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

evil kenevil

The first ever In It Together Fest is in the rearview mirror, and I want to give a special thank you for all the love and support we received from everyone who came out, performed, volunteered, hosted and generally made the weekend one to remember - we couldn't have done it without you! There was some great documentation taken at most of the events, so here are some of the primo photos for your enjoyment plus a very special video featuring one very brave conceptual food artist from the Ryan Troy Ford Memorial Performance Arts Collective jumping over a 50 gallon bathtub of delicious homemade ramen noodles on a dirtbike at a skate park under a bridge (yes, you read that right).

The Effects (courtesy of Brazier)

Loud Boyz (courtesy of Andrade)

Loud Boyz (courtesy of Brazier)

 Pile (courtesy of Schelldorf)

Vundabar (courtesy of Andrade)

ACME (courtesy of Brazier)

Baby Bry Bry (courtesy of Andrade)

Jail Solidarity (courtesy of Brazier)

Jebiotto (courtesy of Bezruchko)

The Public (courtesy of Andrade)

State Lines (courtesy of Brazier)

Meridian (courtesy of Brazier)

BRNDA (courtesy of Andrade)

Mannequin Pussy (courtesy of Sharon)

Hold Tight! (courtesy of Brazier)

Pree (courtesy of Brazier)

Teen Mom (courtesy of Stephanie)

What Moon Things (courtesy of Andrade)

Ramen Jump (courtesy of Evan)

Ramen Jump (courtesy of Sharon)

Ramen Jump (courtesy of Denise)