[Editor's Note: This post is brought to you by the fantastic music site Instrumental Analysis. Check it out!]

As Amie Street prepares to travel to DC tonight (Saturday 3/24)for the finale of their first ever tour (the show is at The Rock and Roll Hotel and features Middle Distance Runner, The Dead Trees, The Epochs, and Crash Boom Bang), I felt that it would be a good time to discuss some of the great artists from the Baltimore/Washington metro that have their music on the site. Some of these artists have been covered in the past, but many of them have managed to slip under the radar. In the end, this post should show you why a lot of people are starting to praise the regional music scene for being one of the best in the country.

Caleb Stine and the Brakemen is an indie country band from Baltimore. While I am not usually a fan of the genre, I find their music very listenable and highly recommend checking them out.

Devil (

) -- Since Sunday ()

Cedars are DC's kings of atmosphere. They are also one of my favorite indie rock bands in the city.

Black Book (

) -- This Century ()

Crash Boom Bang is an indie pop group and they will be opening Saturday’s finale of the Amie Street tour in DC.

Let it out (

)

Death by Sexy is a 2-piece (sometimes 3) indie rock band from DC that puts on one of the fiercest performances in town. If you are looking for something a little different and a little louder, check this band out.

Blow My Mind (

) -- I'm Going to Make You Cry ()

Faster Faster Harder Harder is an indie rock band from Baltimore. They are also some of the best instrumentalists in the region.

Calm Down (

)

Middle Distance Runner needs no introduction. They are currently the "it" band in DC and that is starting to spread across the northeast as well. Take a listen to a couple of their lesser known songs that are amongst their best work.

Switch it Up (

) -- Hooks ()

School of Beats is DC hip hop. While I never pretend to be any sort of hip hop expert, they have some really laid back rhymes with some nice backing tracks. Definitely show them some love, because they make some of the best hip hop that I have heard in a long time.

Blaxploitation feat. Malik 16 (

) -- I Feel Good feat. Laelo Hood & Heiress ()

Telograph is an indie rock band from DC. Anybody who has read any of my posts in the past knows how much I admire this band. Take the time to become acquainted with their music now, before it is all over your local radio. They're that good.

We Won't Settle Down (

) -- Beneath Your Feet ()

The Payola Reserve is an indie rock band from Baltimore. I stumbled upon them late last summer and have given their album a lot of play since. They write very honest songs that tell you exactly how they feel about the subject at hand.

Lay In Wait (

) -- Music Is Not Music ()

The Seldon Plan makes some of the best laid back indie rock in the region. If you enjoy bands like Death Cab, you should find some enjoyment here.

Making Circles (

) -- Holding Patterns Are Slow ()

The Vita Ruins are the latest DC indie band to add their music to the site. Their music has a way of pulsating and that is a very good thing.

My Last Days On Earth (

) -- Alien ()

These United States are appropriately from DC. As I have said before, they may be the best band from the northeast right now. Instead of hyping them for the millionth time, listen to some of their tracks and decide for yourself.

The Business (

) -- We Go Down to That Corner LIVE ()

Waterlog is another hip hop group with DC roots. Again, I am nowhere close to being an expert on the genre. All I can say is that I think their music is good and that is saying something.

The Onion (Open Doors Version) (

) -- Blowing Trees to Dead Music ()

[Editor's Note: This post is brought to you by the fantastic music site Instrumental Analysis. Check it out!]

I've been kind of missing in action lately. During my absence, Amie Street has been kicking it into high gear. A lot of really good music has found its way on to the site in the past several weeks. There are 3 bands that I want to talk about in particular.

Telograph is a band from Washington, DC. They recently added Little Bits of Plastic to the site. I can't recommend that EP enough. Ever since I received an advance copy of it late last fall, it has been a regular in my rotation. It's almost like they picked everything that has been good about music in the past 20 years, mixed it up and made it their own sound. They took elements of music by the likes of Radiohead, U2, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Cure and Jeff Buckley and turned them into an amazing sound of their own. Apparently, I am not the only one noticing. In the next few weeks, they will be opening for O.A.R. on an arena tour, playing several shows in the DC area and making their SXSW debut. Get on board with these guys now, before it's too late.

We Won't Settle Down (

)

Eye For An Eye (

)

One band that recently added their catalogue to Amie Street that the majority of the world has never heard of is Hershey, PA band The April Skies. This band has been out there entertaining with their brand of Europop, since the late 80's. In the 90's they played places like CBGB's, The Chameleon Club and the 9:30 Club and shared the stage with bands like Ride and Lush. After taking several years off, the band regrouped and returned a few years ago with The Breathe EP. In the past 2 years they have released Flood and How It All Played Out and have been wowing audiences with their amazing live shows. They are currently more viable than they have ever been and show no signs of slowing down soon. Recently, many of the big players in the booming DC and Brooklyn scenes have started to take notice and have begun sharing the stage with these guys. Citing influences like The Cure, The Ocean Blue, REM, U2, The Stone Roses, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Smiths and The Jesus & Mary Chain, they are ready to take over the northeast with their catchy hook laden pop songs. As warmer weather approaches, they are preparing to play just about everywhere in the region and may even hit the west coast. Another new album is also in the planning stages. When they come to your town, go see them. Their albums may be good, but their live shows are where they really shine.

Here Comes The Rush (

) and Beautiful Girl () from The Breathe EP

322 (

) and A Game () from Flood

My Love Is In This House (

) and Unstoppable () from How It All Played Out

Finally, I want to talk about These United States. They are from DC and are quite possibly the best band in the northeast right now. Take elements of indie rock, country and folk. Throw them all into a blender. Toss in great lyrics, amazing musicianship and Jesse Elliott's haunting voice and you have These United States. Their recorded songs are amazing and their live shows are even better. They embark on a U.S. tour later this week and will pretty much be everywhere between now and tax day, including several shows at SXSW. Go see them when they come to your town. You will not be disappointed.

Already Got a Girl Who Calls Me That (

)

We Go Down to That Corner LIVE (

)

[Editor's Note: This post is brought to you by the fantastic music site Instrumental Analysis. Check it out!]

I have finally returned with some new rock flavored picks. Last week was crazy and I didn't get around to doing this. To make up for it, here are my picks of January 15-28. Amie Street added a lot of good music recently. I start with my 3 favorites of the past two weeks and then I list other tracks that I feel are worthwhile. Enjoy!

My Favorites

These United States - So High So Low So Wide So Long (

) In December, Jesse gave me a huge Christmas present and internet premiered this song on our site. Ever since then, it has been a favorite of everyone that works on IA. Based on the other tracks that he let us stream, we believe that this CD will be huge when they finally release it. I can't wait.

Telograph - We Won't Settle Down (

) Andy hooked me up with an advance copy of this EP around Halloween and I have been listening to it ever since. "Beneath Your Feet" and "Eye For An Eye" are probably the catchy singles, but "We Won't Settle Down" also stands out to me. It has arena ready and show stopper written all over it. Someone must agree with me, because it's also the song that they end all of their shows with and they were just invited to play it in an arena.

Loto - My Guitar (

) This is a band from Portugal that reminds me of New Order. They actually worked with Peter Hook on a couple of tracks and we posted one on our site a couple of months ago. This particular track is quite catchy. Hopefully they will add the rest of the CD soon.

The Best of the Rest

Au Revoir Simone - Through the Backyards (

) Mellow music with multi layered female vocals. It sounds like it was made for Grey's Anatomy... oh wait, it was.

Bryan Byrne - Jen's Song (

) I just picked a track, but these are some mellow singer songwriter tunes. They sound familiar, yet they're good music for a reflective drive.

Chester Travis - Weight Of Wrong (

) A singer songwriter along the lines of John Mayer and Five For Fighting.

Dearly Beloved - The Butler Routine (

) This is an odd turn for a band that obviously likes to take chances, but it works.

Drew Harrison - Go It Alone (

) This makes me feel like I am sitting in a bar, drinking some beers with friends on acoustic singer songwriter night.

Jack Zerby - Over and Over (

) This has soul.

Jim James Band - Lazy Eye (

) This sounds like the bastard child of Counting Crows and Pearl Jam.

The Love - New York (

) This whole CD has a very pleasant vibe and feels like it was made to chill out to.

The Powerless - The Wench (

) The musicianship is what sells me on this track. Some lyrical improvements and this band will go far in the alternative rock world.

Renee - we cry (

) Another track that is laid back and radio friendly.

The Salads - Come Around (

) These guys are somewhere between 311, Limp Bizkit and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. They are definitely a throwback to the 90's, but all of their music is a nice guilty pleasure for a long drive that needs a little groove.