ALL THINGS GO PRESENTS DJ CHE$T ROCKWELL WITH DJ CHRIS COLLINS @ U ST MUSIC HALL – THURS. 8/5

The time has come! All Things Go presents the first of hopefully many dance parties hosted by our good friends over at U St. Music Hall this Thursday, August 5th. Those in attendance will be treated to the sounds of DJ Che$t Rockwell, who some of you may remember as our guest writer Nick Cafritz, and DJ Chris Collins. Tickets are $8 at the door, and $5 with Facebook RSVP. This is the beginning of a new era for All Things Go. We are getting more involved in the D.C. area and you’ll see some serious changes around these here parts, beginning with these events and continuing with the site remodeling (which is underway as I write this). GET READY.

RSVP for the event and save $3 RIGHT HERE!!!!!!

Just to give you a taste, I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll hear a heavy dosage of these three jams:

MP3: Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup – “We No Speak Americano”
MP3: Will Smith – “Miami (Laidback Luke Remix)”
MP3: Wynter Gordon – “Dirty Talk (Laidback Luke Remix)”

Thanks to Derek from Neon Gold for designing the poster.

Love,
Zack

TODAY WE CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY

“Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. ‘Mankind.’ That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it’s fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom… Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution… but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the night!’ We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

MP3: Dom – “Living in America”
MP3: Miley Cyrus – “Party in the U.S.A. (Yes Giantess Remix)”

Love,
America Zack & Adrian

The Sound of Animals Fighting – The Ocean and the Sun

I wasn’t too pleased with The Sound of Animals Fighting’s last release, Lover, the Lord Has Left Us. I’m all for experimenting and stretching the boundaries of traditional music. TSOAF tried to do that, elaborating on their brand of progressive post-hardcore that began with the release of their first EP, Tiger and the Duke. But instead of building upon that same formula, they went a bit overboard with the experimental aspect of their music. Lover was filled with interesting sounds and irregular song structures, but it lacked the driving energy that made TSOAF worth listening to in the first place.

Thankfully, the band took a step back for their latest full length, The Ocean and the Sun. Although I doubt they could’ve taken a more experimental route after having released Lover, TSOAF has truly managed to strike a balance between their rock roots and progressive ambitions. Take “The Heraldic Break of the Manufacturer’s Medallion” (what?) — it kicks in with a complex guitar riff (undoubtedly the work of Sir Matt Embree) that undergoes multiple key changes before falling into a powerful chorus reminiscent of Tiger and the Duke. After one listen of this song, I knew TSOAF was back.

But we also get our dose of the weird. “Uzbekistan” is a perfect example of this. It begins with a gurgle of industrial static before transitioning into an eerie synth loop. Drummer Chris Tsagakis (also of Rx Bandits fame) then comes in and backs this up with some impressive percussion work while some lady begins to make a chant that has an oddly M.I.A.-ish feel to it. I hope that confused you, because that’s part of the beauty behind The Ocean and the Sun. TSOAF takes what they know listeners will like, lets them get a little comfortable, and then throws them a curveball. And for the most part, it all works out. I’m hoping that we haven’t seen the last of these guys. With Circa Survive hard at work on their new album (and hopefully the Rx Bandits are doing the same?), this probably won’t happen for a while. But at least they’re back on the right track, and far as I can tell, things can only get better.

MP3: The Sound of Animals Fighting – The Heraldic Break of the Manufacturer’s Medallion

MP3: The Sound of Animals Fighting – Uzbekistan

– Adrian

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground

Multiple side projects have spawned from what can only be assumed to be the now-defunct Gatsby’s American Dream.  One of my favorites of these is Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, featuring Kirk Huffman as vocalist and guitarist, Kyle O’Quin on keyboards, and Phil Peterson on cello.  Kay Kay’s sound varies drastically with that of other Gatsby side projects that haven’t erred too far from the traditional pop-rock formula, so much that it’s very difficult to fit these guys into a given genre.  Kay Kay draws from multiple music styles of the past.  At times, they sound like they’re emulating the Beatles.  At others, they revisit the funky, psychedelic tunes of the sixties.  Sometimes they even throw in some old-timey saloon-like piano lines that hark back to sounds of generations past.  Kay Kay is a refreshing listen; the band successfully blends together distinctly different musical genres, and manages to breathe new life into a music scene that has often been criticized for lacking originality.  As much as I miss Gatsby’s, Huffman and company have released some solid tunes that I hope Gatsby fans will learn to embrace.

MP3: Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – “Hey Momma”

MP3: Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – “Bowie The Desert Pea”

– Adrian