The City Veins

I couldn’t think of anything to write today, but as I thought about it I was listening to this unknown band I love and was thinking of how I wish more people knew of them. So, as a result, I thought I’d take some time to plug some cool local and unsigned bands I’ve been into lately, all of which I think deserve way more recognition than they currently get.

Brighten up your Tuesday by checking these guys out:

• The Physics of Meaning (www.myspace.com/thephysicsofmeaning): Can’t say enough about this band. Their self-titled album (for sale here, BUY IT!) was by far the best new album I bought last year. I can’t believe all the bloggers and indie kids haven’t shot these guys to stardom yet (especially because singer/songwriter Daniel Hart has some serious indie cred, having worked with St. Vincent and The Polyphonic Spree), but it’s way overdue. Maybe their upcoming new album will help that cause. I saw them preview a few songs at Velvet Lounge a few weeks back and they blew me away. It’s going to be tough to beat their debut album but I think they might do it based on listening to “Song for a Snake Charmer” on their MySpace. I’m psyched out of my mind for that record to come out.
• The Chaos of Birds (www.myspace.com/chaosofbirds): We’ve shared a bill with these guys twice and their live show is AMAZING. It’s quiet, its subtle, it’s soulful, and its very, very powerful. If you don’t get goosebumps, you’re not human. It always amazes me how intensely audiences respond too; no one can talk through a CoB show. The four songs on MySpace give a good idea if you listen close, but my favorite is “Disappeared,” a haunting song with an incredible climax.
• The Hall Monitors (www.myspace.com/hallmonitors): Bad-ass, super-tight garage music from DC. We had the pleasure of playing on a bill with them at WMUC last Sunday. When we were doing our interview, The Hall Monitors were warming up, and I was distracted on several occasions by how good they are. Real nice people too. They play in DC a lot, you should go see them.
• Birdlips (www.myspace.com/birdlipsmusic): Birdlips is a Charlottesville duo playing with The Blackjacks (www.myspace.com/blackjacksmusic), another great DC rock band, at Jammin Java on Dec. 28th. I checked them out on MySpace and I was blown away. Really phenomenal acoustic-guitar driven music, very rhythmic and melodic. I must have listened to “Some Kind of Death” at least 4 times yesterday. Singer Cliff Usher has a great raspy, soulful voice. I always appreciate men who sing like real men, but recently more so than ever given the current state of music, which is filled with whiny emo pussies and Fall Out Boy type douche bags.

Got a great unsigned band I should know about? Leave a comment or e-mail me.