Author Archives: Jenn Bress

We’re pretty excited for The Joy Formidable show tonight at the Black Cat. You’ll probably see all of us there, including Jenn, who usually DJ’s Lipstick the last Friday of each month with DJ William Alberque at the Velvet Lounge.

Well, never fear, Lipstick is still on and prepared to keep you dancing till Abdul kicks you out. Guest DJ Matty Pabst will hold it down early in the evening with tons of RNR, garage and punk to keep the energy up until DJ William Alburque and Jennder return from the Black Cat (around 12) after the show. So, if you’re heading to TJF show, make sure you hit up the Velvet Lounge after. It’s always FREE, always 21+.

What is Lipstick all about? Don’t be scared, it’s a dance party with anything from 80’s classics, elecro, punk, new indie jams spiced up with a few pop anthems and whatnots.

If you’re like me, you’ve always wondered what’s going on behind the scenes at local record stores: what’s flying off the shelves, who’s got what in stock, can I get a collectible tote bag with that?

Every week, starting today, TVD will act as your virtual tote bag with What’s in Store. We’ll connect with DC shops to find out all kinds of goodies, from what people walk out with most, what the staff thinks is worth a listen, what events are coming up, or whatever other secrets we can needle out of them.

We’ll kick things off this week with top seller lists from two awesome stores, Crooked Beat (2116 18th Street, NW) and Red Onion (1901 18th Street, NW # B)

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A Tuesday trifecta, courtesy of reviewer Jenn Bress:

Finally, a show where it’s worth an early arrival despite a raging hangover. Dirty Beaches, Minks, and Dum Dum Girls took over the Black Cat, Tuesday.

First up, Canada’s Dirty Beaches: hello Asian/Elvis/Alan Vega, I dig your violent sound assault. Pitch black stage, nothing but vocals, I’m kinda like WTF, is this a spoken word night? Then the distortion kicks and the guitar erupts into a storm of grinding pulsations. Very Suicide, very dark drone, minimal, fierce, think Nick Cave circa Her to Eternity with a lo-fi Cramps-esque rockabilly swagger. A very rad Johnny Cash cover of The Singer is performed and it might even be a subtle nod to Mr. Cave, who also covered the song.

Just when I thought the show needed a little spice, Alex Zhang jumps in the audience, hands his guitar to someone and says “Ok, DC, what you got?” Mr. Zhang, you’re snake bite sound sends delightful shivers down my spine.

Enter Captured Tracks, sweethearts, Minks. I’ve drawn a heart around your band name in my notebook. You take me back to when I was 17, living in my friend’s basement because I was kicked out of my house. I’m listening to every single 80’s new wave song I ever fell in love with, all at once, spinning on a dizzy edge, dreaming of all the different ways to make you never stop playing this set. This band makes me want to make out. (Captured Tracks, I dare you to find an artist on your label that I don’t like.)

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It’s the little things it seems. Like, being on stage with Tennis. Staff writer Jenn Bress fills us in on her Saturday night…one/love anyone?

I’ve been dreaming of escape. It’s been a rough couple of months. Money is tight, stress is a high tide and I feel like I’m going to burst if something doesn’t change. It’s the littlest things that give the most pleasure these days, like receiving a goofy card in my mailbox from a random or discovering new music that makes you giddy happy on the rainiest of Sundays. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Tennis for a while and the March 5th show at the Rock and Roll Hotel couldn’t have come at a better time.

Sweet release, the day has finally arrived and so have I, with plenty of time to catch the opening act, La Sera. The place is pretty full, as people eagerly await Vivian Girl, Katy Goodman’s side project to take the stage. Ohhh, Katy—those stereotypical indie bangs, I just want to punch that haircut back to it’s Nylon cover, not that you aren’t adorable as all hell, I am just so sick of seeing it on every Urban Outfitters clone. Anyway, her doe-eyed beauty compliments the catchy hooks of “Never Come Around” while cotton candy melodies perforate the air. Starry eyed listeners visit swoon central and sway to songs that make them want to hold the hand of the stranger next to them for a moment.

But honestly, this is kind of the Fruit Stripe Gum of dream pop, a bundle of songs each with a slightly similar fruity flavor, all wrapping up the same in the end. The flavor is lovely for a moment but doesn’t last long. It’s defiantly a step away from Vivian Girls fuzzy garage rock and I expected a dreamier ephemeral set, but was surprised at that not being the case. Perhaps that was due to the flu, which Katy said they all had.

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…in which we introduce a new voice to TVD, Jenn Bress, and her DJ night Lipstick, which—not surprisingly—we recommend! —Ed.

Lipstick a monthly dance party every last Friday at The Velvet Lounge with DJ Jennder (Funbags) and William Alburque (Razzmatazz) is a dance party so fierce, you’ll lose your shit and it’s this Friday. (Ed. note: TODAY.)

Lipstick is where Tone Loc and Tones on Tail hold hands in the dark, while the Talking Heads go Head On with Jesus and Mary Chain and Lada Gaga goes Radio Gaga over the usual Party and Bullshit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfG94k41MrI

You’ll hear new gems like Hypercrush, currently blowing up on the West Coast and you’ll leave repeating “Kick us Out” over and over in your head because that jam is infectious.

And maybe you’ve heard of a little Canadian band called Crystal Castles, who’s video game beats give you a hypercrush on life? If you haven’t heard “Not in Love” yet, which made Pitchfork’s list of top 100 dance tracks of 2010 ( #15), you should take a listen, here.

Lipstick is free, drinks are cheap and if you like free shit, there wil be Hypercrush and Crystal Castles stuff there for you to snag.

February 25 | Velvet Lounge | 21+ | Free