MORE HUMANS
Album review: “Demon Station”

There are plenty of pop moments on “Demon Station,” an invigorating five-song EP by locals More Humans. Many come when members of the trio combine for sparkling vocal harmonies. But instead of hearing the usual “ooh oohs” or “yeah yeahs,” you’ll get a phrase such as “Welcome to the Childhood Home of Andy Warhol and Dan Marino.” And that’s not just a lyric – it’s a chorus.

That balancing act defines “Demon Station,” which presents a band that plays rock music with a sense of purpose and precision. Songs are jolting one moment and pretty the next, filled with twists and turns that add and release tension but never become a distraction. The crooked guitars that kick off “Mason-Dixon” suggest the non-stylized sounds of ’90s indie rock everymen Chavez and Polvo, but the song quickly rumbles into a pristine, New Pornographers-esque chorus. The wordy chorus of “Warhol and Marino” (they’re talking about Pittsburgh, by the way) turns into an unlikely singalong.

Music with sharp cuts and carefully considered vocals deserves stellar production, and that’s another strength of “Demon Station” – it simply sounds great, perfectly crisp and clear. Even though it’s only 14 minutes, the EP is packed with enough personality that you feel as if you really get to know More Humans and you quickly want to know them even better.

–David Malitz, Nov. 4, 2011

Meet the Doggetts threatens to become an annual event. The January 2010 concert drew over 160 friends, colleagues, and fans. This is the Doggett living room brought to you live and on stage, an evening of music and family togetherness–just like before TV.

Sunday January 9
7:00-9:30 pm
Jammin’ Java
227 Maple Ave E
Vienna, VA 22180

Continue reading …

This is going to be awesome. In collaboration with Eric S. Townsend of SplashKit, I’ll bring my band and the musical acts of my three talented sons (Clinton, Ben, and Brad) to Jammin’ Java on Wednesday, January 6. In case you don’t know them already, Brad is a teen heartthrob, with several music videos netting close to a million views on YouTube. Ben is also a singer-songwriter who leads the music ministry at Christ Our Shepherd Church in DC and has a solo album coming out shortly. Clinton, who toured to San Francisco and back a few summers ago with his band “More Humans,” is currently  promoting their new Enamel Records EP. And of course you already know my story…. Mark your calendars for January 6!

Recently, we celebrated the first anniversary of the release of my last album A Moment in Time.  If you’re hooked up to a pair of decent speakers, then give the sampler here a listen!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Purchase A Moment in Time and two other records as a package deal for the low price of $30 – a savings of 14%!