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What’s better on a chilly Monday in November than to jump and sweat to the bouncing brass sounds of Rubblebucket? Well, after Monday night at the Baltimore Soundstage I can unequivocally say there is nothing better. Rubblebucket, the dance-pop-art ensemble that released their sixth full-length LP, Earth Worship, last year […]
DragonForce is a power metal institution. There’s the lightning-quick guitar licks; metronome perfect drums that seem inhuman; and soaring vocals that continue to be the mainstay of their work. And while they never take themselves too seriously, there is some serious talent at work. The London-based DragonForce started nearly 25 […]
The Oceans Calling Music Festival in Ocean City, Maryland was a spectacular celebration of music, culture, and classic beach vibes. Nestled against the backdrop of the southern tip of the southern inlet along the end of the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, the event transformed the coastal town into a […]
Baroness has been through a lot in the more than 20 years the band from Savannah, Georgia has been around. From a near fatal accident in the UK 10 years ago to changes in band members – oh, and then there was a global pandemic which put the brakes on […]
Dave King, singer and band leader for Flogging Molly, has a knack for doing two things: 1) leading an incredible performance, and 2) putting together a touring line-up that can’t be beat. It’s a fact. I’ve seen Flogging Molly a handful of times now and each time it feels like […]
“Now see, that’s fuckin’ Baltimore. Baltimore’s always down,” Kim Schifino exclaimed to a packed room at Rams Head Live Saturday night. Schifino, along with Matt Johnson who make up the New York-based duo Matt and Kim, have a way of turning a soggy, wind-swept evening into a party in the […]
“How many of you are seeing us for the first time,” Jennifer Finch asked the sold-out crowd at The Black Cat as more than a few held their hands up. A testament to the strength and relevance of the California-based band who formed back in the mid-1980’s, L7 returned from […]
The amazing Brooklyn-based duo of Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino, better known as Matt and Kim, hit the road again after four years (and four years too many!) and it promises to be a great tour. Says Matt, “THIS TOUR IS GONNA BE SO RIDICULOUS! And we mean that in […]
“We wrote this around George Bush Jr time, and the lyrics are more relevant to what’s happening now than they were then,” Kathleen Hanna, singer of the dance punk trio Le Tigre told a sold-out crowd at the Baltimore Soundstage Wednesday night. “ I’m just saying it’s fucking weird… and […]
You know the adage, “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life”? For most that’s a reminder – maybe something to pin on your cork board – or something to strive toward, but I get the feeling The Cure takes that old saying to heart. […]
Main Photo by Gary Gearhart The 930 Club and I go way back. I have seen and photographed countless shows in this beloved venue. However, I missed out on the original 930 Club venue. I was a bit too young for shows in the 80’s but I can only imagine […]
@thenational return to DC to play two sold out shows at @theanthemdc
I remember hearing The Walkmen years ago with a couple of friends who were already into them. I think there was an unspoken competition to see who could find the next cool band or record. I liked what I was hearing, but it wasn’t until their second album, Bows + […]
There have been a bevy of bands over the last few years that seem to inject much needed energy into this thing that is rock ‘n roll, and the one I’ve been looking forward to seeing but hadn’t – that is, until Friday night – was the Dublin-based The Murder […]
This stupid world – it’s killing me / This stupid world – is all we have What can you say about a band who, for the better part of 40 years has been a driving force in American independent rock and roll and, along with contemporaries like Sonic Youth and […]
Flogging Molly is a force to be witnessed. Led by Dave King, the band is steeped in both Irish folk and the punk rock ethos of The Clash. It’s a mix that’s kept this band going strong for nearly 30 years. And with a new album, Anthem, having been released […]
On a chilly Friday night, Low Cut Connie rolled into Towson to heat things up at The Recher. Adam Weiner – band leader and driving force behind the Philly based band – is one heck of a showman, only matched by his boogie-woogie howl and that Jerry Lee Lewis meets […]
Dave Pirner, the principal songwriter and longest member of Soul Asylum, had paid his dues long ago. Co-founding the band in 1981 as Loud Fast Rules, the name was changed to Soul Asylum a few years later before their debut LP in 1984. For forty plus years, Pirner has crafted […]
After taking a break as Bright Eyes in 2011, the trio of Conor Oberst (vocals/guitar/piano), Mike Mogis (guitar/lap steel/mandolin), and Nate Walcott (keys/trumpet) made their big return to not only performing as a band but also putting together their first album since that time – released in the midst of […]
Back in 2019, when IDLES made their first US stops in Baltimore and DC I came out of the experience saying believe the hype, and after having again witnessed this band take the stage at the 9:30 Club last year for two sold out shows and then again this past […]
Thursday morning, with much anticipation, I found myself on a westbound journey to my home that would last for the next couple of days. That’s correct, after a couple of years off due to the Pandemic Delfest was back on my plate! Upon arrival on the grounds, I visited with […]
After the postponement of not just one, but two album anniversary tours, The Wonder Years came out swinging on Sunday night in Baltimore. For the first time in two years, one of the most respected pop punk names in the scene were finally on tour. The Wonder Years released several […]
An unseasonably cool and drizzly evening greeted Warren Haynes and special guest Zach Nugent at Northlands Live in Swanzey, NH for the third of Haynes’ four date solo ‘tour’ on Friday night. The inclement weather, however, didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for all three. Haynes, Nugent and the socially distant crowd […]
I checked my phone midway through the day today. Texts, tweets, tags, and messages – “have you heard?” “did you see?” I followed links sent to my phone and checked out Twitter and sure enough – D.C.’s Mayor announced today that venues in D.C. could open at full capacity after […]
Musicians, Venue Owners, and the Concert Enthusiast have all been waiting for the day when live music can once again be performed on a stage in front of a club filled with fans. It’s been a long year and we are now starting to see signs of life in the […]
Just half a year (or a lifetime) ago, live music stopped, the world all but halted, and we started collectively telling ourselves lies about the return of normal. And that last bit’s okay, I think, as a need for hope is sometimes stronger than the impulse for honesty.It’s why we […]
We here at These Subtle Sounds have been working to navigate the new world we inhabit as best we can, trying to figure out what we can do to keep carrying the music flame. We typically and historically have focused on covering live music – and we’ve certainly written about some livestreams […]
For the first time in many months, I went to hear and photograph a show Sunday evening. Hot Rod Mule brought Bluegrass to Wehrleys Auction House in Glen Rock, PA. The show was out-doors and I was happy to see social distancing practices were in place. The band, which is […]
We are kicking off June and Pride Month with a delightful little tune by Mary Prankster – “Sweet Beet”. I just love this song! Musically, it calls back to 1940’s swing jazz, with that catchy beat, soft horns, and playful vocals that just makes you want to dance with your […]
As we are all dealing with the stress and anxiety of the current events in our world, I felt the need to say a few things. Maybe this is a way to deal with my own stress and anxiety. With many bands suspending their tours and venues postponing shows, it […]
Every time I tell someone I’m listening to or going to see James, the usual response is, “James? Who is that?” Then (in my mind), I roll my eyes and say, “You know… the song – “Laid”? (after which I usually have to sing, “This bed is on fire with […]
There are a handful of bands that I truly love. I am talking “every song on every album” seems to connect with my soul. These bands have seen me through several milestones in my life (the good ones and “not so” good ones). And their music has just always been […]
I had been excited about this concert for months. I’ve loved Lizzo’s music since “Good as Hell” debuted in the film “Barber Shop: The Next Cut” in 2016. The 9:30 Club was filled with an incredibly giddy and friendly crowd, who chanted Lizzo’s name until she appeared on stage singing […]
Del McCoury has had a big year already. In February, he celebrated his birthday with the Grand Del Opry, which he characterized as “a great honor”, and his sons’ band The Travelin’ McCourys won a Grammy for their first album. “You know, last year we had a release party there […]
Mitski performed at the 930 Club a few months ago; however, I missed this show. A friend of mine photographed the show, and I was intrigued by the photos. So, when I learned that Mitski was returning to Baltimore, I arranged to cover this artist because I genuinely wanted to […]
