Solid State

Just in case you were wondering what $50K a year to go to Middlebury College gets you …

Christmas in March? For vinyl nuts it just might be.

According to a recent post on his blog, Queen City turntablist DJ A-Dog has sold his records. No, not just a crate or two. His entire collection. Burlington Records announced today via Facebook that they are in possession of A-Dog's stash, which totaled more than 25 crates. A-Dog even made a quick video to commemorate the occasion, which you can check out here.

Responding to an email inquiry, A-Dog suggests that the collection had become more cumbersome than it was worth, writing that he is, "just getting rid of a lot of weight that I don't use anymore." For the last few years, the veteran DJ has primarily been gigging with Serato, a digital program that connects turntables to computerized music libraries and essentially negates the need to haul record crates from club to club.

As for selling to Burlington Records, he notes, "I feel good about it because they are the kind of place that gets enjoyment out of recycling the music into the next generation's hands."

Let the digging begin. 

This just in: Philly's rowdy Amer-whatever outfit Hoots & Hellmouth will make a surprise appearance at Montpelier alt-venue The Lamb Abbey this Saturday. $10 gets you through the door. And as always, the show is BYOB.

I don't know if you knew this about me, but I have kind of a soft spot for indie-folk, particularly of the chamber orchestra variety. And especially if it's imported from the Pacific Northwest. (What's that? You did know that about me? I write about Pacific Northwest indie-folk so often that you're wondering why I haven't moved there already? Huh. No kidding.)

Anyhoo, tomorrow night (Wednesday) the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge will play host to Emerald City-based ensemble, Hey Marseilles. This might surprise you, but I really dig 'em. (What's that? It doesn't surprise you? It was actually pretty obvious, so I should just get to the point already? Gotcha.)

Sadly, I'm previously engaged on Wednesday evenings, so I won't be in attendance. But I strongly encourage you to check it out and report back. For one thing, there are two local opening acts, Paper Castles and Buzz Jar. And for another thing, there's this:

Happy Monday, Solid State. How was your weekend? Sun-soaked, I trust.

Me? Why, it was swell, thanks! In addition to two straight days of pretending it was spring, I ran into a friend on Friday evening whom I hadn't seen in a while. She had just returned from a week in Hipster Eden, er, Portland, Oregon and was positively aflutter over a band called Morning Teleportation, gushing with comparisons to Akron/Family and all sorts of other delicious psychedelic rock goodness. In short, she piqued my curiosity. Conveniently enough, the band just so happens to be in town tonight — presumably after teleporting this morning — opening for Cage the Elephant at the Higher Ground Ballroom. Here's a clip.

Ryan Power will celebrate the release of his new album, I Don't Want to Die, with a show at the Monkey House this Wednesday. He'll be backed by a full band, including Julia Lewandoski on keys, Andrew Suits on drums and Rob Voland on bass. Local outfits Blowtorch and Lawrence Welks and Our Bear to Cross open.

Ryan & Co. will hit the road shortly thereafter, touring around the country, including a few dates at SXSW in Austin. So Wednesday's show will be the last chance to catch the band until April at least.

Anyway, here's an advance track from the album called "I Don't Care." Enjoy!