Big Cry Country Releases Debut EP “Living Conditions”
Recent Articles Indie punk band Big Cry Country from D.C. and New York have put out their debut EP Living Conditions, which embodies their style of “energetic rock for the kind of people who think a cathartic cry can be improved by dancing.” ‘Living Conditions’ cover art by Audrey Kubetin. Living Conditions was inspired by […]
Stay Afloat with Soft Punch — Above Water
Soft Punch, aka Rye Thomas, of Washington D.C. released his debut album, Above Water on September 15th, after years of working on it.
The album is a labor of love that Soft Punch, the stage name of Rye Thomas, has been working on for years since the diagnosis of his chronic illness. It takes you through the highs and lows, mourning the freedom lost, and celebrating the things that he is grateful for in his day to day life. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to him about his process of writing the album.
The titles of albums are the first thing that an artist sees. That, and the artist’s name. When I first heard the name ‘Soft Punch’, I was intrigued. It was gentle but intentional. “I don’t know if I had a specific ‘A-ha, Lightbulb’ moment, but I was interested in words that sound good together and have multiple meanings,” Thomas said. “It’s a gentle hit, and a nonalcoholic punch. It’s the image of something harsh and something soft is interesting to me. I think I lucked out.”
This Florida Man Has Turned the Punchline into Blues Gold
Oh, those wacky headlines that invariably begin: “Florida Man…” And fill in the rest.
Selwyn Birchwood, a native of the Sunshine State, has set this unfortunate, longtime punchline to the blues in “Florida Man.” Indeed, his recent song features such lyrics as “Florida Man is drunk and shoots guns at hurricanes. Florida Man is high on bath salts and eats your face.”
There are headlines—and footage—to back up all of these anecdotes, which Birchwood includes in his music video for the song.
“I thought it was an interesting idea for a song. And I saw it as kind of a challenge to see if I could actually make the lyrics reflect those actual stories,” Birchwood said from the road in between tour stops. “The whole idea was [there was this] mythical creature, that could be down there, that has many forms in many headlines.”
Indeed, Birchwood combed the internet for the outlandish news stories, which he also shares in the video. Choose your favorite: “Florida couple ‘trapped’ in unlocked closet for two days”; “Bath salts blamed for face-eating attack”; “Florida man tells deputies he drank at stop signs, signals only.”
All tragically—hilariously—real.
Living Pictures is “Crossing the Bridge” with Debut Album
Recent Articles Portland and D.C.-based duo Living Pictures have released their debut electronic album, Crossing the Bridge. Living Pictures – Crossing the Bridge album art Portland and D.C.-based duo Living Pictures consists of driven artists and multi-instrumentalists Reif Larsen and Andrew Perreault, who have recently released their debut electronic album, Crossing the Bridge. In Crossing […]
Janae Daniels is Staying Ready and Versatile with ‘4FOR4’
Beneath the sensual attack of her pop melodies and rapping, Janae Daniels is a DC baby born-and-raised in some of the city’s hallmark musical cultures. With equal roots singing in church choirs and go-go bands, she began developing a distinct personality and rhythm to her musical expression from an early age. And as her prowess began to earn her acclaim, she dug in deeper. Between her go-go roots, the inspiring voices of women in her church choir, and some external influences, Janae has shown up continually with unshakeable presence. Learn more about her latest EP, 4FOR4, with contributing writer Charlie Maybee.
The Pocket Presents: Perro Sombra w/ Pekeke Project March 25
March 25, 2023
The Pocket
Washington, DC
PsyOp: A Psychological Operation into Hardcore that Shocks.
Recent Articles DC hardcore ‘shock rock’ punk band PsyOp conducts a psychological operation in their latest EP, Permanent Underclass. DC Punk just makes sense. Regardless of what quadrant you’re in.. Chances are there’s something to be angry about: Gentrification, Parking Tickets, George Santos… In the DC Hardcore scene, you may end up at a venue […]
Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center Celebrates 65 Years of Music Retail
Go Beyond the Artist in this week’s feature with Adam Levin of Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center, exploring the essential role of the local music store, in this series highlighting the individuals and organizations that are amplifying the DMV music community, often from behind the scenes.
“Everyone loves a star!” Or, so I’ve heard the saying.
In past times, the complete view of the team of people that worked to bring an artist to the national or internation stage was mostly obscured; the wizards behind the curtain that you need “pay no attention to.” With the rise of the DIY music industry came the global stardom of Taylor Swift.
Kimberly Shires of Hear Me Roar Studio: “It’s Not a Dude’s Thing”
A continuing conversation in the music industry is the role of female music producers; today, about 4% of the music producers are women. Kimberly Shires, music producer and owner of Hear Me Roar Studio, is looking to change that statistic. Join contributing writer, Margaret Adams, as she and Shires discuss the industry and how producing music isn’t as hard as it looks. Shires’ deep background with music informed her journey to being a studio owner. She played in an orchestra as a kid, leaning on a classical side for most of her life. After graduating college with a degree in Clarinet, she felt burnt out from music and took a hiatus. “I just pivoted, I changed directions completely and put it away,” Shires said.
Elin Sings Elis Regina comes to Blues Alley
January 22, 2022
Blues Alley
Washington D.C.
