dead alive

And without skipping a beat, I'm happy to announce that DZ18 will be the first release for DC's Nice Breeze. The veteran three-piece stir up lo-fi, surf-tinged punk cuts that weave droning hooks with laconic, off-the-cuff vocals and take you for a buoyant ride on an ever-cresting wave inside the bonzai pipeline of your mind.

 

"Schroedinger's Cat's Grave" is out November 14, with the release show that night at Hot Tub House with manatee mommies BRNDA, the first-ever live performance from Scanners, as well as Vile Creature and Bakerman from up north. Don't miss this chance to grip the garish gold cassette before it ships - click here for details.

The week before on November 8 at Showtime, just as the need hot and hearty stews is picking up, the DC Rock'n'Roll Chili Cookbook will be released, featuring an awesome cassette compilation and chili recipes from some great local bands, including new additions to the DZ family Nice Breeze and Hemlines. All proceeds from the project go to benefit local non-profit Bread For The City, which aims to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

Continuing further back in time, just earlier that day the eighth installment of the Escape From DC Brunch show will be going down at Hole In The Sky (click flyer for details). Come out to see WYDYDE, Great Smokey and Baby Bry Bry & The Apologists, then grab some chili down the road.

Since their own release show last month Hemlines have been staying busy, with progressive coverage in WAMU Bandwidth and another gig lined up for November 21 at Rock & Roll Hotel, the band continues its roll with relative ease.

Now that DZ HQ is up and running at HITS, I'm hoping to get more projects out on a consistent basis. Part of that hurdle is going to be catching up with the backlog of recordings from the monthy (anti-)Brunch shows. Thankfully, we've started picking up the pace, and I'm happy to share with you this video of Big Hush performing "Walk On" earlier this year:

Before signing off, I need to give thanks to the Washington City Paper for their recent shout-out, and to send some love to The Sweets and Pool Holograph, who have both released new full-length albums this month. Check out their new work below, and keep your eyes and ears peeled for more goodies from DZ HQ in the very near future.

drive

DZ15 is on its way down I-95 courtesy of Baltimore duo Romantic States, who continue their minimalist approach to writing and recording, while integrating dynamic shifts not explored in earlier work. The result is a collection of raw, sparse, and skeletal lo-fi rock songs that are sincere, vulnerable, and haunting. Jim and Ilenia's newest works have been compiled for release on a self-titled album out February 6 and the band will be touring the East Coast throughout the month.

Special thanks to Spanish magazine Shook Down for their kind words about the album and for premiering "Back Pain" on their site. Look out for an interview with the band in the next physical copy of their magazine, and check out the track below for your first sneak peak at DZ15:

"9 canciones honestas, cristalinas y eso, minimalistas, una propuesta de corazón lo-fi que desprende honestidad, la misma que habían desfilado en algunos de sus trabajos anteriores" - Shook Down

"Romantic States are a minimalist experimental rock band from Baltimore, emphasizing rhythm and melody over instrumental complexity. Their sound is spectral, with live drums and drum machines combined to provide a back beat for reverby guitars and washed out, dream-like vocals in their own version of deconstructed pop/rock songs." - The Modern Folk Music Of America

Tapes are available for pre-order in the merch store, along with a limited number of older cassettes unearthed during my move, including releases by Wavepool Abortion, Ghostandthesong / Chris Rehm, Terror Bird, Adam Torres, Pool Holograph, and Birkwin Jersey, plus one last copy of DYVNZMBR2.

Additionally, Tape School in Tokyo is now stocking some more recent releases - Big Hush, Hazey Jane, Easily Suede, The Sweets, and Seabright all safely made the trip across the globe.

Stay tuned for more updates on DZ15, including new tracks and event info, coming very soon...

moving on

2014 is coming to an end, but not without a few more events to close out what's been a momentous year of music in the DC DIY scene. Check out the details below and click the flyers to RSVP.

First up is an In It Together Fest promotional event on Saturday, December 27 at The Pinch, featuring Meridian, Two Inch Astronaut, Polyon, Boardroom Heroes, and Collapser (playing their last show ever, purportedly). Join us for a brief retrospective and a look ahead to the fest's next iteration.

Then on Sunday, December 28, Big Hush will be joining Chain & The Gang and Qualms (first show!) at Comet Ping Pong. Come out to catch the good vibes, and peep this shining review of the Wholes EP by GoldFlakePaint to get you in the groovy mood.

"From full on shoegaze sustain to amplified campfire folk, Big Hush’s repertoire to date maps out a clear path of progression to their newest collection of songs...The four tracks featured on Wholes blend the delicate with the overwhelming. The soft-nurtured vocal expressions combined with guitar tones that can cry, sing and growl all at once make for the most affecting noise-pop you’re likely to hear any time soon." – GoldFlakePaint

And for those of you in Austin, Adam Torres is back home and playing one final show at Studium on Sunday, December 28 with Abram Shook.

Before I sign off, I'd like to say a quick thanks to Ground Floor Go for their shout out and inclusion of The Sweets Greatest Hits album as one of their Top 10 Cassettes of 2014! There's already a few things in the work for next year, so keep your eyes and ears open for more from DZ TAPES in 2015.

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.

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.

green diamonds

Seasons are shifting and cultures are changing, but things are mostly just as they've always been. DZ TAPES was spawned from the love of sharing music and continues to live on through the very support I was hoping to provide for artists with the smoldering ashes that this label rose up from. That being said, from here on out all releases will be available for free on the bandcamp page, as they should have always been. I also want to thank all the bands and to everyone who braved the weather to come out for the show on Saturday, especially those who donated to the bands and bought merch. The only way good things like this are able to happen is with support from the fans.

The Sweets have really been laying down the jams in 2014 with the Greatest Hits anthology, split cassette with Petey, and blue glow-in-the-dark 7" from Bleeding Gold. This weekend they'll be taking to the stage at Phuzz Phest 2014 in Winston Salem with a slew of great acts from far and wide, headlined by White Fence, No Age, and Kool Keith, and featuring Ex Hex, Diarrhea Planet, Secret Boyfriend and more. Check out the full lineup here and grip a copy of the new 7" before you're left alone in the dark.

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.

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)

the greatest hits

The Sweets are two brothers from Winston Salem, NC who've been playing garage pop together for the past year, baking up a sticky mess of music despite going to different schools a few hundred miles apart. The duo wrote and recorded almost 50 original tracks in 2013, varying in styles from loud and fast garage punk to hushed and supple bedroom pop, so we took the best of both to release as the Greatest Hits. Limited to 50 twizzler-red cassettes, DZ11 is sure to be snacked up soon, so find yours in the candy store before they're gone.

The Dougout will be celebrating its two year anniversary soon, and to commemorate the occasion we're putting on a show featuring performances from a few old friends and some new local talent. Check the event page here for details, and check out the bands below:


☯ Teen Liver
☯ ☯ Wildhoney
☯ ☯ ☯ Expert Alterations
☯ ☯ ☯ ☯ Cool People
☯ ☯ ☯ ☯ ☯ Circus Bear

Before signing off, I'd like to thank everyone who came out last Friday to see Speedy Ortiz, Grass Is Green, Two Inch Astronaut, and Collapser. The bands were all phenomenal, the house was overflowing with people, and we got some stellar shots of the show from Chris Suspect and a few of our friends right here for your viewing pleasure.

 Speedy Ortiz (courtesy of Suspect)

Speedy Ortiz (courtesy of Ahmad)

Grass Is Green (courtesy of Suspect)

Two Inch Astronaut (courtesy of Suspect)

Collapser (courtesy of Geoff)

post-solstice explosion in sound

2014 is finally here and as some of you have already noticed, pre-orders for DZ11 are now live. With winter's longest days behind us, there's no better time to let The Sweets warm you up with the soft sun-crisped sounds of summertime. Catch a glimpse of lazy fun times ahead in the video for "She Says" from the "Just The Dudes EP" released on Bleeding Gold Records last year, and now through the end of January you can take an extra 10% off anything in the store by using promo code "loveandrockets" at checkout.

Those of you in the district looking to catch some good live music are welcome to join us January 17 at the Dougout for a volcanic display of talent from Carpark Records and Exploding In Sound Records.

ϟ Speedy Ortiz (Northampton, MA)
ϟ ϟ Grass Is Green (Boston, MA)
ϟ ϟ ϟ Two Inch Astronaut (Silver Spring, MD)
ϟ ϟ ϟ ϟ Collapser (Washington, DC)

Hot and steamy rocket-powered glow-in-the-dark prints designed by Red Table Press will be available in limited numbers. Click the poster below for more details about the show.

sweets

There's one last candied-coated bit of communique to share before the year runs out that's sweet enough to send you into sugar shock - the next DZ release is scheduled to debut on January 21 and features 18 home-brewed cuts from Winston Salem, NC. 

In 2013 The Sweets conjured the gods of grit to graft a slew of sick rips we've dubbed the "Greatest Hits". Side A showcases tenacious tracks hot enough to set the garage aflame. Side B subdues the fire to a slow burning ember mound sound enough to settle down and unwind by, complete with gruesome campfire stories*.

*Number of stories limited to one per tape.

Earlier this week, the folks over at Tympanogram were kind enough to debut "I Didn't Ask For Your Permission To Date Your Sister", the freely available "scuffed-up pop gem" found above. Impose also shared some love for the label, nominating DYVNZMBR2 as one of its favorite cassette compilations of 2013. "This listens like an unguided tour of some of my favorite artists and tracks from last year." There's more gaseously good news bubbling up soon so keep your radar online.