |
| ND: There is a certain innocence in your music, was that something that happened organically or was it intentional? |
| LWOTB: The music is all about wrapping things in the “ideal”. Which goes back to the name, Long Walks on the Beach. The sound and subject matter are the same way. It comes from a pure place in the heart. I am not sure if innocence is the right word. Maybe acceptance? To clarify, it’s definitely not a nod to being juvenile its a nod to the ideal. |
| ND: With that in mind can you tell me the story behind “Didn’t Want to Make Out” or “TRUE LOVE or bust”? |
| LWOTB: “TRUE LOVE or bust” is not a song about love its a song about life. It is a meditation on the concept “capital L for Love.” Though, you have to remember with a project like LWOTB its not supposed to be serious its supposed to be fun. |
| ND: Give me a couple of bands newdust readers have to check out? |
| LWOTB: P.S. I Love You… (no relation to the chick flick movie from 2007) I have been listening to a track called “Facelove” on repeat. Something older… Bobby Rush anything from his catalouge Sue,Wearing it Out, What is Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander, and Gotta Have Money. He practically invented rap with James Brown. |
| ND: Future plans? |
| LWOTB: I work on new stuff a lot actually. I write really fast but recording can take me a bit longer. I have limitations due to the reality of DIY and my life in general. I put out stuff when its done, and I get it out to my friends. I like pop music and I like tunes that people enjoy and want to listen to. One of my criteria when I am working on a track is that I think of my old friend from college… and I think “would she put this on her workout mix or not?” If I have a recording I will let my friends listen to it and see what they think. |
| ND: That is a great criteria… so, just to follow up… when it comes to recording and writing you are completely collaborating with people around you artists and non-artists alike? |
| LWOTB: Absolutely… its never just me as an individual. I don’t feel super protective of my stuff some blogs have asked me about that but the truth is I really love music and bringing people in and getting their opinions.
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Keep your eye on LWOTB, there will be more soon I promise. Enjoy “Didn’t Want to Make Out” and “TRUE LOVE or bust” below.
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Song: I Didn’t Want to Make Out.mp3
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Song: TRUE LOVE or bust.mp3 |
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