bittersweet

I'm happy to report the Two Inch Astronaut 'Foulbrood' release show may have been the best gig I've gotten to put on at the Dougout. From top to bottom all the bands were amazing, and I was lucky enough to get some halfway decent recordings of each set as part of a new project I've been working on to archive DC's DIY live music scene. While most of the recordings won't be made available just yet, I'm thrilled to share one - the first ever Mannequin Pussy acoustic set! Marisa was kind enough to sit down and play three MP tracks and one brand new song from her upcoming solo debut. Special thanks to WMUC for their help in making this happen. Take an advance listen to the set below, check the soundcloud page for the track list, and tune in to WMUC radio Sunday at 6pm ET for this and some great live music from Au Revoir, Wish List, and Go Cozy on Third Rail.



Another huge shout out to Big Ups, Washer, and Jail Solidarity, plus a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Sam, Andy and Matt on the album release! We were also blessed to have Mike from Red Table Press design and screenprint a limited run of this awesome glow-in-the-dark gig poster below.

Two Inch Astronaut (courtesy of Nicole)

Mannequin Pussy (courtesy of Alex)

Big Ups (courtesy of Alex)

Washer (courtesy of Alex)

Jail Solidarity (courtesy of Alex)

On a more somber note, it’s with a heavy heart I announce that starting in 2015, I will no longer be living at The Dougout. Nearly three years have passed since the mates and I moved in and began hosting DIY shows, and now the time has come for me to make my next move. This place has been so much more than a home to me and I’ll cherish the memories made in this house for the rest of my days.

It was here that I first planted my roots as a resident of the District, forged immeasurable bonds with two awesome amigos, made countless new friends (and reunited with ones from days long ago), showcased an unbelievable number of immensely talented musicians, hosted my first DZ TAPES cassette release show, helped plan and put on the first ever In It Together Fest, cared for four different beautiful animals (and accidentally killed even more innocent plants), and learned more about myself than I’d ever thought I would.

While I will be making my departure at the end of this month, the spirit of The Dougout will live on through Geoff, Marshall and … You, perhaps (or someone you know)?

Let this post serve as a call to anyone who’s ever dreamed of living in a DIY punk house in Washington, DC. The rent is cheap, there’s space aplenty, and many more awesome shows to be put on. If you or anyone you know might be interested in taking my spot, please check out this Craigslist posting to get the conversation started. The new housemate should be ready to move in on January 1.

As for me, this is certainly not the end of my time booking shows in DC, so be on the lookout for more live events in the near future.

foulbrood

Since the release of their debut full-length Bad Brother last year, Two Inch Astronaut have been melting the minds of DIY show-goers here in DC and along the East Coast, but nowhere more-so than at the Dougout. Their new album Foulbrood, out now on Exploding In Sound Records, showcases just how much the band's sound is expanding to become exceedingly more complex while retaining its accessibility, like a rubix cube with shades of post-punk, post-hardcore, and everything in between.

It's been a pleasure to watch the band grow over time, so I'm proud to announce DZ TAPES will be hosting the official album release show, featuring support from some top-notch East Coast talent. Check out the rest of the bands below and click the flyer to RSVP for the show on December 7.

※ BIG UPS (NY) fearsome tough love punctual post-punk
※ ※ MANNEQUIN PUSSY (PHL) razor sharp shitpunk like bats trapped in a tent
※ ※ ※ WASHER (NY) stripped-down punk with melodic distortion
※ ※ ※ ※ JAIL SOLIDARITY (DC) fuck the man post-hardcore noise rock sludge

In other news, the Big Hush cassette release show almost went off without a hitch until the apex of Chris Forsyth's finale, in which a crucial surge protector was knocked loose from its outlet causing the entire build up to come crashing down in a deafening silence.


Notwithstanding this minor calamity, the show was a great success thanks to great music from the aforementioned lovelies as well as the Anthony Pirog Trio and Golden Triangle. Just before the show, Brightest Young Things had some great things to say about Big Hush in an interview piece conducted with co-singer/songwriter Owen Wuerker.

"Big Hush shucks the limitations of the shoegaze sound, pushing vocal melodies and lyricism to the forefront and using their noisy instrumental texture as support rather than the center of the song. The result is a huge step forward for the band; their loudest tendencies now affect the emotive character of the compositions, and showcase their deft songwriting."

You can read the full interview here.

Hazey Jane also received some love recently from Unrecorded, calling DZ13 "a great collection of off-kilter beats composed of odd samples, drum machines, and guitar."

And last but certainly not least, folk freaks in Chicago should be on the look out for Adam Torres, who makes his Windy City debut on December 13 to accompany a preview screening of A Good Person, presented by the Logan Square International Film Series. Click here to RSVP and get more information about the movie.

contagion

 h a p p y   h a l l o w e e n 

Quick update with two upcoming shows for DZ fans in DC are coming up at the Dougout in early November. Click the flyers below for more details.

Our special Election Day show features out-of-town punks Annabel and Kitten Forever alongside local thrashers Atlas At Last and The Obsessives.

Then on Sunday November 9, Kal Marks playing gritty blues-tinged rock touring from Boston with Exploding In Sound labelmates Lady Bones supported by local post-punk folk project Mattress Financial and queer punks Flamers.

petrichor

Production on DZ14 has begun to wrap up, and a cassette release show in DC is in the works. Stay thirsty with this Big Hush video for one of their classic tracks "Where I End":

Meanwhile, Pool Holograph have been staying busy in Chicago, keeping warm with fiery science experiments, like this new track "Crazy Lane". I was lucky enough to catch the premiere in person and think you all should take a listen:

Folks in Atlanta should make sure to check out Easily Suede and Narrator play in the Social Synth public art installation built into a dumpster:

It Is Rain In My Face. plays live at the Palisades in Brooklyn on Monday, October 27:

In Austin, Adam Torres has a string of shows coming up in late October and early November:

Belgian blog Cutting Edge had some nice things to say in Dutch about Hazey Jane:

"Bij het horen van het krakerige (en naar het einde toe licht vervormde) 'Being in mint condition' en het treffend getitelde 'Outside it's good' waanden wij ons immers meteen in een zonovergoten parkje op een zorgeloze zomerdag: héérlijk gevoel."

Which loosely translates to:

"Upon hearing the crackling (and towards the end slightly distorted) 'Being in mint condition' and the aptly titled "Outside it's good" we thought we were, after all, once in a sunlit park on a carefree summer day: wonderful feeling."

And finally, some photos from the last show at the Dougout, featuring Romantic States, Halfsour, Thee Lolitas, and Foul Swoops, all courtesy of Ron Akins:

Romantic States

Halfsour

Thee Lolitas

Foul Swoops

hushed

The next DZ release is in production, and it's one I'm really excited to have worked on - it feels great to finally collaborate with a local artist that I've enjoyed seeing for quite some time. Big Hush play patient shoegaze folk sentiments, with crystalline vocal harmonies piercing through three layers of fuzzy sepia-toned guitar. Hazy rock melodies washed in sunburnt distortion flow through all four tracks, blanketing your ears in an enigmatic overdrive like a warm breeze enveloping your outstretched hand while cruising windows-down on an open road in the mid-afternoon. Dreamy and seductive, this release will have you feeling somewhere between a comatose kitten and a hypnotized house plant.

You can stream the title track from the Wholes EP below, and a run of 100 pro-dubbed cassettes are due for release on November 4.

Those of you in the DC area looking to catch a live glimpse of the band can see them this Friday, September 26 at the Communiverse with label friends Wildhoney and Two Inch Astronaut. A few other DZ jaunts are also lined up for the near future: In Chicago, where I'll be for the next week, Pool Holograph will be playing at Phyllis' Musical Inn on September 27 (Cassette Store Day!) and again at Township on September 29. Back in the district I'll be hosting DC maniacal funkwits Foul Swoops and high-speed chasers Thee Lolitas, Baltimore power couple Romantic States, and Boston pickle punks Halfsour on October 5 at the Dougout. Click the flyers below for more details about each show, and keep your eyes peeled for more from DZ14 in the near future.

ballooning

From where you are things may seem quiet here at DZ, but the post-In It Together Fest hiatus is over and there are quite a few fun things in the works. Another batch of releases has been confirmed with the hopes of getting most of them out before the end of the year, but there will be more on that in the near future. The Sister Polygon Jamboree has come and gone, Fields Festival flew by in the blink of an eye, and now the next live event on the docket that's sure to be a sweat-soaked good time is coming up September 4 at The Dougout. Boston rockers Krill will be joined by Baltimore's Et Al. in addition to local favorites The Effects and Two Inch Astronaut. Click the flyer below for more details:

DZ alum have been hard at work lately creating a wide variety of new sounds for your listening pleasure. Find a comfy groove in your seat and take a look + listen at some of the cool things that've been coming out recently:

"Old Ways" single by Pool Holograph


"Bread & Silver Water" EP by It Is Rain In My Face.


"Forest Moon" EP by Seabright

Wondering Sound interviews Adam Torres on music sharing and the drudgery of self-promotion in independent music.

"The Wrong Way" music video by Terror Bird

in it together fest

Washington DC's first ever In It Together Feststarts TODAY, THURSDAY 7/31 to SUNDAY 8/3. If you're in the area you should check out all the sick events happening throughout the city. We've put a lot of hard work into making this weekend chock-full of awesome music, art, cycling, activism and other ways to encourage creativity, highlight the under-appreciated, and bring about positive change to our community, so I hope you can make it out to enjoy the fun!

Things I'm most excited for:

• Robot Butt comedy kicking everything off on Thursday night at Ft. Loko
• ARTSHOW_08 at Hole In The Sky and Pile at the Dougout on Friday night
• Saturday's All-Day Main Stage Event at St. Stephen's Church (also It Is Rain In My Face. performing at Bathtub Republic, although I will be unable to attend)
• Bridge Spot skate demo and ramen jump, Mannequin Pussy at Crack Rock Creek Church, and Playback The Tape's retrospective of DC DIY culture at Furthermore on Sunday

~

☆ tickets available here: http://infestdc.bigcartel.com/ ☆

★ JUST TEN BUCKS ($10) FOR ALL DAY 8/2 EVENT AT ST STEPHEN'S ★

☆ JUST FIVE BUCKS ($5) FOR PERKS AT (almost) ALL DIY VENUES ☆

~

~

◆ [7/31] In It Together Fest: DAY 1 – PRE-FEST ◆

○ (8pm - 12am) Robot Butt variety hour + music by Spoonboy, ACME, Paperhaus, Vunderbar, and Wanted Man at FT. LOKO

~

◆ [8/1] In It Together Fest: DAY 2 – NORTHEAST BY NIGHT ◆

○ (7pm – 11pm) ARTSHOW_08: Art, Bro at HOLE IN THE SKY DC

○ (7pm – 11pm) Incarcerated Masses: Artists Call for an End to Mass Incarceration, Deportation and Detention at 2B Artist Studios

○ (8pm – 12am) PILE / THE PUBLIC / TWO INCH ASTRONAUT / JAIL SOLIDARITY @ the Dougout

○ (8pm – 12am) Creative Music in DC - A Night of New Music, a Trio of Trios featuring Organix Trio, Trio OOO, and Garrett/Scheible/Tucker at Union Arts DC

○ (11pm – 3am) THE BOUNDARY STONES / FINLEY MARTIN @ Bardo Brewpub

~

◆ [8/2] In It Together Fest: DAY 3 – NORTHWEST + ALL-DAY SHOWCASE ◆

In It Together Fest Alleycat presented by DC Bike Party throughout the day hitting various spots including:

★ MAIN EVENT ★ (12pm – 10pm) at St. Stephen's Church featuring The Effects, State Lines, Hold Tight!, Loud Boyz, Meridian, The Public, Slow Animal, Cousin Brian, Entropy NY, Born Without Bones, Brightside, and Two Inch Astronaut + speakers/classes from Knowledge Commons DC, Casa Ruby LGBT Community Center, and Positive Force DC + tables from Dischord Records, Cricket Cemetery, Say-10 Records, DC Zinefest, The Intentional, Food Not Bombs DC, and MORE! ★ $10 TICKET ONLINE OR AT THE DOOR ★

○ (10:30am – 3:30pm) The Beehive's INFEST Drone Brunch and other Creative Musics event featuring Sleepy Kitty, Nightmom, Br'er, and The Bowlegged Gorilla

○ (12pm – 5pm) TEEN MOM / HARMONIC BLUE / REAL CLOTHES / EZRA MAE & THE GYPSY MOON @ Ezra Mae's

○ (12pm – 5pm) Baby Bry Bry & The Apologists ☢ Haybaby  Chimes ☮ The Adventures of the Silver Spaceman at Jamjar

○ (12pm – 5pm) Space is the Place! featuring sound installations, performance art, and dance exhibitions at Communiverse

○ (2pm – 5pm) JEBIOTTO (japan) / IT IS RAIN IN MY FACE. (ny) / THE NORTH COUNTRY (dc) / WARM & COMFY (md) - In It Together Fest at Bathtub Republic

★ AFTER PARTY ★ (11pm – 3am) at The Pinch featuring Cross Eyed, Growwing Pains, and The Rememberables ★ $5 COVER AT THE DOOR ★

~

◆ [8/3] In It Together Fest: DAY 4 – FINAL BLOWOUT ◆

○ (12pm – 6pm) Pree, Marian McLaughlin, Pony Bones, What Moon Things, BRNDA, and Meridian at Paperhaus

○ (3pm – 7pm) Shark Week, Mannequin Pussy, Crumms, Sun Young, and Cesspool at Crack Rock Creek Church

○ (4pm – 9pm) In It Together Fest Presents: Skate Demo @ Bridge Spot! featuring skating, grilling, video from Alley Bar, music from DC Vinyl Headz, a raffle sponsored by The DC Wheels, and a Ramen Jump by the Ryan Troy Ford Memorial Performance Arts Collective

○ (6pm – 10pm) Playback TheTape presents a Retrospective on DC DIY Culture at Furthermore

~

In It Together Fest is a four-day celebration of underground art, music, and activism at all venues propagating independent culture throughout the District of Columbia. Empowered by the hope to build a community amongst disparate DIY spaces, we've come together to foster participation, encourage new ideas, and highlight the under-appreciated. 

St. Stephen's has been hosting DIY punk shows for almost three decades now and is a respected space for progressive thought. Usage of the venue helps to support We Are Family, a charitable organization working to assist seniors, and Positive Force, an activist collective seeking radical social change, personal growth, and youth empowerment.

We also have two other organizations that we'd like to help raise awareness for: Casa Ruby is a multicultural non-profit community center working to provide food/shelter/resources in a safe space for everyone in the LGBT community. The Way Home Campaign is a working to end chronic homelessness by placing individuals in permanent supportive housing and ensuring they have the necessary foundation to remain there.

For more information on In It Together Fest, please visit the website:

www.infestdc.org

together

August is fast approaching and we've got some fun things in store here in the district. I've been working as part of a group organizing the first ever In It Together Fest, a weekend-long celebration of DIY culture in DC, filled with music, art, workshops, biking, skating, cooking, and positive ways to inspire change and creativity in the community. The entire festival spans from July 31 to August 3, takes place over the city, and serves to benefit some amazing organizations like Positive Force DC, Casa Ruby LGBT Community Center, and The Way Home Campaign. If you can't wait for more inFest updates here on the blog, click the link above for more information.

Last week, we at the Dougout hosted a promotional show featuring some exemplary east coast acts in Pinkwash, Young Trynas, Joy Buttons and The Sniffs. 

Pinkwash (courtesy of Andrade)

Young Trynas (courtesy of Andrade)

Joy Buttons (courtesy of Andrade)

The Sniffs (courtesy of Andrade)

The next show was just a few nights later - Warehouse and Narrator came in from Atlanta, Amadels trekked down from New York, while Go Cozy and Anchor 3 rounded out the bill with their local flavors.

Warehouse (courtesy of Ron)

Narrator (courtesy of Ron)

 Go Cozy (courtesy of Ron)

swamp romp

I've got three DZ shows planned for later this month, and something pretty big happening the weekend of August 1 that I'll share more about when the time is right. For now, anyone looking to get into some fun in the DMV should scope out these shows (click the flyer for more info):

Tuesday, July 15 @ the Dougout

✄ WAREHOUSE (ATL)
✄✄ GO COZY (DC)
✄✄✄ NARRATOR (ATL)
✄✄✄✄ AMADELS (NYC)
✄✄✄✄✄ ANCHOR 3 (DC)

Thursday, July 17 @ Communiverse

☯ JULIE BYRNE
☯☯ ADAM LEMPEL & SUNATIRENE
☯☯☯ CAIN SCHEIBLE DUO

Saturday, July 19 @ All Saints Church

☂ ALEX G (PHL)
☂☂ ELVIS DEPRESSEDLY (SC)
☂☂☂ TEEN SUICIDE (MD)
☂☂☂☂ WISH LIST (MD)
☂☂☂☂☂ MAKESHIFT SHELTERS (DC)

Thanks to everyone who came out for the last DZ show featuring superb sets in the sweltering heat by Big Ups, Two Inch Astronaut and Atlas At Last. Sadly, Teen Suicide had to drop off the bill last minute due to a family emergency, so those of you who were bummed to miss them that night should definitely make sure to check out the show above. The wonderful Mr. Sean Berg blessed the occasion with the exquisite screenprint below and a few folks snapped some photos and captured video as well. Check out the goods below and stay tuned for more footage in the near future.

Big Ups (courtesy of Scott)

Big Ups (courtesy of Julia)

Lastly, The Sweets' Greatest Hits received some praise from Myspace, who put the compilation on their list of "25 Best Cassettes of 2014 (so far)" alongside some other stellar work from various label friends. Thanks for the shoutout and look out for a few more tapes coming later this year.

goldkid

Adam Torres has been quietly compiling demos and publishing them every week. So far there have been four tracks shared off the 'Golden Children' demos, and if the trend continues Adam will provide us with more of his beautifully soulful blues folk next Monday. Until then, those of you near Austin, TX can see Adam perform live on Saturday at Beerland. Keep an eye on his bandcamp for new songs, and click play below to hear what's already been released.


Before I go, I just wanted to thank all the bands and everyone who came out for the gig last Thursday to see Foul Swoops, Flesh Panthers, Neonates, Sneaks, and a special impromptu set from The Morons. The show was great and the crowd was solid, and without those things the Dougout wouldn't be as special as it is.

may day

Production on the next release has begun, and I'm very excited to share more details in the near future! Hold your horses for the time being, but check back soon for more info on DZ13.

I'm hosting another show tonight featuring some awesome bands, so this is a final reminder and invitation to anybody in the DC area looking to catch some great music. Music will start around 9, and for more details just click the flyer below.

rsd14

Today is Record Store Day 2014 and if you haven't seen the list of exclusive releases, you may want to take a glance and get in line at your local shop before all the goods are gone forever. I'm excited to check out my favorite spots in the district including Red Onion, Smash!, Som, Crooked Beat and Joint Custody to grip some vinyl. Check out what these and some of the other stores around town have planned in this guide written by my buddy Matt for DCist.

The next show at the Dougout is just around the corner and will be featuring some garage scuzz punk from local favorites Foul Swoops, Chicago scumlords Flesh Panthers, new district transplants Neonates, and ex-shitstains Sneaks from Baltimore. The gig is set for May 1, more information can be found here.

i didn't ask your permission

With The Sweets cassettes having all sold out, and Easily Suede tapes following in suit, production on the next DZ release is right around the corner. While no pertinent details can be made available just yet, there will be more to share later this month. For now, take a look at the new video for "Sister":

Friends of the label Wildhoney are one of Baltimore's finest shoegazing noise pop punk bands, and they've got a brand new 7" release coming out on Photobooth Records. The "Seventeen Forever" single will feature 3 new tracks and is set to drop this oh-so-special Sunday, April 20.

Lastly, thanks to the Washington City Paper for the shout-out to the Dougout in their Best of D.C. feature! It's an honor to be recognized and we look forward to supporting live music in the district for as long as we're able to.

showtime

Here's yet another badass screenprint from my main man Sean Berg for today's show at the Dougout, featuring WEEKENDS, BEST WITCHES, BBAATBIFFFS, and CRUMMS. More details about the show can be found by clicking the poster below. We'll be giving these out with every purchase of band merch while supplies last!

The Sweets just put out a new 7" from Bleeding Gold Records, featuring four flawless tracks pressed on glow-in-the-dark vinyl and limited to 250 copies.



Lastly, wanna send thanks out to Creative Loafing for the Easily Suede shoutout! Nice little blurb there plus a preview of a new cassette from another fellow Faun and a Pan Flute member Carey, released on Crash Symbols.

spring solstice

The Dougout has a few shows lined up for the upcoming months, but the one I'm most excited about is coming up on Saturday, March 29. As always, anybody who happens to be in the DC area is welcome to drop by and check out the music! All pertinent details can be found here, and stay tuned for a sick screenprinted show poster coming soon from Sean Berg. The lineup is as follows:

☯ WEEKENDS (noise rock from BALTIMORE)
☯ ☯ BEST WITCHES (post-punk from CHICAGO)
☯ ☯ ☯ BBAATBIFFFS (grindcore thrash from CHICAGO)
☯ ☯ ☯ ☯ CRUMMS (garage surf from DC)

Easily Suede tapes have begun to disseminate around the globe, and due to a slip up on my end a decent chunk of the orders were made with no charge for shipping. Thanks to everyone who's bought a copy thus far, and enjoy the free delivery on me!

Our good friend It Is Rain In My Face. continues to shine through the endless gray sky with yet another new EP entitled "Permanent Winter". Thanks to everyone who donated to Mat's recent kickstarter, he'll soon be making the trip down to Ardent Studios in Memphis to record yet another EP due out by the end of the year.

get gooey

The Sweets keep riding their rolling riptide here in early 2014. The band has been spread the love most recently with the Zing Zang EP, one half of a split cassette with fellow North Carolinians Petey, out now on Bleeding Gold Records. They've also got a new track appearing on the If You Fall I'll Fall With You compilation from Edils Recordings, and did an interview with Reverb Raccoon where they discuss all their recent and upcoming releases, including the Greatest Hits and a future project with Goodbye Boozy Records.

Additional news of note coming down the pipeline includes the imminent arrival of DZ12, which is in its final phases of production (more info on that to follow), and It Is Rain In My Face. self-titled cassettes, which are back in stock over on Mat's bandcamp page (along with a snug and stylish new silkscreened t-shirt).

Reservations for the Iron Chic show at The Dougout filled up within hours of going public, but that's not the only upcoming event in Northeast DC worth checking out. If you like pizza and live in the district, you should stop by Hole In The Sky on Saturday, January 22 for the fifth installment of their art show series in which they'll be cooking up a 6 ft. pizza and surrounding it with pizza-themed artworks of the visual, installation and performance persuasion. The gallery will showcase works by artists previously featured here including Sean Berg, Ryan Ford and Red Table Press (who designed the awesome poster below commemorating the event). Come inside from the cold and enjoy some warm and gooey goodness with us!

smooth ride

DZ11 cassettes are dubbed, packaged, and will be shipped out by the end of the week, and Cactus Mouth called the Greatest Hits "a joy to listen to ... if you dig on lo-fi bedroom pop then scoop this goofy little release up." So to thank everybody for their support, a contest has been posted on the facebook page giving you the chance to win a free digital download of every DZ release to date. Here's a preview of the booty you could be looting, this one's "Coupe Deville" by The Sweets:



In live music news, the Dougout received some kind words from Myspace last week, putting it on their list of "The 16 Best DIY Venues in the US" as their top choice for Washington, DC. Admittedly this took us by surprise, as there are a handful of other solid spots for house shows in the district, but we are honored nonetheless and certainly appreciate the recognition.

The next event is lined up for February 25 and will feature Iron Chic, Collapser and The Rememberables. Because the demand for spots to this show is so high, we're taking reservations for spots starting today at noon on a first come first serve basis. Visit this link to reserve your spot, and take a look at the event page for more details.

This past Sunday we hosted a handful of talented local acts at a show commemorating our two-year anniversary. I'd like to thank all the friends and fans who came out to help us mark the occasion, the bands Teen Liver, Wildhoney, Expert Alterations, Cool People and Circus Bear for playing great sets, and Red Table Press for adding some style to the bar with the custom sign you'll see below, along with some pictures snapped and lent out by a few lovely gents.

Teen Liver (courtesy of Jason)

Teen Liver (courtesy of Ahmad)

Cool People (courtesy of Jason)