Emmet Rocks a Now Smoke-Free Iota

The Virginia four, Todd, Erik, Scottie, and Tamer, rocked a packed Iota on Friday night. The boys of Emmet Swimming opened their two-hour set with "Arlington," appropriate given the 'burb they were playing in, and later played "Boston," the final song on that same album that rounds out their journey.

Back in the day, they frequently toured clubs along the northeast corridor but have now settled into other lives, occasionally playing a local club or festival when the mood hits. This time, the boys surprised us with...a new song! It was called "Cab," and fit right in with their sound.

Emmet Swimming played a good sampling of songs from their studio albums and last EP, including a fantastic retooled version of "Expect Me," from [ClubD's favorite Emmet album] Wake. Their encore included one cover, a gem from their live album: Billy Bragg's "Levi Stubb's Tears."

The club was packed with old school fans singing along, reliving old Emmet memories, and some of their friends discovering this great band for the first time.

Past ClubD Emmet reviews: State Theatre, Brew Fest

For Love of the Franz

Franz Ferdinand, Roseland Ballroom
New York City
May 7, 2009

Set List:
Bite Hard
The Dark of the Matinee
No You Girls
Tell Her Tonight
The Fallen
Michael
Turn it On
Walk Away
Twilight Omens
Do You Want To
Take Me Out
What She Came For
40′
Outsiders

Encore:
Ulysses
Lucid Dreams
This Fire

Eric Hutchinson is a Breath of Fresh Air

Eric Hutchinson, May 6
9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.

recommended beverage: Abita Restoration Ale
(still on a New Orleans kick)

"If you wanna rock, you rock; if you wanna roll, you roll." Pretty good advice from the 29-year-old singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson, who played a solid set at the 9:30 Club last night. Most of his set featured songs from his debut album, Sounds Like This, and the packed house also seemed receptive to the couple of new songs he unveiled.

One such song, possibly written on the spot, was an ode to the 9:30 Club. Hutchinson was born in Washington, D.C. and lived in Montgomery County, Maryland through high school, so he had seen quite a few shows at the venue, and in this ditty he rattled off some bands he'd seen there, from Ben Folds Five and James Brown (nice) to, err, Backstreet Boys.

What's so refreshing about Hutchinson is his fearlessness in blending musical genres. He's somewhat of a cross between Gavin DeGraw and Jason Mraz,vocally, and much like those singers, he integrates other music styles. You'll get some funk, blues, reggae, and a hint of jazz. Two of the catchiest tunes on his disc, "You Don't Have to Believe Me" and "Rock n Roll" are perfect examples of this.

Check this guy out!