New French Kicks Album April 1

DC ex-pats French Kicks will release their fourth full length album, Swimming, for consumption on April 1. The follow up to 2006's improperly titled Two Thousand from tall man extraordinaire Nick Stumpf and the gang promises more brooding, mellow lounge rock. The Kicks, tech savvy chaps that they are, will start Swimming in the Itunes lane only, while a proper, fullscale album release is set for May 20.

A healthy slate of shows in support of the album kicks off on April 1 at Mercury Lounge in NYC. In the meantime...

DC Indie Renaissance

An indie-rock resurgence of sorts has taken hold in the nation’s capital, thanks to an influx of local talent that is not only making notable, interesting music in DC (Case in point: the "DC Does TX" showcase at South By Southwest last week), but also sticking around the District (so far) to see how it plays out. From violin totting popsters Exit Clov to the neo-folk of These United States, DC's present music scene represents not only the District’s varied musical history and spirit, but also the diversity of its residents.

Below is a smattering of Society-approved DC acts who have entered our radar in the last year or so. This list is completely partial and by no means comprehensive, so feel free to fill us in on anyone we've overlooked. Note: we are aware of an amporphous bundle of pop rock circling the city under the moniker Le Loup. Its just that we have not had the chance to catch one of their shows, yet.

Georgie James
Cool, eclectic music from singer-songstress Laura Burhenn and former Q and Not U drummer John Davis. Georgie's first album, Places, was released by Saddle Creek late last year. Highlights include the disco-y "Need Your Needs" and power pop gem "More Lights". Of course, it also doesn't hurt that Burhenn is ... um ... well ... yeah.


(Photo taken in Mr. Furley's bedroom circa 1979.)

Telograph
Music for people who like things that are amazing. Post-punk of the ilk of Bends-era Radiohead and early U2. The Society does not make such comparisons lightly. Telograph's self-titled EP, released a few months back, is mostly a re-issuing of tunes, albeit really good ones, that had been out there for some time. The band really could have tossed some throw aways on there and made it a full length, but who are we to judge?

Vandaveer
A well-traveled Kentucky gentlemen takin 'er easy with some optimistic, feel-good folk songs for all us sinners. While we wish he'd rejoin forces with his former bandmates for a follow up to The Apparitions' well played As This Is Futuristic (See "God Monkey Robot", now), we'll settle for Vandaveer's sophomore solo album, apparently due out this year.

Jukebox the Ghost


Raucous piano rock from sweatered George Washington University threesome. We smile cuz we like it.