If you had to guess, where do you think pro baseball and football players go out after the games?

The Inner Harbor? Some fancy hotel restaurant? Maybe. 

But a big number of Orioles, Ravens and visiting athletes go to Granite Bar and Grille in Canton Square. I think it's kind of an odd choice for stars like Jason Giambi and Derek Jeter. Granite isn't that high end, and wouldn't be my first choice if I were a multi-millionaire sports player.

Granite's manager Ralph Sussman said the bar/restaurant is a fun spot for players to wind down after a game.

"It's just a casual place," he said. "It’s low key, laid back."

Posted by Sam Sessa at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

I've had tomorrow's Meet the Band, the Jennifers, in the car CD player for the past few days now. Their new album, Colors From the Future, is a perfect soundtrack for the warm, sunny weather outside.

"Landslide" and "Starfleet Academy" are my two favorite songs so far. They're fun indie pop tracks with clever lyrics and great hooks. What more do you need?

I actually interviewed the guys in the band a couple weeks ago for Baltimore Unsigned. You can listen to the interview and live performance here.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Dominic West, who plays Det. James 'Jimmy' McNulty on The Wire, has good taste in pubs.

My roommate Jeremy ran into West last week at the Dog Pub. The place used to be called the Thirsty Dog Pub until they changed the name recently. General manager Jason Tarazon said they dropped the "Thirsty" because the name was already taken by a brewery.

“It’s a setback,” Tarazon said. “[But] people generally called it 'The Dog' anyway.”  

Posted by Sam Sessa at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Ladies night is back at the Gin Mill (2300 Boston St., 410-327-6455) and better than ever.

The bar used to have ladies nights on Wednesdays, but then stopped a while back. It's now under new management, which resurrected the event on a different night.

Here's the deal: From 9 p.m. to close every Saturday, women pay $5 to get in and get all rails and domestic beers for free.

"It's doing very well," said manager Sam McCordic. "Better than Saturdays were before."

All you can drink for $5? I'll bet they are.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

I'm collecting good on-tour tales from local bands. If you're in a band or know someone who is, leave a comment, or email me -- sam.sessa@baltsun.com

Today's Meet the Band, Pontiak, just got back from a national tour with a couple great road stories.

Story 1:

When they pulled into Little Rock, Arkansas, the promoter said they would be playing at a pavilion down by the Arkansas River. They ran an extension cord 200 feet to this municipal power outlet, set up a couple lights and a PA and plugged in, said bassist/keyboardist Jennings Carney.

"We literally played a concert at 10:30 p.m. on a Sunday night on this pavilion overlooking the Arkansas River," Carney said. "It was awesome."

Story 2:

Pontiak also played in Tulsa, Oklaholma the same night Bright Eyes lead singer Conor Oberst was performing at a nearby venue. When Oberst's set ended, more than 1,000 people streamed into the Pontiak show, Carney said.

"Faces were melted," he said. "It was funny -- we got done with our first song, and we thought we were playing loud, but people were like, 'TURN IT UP!' We were like, 'OK ...'" 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Last night, Lo-Fi Social Club founder Neil Freebairn finalized plans to move the live music venue to 1825 N. Charles St. That's one block north of the Charles Theatre, on the same side of the street.

The new space will have multiple rooms, just like the old location. It will also have a storefront, which Freebairn hopes to turn into a local band merchandise store.

Freebairn's going to walk me through it tomorrow, and I'll post some pictures soon afterward. 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Big news for Washington-based indie rock band Georgie James: The duo of singer/pianist Laura Burhenn and former Q and Not U drummer John Davis recently signed to the Saddle Creek label.

Georgie James marries '70s-style songwriting with a more modern indie rock feel. With lush harmonies and catchy melodies, they're one of the best new bands to come out of Washington. You can get their single Need Your Needs here. The debut album comes out this fall.

I recently interviewed them for Baltimore Unsigned, the local music show I host on 89.7 WTMD. Listen to their performance/interview here. They're also playing the Recher Theatre in August.

Saddle Creek already represents Bright Eyes, Cursive, Now It's Overhead and others. I think it will be a good home for Georgie James too.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Just a quick heads up: The Lo-Fi Social Club is shuttered for the next week or two, said founder Neil Freebairn. People have called in loud noise and underage drinking complaints a couple times in the past month, he said.

Though police have not found evidence of underage drinking, they did have a problem with Freebairn's paperwork, he said. 

Last Thursday, police told Freebairn he needed to shut down temporarily and change the building's intended use if he wants to keep running a local rock club. Now, he's waiting on an inspector to give him the green light to re-open.

All this mess has (understandably) soured Freebairn. Tonight, he plans to finalize a deal to rent space on Charles Street north of the Charles Theatre. The Lo-Fi could have a new home in the near future. I'll post more tomorrow when the deal is done.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

All this week, WTMD is airing a series of interviews Erik and I conducted in Louisville at the Non-Commvention. Here's the schedule:

Tomorrow:

7 a.m. -- Martin Sexton 

9 a.m. -- Keller Williams

Thursday:

7 a.m. -- Jason Isbell

9 a.m. -- Paula Cole

Friday:

7 a.m. -- Raul Midon

9 a.m. -- Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave) 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Half of my friends call it beer pong, and the other half call it Beirut.

What do you call it? I want to take a vote.

Growing up on the Eastern Shore, I always thought the name of the popular college drinking game was beer pong. I went to college at the University of Maryland College Park, and most of my friends from out of state said it was beer pong.

Since I moved to Baltimore, I've heard people call it Beirut more than beer pong. (In the game, you toss ping-pong balls into plastic cups partly filled with beer).

I've had people tell me it's a Baltimore thing. But some Web sites say both names are interchangeable. What do you think?

Posted by Sam Sessa at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
                    

As it turns out, I was in Maryland during the Kentucky Derby and Louisville during Preakness. So I missed all the action. Anybody got some stories? How was the infield? Leave some comments.

For anybody else who either stayed home or was out of town, here's a Preakness video recap. 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 1:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Singer/songwriter Ryan Adams headlined a Louisville showcase Saturday night and really let down the crowd.

I saw Adams last year at Sonar, not too long after he released 29. He was energetic on stage and had a talented backup band. The band was still tight at last night's show, but Adams' erratic behavior made for a boring performance. I'll explain in a minute.

Following a warm, solid performance by Suzanne Vega, Adams came out about 11:05 p.m. The lights started out low and never came up. The whole stage stayed cloaked in hues of dark blue and red. You could barely see Adams or the other band members.

Adams hid himself even further. Wearing sunglasses, a hat and a hoodie, he was totally camouflaged. He hunched over a mike and -- get this -- read lyrics from a binder in front of him. Dude can't even remember the words to his own set of new songs!

So I sat there, in the dark, listening to melancholy folk music from musicians I could barely see. I almost fell asleep.

After only 30 minutes, Adams shouted a quick "thank you," -- the first thing he'd said to the crowd the whole night -- and bolted. There was no encore. His set lasted until 11:35 p.m. It was supposed to go until midnight.

I would have rather sat at home and listened to the CD. It's good, and I suggest you buy it. But I'm not so sure about seeing him live this tour. 

Posted by Sam Sessa at 9:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Got into the elevator yesterday and saw Augie March front man Glenn Richards. I said "What's going on?" In a classic case of TMI, he replied, "If you must know, I'm busting. I need to get out of this elevator and onto the toilet. Hey, you asked." Thanks a lot for the update, Glenn.

Hoots and Hellmouth were busking outside of the Brown Theatre, and I walked over to check them out. Not bad at all: Three shaggy-haired guys, two on acoustic guitars and one on mandolin, standing and stomping on a small wooden platform.

I also noticed a guy across the street banging on seven plastic buckets turned upside down. I'm thinking about writing a story on Louisville's street performer scene and Baltimore's lack of a strong street performer scene. So I asked him some questions, and he refused to talk to me unless I paid him first. Since I don't pay for interviews (not even a couple of bucks), he just ignored me and kept banging away. Frustrated, I gave up and walked away.

I was also standing out in front of the hotel when I noticed the cellist and keyboard player from Sea Wolf having a smoke. They recently played the Recher Theatre with the Silversun Pickups. After the show, the drummer finished locking up the trailer, and the rest of the band started to drive away. Then they realized they were short one band member, and stopped to pick him up.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Before the conference really got started yesterday, we took a trip to Churchill Downs. On the way there, I kept an eye out for the dive bars that ring some race tracks -- the places where broke gamblers can take the edge off after a bad day.

The best one I found had an old neon sign out front that read "Whiskey By the Glass." I didn't have time to snap a photo of the place (or have a glass of whiskey there), but it was tickling just to drive by. Still, I really wanted to walk in and ask: What other way is there to drink it?

Posted by Sam Sessa at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Sarah Borges is another singer to keep an eye on. She brings punk energy and attitude to country/rockabilly music. Her band is called the Broken Singles, and like most of the rest of the artists here, she has a new album on the way.

I sat down with her yesterday, and after the interview, she said she had a funny Baltimore story. Apparently, she used to work for a service that places personal ads in newspapers. And semi-regularly, some dude from Baltimore would call her office responding to one of the ads, and just keep asking: "fast or slow? fast or slow? fast or slow?" I don't think she ever answered him. Creepy ...

Posted by Sam Sessa at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Despite it being freaking 9 a.m., Jesca Hoop and Augie March both had great sets at a label showcase this morning.

Hoop's voice is hypnotic. Her songs didn't seem to have hooks or choruses, but I didn't notice right away. I'm not sure how this will translate on her album, which comes out this fall, but live, Hoop is enchanting. She picked an acoustic guitar while a vibraphonist gently hammered out shimmering tones alongside her on stage. It was a classic sound.

Australian rock outfit Augie March went on next and played tracks from their new album, which will also be out soon. Lead singer Glenn Richards (an English major in college) writes smart, literary lyrics, and the rest of the group fills out the sound surprisingly well. I was really impressed with the drummer, who knew how to back off and let the songs play themselves.

Jesca Hoop and Augie March. Remember those names. These are both great artists to watch.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

I got a sneak peek at the new Rilo Kiley album last night in the van on the way home from dinner. One of the label reps had an advance, advance copy (it doesn't actually come out until August, she said).

We listened to the first four songs on the ride home. Rilo Kiley fans are going to freak. Rilo Kiley is known for its blend of indie rock and alt-country. But on the new album (not sure of the name), they're definitely trying for a pop hit. The fourth song has a disco beat!

I think it's great when a band shakes things up. And Rilo Kiley fans should appreciate the band trying a new direction. But indie kids can be stubborn and might not like what Rilo Kiley is dishing. We'll see this fall.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

If last night was any indication, this weekend is going to be full of action. I'm going to post some photos later today when I can work the bugs out of this computer.

It started with Brett Dennen (who I didn't think drank) having some bourbon around dinnertime with some of the WTMD staff in a bar across the street from the hotel. Dennen actually played about an hourlong set in the bar later last night.

At dinner, I sat next to Jesca Hoop, an up and coming singer songwriter from northern California. I'm actually interviewing Hoop today.

But I didn't know any of this at first. She just introduced herself as Jesca, a musician. I thought she said "Jessica." And since there are so many unknown musicians at this conference, I didn't know she was Jesca Hoop.

So I got the attention of World Cafe host David Dye, who was sitting across from me at the table, and mouthed the words "Jessica Who?" while indiscreetly pointing to Ms. Hoop. Maybe Mr. Dye didn't understand I was trying to keep it quiet. Or maybe he did, and wanted to mess with me. He looked at me, and said, in a booming voice:

JESCA HOOP!

I smacked my face with my hand and shrunk in my chair. I'm sure she noticed, but politely ignored our little exchange. Thanks, David.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

I'm in Kentucky for the next few days for the annual Non-Commvention, a long weekend of live music and interviews with established and up-and-coming musicians. It's a four-day stretch where major labels meet with AAA radio stations such as 89.7-FM WTMD and showcase their new talent.

Brett Dennen, Ryan Adams, Paula Cole, Keller Williams and many others will be here. I'm sitting down with as many as I can, and I'll be posting my progress daily.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A few of the giant, famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses are coming to Canton Square 5 p.m.-7 p.m. tonight.

If you've never seen them before, this is what they look like. If you're in the area, they're worth checking out.

No word on whether they're giving out free rides. Or Budweiser for that matter. I'm hoping for both.

I remember being a kid and seeing them pull the wooden Budweiser wagon somewhere near the Inner Harbor. The horses are definitely cool. Budweiser, not so much.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Federal Hill needs to hire one of the local fire departments to hose down both East and West Cross Streets by the market every Saturday and Sunday morning.

The sour stink from the night before is usually so strong that pinching your nose does nothing. Ever tried to walk to one of the boutiques there and been turned away by the smell?

Maybe if that section of Federal Hill wasn’t such a magnet for meatheads and immature drinkers, it wouldn’t have that problem. But every time I walk down those stretches of Cross Street on weekends, the smell persists. It gets even worse in the hot, sticky summer months.

It really shouldn’t be up to the fire department, but I can’t think of a more realistic solution. That crowd should be able to hold its beer and liquor, or not drink until they get sick in the street. But that’s like asking the sun to set in the east.

Posted by Sam Sessa at 7:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Heads up, beer lovers — Max’s American Craft Beer Festival is now under way.

The seven-day suds showcase started yesterday and runs 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily through May 20 at Max’s Taphouse. Reps from local breweries will be selling obscure brews they normally save for private events and showcases.

“It’s stuff no one’s seen, especially drafts that are very hard to find,” said Max’s cellarman Casey Hard.

Anywhere from 30 to 35 beers will be on tap at any given time, he said. There will also be a different special each day.
    

Posted by Sam Sessa at 7:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)