Wildhoney – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com The Best of Baltimore Since 1907 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 13:22:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Wildhoney – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com 32 32 The Big Baltimore Playlist: January 2018 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/the-big-baltimore-playlist-january-2018/ Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:57:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=28095

In the latest iteration of The Big Baltimore Playlist, we found five local songs ranging from electric R&B and honey-coated indie to rabblerousing post-punk rock. Check back each month for new top songs of the moment, and follow our Spotify playlist as we continue to build a soundtrack for our city. 

“More To Love” by Bobbi Rush

This is such a pretty song. It begins with a lush wave of synth that sweeps in as a violin lilts about and local singer-songwriter Bobbi Rush’s breathy voice seems to appear through some dream-like mist. Hushed and honey-coated, it is imbued with the familiar feelings of being lost in love—or having love lost. Produced by local musician Micah E. Wood, it is a piece of ’80s-infused R&B perfection, even as its brought into the 21st century with fuzzy layers of trap-style beats at the bridge and chorus. The melody, and Rush’s siren-esque vocals, fill your ears and consume your senses, leaving you, too, wanting more.

“Dunce” by Ed Schrader’s Music Beat

It’s been four years since Ed Schrader’s Music Beat released their last full-length album, and boy, is the experimental punk-rock duo coming back with an aggressive bang. This lead single, off their upcoming March album, Riddles, is as raw as a razor’s edge, rolling at a race pace with Devlin Rice’s heavy bass and Ed Schrader’s haunting, visceral vocals akin to a sludgy punk Billy Idol. With in-your-face production by local legend Dan Deacon, this fearless track is a rollicking tour de force, densely packed with power and rever, that culminates in one clarity: Schrader has been doggedly performing in Baltimore for more than a decade now—and we think 2018 is finally going to be his year. 

“Bad Dreams” by Hexgirlfriends*

We weren’t prepared for the impact that this song would have on us. Bewitching and boundless, it is such a gentle beautiful thing for how tough of a topic it tackles. In that sense, it’s hard to listen to, relishing in its beauty before realizing what it’s actually about. But maybe that’s the point. The “electro-femme un-pop” duo’s minimalist melody—a few plugs of bass, a touch of keys, a trill of electronics—is a rumination on the act of cutting and abusive relationships—on the ways in which we cope with emotional damage and their sometimes physical manifestations. What starts as faint lyrics pushed through tapping tonal pulses that fall like drops from a leaky faucet then builds into an echo chamber of rhythmic beats, swelling with emotion before finding a final watershed moment of peace. Keep your ears tuned to Sondra Boyle and Hannah Holt. Creating music as affecting as this—so simple yet complex—is no easy feat.

“Baby I’m Bleeding” by JPEGMAFIA

It’s been almost two years since JPEGMAFIA released his politically ripe Black Ben Carson, and his just-dropped follow-up, Veteran, pushes all boundaries with equal zeal. The Baltimore-based rapper is a force to be reckoned with, and on this first new single, he captures the frustrated, distorted feel of the current social and political climate, filled with frenetic loops that dizzily ricochet between your ears as the artist unleashes a stream of loaded (and explicit) lyrics. JPEGMAFIA approaches everything he does with unbridled intensity, and this apocalyptic noise-rap track is as unnerving as it is infectious. The New York transplant has quickly become a fixture of the local music scene, and his bold music making has our (and the nation’s—see Spin, Paper, Paste, Noisey, etc.) attention.

“Horror Movie” by Wildhoney*

Don’t let the title fool you—this track is anything but ominous. Instead, the indie-pop quintet returns after a two-year hiatus with a sweet, loud, shimmering shoegaze sound that reminds us how gorgeous unadulterated music can be. As a genre, “indie” music has become laden with digital touches—a sampled beat here, a drop of 808 there—but Wildhoney proves that less is more with its energetic guitar riffs, gated drums, and lead singer Lauren Shusterich’s weightless, golden pipes. This sunny DIY melody is a little bit ’60s girl group, a little bit ’80s punk, with a touch of psychedelia. Despite expert craftsmanship, it has an effortless feel. It makes your heart pang. And your toes tap along to the beat. It has us hopeful for a full new album in 2018.

*Not on Spotify. We’ll add it to the playlist when it becomes available. 

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]]> Weekend Lineup: Sept. 16-18 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/events/weekend-lineup-sept-16-18/ Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:30:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=30588 Continued]]> Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

EAT

Sept. 17: Baltimore Seafood Festival

Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. 12-7 p.m. Free-$99.

In case you
didn’t get your crustacean fix this summer, Baltimore’s seafood spectacular is
back along the waterfront. Dig into signature dishes from the city’s most renowned
seafood houses, like Captain James, Jimmy’s Seafood, Mama’s on the Half Shell,
Ryleigh’s Oyster, Nick’s Fish House, and the Local Oyster to name a few. Think
oysters—barbecued, grilled, or on the half shell—all crab everything, from
steamed to soft shell to sliders, and fish and shrimp. For an extra protein
punch, try turf temptations like Southern Provisions barbecue, Abbey Burger
buns, Snake Hill sausages, and Cosima Italian eats. From Voltaggio Restaurants,
Hersh’s Pizza, Gnocco, and Gunther & Co., local chefs will be offering
cooking demos, and food trucks will be in tow to boot. Once you’re fat and
happy, grab a beer, lay back on the lawn, and listen to live music by the likes
of the All Mighty Senators, and soak up that very end of summer sun.

DRINK

Sept. 17-18:

Maryland Wine Festival

Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center
St., Westminster. Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $30-50.

We may not be
Napa or the Piedmont, but Maryland has a blossoming brood of vineyards turning
out increasingly delicious wine. In between the seasons of red and white, make
your way to Carroll County for a boozy day of vino, with more than 200 local
vintages, regional food, live music, and arts and crafts. At this 19th-century
farmhouse, breathe in the country air and drink down samples from wineries like
Boordy Vineyards, Deep Creek Cellars, Fiore Winery and Distillery, Linganore
Winecellars, and the Eastern Shore’s St. Michaels Winery, plus cider from Great
Shoals Winery and Monkton favorite Millstone Cellars. Best of all, there will
be a “Maryland Cheese Pavilion,” toting the funky goodness of five local cheese
mongers. If you’re looking for us, you know where we’ll be.

SEE

Sept. 15-18: High Zero Festival

Locations vary. Fri. 8:30 p.m., Sat. 1
& 8:30 p.m., Sun. 8:30 p.m. $10-16.

In Baltimore, we have a melting pot of music, from the city’s storied jazz and its renowned symphony to Americana bluegrass and a growing base of DIY. But in the corners of each genre, there are a number of improvisational, experimental musicians, and some of the very best in their class. For the 14th year, celebrate these musical misfits during the largest festival of its kind on the East Coast. Twenty-six musicians will come together to create new, off-the-cuff, cutting-edge collaborations and offer viewers a singular experience and window into this subculture. Famous musicians play beside burgeoning beginners and mix the likes of percussion, brass, and strings with the likes of voice, electronics, computers, and found objects. At the Baltimore Theatre Project, catch local computer artist Jeff Carey, Japanese saxophonist N.N.Y., Idaho flugenhorn player Ruby Fulton, or found objects artists Llew Niyomkarn of The Hauge.

HEAR

Sept. 17: Hampdenfest

The Avenue, West 36th Street. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. 410-662-4444. hampdenfest.blogspot.com

As Hampden only
continues to evolve, make your way to the neighborhood this weekend to
celebrate what remains of its quirky, quintessentially Baltimore charm. Amidst
its colorful row homes, taste street eats from Café Hon, The Charmery, Dylan’s
Oyster Cellar, and Luigi’s Italian Deli, and swing by The Brewer’s Art stand to
wish them happy birthday with a special Hampdenfest beer. Browse goods
from local shops like Ma Petite Shoe, Trohv, doubledutch boutique, and Parisian
Flea, and then head to Chestnut Avenue to catch (or compete in) the iconic
toilet bowl races. Be sure to check out live music (and poetry readings and a
Dangerously Delicious pie-eating contest) across three different stages. With
16 bands in tow, give a listen as you wander 36th Street, with the likes of
indie-pop quartet Wildhoney, psychedelic synth-rockers Raindeer, post punksters PLRLS, and badass party starter TT The Artist.

DO

Sept. 16: Full Moon Yoga

Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. 6:45-8:30 p.m. Free.

Calling all
yogis: This Friday night marks the final full moon yoga of the summer season.
Whatever your skill level, grab your mat and head to the Canton Waterfront Park
front for a 75-minute class taught by YogaWorks’s Cathrin O’Donnell and
Lisa Palumbo. Under the light of the September night sky, start your weekend
off right with downward dog and warrior poses, plus live music by The Herd
Brothers and free food samples for all those calories burned (and earned).
Arrive early to grab a prime spot and enter the raffle for prizes like a
Lululemon yoga mat, a one-hour private yoga session with Pop Up Yoga, and a one-month
membership at M.Power Yoga Studio.

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]]> Weekend Lineup: Jan. 22-24 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/events/weekend-lineup-jan-22-24/ Thu, 21 Jan 2016 14:56:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=31888 Continued]]> Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your wintry Charm City weekend.

EAT

Jan. 22-31: Baltimore Restaurant Week

Locations & times vary. $15-35. 410-244-1030. baltimorerestaurantweek.com.

This weekend’s weather might wreck all of your plans or any of the many events planned around the city (see you next time, Garth Brooks), but throughout the blizzard, Baltimore Restaurant Week shall prevail. Launching this Friday, you can get out of the house, avoid going all The Shining on your roommates, and grab a bargain bite at some of the city’s best restaurants. With lunch and dinner specials throughout the week, you can dine at fancy food havens like Aggio, Aromes, Cinghiale, and Petit Louis (see above), or old-school stalwarts like The Prime Rib, Tio Pepe, and Gertrude’s. Better yet, belly up to bars at hip haunts like Birroteca, Corner Charcuterie, Le Garage, and Brew House No. 16. But wherever you go, there’s a warm meal awaiting you, one likely better than any of the junk you stockpiled from the barren shelves of your apocalyptic Trader Joe’s.

DRINK

Jan. 23-24: Snow Day at Banditos

Banditos Bar & Kitchen, 1118 S. Charles St. Sat.-Sun. 10-2 a.m. $5-16. 443-835-1517. banditosbk.com.

When we were kids, snow days were the best, because we got to miss school and go sledding with all our friends all day. As adults, though, snow days are just as fun, because we get the perfect excuse to wear sweatpants and tie a few on—for “medicinal” purposes, of course. On Saturday and Sunday, grab your gang, throw on your snow boots, and make your way to Banditos, where they’ll be throwing a big snow-weekend bash in true Federal Hill fashion. Enjoy cold-weather specials like $16 beer buckets, $5 beers, and bottomless mimosas with your late-morning, Mexican street food brunch.

SEE

Jan. 24: Chesapeake Oysters: The Bay’s Foundation and Future

Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. 2 p.m. Free with museum admission of $12. 410-727-4808. thebmi.org.

By now, you probably know that Baltimore (and Baltimore) truly loves oysters. The little bay bivalves have been a native nutriment for centuries—once more popular than even our Old-Bay-encrusted crab—and after years of pollution, over harvesting, and near decimation, they’re finally making a comeback. This Sunday, weather permitting, hear Eastern Shore native, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum director of education, and author Kate Livie as she discusses the hallowed history of our Chesapeake Bay oysters, from the Colonial era to modern day, and delves into the science that will help lead them into the future. Her new book, Chesapeake Oysters: The Bay’s Foundation and Future, is a knowledgeable, beautifully written look at our very own waters, and it will be available for sale and signing throughout the event. Update: this event has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 7, at 2 p.m.

HEAR

Jan. 23: Wildhoney, Romantic States, Halfsour, Quitter etc.

The Crown, 1910 N. Charles St.
Sat. 9 p.m. $10. 410-625-4848. thecrownbaltimore.tumblr.com.

Wildhoney became famous last fall when the local indie-pop quintet made national news for its debut album, Sleep Through It. It wasn’t simply that the record was awesome, but rather it had accidentally been pressed onto what should have been vinyls of Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die. Luckily, some surprised fans actually enjoyed the mistake, and now Wildhoney is shining in the midsts of its new EP, Your Face Sideways. This follow-up solidifies their sunny sound among the ranks of other C86-tinged bands—My Bloody Valentine, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Vivian Girls, Best Coast—with a perfect fusion of ’60s and ’80s pop. Hear the band’s lo-fi shoegaze and shimmery guitar this Saturday with other acts like local minimalist rockers Romantic States (who you might have recently caught at Windjammer or on tour with Beach House), local hardcore band Quitter, and Massachusetts’s own old-school pop-punkers Halfsour.

DO

Jan. 22-24: US Lacrosse Convention

Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. Fri. 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. $10-190. 410-649-7000. uslacrosse.org.

What
can we say: Baltimore loves its lax.
Since America’s earliest days, lacrosse has been engrained across the
Mid-Atlantic, and since 2004, it has shared the “state sport” title with the ancient
equestrian activity of jousting (yes, jousting, like Medieval Times). This weekend, bros can rejoice and relish in all things lax at the US Lacrosse Convention and FanFest in downtown
Baltimore. Rivals from Maryland and Hopkins, Boys Latin and St. Paul’s,
McDonogh and Gilman, Calvert Hall and Loyola, can come together in their shared
love of this historic sport. Meet and greet some of the country’s greatest
players, nab autographs from Team USA, attend one of 150-plus educational
on-field demos and clinics, and meander through the FanFest expo hall, with
nearly 200 exhibitors, like UnderArmour and STX. Best of all, stick around for the
much-anticipated, nail-biting events of the Major League Lacrosse collegiate
draft.

If you run out of ideas, you can also try these.

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]]> Music Reviews: December 2015 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/music-reviews-december-2015/ Tue, 08 Dec 2015 15:00:00 +0000 http://server2.local/BIT-SPRING/baltimoremagazine.com/html/?post_type=article&p=5745

Beach House
Thank Your Lucky Stars (Sub Pop Records)

Back in August, we praised Beach House’s then-new album, Depression Cherry. After 10 years, the local dream-pop duo had reached a new peak and its fifth record soared, theatrical and dazzling as ever. Then, a few weeks later, when we were just starting to untangle how those nine songs made us feel, the band threw a complete curve ball. Known for tarried releases, Beach House abruptly dropped another album. Not a B-side. Not leftovers from the cutting-room floor. The band insists this record stands alone, and upon listening, you’ll heartily agree. All the BH trappings are there—modern melancholy, youthful intoxication, shimmering nostalgia—but for the first time, those dreamy existential motifs land in the real world as the sound of the instruments retreats to reveal luminous narratives. Outlines of characters and places—flawed beauties, unrequited lovers, sepia suburbia—begin to crystallize like a teenage diary, intimate yet distant. Singer Victoria LeGrand’s voice is a velvety dream, lilting softly about the hazy ballads like a ghost. We’ll gladly let tracks like “All Your Yeahs” haunt us for months to come.

Sun Club
The Dongo Durango (ATO Records)

There comes that pivotal moment in a band’s lifetime when it crosses the glittering line from small-town sensation to national darling, and Sun Club has reached that juncture. The local punk-pop band has just nabbed a record deal with ATO (which reps the likes of Alabama Shakes and My Morning Jacket); caught the attention of Spin, Stereogum, and MTV; played gigs at SXSW and Sweetlife; and now, in a chicken-before-the-egg moment, dropped its debut album. But there’s no question why: These self-taught, twentysomething musicians have created their own skateboard brand of sunny, surf rock that’s far more raw, effervescent, and accomplished than their 2014 EP. Each song is a rolling, rambunctious mosh of energy and good vibes. They’re a blow-out-the-speakers band of merry pranksters who defy the rules using wacky voices, weird interludes, and whimsical song structures with unanticipated shifts and sudden ends. But they do so in an eager, anthemic way, and even if we can’t understand all the words, we still want to follow them, wherever it is they’re going.

See our Q&A with Mikey Powers, the lead singer of Sun Club.

Wildhoney
Your Face Sideways (Topshelf Records)

Wildhoney became famous this fall, but it wasn’t for the music. Well, it was, sort of. The local indie-pop quintet made national news when its debut album, Sleep Through It, was accidentally pressed onto what should have been vinyls of Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die, and some surprised fans actually liked it. Now the band is back with a new EP, stepping out of the songstress’s shadow and solidifying its sunny sound among the ranks of other C86-tinged bands—My Bloody Valentine, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Vivian Girls, Best Coast—with that perfect fusion of ’60s and ’80s pop. With punk urgency, the band’s lo-fi shoegaze is a fuzzy jangle of shimmering guitar, gated drums, and honeyed vocals without all the digital effects we’ve come to expect. Each song is founded in lead singer Lauren Shusterich’s solid songwriting as her deadpan delivery weaves its way through the lovelorn lyrics of six break-up ballads. Throughout, her bandmates support those weightless warbles with golden harmonies, infectious melodies, and a plush bed of instrumental interplay. We’ll take that over Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness” any day.

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