French Kicks (11.21.08)

"Sex Tourists" and "Said So What" both off of FRENCH KICKS album entitled Swimming, are two of my favorite songs, so of course I jumped at the chance to see them live in DC. Yes, it was the day before I was flying home to Los Angeles and I did have strep throat but whatever, the price you pay to see a great band. If you haven't heard of French Kicks, they're an alternative band from the Washington, DC area. If you like THE STROKES, SOUND TEAM, or THE WALKMEN, you'll love the French Kicks. 

One of the benefits of the Black Cat is how close the audience can get to the band. Lawrence Strumpf (bassist in the French Kicks) is pictured above selling t-shirts to some fans. The "easy access" of band members have made the Black Cat a special place to attend shows. The experience becomes not only about the music, but also about the people behind the music.  I was able to talk to Lawrence while the opening band was playing, and I learned that he actually designed the band's t-shirts, designs and logos. Learning information like that makes wearing the band shirt so much more unique because you know that it personally represents the band members. 

Looking around, it seemed as if the entire audience consisted of bearded thirty somethings like the two men above. Girls in the audience were hard to come by, unless they were in a group of at least five hairy men. The difference between French Kicks and other bands, is that they somehow managed to escape some of the pain of the business and still maintain a good deal of success. The French Kicks have somehow struck a balance that is as close to idealistic as it gets; the play music because they love it while benefitting from an organic growth of fans. The secret is their blatant love for the music they play mixed with a fair amount of coolness towards the business aspects of music. Fans have respect for French Kicks because it's obvious that the creation and sharing of their music is their foremost priority. And so, they keep drawing back their bearded fans. 

French Kicks are known for their modular melodies and gleaming guitar pedals. Nick Stumpf, lead vocals and guitar, immediately took control of the stage. It is hard to categorize the band members into a certain "position" in the band. First we have Nick Stumpf, the original member of the band as lead vocals and guitar. Then we have Nick's younger brother, Lawrence Stumpf on bass. Third we have Josh Wise also on lead vocals and guitar. And last we have Aaron Thurston (like my dorm), the drummer. The appeal of their set was not only the versatility of the guitar pedals used by Josh Wise, but also the diversity between the guitars and their matching vocals. Throughout the show, guitar solos and lead vocals on songs would bounce around all over the stage, giving each band member a chance to "show their stuff". 

NICK STUMPF

JOSH WISE

If you want to download "Sex Tourists" right click on the link below. 

Download: "Sex Tourists" - French Kicks (mp3)

Mirah & No Kids Concert (10.25.08)

My friends and I were bored Saturday night in Washington, DC and heard MIRAH was playing at the Black Cat. We knew some of her songs, so we decided to check it out.

The crowd was older then we were used to; there were mostly people in their late twenties to thirties. The overall feel was very mellow with people lounging on the couches in the back of the venue. Dancing was minimal, but everyone seemed almost entranced by the performances throughout the night. 

The bartender above was very annoyed at the fact that I was taking pictures of her, but not buying drinks. It's the basic rule of tips. She won't give me the time of day unless I pay her for it. This is her job, and she's ultimately there to make money. She'll only give people attention that are going to tip her well because helping an 18 year old who wants a free glass of water isn't worth her time. 

NO KIDS, a Canadian indie pop band based in Vancouver, open the show. They released their first album Come Into My House in 2008 and have spent the majority of the year touring North America. Their sound has some splashes of LADYHAWK, and a baseline similar to THE LITTLE ONES, but overall, they are a less mature and less unique version of OF MONTREAL. 

The American musician, based in Portland, Oregon, wowed the crowd in DC on Saturday night. The best part of the concert was Mirah's a capella song "The Garden". The whole crowd was incorporated as the audience kept the beat while she sang. 

Although it was released on her album Advisory Committee (2001), the song became nationally known in 2008 when it appeared on the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance". Mirah's sound is similar to that of IMOGEN HEAP, CHAIRLIFT, THE BLOW, and BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE. With her rock indie-pop sound, Mirah stands out as a unique voice in the rock world. It's no wonder that the crowd in DC seemed to be so devoted to her, as if they'd been listening to her albums for nine years, waiting for the chance to join her in her incredible music making. 

For more information on Mirah go to melophobe.com. And if you want to download Mirah's song "The Garden" right click on the link below. 

Download: "The Graden" - Mirah (mp3)

The Black Cat

In the early 1990s, DC lacked in good concert venues,

especially spaces that accommodated the underground music scene. In hopes to end the music slum, a group of investors (mostly musicicans, including Dance Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters) opened the BLACK CAT in 1993. The venue quickly established itself as a venue for independent music; therefore playing a role in the explosion of indie rock that marked the 90's. 

In 2001, the venue moved three doors south on 14th Street to its current location (1811 14th Street NW WDC 20009). Located in the heart of the U Street Corridor, like Black Cat has witnessed the remarkable transformation of the neighborhood around it, i.e. U Street becoming the alternative center of the city. Because of the 1968 riots, U Street, once the hub of DC's jazz scene, fell victim to urban neglect. Fortunately in the 1990s, the U Street Corridor resurrected as a popular nightspot with a diverse blend of DC culture. 

(The Black Cat's Vegetarian Cafe, Food For Thought) 

The Black Cat is interesting in that it has two stages, catering to the popularity of the performers. The Main Stage is located on the second floor, and can hold roughly 700 people. The "Backstage" is for lesser known acts, as it's a smaller area on the first floor that holds approximately 300 people. Before entering the "Backstage" there is  lounge known as "The Red Room". filled with old fashioned arcade games, pool tables and a bar. My favorite part of the lounge is the jukebox, i.e. the most amazing jukebox you will ever see. It includes oldies such as David Bowie and Talking Heads. There's a vegetarian cafe on the other side of the first floor, serving primarily vegan dishes (keeping with the alternative feel of the venue).

 

(April and May Concert Schedule written on a simple whiteboard in the window of the cafe) 

Some of my favorite performers who have graced the stages of The Black Cat have included:

The Arcade Fire, Atmosphere, Bad Religion, Beck, Belle & Sebastian, Andrew Bird, The Black Lips, Bloc Party, Blur, Blonde Redhead, Bright Eyes, Broken Social Scene, Jeff Buckley, Neko Case, Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Dinosaur Jr., The Donnas, Flaming Lips, Fleet Foxes, Foo Fighters, Garbage, Girls Against Boys, The Gossip, The Hives, The Killers, Kings of Leon, KMFDM, Korn, Le Tigre, The Libertines, Magnetic Fields, Meat Puppets, Moby, Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, New Pornographers, New York Dolls, The Offspring, Kelly Osbourne, The Postal Service, Portishead, Radiohead, Rilo Kiley, The Roots, Scream, Pete Seeger, The Shins, The Slits, Elliott Smith, Social Distortion, Regina Spektor,  Sufjan Stevens, Stiff Little Fingers, The Strokes, Sum 41, Supergrass, Tegan & Sara, TV On The Radio, Veruca Salt, The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yo La Tengo, and many many more. 

Directions to the venue: Take the green line to the U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo stop on the Washington Metro. 

Everything you want to know about the Black Cat: 

Tickets:

• The cost of a ticket usually ranges from $5-20 depending on the popularity of the bands. 
  
• Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (here is a direct link the the Black Cat Ticketmaster site). You must bring your ID and credit card to pick up the tickets at Will Call. 
  
• Tickets are also available at the club's box office - open 7 days a week, 8pm-midnight (cash only). Keep in mind that on the night of the show, tickets can only be purchased for after doors have opened for that event.
• Advance tickets are not available for the Backstage weekend dance nights (Fridays, Saturdays)
• Tickets can be bought at the door for most shows, but a few popular bands sell out fast. So I recommend checking the website before you go to the venue to make sure it's not already sold out. 

Other Important Information:

• I haven't experience any long lines. I usually get there around 9:30 if the doors open at 8 depending on if I want to make sure to see the opening band's set. Most of the time the line is no longer then five minutes to get in if there is even a line at all. 
  
• There is no age requirement to attend the shows, but you must be 21 to drink. Those under the age of 18 may attend, but the Black Cat prefers them to have parental permission and be accompanied by an adult. (Keep in mind the DC has a Curfew Law which affects those 17 & under. Curfew hours go into effect at 11pm Sunday-Thursday and at 12:01am on Friday & Saturday nights. If you are under 17 you must be out of the club by the time stated, unless accompanied by a parent). 
  
• The Red Room Bar has no cover! It's open from 8pm-2am during the week, 7pm-3am on Fridays & Saturdays. Happy Hour is from 7pm-9pm on Fridays & Saturdays. The bar has an informal atmosphere, including pool tables, pinball machines, and an amazing jukebox. (You must have a valid ID to drink) 
• Food For Thought Cafe has no cover. It's open from 8pm-1am during the week and 7pm-2am on Fridays & Saturdays. Here's a link the the menu. 

Purpose Statement

Hello residents of the D.C. area or just music fans in general. When I moved to D.C. to attend college, I found it difficult to discover the “music scene” in the area. So when I discovered the Black Cat concert venue (1811 14^th Street), I knew I had found a true treasure.  The Black Cat is an accommodating home to the underground music scene that I so dearly love.  It resides in the bohemian U Street Corridor of D.C. which has recently become the alternative center of the city with its jazz clubs, vintage stores, and hipster bars. The venue has been host to some of my all-time favorite bands, including Fleet Foxes, Elliot Smith, The White Stripes, and Radiohead. I created The Black Cat Underground as a portal for music lovers everywhere into the alternative music scene of Washington, D.C. The blog includes articles on past concerts, posts on what can be expected for future concerts, and my  recommended shows from the Black Cat concert schedule. I’ve also included links to other great concert venues in the D.C.  area where I’ve enjoyed some amazing shows.  The concert photography on this blog is from my photo blog, The London Eye.  If you enjoy the blog and want any help finding concerts that suit your interest, just contact me; all my information is in the About Me section. Enjoy the photos, listen to the free downloads, and continue to love the music.  

<3 LONDON