Greenland
Web: www.myspace.com/greenland
Album: Call Message
Label: self-released
Show: July 9 at Fort Reno
There are two traps for those who make emo. One, you can ignore musicianship and just play really loud, so as to represent raw emotion. Two, you can dive so deep into your personal poetry that you become ridiculous. Unsigned local trio Greenland deftly avoids both pitfalls with this remarkably strong album. Fifteen well-crafted tracks combine dark, stormy guitar with lyrics that, while youthful and introspective, come out surprising: “You look like a good idea from far away”; ““I’m afraid of dying alone with a name I don’t really love on the tombstone next to mine”; “I want to take you out in the blue-grey cornfield, drink a bottle of bourbon and kiss your neck”. The boys capture a certain erotic melancholy, play tunes that stay in your head, and break it up with just enough humor: “No I won’t sign there on your underwear, Sara!” The four throwaway tracks are a perfect offset to the constant risk of taking themselves too seriously – another trap that Greenland avoids. Good stuff.


Junior League
Web: www.juniorleagueband.com
Album: Oh Dear
Label: self-released
Show: July 17 at IOTA
Another young band with surprisingly mature talents, the Junior League (named after the rich girls’ volunteer association) plays old-fashion music, with square-dance fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, and bluegrass done-me-wrong themes. But if that brings to mind a dusty NPR show, just give a listen: this music is fresh and appealing and sounds like the form was just invented. Much of the charm is due to Lissy Rosemont’s singing, which I adore; vitality also comes from the rhythm section, which plays like half a rock band; and overall, the group has a palpable and infectious enthusiasm. At times the songs are reminiscent of the Grateful Dead circa American Beauty, especially the beautiful “Safer Grey”. Only one track jars, an unfortunate Dave Matthews imitation that, not coincidentally, makes no use of Rosemont’s gifts.


Bill Williams
Web: www.myspace.com/willbilliams
Album: Handful
Label: self-released
Show: July 22 at IOTA
Guitarist Williams has about the longest DC Americana résumé around. After 20 years of playing with seemingly every alt-country band in town, this is the first time he’s putting out his own disc, a mix of covers and originals decorated with his precise playing and smooth, friendly voice. Those who like their rock a bit raw or edgy may find the music too nice, in fact, but the lyrics often sport sharply observed negative emotions behind the pleasant surface. Fans of Last Train Home, the Grandsons, Scott McKnight and similar groups will find a lot to like here, as well as some of their favorite artists sitting in.


Margot MacDonald
Web: www.margotmacdonald.com
Album: Torn
Label: self-released
They say kids don’t listen to the radio anymore, but teenager MacDonald has somehow absorbed all the lessons of Top 40 female vocalists for the past 30 years. Her growls and yowls and wails embody the heritage of everyone from Stevie Nicks to Whitney Houston to Sheryl Crow. Amazingly this is her second album, issued when she was 15, and backing her voice with a lot of straightforward hard rock guitar, much of it played by MacDonald. The lyrics don’t break a lot of new ground, but then, she was only 15. It will be very interesting to see where MacDonald takes her talent as she matures.