Don Giovanni Records Showcase This Weekend

Don Giovanni Records is throwing its annual showcase at the Music Hall of Willamsburg in BK this weekend. This is the New Brunswick, NJ record label's 10th annual showcase. Don Giovanni is the home of some of the absolute best bands to come out of NJ in the past 10 years, most notably Screaming Females and The Ergs. Its especially exciting to see Screaming Females back on the stage after they had to cancel their tour due to singer Marisa Paternoster's bouts with Mononucleosis and complications surrounding the illness.

Friday, February 8th will feature indie songstress Laura Stevenson, Jeffrey Lewis, Waxahatchee, Lemuria and Hilly Eye. While February 9th will feature Screaming Females headlining, with Black Wine, Stormshadow, Home Blitz, and Shellshag opening up. 

Screaming Females

Both nights are $13 in advance and $15 day of show and there are a limited number (100) two day passes going around for $20

Don Giovanni have also added a third night at a different venue (Death By Audio) in Bk on Thursday Feb 7th, which will showcase Nuclear Santa Claust, California X, House Boat, Brick Mower and Plastic Cross ($7).


Now for the NJ Skeletons take on things. Its great that Don Giovanni added the third show. California X, have been getting a lot of buzz for good reason, this Amherst, Mass band has the Dinosaur Jr-Junior tag firmly planted on them for good reason, they are from the same hometown, and the have loud, noisy guitars. Their songs pack a different kind of punch though, and I wonder how they translate live. Pop punkers, Brick Mower are also on this night, a name we used to hear a lot more of, but it seems like the band has taken on a resurgence of late which is awesome, because they are great.

Home Blitz

Night two, seems to be the quieter, night but don't let that mistake you it will still have bite! Laura Stevenson is a tremendous songwriter and her catchy indie pop records she has been putting out are of top quality. Waxahatchee has really taken the of the bedroom sound and cleaned it up a bit and its makes a world of difference singer Katie Crutchfield's voice is fragile and at the same time piercing and powerful, even if its quiet in tone.

Katie Crutchield of Waxahatchee

Night three is easily the strongest night. Screaming Females are headlining, and for anyone who hasn't yet been privy to this band, they are out of this world, fantastic. Marisa Paternoster shreds and screams her head off, and her lyrical imagery is at times cynical, at times violent, all of this coming out of her tiny frame is mind boggling and something special to witness. Black Wine is all revved up Decendents/SST over-driven punk rock. We were initially surprised to see Home Blitz on the bill, lofi punker Daniel DiMaggio has put out some great records, does this mean we are going to be getting one on Don Giovanni soon?