Image via Complex Original
In the 1990s, kids in Baltimore often looked up to musicians—like the DIY punk bands of Dischord Records and Go-Go artists like Chuck Brown—from neighboring Washington, D.C. However, that’s not so much the case anymore. Look at Baltimore artists today—a confident approach toward performance and creativity is more of a stamp of a Baltimore musician than any specific genre would be. And that’s not a vague compliment, either. Charm City’s often been isolated from the national music scene, as Dan Deacon mentions in the video above, meaning artists had to create their own community. The fortunate aspect of being relatively disconnected from the mainstream is that there aren’t any judgments to be had when making music. Artists take risks that they wouldn’t otherwise, and rely on each other to build their own destiny. Icons from earlier generations like David Byrne, Frank Zappa, and Ric Ocasek of The Cars all embodied this sentiment. What’s more is that savant filmmaker John Waters hails from Baltimore, and the best TV show ever, The Wire (I’ll fight the person who says otherwise), is nothing if not about Baltimore and its reflection of the human condition. Tori Amos and Sisqó are also from Baltimore, meaning both “Caught A Lite Sneeze” and “The Thong Song” were indirectly or maybe directly influenced by this fair city on the Chesapeake.
In the past decade Baltimore has seen a boon in national appreciation of its bands and artists. Animal Collective blew up, and their influence is still resonating in today’s popular indie and electronic music. Beach House led the way for oh-so-many dream poppers (Teen Dream is still one of the best records of the 2000s). Spank Rock reintroduced Baltimore clubs to the hip-hop conversation, upping the party level a whole lot more. There’s almost too much weird rock and punk-influenced art-rock to shake a stick at: Matmos (also featured in the video above), Ed Schrader's Music Beat (regular touring partner of Future Islands, above), and Roomrunner and Dope Body all leave lasting impressions. All in all, Baltimore makes for a killer music scene that continues to grow in excitingly unexpected ways, doing it for itself more than anyone else.
Animal Collective
While they’ve long parted ways with Baltimore, moving separately to D.C., Brooklyn, and Lisbon, Animal Collective certainly laid the groundwork for the next generation of Baltimore bands. Acts like Future Islands, Ponytail, Wye Oak, and Beach House all followed closely behind A.C’s footsteps. Countless kids, myself unabashedly included, looked up to these guys as pioneers bridging the gap between popular and experimental electronic music, all from our dorm-room speakers, with records like Strawberry Jam and Feels, and their most commercially and critically successful Merriweather Post Pavillion, named after the local concert arena. Today, Avey Tare and Panda Bear are still at it with invigoratingly innovative new work.
Dan Deacon
Avant-garde electro-pop composer; spontaneous dance party instigator; synthesis whiz; kooky uncle of the Baltimore music scene—Dan Deacon wears many hats, each of which we’d love to try on. Every album he releases seems more ambitious than the last (see America, his 2012 record for proof), which makes sense for someone with a relentless work ethic, both on and off tour. While he’s been busy as of late touring with Arcade Fire, his previous work has taken him to projects with So Percussion, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and places like the Whitney Museum and Carnegie Hall—all after a decade spent touring DIY venues around the country.
The Sound Garden
Baltimore has an impressive number of record stores with an equally impressive local following of vinyl heads. Perhaps the most popular is the Sound Garden (1616 Thames St.) in Fells Point. With 10,000 square feet of vinyl, CDs, and other media formats, you can be sure that this spot stocks records from plenty of local artists and obscure collectibles, as well as the albums all the kids are buying right now. They also don’t skimp on posters, tees, and other various band merch—old school in the best way.
The True Vine
On the other (equally awesome) end of the vinyl shop spectrum is the True Vine (3544 Hickory Ave.), which specializes in obscure, highly sought-after records. The True Vine is a place that, as one visitor points out, you can find '70s Cambodian Pop as easily as you’ll find math-rock innovators Battles' b-sides. For a city that can sometimes feel self-determined in its musical destiny, it’s both refreshing and inspiring to have a place like the True Vine remind us that inspiration can come from countless unexpected places.
Future Islands
Future Islands have blown up more than any Baltimore band since Beach House. They’ve unquestionably earned the attention they received in 2014, too. Samuel T. Herring’s performance on Letterman this past spring wasn’t crafted overnight. They’ve been performing since 2006 and were known in the underground punk-oriented scenes as one of the hardest-touring bands out there. Rounded out by Gerrit Welmers on synth and William Cashion on bass, Future Islands make new wave-indebted synth-pop characterized by ’80s synth tones, electric bass functioning as lead guitar, and wistful, highly emotive vocals. Now four albums in, their most recent being Singles, Future Islands continue to tour incessantly, wowing audiences with their romantic tunes and Herring’s highly theatrical performances.
Tt the Artist
Blending hip-hop, pop, and electronic music, Tt the Artist has created a sound that somehow reflects the unique creative nature of Baltimore music, while still making something totally her own. A sign of her creative flexibility, she’s played shows with Dan Deacon, Phantogram, Wale, Rich Boy, Trina, and Yo Gotti. In addition to music, Tt is involved in non-profit organizations like ArtistLand Productions and also her own T-shirt line—she’s got the hustle down in all the right ways.
Rye Rye
From the time she was 16, Ryeisha Berrain, better known as Rye Rye, had already experienced success in the music industry. Through her friend Blaqstarr, she was connected to Diplo and MIA, which led to a tour with the latter. This set the stage for her debut record, Go! Pop! Bang!, which came out after numerous delays in early 2012 on Interscope and MIA’s label, N.E.E.T. Since then she’s done more than her fair share of collabs, and even had a supporting role in 21 Jump Street.
Space Is the Place
Headed up by DJs and producers Astrolith and .rar Kelly, Space Is the Place is an underground electronic music label specializing in Baltimore club music and other progressive, genre-blurring forms of late-night soundtracks. They’re known for their frequent parties at venues like Metro Gallery and after-parties for Artscape. The label’s most recent release is the duo Normaling (one half is label co-founder .rar Kelly). Normaling’s single, “Low Drop,” features the local titans TT the Artist and Rye Rye. That’s a powerful combination right there.