Child Bite - "Gender Points" 7 inch (Wham City Records)

I was able to catch Child Bite at the Copycat Annex last Sunday, a Detroit trio that makes its way to Baltimore quite often. I've seen them two other times in town just this year, opening for Future Islands and Double Dagger at the Zodiac, and also at Whartscape.

Not only did these dudes kill it again this week, but they offered up a series of releases more than worth my 12 bucks.

Child Bite just finished up a trio of 7 inch splits, backed by This Moment in Black History, Big Bear, and dd/mm/yyyy. Each disc's cover art in the series was a different color, with the vinyl to match. However when all three jackets are lined up properly, a cohesive mural of art is revealed. All three releases were pressed by a different label, with my personal favorite disc put out by Baltimore's own, Wham City Records.

Wham City's release is the yellow disc, and the last in the series. It's backed by everyone's favorite Toronto band, dd/mm/yyyy. The Child Bite A-side track is called "Gender Points", and just might be my favorite jam from this Detroit band. They rocked it live the other night, but it comes off just as well on vinyl.

While it sports the same frantic riffs and squalls, this track is one of their more focused works. "Gender Points" features catchy-as-hell horns, that start out giving the song an almost creepy vibe but quickly turn to a more upbeat romp. This is one of their more accessible tracks, and might be a good starting point for someone new to this crew. Grab it next time they're around while you can, it's limited to 500 pressings.

While a full length album is always welcome, I really dig the presentation that comes with this 7 inch series. I hope this becomes more of a trend, as I've seen the idea pop up more and more as of late. Grab the first 2 discs from Joyful Noise and Forge Again .
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Photos: Carsick Cars / P.K. 14 / Dustin Wong at Open Space

This Tuesday at Open Space, folks in town were given the chance to check out some bands that represent the indie rock scene in China. I feel extremely lucky to have been a part of this, as it seemed like a pretty rare opportunity... especially for Baltimore.

Show-goers here completely embraced it, coming out in full force to an event that was hardly advertised and at a pretty new venue. This was the kind of a show that really made you appreciate how small our world has become, with bands that sounded quite familiar for coming from the other side of the globe.

Carsick Cars were pretty fantastic. They played a melodic form of rock, not at all unlike the swirls and croons of Deerhunter's Microkingdom. With elements of krautrock soaked in with some heavy builds that lead to some euphoric peaks, these guys were impossible not to tap your foot to.

P.K. 14 were also nothing exotic, drawing from familiar forms of punk to create some pretty good jams. These guys were way into it, and really had me wanting to play some Richard Hell when I got home that night. Local favorite Dustin Wong capped off the evening, with yet another mind-bending arrangement of looped guitar notes.

Valerie's photo set from the night is below, and next time you're somewhere in China, don't sleep on P.K. 14, Carsick Cars, or Xiao He.


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Track Premiere: P.T. Burnem - "Oh, Yeah!" featuring Height

As the off-the-beaten-path hip hop choices in Baltimore continue to grow, here comes P.T. Burnem's first solo LP. This full length will be dubbed Paper Cranes, and will hit us December 5. There will be an album release show at the Zodiac on the 5th, with Mickey Free and Rapdragons (more to come here on them soon) running strong support.

P.T. Burnem tossed three of the tracks my way the other day, along with an actual origami paper crane. Read on to find out more about these paper cranes, and to hear the first taste off the LP, a promising love jam with local favorite Height.

The beat to "Oh, Love!" is one of those infectious types. Burnem credits his beats to utilizing the "beautiful and infinite potential of simplicity". This one, which concludes with yet another ace verse by Height, is a happy summer jam. Burnem has been part of Height's friends, and sports vocals that are an ideal contrast to this light and airy collection of samples. Get a first look at this joint below:

The production on all three tracks I've been rocking is quite clean, and really stood out on the off kiltered cadence of "Cops + Robbers". This LP looks to be a win, and you will certainly find me at the album release show in early December.

Back to the actual origani paper cranes, P.T. Burnem is crafting 1000 of them of which 300 he place around the city in hidden locations. 200 of the cranes will come with the limited edition LP, which will be made available December 5th at the Zodiac.

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Photos: MT6 Fest V

MT6 Fest was one of the standout events of a weekend packed with stuff to do here in Baltimore, as it overtook the Hexagon on Saturday. With two performance spaces and a hefty list of acts, I'm pretty bummed and a bit ashamed that I missed out on this one.

Luckily, Valerie was there to capture the night in photos. You can check out her set after the click, with over 100 images that shot what looked to be damn good time.

The Baltimore Taper also made it out for a few sets, and you can check out his recordings over on his blog. Looks like he was able to tape Newagehillbilly, The New Mystikal Troubadours, and Mongoloidian Glow. I'd suggest using Jeff's always top-notch recordings as a soundtrack to Valerie's plethora of shots. Enjoy.


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Puerto Rico Flowers: 4

One of Baltimore's up and coming labels, Fan Death Records, has been absolutely killing it all year. They've got a new release in the works that they are pretty stoked about, and with good reason.

From re-releasing The New Flesh's first joint, to putting out another damn fine Locrian tape, Fan Death is having a great year and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Fan Death kindly let me have first crack at a four song EP they've got slated for early next year. The record is the debut EP from a project dubbed Puerto Rico Flowers, and it is titled 4.

4 is set to drop on 12 inch vinyl on January 19th, and comes courtesy of a solo project out of both the U.S. and Australia. John Sharkey III is responsible for writing and recording these four tracks, once a member of Clockclean Er.

These songs are constructed with bass, percussion, synths, and capped off with Sharkey's deeply booming vocals. Each track is equally strong, but "Lets Make Friends" is the best jumping off point. This is an epic doom pop ballad that's got you hooked after the first few notes. See for yourself:

The bass on this track hits notes that makes your stomach gurgle, a slow burner that is accented with pop song synths that would suffice on any sunny day car ride. All paired with roaring vocals that might be similar to what's found at a goth-biker funeral, it all seems like quite the unlikely place to uncover a pop song.

Similar descriptions can be made about the other three tracks, but all are totally dynamic in their own ways. There is an almost chamber pop sound, but completely twisted with darkness and on a much more grandiose scale. These tracks are certainly a new direction for Fan Death, but not too far off from their Ringo Deathstarr re-release. Puerto Rico Flowers currently has no plans for a tour or anything of that nature, but trust me, this EP is all you need. Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Show Review: Boy Ghost at the Golden West

Better late than never, new Bmore Musically Informed contributor Nathan Grover wanted to share his thoughts about last week's Boy Ghost show at the Golden West.

Greg Hatem and Lindsay Parsons used to play together in Passiou, a band that produced a cacophony that could be pretty, sinister, or both. As Boy Ghost (with Nick Podgurski and Geff Stewart) they've come to employ a more sober, deliberate method; where Passiou's music often sprawled noisily, Boy Ghost's is insistent and focused. Their songs are often held together by eerie vamps: “Heroin Hard” for instance, is built on a hypnotic ostinato, and “Mr. Mess” revolves around two repeated chords overlaid with staccato violin and Parsons' menacing incantations. These songs are trance-inducing, unsettling, and catchy—quite an achievement.

But Boy Ghost can be gauzily beautiful too, as on the second song of their set last week at the Golden West—which melded atmospheric guitar, violin drones, and gossamer, Liz Fraser-worthy vocals—and on their dulcet, dusky rendition of Chris Isaak's “Wicked Game.”

While the tone and subject-matter of Boy Ghost's songs befit their spectral appellation, they specialize in domestic hauntings and not—with the exception of “Swamp Thing”—in more garish ghouls. Messes, heroin, household appliances—Boy Ghost play dirges of the everyday. On Wednesday this gift for rendering the quotidian uncanny led to something pretty unlikely: for a moment during their cover of “Worthless,” from Disney's The Brave Little Toaster, I started to wonder if they were playing a Nick Cave song.

B.J. Snowden, a school music teacher, troubadour, and resident of Massachusetts, played an energetic and engaging set. Producing a robust backing from only her Yamaha keyboard, she sang songs about baseball; Prince Edward's Island, Canada; conspiracy; New Brunsiwick, Canada; the lives of teachers under draconian superintendents, Judge Joe Brown; Ontario, Canada; driving at 98 miles per hour; the Navy; and what happens in Canada.


Photos by Chrissy Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Clusterf*ck: Shows in Bmore This Weekend

Ever since Fall started, weekends in Baltimore have been stockpiled with stellar shows to attend. Tough choices have been made, and there are more yet to be. I'm sure as heck not complaining about living in a city where choosing between this many shows is sometimes considered a problem.

Yeah, we got other problems too, but this is a music blog. Tonight TAXLO is throwing another one of their mega parties, with Peaches, Ponytail, and Men at Sonar. Now, you won't find too many Peaches tracks on my iTunes, but I'd sure as hell go to check out what their live spectacle is all about.

Ponytail, is a band that needs no more endorsement from me. Their last show at the Ottobar was considered by some to be epic, and I thought they rocked some faces off an eager crowd. Not to mention, I'm not sure I got across off how amazing Dustin Wong was at Soft Fest. Dustin performed guitar compositions similar to what is on Seasons, an album that he had written on the back about how playing the songs live would require at least seven times the sets of hands to perform. Plus, most know Molly Siegel, Jeremy Hyman, and Ken Seeno are going to bring it just as hard.

The Zodiac also hosts a good one tonight, of the more relaxed variety. Lizz King is performing a rare acoustic set, with Andy Abelow and Golden Ghost on support. You can still snag Andy Abelow's excellent set from Soft Fest via MP3 or FLAC.

Tomorrow night the Hexagon's got a pretty kick ass show, as Imperial China, The G, and Compression all play some tunes. I got the chance to speak with Pat from The G last week, in an interview fit for a D.A.R.E. commercial. Dan Auerbach of Black Keys fame is also in town, headlining a big show at Sonar.

Saturday night is yet again stuffed, but MT6 Fest only happens once a year. This year it goes down at the Hexagon, with two stages and the usual cast of misfits. Highlights include Abiku, Bad Liquor Pond, Herioin UK, Newagehillbilly, Needle Gun, and a whole lot more.

Another event on Saturday that is totally worth stopping by is a gallery opening at Open Space. The collection is being dubbed Ordinary Spectacles, which among many others, features the works of Steve Keene. Steve Keene is responsible for a whole mess of album artwork, including some of Pavement's cover art.

Yes, there are more choices on Saturday, with Surfer Blood hitting the Ottobar opening up for Art Brut. Last but not least, Time New Vikings brings its no-fi pop to the Talking Head with Mr. Moccasin running support. Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Live MP3s: The Get 'em Mamis at Metro Gallery

Cullen Stalin and Scottie B continued their onslaught of dance-happy acts as part of No Rule Monday night a the Metro Gallery. This week featured a local rap duo that have been blowing up (Playboy even hyped them), with the Get 'em Mamis taking to the stage.

Compliments of Jeff, the Baltimore Taper, you can take a listen to their entire set via download as MP3 or FLAC files. If you missed out on this one, you're going to want to take a gander after the click.

It was a bit past midnight, and the Get 'em Mamis hadn't even arrived at the gallery yet. But the two showed up, cut the bathroom line while hopping up and down, and then hit the stage. After bumping Terrawesome and it's preview mixtape pretty extensively, I was pretty intrigued to see what a Get 'em Mamis live show entailed.

You can hear for yourself below, but these girls certainly kept the party going. The set was jam-packed with some of the more lively joints off Terrawesome, and the GEM's rocked them with class. Climbing speakers and having fun with the crowd, this is a duo that deserves the spotlight. Don't miss these girls next time around. But if you did this time, indulge below.

Get 'Em Mamis
No Rule at The Metro Gallery
Baltimore, MD
November 9, 2009



FLAC Files: http://www.box.net/shared/h25k5nvdv1
MP3 Files: http://www.box.net/shared/sa53193162

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck4(card)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)
http://baltimore-taper.blogspot.com

1. Intro-Run This Town
2. Boss Bitch Business
3. Alpines Kickin'*
4. Shake It All Night
5. The Champ
6. Rolling Stonez
7. Rock With Me

Notes:
*House volume goes up at 1:29
Sound: Sarah Williams
http://www.myspace.com/metrogallery
http://www.myspace.com/getemmamis
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Track Premiere: Future Islands - "Beach Foam (Moss of Aura remix)" [featuring No Age]

Future Islands are busy as always, so look for a ton of Future Islands related content here on Bmore Musically Informed in the very near future. But first, the Baltimore by way of North Carolina trio sent me over something super new to premiere.

Future Islands' next release will be a remix album pressed to 12 inch vinyl, put together by a NYC collective called Free Danger. The album will feature four re-worked tracks, including a form of "Beach Foam" that splices it up with No Age's "Eraser". Peep the track premiere after the click.

This remix was put together by resident synth-master Gerrit Welmers, under his solo project dubbed Moss of Aura. It introduces a whole new summer haze element to "Beach Foam", completely warping it into a totally rad and melodic beach party. This is all done with the aid of the guitars from "Eraser", one of the many standouts of No Age's Nouns. Listen for yourself and come to your own conclusions below:

You can scoop this album from Free Danger later this month, which also includes contributions from Victoria from Beach House, Jones, Javelin, and Pictureplane. Check back here soon for some big big things with Future Islands, as I and a few others had the privilege of hanging out with these guys last week. They may have played some new songs, and we may have recorded them...

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Columboid - Cruise On Your Own

Those who read this space know that I generally keep things pretty locally relevant. But, when it comes to one label I generally proclaim no regional bias. SHDWPLY Records is based out of Norfolk, VA, but is also responsible for some Baltimore splendor. They pressed Teeth Mountain's LP, and also look to be the channel for some more Baltimore artists in the near future.

All that aside, this tape is just a damn fine release. Columboid is an entity out of Brooklyn, and features past/present members of Coyote, Man Man, Vaz, Lewis and Clarke and Icy Demons. This is one of SHDWPLY's newest releases, with only 100 copies on cassette to be made. A follow-up 7 inch is also in the works.

The tape wastes no time getting into the good stuff, as the first song "Statehoarders" is a hauntingly warped take on Neil Young that you can somehow almost dance to. The cassette proceeds on only to chug out jam after jam of jaded sonics and tribal get-downs that are all bridged together quite brilliantly.

Their is something inherently primitive about this album, as the often prominent synths seem to evoke feelings from deep within. Thoughts of cavemen dance parties are common, as the sonically stimulating themes fade in and out with tons of passion. It's almost as if Columboid aims to start a rave at some sort of creepy sacrificial ritual. And if that was their goal, I'd sure as hell be in attendance at such a warped affair.

This is by far one of the more interesting releases to grace my inbox as of late, and I look forward to more good thing's to come from the this Brooklyn duo. Hopefully we can bring them to Baltimore sometime soon, but in the meantime, grab this tape. Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Listening Party: Sci-Fi and the Sunflowers

Sci-Fi and the Sunflowers are a new local outfit playing a show tonight at the Golden West. These here fella's come from a few different area backgrounds. Brian is formerly of Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad's "Pikesville Gynecologist" fame, and has a current solo project dubbed Brian Adam Ant. Charlie has been perfecting Raindeer over the past few years.

While tonight also features some other choice show options, this is their first bill under the Sci-Fi and the Sunflowers moniker and will provide a taste of something new.

A few of the songs they've shared with us below have grown from other prior outlets, including one of my favorites, "South Dakota".

"South Dakota" is beefed up into a pop track in its new digs, and a pretty catchy one at that. I might have known Brian to listen to bit too much Brit pop and rock in his day, but I think this one really benefits from it. It uses those elements and slaps on the usual smidge of psych-Americana that some of Brian Adam Ant's other tracks are laced with.



"Roll Down the Hill" immediately calls to mind Ween, with a more subdued and tainted pop feel.



While the first two tracks sport the vocals of Brian, "Transylvania Mania" features Charlie's. His other project Raindeer is something to keep your eye on in the near future. This one benefits from the more haunted sounds Charlie has crafted before, but throws a whole sunny melodic thing into the mix.



Catch them tonight at the Golden West, with The Volunteers and The Diamond Center. Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Ticket Giveaway: The Jesus Lizard / Double Dagger

Trust me, nobody wants to miss The Jesus Lizard attempt to scorch the ears of Baltimore later this month at Sonar. These heavyweights are teamed up with Double Dagger, who are responsible for what could potentially be the city's best album this year, More. The bill is rounded out with Animal Hospital, and is an obvious addition to your Friday evening activities on November 20th.

The Jesus Lizard are fresh off re-releasing a slew of their albums on Touch and Go, remastered by Steve Albini himself and also Bob Weston of Shellac fame. They've played a few of the world's bigger festivals this year, having just gotten back together in 2009, years since their last gig.

I've got a pair of passes to give away to this one, details and videos after the click.

Think of where you were when you blasted Double Dagger or the Jesus Lizard the absolute loudest from any listening device. Figure out your location and what you were doing, and email it to bmoremusicallyinformed@gmail.com. I'll pick a winner a day or two before the show, so be sure to check electronic mailboxes then. Peep some of these band's finer videos below.

Double Dagger - Vivre Sans Temps Mort from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.

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Interview : The G via Pat Troxell

The G are playing Baltimore next weekend, billed on a show with Imperial China and Compression at the Hexagon. I've been spinning Hold My Gold quite a bit as of late, and recently got to chat with drummer/singer Pat Troxell.

Disclaimer: Bmore Musically Informed does not condone drug use. We think the D.A.R.E. program was great, and of course also "dare you to resists drugs and violence."

But more importantly, here's some discussion of rock and roll with Pat:

Your LP Hold My Gold is kind of the shit.

We started recording the record with a good friend in Doug's farm house out in Bucks County PA... at that point the band consisted of me, Doug and Nicky DiCicco (Anna's brother). Then Nicky moved on to complete a solo project, Rock and Roll Moron. After that, we went to Super 8 Studios and worked with Mick Mullen (Fight Amp, Mastadon, and other Relapse mastering) and completed the rest of the album. During that time, we had brought on new members of the band to complete the sound...Pete Joe on guitar and my wife Anna on keyboard. The only reason I think this album is any good is because we used the right arsenal to get it done (Weed, Pizza, and Whiskey).

I've never seen you guys live, but I picture a lot of dirt and booze?

Booze, yes. Dirt not so much. We try to take care of ourselves as we're getting older in age...but who am I kidding. We're still dirty punk kids from Philadelphia.

You guys play a lot of house shows, what's the worst thing you guys have broke/seen get broken?

We played a house show in Lancaster with Vincent Black Shadow last summer...had a great time, during our set we broke an amp, smoked a whole lot of weed. On the way out, we witnessed a kid shit himself on the couch. He was trying to light his fart on fire and it slipped. Other than that, my drums are constantly repaired by duct tape due to mass destruction at the end of our sets.

Last show in Baltimore?

Yeah, we played The Ottobar ( I worked there for a year ) in June while on tour with Tropic of Nelson (NYC) It was fucking great...open bar...Baltimore knows how to party

How would you compare Philly to Baltimore?

There's a lot of haters in Philadelphia that come out just to hate. There's a lot of partiers in Baltimore that just come out to party.

Whats your favorite space to play?

Haverford College was awesome. Free booze, food, weed and the kids were great. Other than that, you gotta love playing the First Unitarian Church...the sound is great and we grew up going to shows there.

Have you heard Imperial China before?

Yeah, good band. I'm really psyched to play with them.

Why should we all hit up the Hexagon next Friday?

1) We now have a bass player.
2) Anna is sexy as hell and she shakes her hips alot
3) We share our weed
5) I heard their is free LSD

How'd you team up with SHDWPLY?

Matt contacted the band after we released our demo cd "This Mind and Motion Universe"

What's your favorite SHDWPLY release? Artist? Live show?

I really like the Sore Eros LP, but I'd have to say I'm most psyched for the new Super Vacations.

Biggest influences?

fuck...i dont know where to start so i guess ill go back to the beginning. i grew up in the suburbs of north philadelphia(willow grove) and the high school petejoe and myself went to had alot of great philadelphia bands come out of it like Frail, Ink and Dagger ,i am heaven,goodbye blue monday and midiron blast shaft. So, I went to a lot of local punk shows growing up and got really into bands like: Shotmaker, Born Against, and Reversal of Man...but the whole time I was into hardcore, I constantly listened to bankds like: Pavement, Sonic Youth, Hum... other greats from the 90s.

Whats in your ipod/on your turntable right now?

At the moment, I listen to a lot of 13th Floor Elevators, Eagles of Death Metal, Obits, Kurt Vile, and other old crappy Indie Bands that will never leave the turntable

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Track Premiere: Needle Gun - "The Battri Buzz Rider"

In lieu of this weekend's Analog Fest at the 2640 Space, Needle Gun sent over a brand new track for me to premiere. Needle Gun are one of Baltimore's premiere noise outfits, blasting the ears of our youth with heavy exuberance.

For those not familiar with their sound, Max of Needle Gun (and also member of Teeth Mountain) sent over some words that are too good not to share in full:

Needle Gun's history is the epitome of a mythological rock & roll story. The Showedock brothers are sons of a preacher man who were raised on the road throughout the South, traveling from one Pentecostal church service to the next.

They were shattered by a divorce, transformed by illicit substances and the stoner music of Led Zeppelin and rewarded with a Nashville record deal for their grinding garage-boogie sound and raw, Southern gothic lyrics.Their audience remains huge because they've always attracted younger listeners drawn to their mix of daunting virtuosity, cosmic (often mystical) lyrics, complex musical textures,heavy composition and powerful yet delicate lead vocals.

"The Battri Buzz Rider" was recorded from 2007 to 2009, and draws from a variety of locales and platforms. Recording mediums include cassette deck, 4 track, reel to reel, digital 4 track, and straight to PC. There is no plan for a release, but the crew is mulling releasing a cassette or continuing the collecting of tracks for their next 12 inch.

For now, have at "The Battri Buzz Rider" via stream or download:

MP3: Needle Gun - "The Battri Buzz Rider"

You can catch Needle Gun this Saturday at the 2640 Space. They will be a part of Analog Fest, which includes Weekends, NARC, the Somber Tones, and Colin Dean Explosion. This day show runs from 1 PM to 6 PM, and will set you back only five bucks.
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Photos: Wye Oak, Karl Blau, and LAKE at the Windup Space

Sunday night the Windup Space sported one of their better bills this year, with some local and Pacific Northwest artists converging on North Avenue. Wye Oak headlined, the infamous Karl Blau was slotted second, and LAKE opened. With a pretty full house for the Sunday night after Halloween, there was no way this was going to suck.

Karl Blau's new record, Zebra, combines an African influence with the raw and powerful folk we've come to know and love from Blau. He was backed by LAKE, and played mostly newer material off of Zebra. Sound at the Windup was pretty on point, and his usual deep and heavy vocals took the forefront. However playing with a full live band and using much more complex rhythms and melodies really rounded out his feel as a whole.


Wye Oak put on yet another fantastic performance - nothing new here folks. The duo was honored to be playing with Karl Blau, as Jenn rightfully encouraged the crowd to pick up his new LP. Those who stayed until the end were treated by Caleb Stine joining Andy and Jenn, one of the more talented trios you'll see together on stage.

Peep Valerie's full photo set here and below, and grab a copy of Zebra ASAP.


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Tonight: Islands, Toro y Moi, & Jemina Pearl

Just a friendly reminder, tonight the G Spot plays host to Islands, Toro y Moi, and Jemina Pearl. Nick Diamonds' Islands is a pop project out of Montreal that just dropped their third LP. The ex-Unicorns member tends to do things pretty over the top, and draws from various standouts of the Montreal music scene to help out with his albums.

Toro y Moi is one of Carpark's newest acts, having already put out a pretty fantastic seven inch with the DC label. He plans on releasing two full length and 2010, and tonight should be a solid showcase of what's to come from this promising and dynamic artist.

The bill also sports Jemina Pearl, once part of the garage pop band Be Your Own Pet. Citypaper did a nice piece on Jemina last week right here. Check out some music and videos from some of tonight's bands after the click.





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Photos / Review: Dustin Wong, Avocado Happy Hour, and Bethany Dinsick at Soft Fest

Saturday night was yet another clusterfuck of shows in the city that reads, but those who chose Soft Fest were not disappointed. Of the handful of acts I was able to catch, Avocado Happy Hour, were just another exemplary showcase of Baltimore's more quiet tunes. The duo began their set playing a pair of large xylophones in the back of the space, setting the tone for their dynamic ambient pop sound.

A full range of hypnotizing electronic and organic keys painted the background of their pieces. Amanda's voice chimed in and mesmerized, creating mystery with simple melodic notes. A very peaceful and fulfilling set, and not the only of the night.


Dustin Wong's LP Seasons exemplifies what can be accomplished with multiple layers of guitar. Pulling this off on an album that spanned years of home sessions is one thing, but creating a live show based off these ideas is entirely different.

Armed with an arsenal of pedals and an electric guitar, Dustin Wong coated sheet upon sheet of looping melodies, all seamlessly interwoven with one another. This was an incredibly beautiful set, as Dustin dropped the jaws of onlookers within the entire space.

Bethany Dinsick played Sunday night, a folk singer with a stunningly luminous voice. The obvious comparison might be Joanna Newsom, but Bethany's voice is far less erratic and alien-like (in a good way). She painted pictures of tornadoes attacking hospitals and trees that can heal wrong with the aid of a bottle, and did so pretty freaking elegantly.

The use of hushed and hypnotic background noise tied things together, particularly with the application of a baby's white noise machine. I picked up copy of Bottle Tree from Miss Dinsick, an album that I look forward to indulging in quite a bit more. She described it to me as "meditational R&B", and I look forward to featuring more of Bethany Dinsick here in the near future.


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Live MP3s / Photos: Andy Abelow at Soft Fest

More live sets and photos from Soft Fest, as the multi-faceted Abelow showed off Sunday night with Sianna Plavin. The set featured some of the area's finest folk pop ditties, songs accented with choice Americana and careful detail.

You can take a gander for yourself, and peep some video from the set after the click.

Andy Abelow has a show November 12 at the Zodiac with Lizz King and Golden Ghost. Until then, take a listen to his set as Soft Fest.

Andy Abelow (with Sianna Plavin)
Taped by David Carter
Lineage: AGK 414s > Zoom h4n 48/24 > Cubase 5 > flac/mp3
Soft Fest 10/25/09
Baltimore, Maryland

MP3s: http://www.filebox.com/hpd2ehzhqnjr
FLACs: http://www.filebox.com/si218e8srhai

Setlist:
Ease On Out Now
Old Willow Blues
Playin' the Fool
Soft Song of the Sun
The Birds (a Sianna Plavin song)
Sky of Blue


Photos by Valerie


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Photos / Review: Snoop Dogg at Rams Head Live

Snoop Dogg, Method Man and Redman, and Devin the Dude began their tour in Baltimore last night at Rams Head. Bmore Musically Informed's resident hip hop source Jason Tomassini joined me for Snoop's first show in Baltimore ever, and his detailed take on the event is below. All photos were taken by our always on-point, Chrissy Abbott. Enjoy:

Even with, Jay-Z, one of the few names in hip hop bigger than he, playing just a few blocks away Tuesday night, Snoop Dogg, playing his first Baltimore show ever, didn't walk onto the Ram's Head Live stage trying to prove anyone to anything. It sort of makes sense; at this point, Snoop really has nothing left to prove. He has classic albums, films (both mainstream and pornographic), community activism, a family and, oh yeah, millions upon millions of dollars.

But you sort of hoped that playing second banana to HOV would motivate Snoop to put on a party that his brand of gangsta rap often soundtracks, as opposed to the type of party Jay-Z might throw, which at this point is closer to a corporate cocktail party than a Henny-and-Chronic-filled backyard BBQ.

But the first half of Snoop's show was pretty lackluster, running through classic's like Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode" and a decent version of "Gin and Juice" that came alive only because of the backing band, The Snoopadelics.

It was sharp contrast to openers Method Man and Redman, who swiftly ran through their brand of high-energy boom-bap, nailing their choicest collaborative cuts (Blackout's "Da Rockwilder" is always a fan favorite; new track "A-Yo," off 2009's Blackout 2, came off just as well). And they also hit some of their best solo cuts and a couple of Wu Tang joints that have become an obligation for its former members' solo sets. Meth and Red, who are among the few emcees smoother on the mic than Snoop, ran and jumped like mad men around stage, but always in sync, two-stepping in unison without it seeming choreographed. Red has embraced being a sort of master of ceremonies, taking on the sometimes arduous hip hop task of involving the crowd and keeping the set from growing dull (he introduced many songs with some kind of weed-related call and response; rap fans never pass on an opportunity to let everyone know they smoke weed). While on a smaller scale, they too have a sort of empire, with stoner movies (they say "How High 2" is coming soon), a shortlived sitcom and plenty of acting. But as they reminded us, this is "real hip-hop" and they treated it as such.

That dynamic was absent from most of Snoop Dogg's set as he slightly swayed in the midde of the stage, hitting all his lines like it was more of a chore than a privilege. He involved the crowd but basically asked some varied version of "have you been abusing chemicals this evening?" to which everyone of course said yes.

But with about 25 minutes left in his set he turned on some sort of rock star switch. It started with some voice coming over the PA, feigning a Baltimore Police Officer saying "put the weed down or we will stop the show." Playing up the joke, the lights went dim and Snoop and his band hid and at least a few people in the audience got scared as shit because they thought it was real. This led into a massive version of "Fuck Tha Police" and we officially had a party as Snoop bounded around on stage and nearly yelled his lines.

From that point on until he closed with a triumphant version of "What's My Name" it became clear what Snoop is all about. He's made his whole reputation on the laid-back weed-addled rapper and he's not about to change that. And at times this makes for a boring performance but you can't forget that he became Snoop Dogg for a reason. He can act like a bad motherfucker without trying to sound like one and he can start a party the same way.


Photos by Chrissy Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Live MP3s / Photos: Happy Family at Soft Fest

One of Baltimore's newer projects, Happy Family was just another extremely talented artist slotted to play Soft Fest last weekend. He played a set that promised a lot more good things to come, as the entire performance was new material.

Compliments of David Carter, the audio is available to download in MP3 and FLAC form after the click. Along with the rest of our photo coverage of Soft Fest, Valerie is responsible for all of the fantastic shots.

Happy Family's set was one of the more upbeat moments of Sunday night's lineup. His take on sample-based pop music makes you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, much like the genre's best, Panda Bear. Hear and see for yourself below.

Happy Family
Taped by David Carter
Lineage: AGK 414s > Zoom h4n 48/24 > Cubase 5 > flac/mp3
Soft Fest 10/25/09
Baltimore, Maryland

MP3s: http://www.filebox.com/mfnw11iav7ys
FLACs: http://www.filebox.com/fiwi4v1o628x

Setlist:
1. peeks (not on the recording)
2. going to
3. babies (extended mix)
4. free samples


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Live MP3s / Photos: Lands and Peoples at Soft Fest

This weekend a space in Baltimore now known as Afghanistan hosted a pretty incredible event. Soft Fest was a huge success, and featured some pretty amazing sets. I will be posting photos from both nights, and audio from Sunday night as they become available to me in the next couple days.

For now, I have the privilege of offering Lands and Peoples' set in MP3 and FLAC form free to download. Their set featured two new tracks, and was one of the many highlights of Soft Fest.

Lands and Peoples began with some pleasant looping, and quickly dove right into the new stuff. "Wait and See" was an absolutely stunning track, only properly appreciated when looking at in its entirety. The song starts out as a pristine folk pop ballad, but a little after halfway through the guitars segway into where it really takes off. Amanda's vocal cries ascend with the accompanying harmonies, as the track's melodic outro was epically beautiful Sunday night. Hear for yourself...

The set also featured another new track called "Ukulele", and a cover of the American standard "Tonight You Belong to Me". You can download the entire set below, courtesy of David Carter. Also look for more photos and audio from Soft Fest to come soon.

Lands and Peoples
Taped by David Carter
Lineage: AGK 414s > Zoom h4n 48/24 > Cubase 5 > flac/mp3
Soft Fest 10/25/09
Baltimore, Maryland

MP3s: http://www.filebox.com/61h9gdtgkhdm

FLACs: http://www.filebox.com/61h9gdtgkhdm

Setlist:
(loop improvisation)
1. Wait and See
2. Tonight You Belong to Me (cover)
3. Ukulele
4. Isabella


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Tonight: Kría Brekkan / Jason Urick / Eric Copeland / Dj Dogdick @ Floristree

Floristree is jam-packed with some stellar talent tonight. Madeline Maulding, a local musician and recently introduced Bmore Musically Informed contributor, is particularly excited about an avant folk artist on the bill. Iceland's Kría Brekkan will grace the H&H's presence, and here's Madeline Maulding's take on her:

Tonight at the Floristree space, Kría Brekkan brings her avant-electro-folk music to Baltimore, along with Blak Dice's Eric Copeland, DJ Dogdick, and resident ambient drone master Jason Urick.

Born Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir and once a driving force behind Iceland's Múm, Brekkan began her solo career in 2006, collaborating notably with her husband David Portner--otherwise known as Avey Tare of Animal Collective.

Last year's brief but magical Apotropaíosong Armor has some qualities about it which are reminiscent of some of the artists on the Fonal lable, particularly Islaja and Lau Nau. (Is it a Nordic faux pas to compare Icelandic folks with Finish folks? Hopefully not.)

I say this not only because Kría Brekkan's album is less concerned with discernable songs and more concerned with displaying multi-instrumental capabilities and tonal prowess, but because all of these ladies suffuse their music with a deceptively-childlike female energy which is simultaneously unsettling and alluring.

Apotropaíosong Armor contains a menagerie of animal-like sounds, haunting woodland sprites calling through vaulted sylvan archways of delay and tremolo. On "Armor," recorders whistle, a stringed instrument bellows warm pizzicato notes. A Piano--the instrument upon which Brekkan considers herself the most skillful--drops in here and there, most beautifully on "Biboni." Periodically, soft voices loop in and out of the mix in hushed, innocent tones . . . the whole album a wonderful lullaby to nascent sirens.

This music is new to me and I am excited to see how it translates in a live performance. The Floristree is the perfect space, and she will be in good company this evening. Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Bring Pillows: Soft Fest

Another weekend in Baltimore, and yet another heap of shows to choose from. One event certainly stands out, spanning both Saturday and Sunday. Soft Fest features some of the areas finer mellifluous tunes.

Both days get going at 6 PM and run until midnight, with over ten acts each night all worth checking out. Organizers promise other activities of a more humbled variety, including chess tournaments, silent films, and Tom Selleck. Yup.

I was even told that the entire space would be lined with blankets. All mellow vibes aside, there's some pretty extraordinary talent lined up. Start clicking below:

Saturday
6:45: Run DMT
7:00: Semya
7:20: Holy Ghost Party
8:00: Each Others
8:20: The Bow Legged Gorilla
9:00: Turquoise Cats
9:20: Soft Cat
10:00: Poor Mouth
10:20: Avocado Happy Hour
11:00: Dustin Wong
11:20: M.C. Schmidt

Sunday
7:00: Daytime
7:20: Comeback Ranch
8:00: Bethany Dinsick
8:20: Happy Family
9:00: Andy Abelow
9:20: Lands and Peoples
10:00: Pilar Diaz and Lindsay Rowzinski
10:20: Secret Mountains
11:00: John Somers and Liz Meredith
11:20: Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez

I've highlighted a bunch of these artists before, as a lot have contributed some of the more beautiful tracks from within 695. Dustin Wong's magnificent Seasons has found its way to my turntable often, an LP drenched in unique textures and layers.

Avocado Happy Hour are currently working on their next album, with much to look forward to. They kindly sent me over a couple live tracks from an acoustic set they did at Sonic Circuits. Below is "Sitting Down", performed with a vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, and Amanda singing through a megaphone.

Happy Family had an EP titled Sound Farm that had me pretty excited s few months back, with one of the catchier floaty bedroom pop jams I've heard. Check out "Cups" below.

And Lands and Peoples have shown much promise, as their hand-sewn sleeved EP is lush with dreamy folk pop sure to have you thinking of some of the better acts possessing similar sounds. Check out EP standout "Bad Habits".



There are others playing that I've pointed out before, and many of which I hope to recommend in the future. Stop by and stay awhile on Saturday or Sunday, or both. I've been asked to provide you with this email address, in case you need to know the location of said gathering. With a flyer like the one below, and Tom Selleck promised to be in attendance, showing up is a no brainer.

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Ticket Giveaway: Snoop Dogg at Rams Head

Next Tuesday night, Snoop Dogg will bring his live show to Baltimore for the first time ever. Throughout his questionably prolific career, Snoop has not once lit up Charm City. Next week is his first crack at Bmore, and he's bringing with him some friends.

Devin the Dude, Method Man, and Redman will all be opening the affair. Bringing together what might possibly be the most TV/movie friendly cast Rams Head has ever seen. I'm guessing a god-awful reality show is already in the works... Rupert Murdoch where are you on that bud? Remember this monstrosity folks?

Terrible TV shows or not, this lineup is responsible for some of the biggest hip hop albums of our time. I can imagine this show will be anything but boring, and you can get more deets on the show and how you can possibly get in for free after the click.

The show is part of the Wonderland High School Tour, a seven date stint that starts right here in Baltimore. It is also in support of his next album, which drops in December. I've never seen Snoop Dogg live, but I can imagine its anything but boring. I've heard stories involving paraphernalia type props, giant green leaves, and all the accompanying antics. I don't expect the music to be mind blowing, probably more the opposite, but I can imagine it will be quite the spectacle.

I've got a pair of passes to give away to this one. Just send an email sharing your favorite movie with either Snoop Dogg or Method Man in it to bmoremusicallyinformed@gmail.com, and I'll pick a winner the day before the show. Peep more details on the flyer below, good luck!

Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Live Review: Dirty Projectors at the Ottobar

This review comes compliments of Jason Tomassini, a like-minded musically obsessed local journalist. Jay has typically covered some hip hop for us in the past, but wanted to throw in his input on Tuesday night's packed Dirty Projectors show at the Ottobar.

A lot has been made of the “genius” of Dave Longstreth, showcased on the several weird and complicated albums and EPs he’s recorded over the past decade as Dirty Projectors.

And while those albums were very good in their own right -- as exercises in great technical skill, taking a background in music composition and applying it to rock music and some level of batshit craziness (2005’s The Getty Address was a concept album about Don Henley; 2007’s Rise Above an indie rock album of Black Flag covers) -- it wasn’t exactly the most accessible brand of indie rock.

With the odd time signatures, the seemingly random application of bongos, cowbells and woodwind instruments and the abrupt undulations of Longstreth's voice, it's just difficult music, and that's probably the best way to describe DPs overall musical aesthetic. But there was still something that kept bringing fans back. You could tell there were pop songs somewhere in there, it was just really difficult to find them.

There was nothing difficult about enjoying Dirty Projectors’s Tuesday night show at Ottobar however, mainly because the majority of the set came from DPs latest album Bitte Orca, a truly great pop album that finds the catchy gems deep within DPs back catalogue, combines with aspects of their trademark weirdness, and runs with it. The result is something accessible to those outside academia and to bearded 20-something hipsters who don't necessarily have a working knowledge of West African guitarists. As a six-piece with three female vocalists, Dirty Projectors look and perform like a real rock band now, even if their musical skill makes them overqualified to do so. And while they have embraced Bitte Orca’s pop sentiments, it’s still a spectacle really unlike any other in indie rock to watch DPs perform.

Longstreth and his three female vocalists interchange their parts seamlessly, an effort in four-part vocal harmony that seems implausible to pull of live when you hear it on record, but is done with ease. The precise jamouts that are more prevalent on early DPs records are lively on stage, with the painfully timid Longstreth and the slightly-less-shy female vocalists losing themselves during brief interludes of headbanging and shredding. (I've never given props to a sound crew before, but Ottobar stepped up their game last night).

Epic Bitte Orca centerpiece "Useful Chamber" sort of mashed all of this together, as DPs slowed and sped up the tempo -- over two distinct halves of the nearly 7-minute track -- with ease and the quasi-beat-boxing of two female vocalists sounded nearly identical to the album version; that the crowd anticipated every twist and turn is a testament to how tight the musicians are live. But it was still the songs that made Bitte Orca an authentic pop record gave the crowd the biggest rise. Standouts "Temecula Sunrise" and "No Intentions" -- radiant pop songs not out of place on even the catchiest, sunniest summer playlists – had the crowd bobbing up and down, essentially the closest thing you can do to dancing at a DPs show.

Bitte Orca's first single "Stillness Is the Move" -- which wouldn't be out of place on a really ambitious Mariah Carey album – stumbled off the bat as Longstreth and the band’s bassist couldn’t quite get on the same page when creating the beat to the song, which sounds like something Timbaland might make on his weirdest days. But eventually they go in synch and Amber Coffman eventually hit her stride on lead vocals and the crowd tried in vain to sing along to notes that really no one in the room besides Coffman was capable of hitting.

And by that point, about halfway through the set, what was most surprising wasn’t that Dirty Projectors pulled off an R&B song with a West African-sounding rhythm section and indie-rock chicks hitting Whitney Houston notes, it was that it took them a minute to perfect it.

And that's really what made the show so memorable: Dirty Projectors make difficult songs look and sound easy on stage, removing all that pesky close listening and giving us no alternative but to dance and sing along like we expected nothing less than perfection. Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Live MP3s / Photos: Celebration at Load of Fun

I am very excited to present you with some pretty extensive coverage of what was one of the best sets I've witnessed all year. Celebration headlined Load of Fun last Thursday night, capping off a ridiculously enjoyable evening that included a great set from Videohippos and a hauntingly awesome performance by Indian Jewelery.

Celebration's Electric Tarot concept has been an ongoing success, and based off the new material played last week, it's only going to get better. With much thanks to David Carter, you can hear the new and yet-to-be recorded material along with the rest of the entire set after the click.

With only a handful of tracks played off their two proper LPs, the Earth installment of the series truly highlighted the direction the band is heading in. There were four brand new songs played, none of which are even posted to their site as of yet. All four were absolutely stunning in their own right, drawing from a variety of past journey's that have aided in cementing their sound.

I've always thought of Celebration to possess some sort of atmospheric quality, and playing inside of a white cave with projections of galaxies and planets brought these opinions to life. Katrina Ford's voice bellowed illustriously, seeming to be calling mother nature to descend upon North Avenue. This was a feel-good affair all around, and my only complaint was that not enough people answered Katrina's cries to start dancing. However, I'm quite certain that everyone in attendance was dancing on the inside.

New local taper, David Carter, was kind enough to pass along the audio for this show in both MP3 and FLAC form. Valerie also took a fantastic set of photos, which can be seen on our Flikr page or in the flash gallery below. I've also included the setlist, however it was created by my listening and does not include names of the new tracks. As soon as I learn these names, I'll go ahead and update it. Have at it folks:

FLACs: http://www.filebox.com/dtbh6tauopcr
MP3s: http://www.filebox.com/q74a2ooc0nwl

Lineage: AGK 414s > Zoom h4n 48/24 > Cubase 5 > flac/mp3

Setlist:
1. Whats This Magical
2. Pressure
3. Untitled (new song)
4. I Will Not Fall
5. Shelter
6. Untitled (new song)
7. Untitled (new song)
8. Untitled (new song)
9. Heartbreak
10. Pony (encore)


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Live MP3s / Photos: Videohippos at Load of Fun

Last Thursday night, Load of Fun featured one of the better shows I've seen this year. Videohippos opened up the affair, the perfect jump start to any evening. You can see above that the usual visuals were blasting in the background, however Thursday they lit up the giant ice cave that the stage was turned into. You know when I start bringing up stages transformed into ice caves, that this one was a must see.

Luckily for those that didn't make it, you're just a click away from peeping Valerie's photo set and downloading the audio compliments of David Carter.

The projections were most certainly not the only highlight of this Videohippos set. The band performed as a new found four piece, with Benny Boeldt aka Adventure (who's birthday it happened to be) contributing his electronic wizardry and Jared Paolini on bass. The addition of these two talented musicians shined through in the spaced out electro pop jams, that frequently make it impossible to stand still to.

These guys made their sound far more organic, and beefed up the complexity and layering of their tracks. They all seemed pretty tight for their first show together as the new lineup, a sign of only moving upward as they get more reps with one another. Look for nothing but good things to come from these guys.

With much thanks to new local taper enthusiast David Carter, the full set is available sans one track due to battery issues. It sounds pretty great, and makes a good soundtrack to checking out the photo set Valerie put together below it. Have at 'em:

FLACs: http://www.filebox.com/u63i3o2mgmfp
MP3s: http://www.filebox.com/b3w6xn8y2ghd

Lineage: AGK 414s > Zoom h4n 48/24 > Cubase 5 > flac/mp3

Setlist:
1. The Fourth (missing from audio download)
2. Shadow Pups (Track 01 on download)
3. Sea Skulls (Track 02 on download)
4. Say It's Now (Track 03 on download)
5. Rifle Range (Track 04 in download)
6. Down Your Spine (Track 05 on download)


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Details: Beach House - Teen Dreams

Sub Pop just spilled the beans on some key details to Beach House's third full length. Teen Dreams will hit us in Spring 2010, and will be accompanied by a DVD with a video for each and every track. Be excited. Straight from the source, here are the available details right after the click below:

Recorded in upstate New York, in a converted church called Dreamland with producer/engineer Chris Coady (who has worked with TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead, and a bunch of others) Teen Dream is the third album from the Baltimore-based duo Beach House, and their Sub Pop debut. The new album gives voice to a full universe of unbridled imagination, and the manifestation of Teen Dream has been a welcomed and all-consuming obsession for Beach House the past 9-12 months. Teen Dream will arrive packaged with a companion DVD featuring a video for each song on the album, each by a different director.

Looks like our fine city's once-hushed duo is ready to make the leap, as they have been steadily climbing to do so over the past year. Look for an album release party in Baltimore next spring, and be upset that it's still only October. For now:

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Photos: Height with Friends / AK Slaughter

Height w/Friends stormed the Windup Space last Friday, joined by the likes of Ak Slaughter, Lizz King, and Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez. We made it in time for the final three acts, along with Valerie who snapped some excellent photos that are all below.

This was the album release party for Height w/Friends' Baltimore Highlands remix album, but AK Slaughter also just dropped some love. Aran and Emily's mixtape, which you can grab here for free, is pretty stacked with all kinds of fun cuts from the duo. They killed it yet again live on Friday, and appeared to be having a grand old time doing it. They've got another show this Friday at Sonar.

Height w/Friends featured Mickey Free and Emily Slaughter backing up Height vocally, and they did a damn fine job doing so. The beats hit loud, Height was as amped as always, and Mickey and Emily were essential in weaving it all together. Look for more to come from all three MCs, including a new full length on the way soon from Emily's AK Slaugter. Peep the rest of the photo set below, or click here for the set on our Flikr.


Photos by Valerie Click to Bmore Informed on this topic...

Free Album Download: Rapdragons - Ten Stories High

Baltimore has been brewin with tons of choice off-kilter hip hop as of late, with a beat and rhyme suited for every type of party. Rapdragons began schilling their variety back in May, and are now in full effect having just dropped their first full length.

In addition to Ten Stories High, their debut album, Rapdragons have something else in the works to be pretty stoked for. The duo will soon also release a project called Featuring Baltimore, a mixtape that samples a different local band on each track.

But right now, you can download Ten Stories High for free at the bottom of this post. For whatever reason, this one had me reminiscing of the careless days of high school revelry. It's a feel good affair all around, and deserves to be thrown in your rotation.

The highlight for me was "Bigwams", Greg Ward and Nick Often's take on Bob Dylan's "Wigwam". The duo sports their signature party-themed flow, all layered over snazzy drums and paired with the original Dylan track's horns.

The opener "Moon Rocks" feature's a hook courtesy of Reading Rainbow's theme song, a beat using David Bowie's "Moonage Daydream", and some pretty anthemic vocals. Other samples throughout the album derive anywhere from Edwin Starr to the Electric Light Orchestra, to even Disney's Out of the Box TV series.

These guys are a ton of fun, and as mentioned above, have some other excitement in the works. Featuring Baltimore is being finished up now, and two tracks are already available. "Camp Everywhere" re-works "Camp Nowhere", the last track on Weekends' stellar debut disc. You can stream "Camp Everywhere" in all its glory over on their site. Until the rest of that mix drops, snag their promising debut below.

Full Album Download: Rapdragons - Ten Stories High

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