For those of us whose late-summer cultural highlight was the premiere of Blue Crush, it is none to soon to be back in the District. A good jumping-off point for live shows this fall will be next Wednesday, Aug. 28, at the 9:30 Club, when the Soledad Brothers open for Hope Sandoval and the Warm Intentions.
Sandoval is best known for her group Mazzy Star, which made a dent in the early ‘90s music scene with the ethereal “Fade Into You” off So Tonight So I Might See. While it is unclear if Mazzy Star has broken up or is on hiatus, Sandoval’s new corroboration with former My Bloody Valentine drummer Colm O’Ciosoig is currently filling the void. Their new album Bavarian Fruit Bread is a full-length follow-up to 2000’s At The Doorway Again EP. Both include Sandoval’s mesmerizing, understated vocals accompanied by a mellow, floating guitar backdrop. Joining Sandoval and O’Ciosoig is British folk icon Bert Jansch on guitar. Hope Sandoval and The Warm Intentions should make an interesting show with use of instruments like the glockenspiel and harmonica, yet should prove more relaxing than exciting. Sandoval’s music is better known as beautiful background music than intense, listen-and-scrutinize albums.
The opening act, Soledad Brothers should make for a better live show. The Soledad Brothers formed as a white garage-rock/blues duo named for a group of black felons who became heroes of the Black Power movement when they were killed while attempting to escape from California’s Soledad Prison in the early ‘70s. Named to honor these martyrs, the Soledad Brothers are immediately reminiscent of MC5 and the “White Panther” movement from the ‘70s?a movement that fought for the liberation of all oppressed people. The Ohio-based duo?Johnny Walker on guitar and vocals and Ben Swank on drums?has been adopted into Detroit’s rock underground and records on Estrus, the label of like-mided garage-rockers The Makers. They recently added the Greenhorn’s Oliver Henry on electric piano and saxophone. Their latest album, Steal Your Soul and Dare Your Spirit to Move, is a follow-up to their first, self-titled feature-length album. The sound on tracks like “I-75 Boogie” and “Front St. Front” from the first album is dirty blues that really rocks. Any fan of John Lee Hooker, MC5, The White Stripes?even the Rolling Stones?should definitely check out the show.
Don’t see the connection between dirty-blues garage rock and ethereal, contemplative pop? With two quality bands playing for the low, low price of $15, you have no excuse not to find out.
9:30 Club is located at 815 V St., N.W.
