The Rolling Stone that comes out this week includes a big "Best of Rock" package, in which we call out the best metal band (Mastodon), best festival (Bonnaroo) and best radio station (Indie 103), among other superlatives. I worked on a piece that called out Baltimore (my hometown) as the best scene. This involved a 24-hour club-hopping tour of the city with awesome photographer Josh Rothstein. We hit rock clubs like Ottobar and Talking Head, the underground Floristree performance space and late-night diners Paper Moon and Golden West, but the most memorable moment was the hour Josh, Jason Urick of local band WZT Hearts and I spent trying to carry an old, drunk and angry (and heavy!) man we found face-down on the sidewalk to his house. Baltimore rocks!
Home to Maryland Institute College of Art and world-class museums like the Walters Art Gallery and the American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore attracts innovators. And the city's struggling neighborhoods (endlessly documented on The Wire, The Corner, Homicide, etc.) have spawned a talent-packed, unheralded hip-hop scene. In the "Best of Rock" issue, we mention some of Baltimore's most happening people and places, like Dan Deacon (above) and Beach House, but because of space, we had to leave out some key people that deserve attention.
One of them is the fire-hot female duo, the Get Em Mamis. On "Cold Summer," B-more rap moguls Darkroom Productions (who made the Wire-inspired Hamsterdam mixtapes and licensed tunes for seasons four and five of the HBO show) use spare Bongos, a beatboxed "brrr!" sample, and minimal digital effects to create a manic backdrop for the lightning-quick MCs to drop lines about the ice that'll keep them cool under the hot mid-Atlantic sun this summer: "Shorty I'm a boss bitch/Chain hang low/Something like the North Pole/And my wrist Antarctic." "Cold Summer" is the first single from Hamsterdam: The Album, Darkroom Productions' first official album, out on Koch Records on July22nd. Beginning May 2nd, the Mamis will post a new freestyle over beats from classic songs by female MCs like Salt N Pepa and MC Lyte on their MySpace page.
The next single from Hamsterdam will be "Money Talk" by Charm City MC Ogun, who has a hyper-enunciated sing-song rhyme style like Ludacris. Check out both singles below. And let us know what you think: What city has the best music scene?
Get Em Mamis - "Cold Summer"
Ogun - "Money Talk"
[Photo: Getty]
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Mike R | June 16, 2009 5:18 PM
Dale Coleman's Expressway . " The good ole days ...
Anonymous | May 10, 2009 9:53 AM
well unless you make really bad indie art rock crap like the Wham city crowd or hang out in the annoying copycat building crew, you wont get any ladders dropped down from the top....and maybe even not then....my point is...one scene is getting attention...there is a reason you dont hear of any other music getting noticed...its because what has been noticed is a scene , not the music...try mailing this dufus deacon guy and ask for a helping hand...i doubt he will do anything for you....its a shame
Billy lyve of Wisdom court entertainment | May 6, 2009 8:02 AM
the batimore scene is hot,but the only way we are gona make it is if we join together and start doing bigger events and make more noise.we need the radio,tv and every artist who has made it out to help raise the up n coming artists.the reason the south is so huge is because they all support eachother we don't have a support system in bmore it's Everyman for self.
Google billy lyve and then ask youself why you haven't heard of him
John C | April 21, 2009 12:37 PM
hahaha.Chippychippy is probably a hipster!
San Francisco owns Baltimore.
better art, better scene, better all around. Austin Texas also beats Baltimore as far as good music goes. There are alot of better places. Boretimore is waaaaay over hyped lately. Typical of the mediocre soulless plastic society we exist in today. Oh yeah...Nati Bo tastes like straight ass
chippychippy | April 20, 2009 4:24 PM
so many people on this thread have so much hostility towards other people in their creative community! Instead of complaining, why don't you all just make Baltimore what YOU wan't it to be? Hipsters can be annoying, but it's not anyone else's fault if you can't get over your own insecurities and have a good time! Stop whining about the hipsters, it's more off-putting (and destructive) than they are! In this city, if you can't find what's happening it's your own damn fault!
Baltimore is strong because it has a really supportive network, and you're probably not in it if you just like to bash on people constantly!
Jay | April 4, 2009 9:10 PM
CELEBRATION is the best band in Baltimore (or anywhere). The most innovative, best sounding, honest band that creates beautiful music and for the right reasons. And they continue to evolve all the time. Don't sleep - check them out.
Robert | January 16, 2009 12:07 PM
Baltimore Sucks? the Baltimore scence has always been a vibrant and edgy scene that just happens to always be in someones shadow, either New york or DC.
From Crack the Sky in the 70's to Wrathchild America/souls at Zero in the 90's to todays great Hip hop ,club and rock culture,Baltimore has a sound of it's own.
Drummers in Baltimore can't Keep Time? What about Shannon Larkin who is now the drummer of Godsmack!
Check out "Crushing Day" or "The Starving Artists" on any given weekend in the city and you won't be disapointed
Brian | December 26, 2008 10:48 AM
yeah..people dont listen to Baltimore bands because as far as music goes, the "hip" stuff in this town is awful....People like to "go to the shows" because its the cool thing to do, or its a social event....the music is a side note....Baltimore has an overrated art scene...it might be my opinion...but alot of people i know tend to agree.
Its only a small group (ehem MICA students) that seem to get attention and claim to enjoy the creative sludge of charm city
madmodpoetgod | December 22, 2008 11:52 AM
SRI AUROBINDO IS THE GREATEST BALTIMORE BAND PERIOD.
garbage | December 22, 2008 10:09 AM
check out vincent black shadow, press black, thee lexington arrows, and the living wrecks
people in baltimore love going to see live bands, but don't seem to really like listening to them very much
your sweet mom | November 27, 2008 10:06 AM
hellooo where's Wye Oak?
and yeah those art rock performances are awesome [the golden west too] just as long as you perfectly fit in with the makeup less girls and vintage glasses wearing hipsters who are so far up there own asses i don't think they can even hear the music they're listening to.
and MICA is a visual arts school for a reason:
most of those kids should not be making music.
C Dunn | October 29, 2008 3:12 PM
Matt Pless? hahahahaha who is this?
bemore | August 22, 2008 2:36 PM
There are lots of talented people in baltimore, but it's not specifically or exclusively what people are talking about. there are a lot of talented folk style songwriters that deserve more attention than they get:
Flipside of Overdrive
Matt Pless
ilyAimy
Armed Elephant
Spoke Ensemble
Baltimore, mediocre hipster central | August 19, 2008 12:23 PM
it is exactly that, i went to high school with a handfull of types who loved being "ironic" and creating really bad noise music, all the while contributing nothing to the overall cultural landscape save for further blowing up their own ego in an ettempt to mask what a huge loser they were.
i never thought it would become the next big thing...sadly , it has..there is a scene here, if you are into talentless hacks, im a songwriter from the area, playe dit in and ouut all over for years, noone cares, the only crap that gets popular is whatever the city paper says is cool...dan deacon is god awful, the copycat scene is beyond a joke, the hip hop has its ok moments but it doesnt make up for the fact that this article is focusing laregly on the most narcissistic joke job corner of the creative landscape...connnections and friends will get you further than talent...i suppose its all a matter of taste, but the fact that baltimore has blown up so big with these terrible psuedo art bands and indie hipster losers is a sad reflection of a society where too many people have been told they are special, want to be an artist but dont really have the talent to create anything worthwhile...BUT , they have a large army, after all, great talents are few and far between, and there are more far more people without the magic touch then with...i hated all of it when i was hanging with 7 people acting the hipster role, and i hate it now, and i will always hate it
bm | July 17, 2008 1:34 PM
Baltimore is not for everyone and it is a city made of pockets and bubbles of things going on. If you're not interested in or connected to certain subcultures, you might not even know they exist until they get press attention, because unlike other cities they aren't heavily exploited for profits and advertising straight out of the gates. Baltimore is not the type of city that can be summed up by a list of tourist attractions and demographic information, just like it can't be summed up by any one view of any resident here. If you don't see or avoid the cool things going on here it's your own fault for not trying hard enough. And if you live here but hate the scene, there is no better solution than to create a culture of your own, in a city where that is actually a possibility.
Tie | July 7, 2008 4:20 PM
Yes.... Thank You Rolling Stones Baltimore is doing Big things it seems as though the only people that arent noticing the hype is B-mores 92.3 I've heard the stunning talents of the Get Em Mamis on other stations but not in my hometown of baltimore when are we going to start recognizing our own.... I Love the Get Em Mamis I remember seeing the perform when they were the plaque and knew they had a special calling know they have matured into a great phenominon I couldn't believe it when I Goggled the Get Em Mamis and lots of information appeared all the magazines and more... where is the radio stations this is when they should show up NOW not after the million dollar record deals any hometown radio stations should have the privilege to say we played it first in heavy rotation
Thanks Again to all the magazines, websites, DJ's, and Etc for taken notice of B-mores upcoming.... LOL there already here congrads to the Get em Mamis, Ogun, Mullie Man, all Yall Keep doing what your doing The Q will catch on
tiki | July 1, 2008 7:02 AM
b-more's always been cooler than cool.way back from crack the sky,the kix,zen archer,skyaxe,and the dale coleman expressway.new commers like j.roddy walston and the business, gary b. and the {fantastic}notions, jukebox the ghost... just to name a few.maryland has a great scene,but we need more places to play or venues more open to the little guys.the 8x10 could do more to accomodate dofferent genres.
PaperMoon | June 10, 2008 2:42 PM
Yay Baltimore! I miss you!!!!
enough is enough | June 7, 2008 11:08 PM
baltimore sucks. period the end. there is NO SCENE here. you have a bunch of normals. drunk, college, american eagle wearing losers. it is disgusting and depressing. If you go out with a plan to go somwhere, and you arrive, and it blows (which is always in this shit town) then you cant walk around and see what you can get into, because there is pretty much nothing!!!! and you cant walk threw most parts of the city to get to the other parts you can walk threw, and there is no useful public transportation. Rolling Stone is retarded for even uttering the words baltimore and good, in the same damn sentance - o btw i have lived here for to fucking long.
Bmore to LA | May 30, 2008 9:49 PM
So I've been out of MD for 5 years now and I feel like the "scene" has kind of exploded since I've been gone. ...Not much into the hip-hop, but Height is good.
Some of the bands already mentioned though; like June Star, J Roddy, etc are great.
And I can't help but plug a friend's band, Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends.
And does anyone remember Roads to Space Travel? Those guys were fucking great. And so many other short lived "indie" bands before indie was co-opted as a genre: Army of Pirates, Lux Aeterna, The Lee Harvey Keitel Band, Science Kit, The Newlyweds, Dirty Little Secret, Killpatrick...the list goes on.
MICA kids do suck though.
beats | May 27, 2008 8:39 PM
You have not been to Baltimore unless you have witnessed Bmore club. Unfortunately, you guys are missing the point by thinking the only things worth mentioning are white and middle to upper-class (a small minority in this city.
I <3 bmore | May 26, 2008 12:26 AM
somanygoodbandsfromBmore:
spank rock
height
low budget
aaron lacrate
dj rod lee
cex
sand cats
wzt hearts
extatic sunshine
dan deacon
abiku
the death set
Janigger | May 21, 2008 2:04 PM
Baltimore was wonderful in 1704 BC.
Shane | May 20, 2008 3:56 PM
Cant believe there wasn't a mention of the band The Bridge or The 8x10. Come to think of it no mention of Rams Head Live either.
Roots music fans should definitely check out The Bridge.
Baltimore to NY | May 20, 2008 1:39 PM
I grew up in Baltimore and moved to NY in 2000 to open an art gallery. I’m still up here, but I get back every year or so to check out what’s going on. Baltimore has definitely built up from a real estate and entertainment perspective. I don’t know too much a bout the local music scene, but I’ve caught some good bands the last few years. As far as the art scene, Baltimore is rising up. I work with several artists from Baltimore, who are renowned nationally and internationally. The gallery scene is getting better there too. TAG Galleries is opening in Fells Point soon. They’ve got some real hot art and custom clothing that’s been a hit in the art/fashion industry here but I guess they wanted to keep out of the mainstream a bit – I guess Baltimore does have a more authentic feel than NY. TAG Galleries also puts on music shows, parties, community events, etc. DB5K Gallery (also in Fells), is solid too. I heard they had a nice graffiti/writing show there last month. There are a few other galleries that are hit or miss. There are a lot of good art students in the Baltimore/DC area. I think it’s a good time to be there for art, design, fashion. I might have to move back. I’m going to take some recommendations from these other posts on the music.
BaltoPowerPopRules | May 18, 2008 10:40 PM
Too bad the area wasn't recognized several years ago... Charm City rock bands (with super songwriting and catchy hooks) such as Splitsville, Love Nut, and Starbelly released some truly fabulous albums over the past decade. Splitsville (featuring the Huseman twins from The Greenberry Woods) and Starbelly are still occasionally active, while Andy Bopp from Love Nut became the leader of Myracle Brah, so seek 'em all out!! Great talents...
raven lunatic! | May 15, 2008 3:14 PM
What were these hon lovers smoking? I want some!!!! Baltimore sucks. I'm 55 and I still live here. The worst thing about those 55 years is that drummers can't keep time!!
slaggathor | May 9, 2008 8:57 AM
see heavy hangs the head for good wholesome hardcore!
nite_terrier | May 6, 2008 2:59 PM
i've never personally experienced so much hype over so little content. If you think about it, Rolling Stone has gotten wind of this "scene," so it's got to be dead inside. There's other stuff in baltimore worth hearing, but anything being lent creedence by RS must be a joke in the first place. Sure, some of this is fine, does it deserve special attention, from anyone? not unless your desperate to look back in shame. fuckwits.
Young Bmore | May 5, 2008 5:56 PM
You did it right mentioning Deep Flow in your article. No other company has worked with local artists and given them the exposure through radio, tv and live shows, and quality studio time as they have. And Darkroom Productions are some humble dudes when in actuality their doing such huge things for hip hop in the city! Im a big fan of GEM too so good looking. And look out for me, Young Bmore I be rockin the mic and Im comin
Dollar Bill | April 30, 2008 2:04 PM
Bawlmer definitely has no shortage of local talent. My favorite was the KWK Band, they gave legendary performances in Hamden and certainly ruffled the feathers of a few residents with their late-night living-room jams.
Jeff | April 28, 2008 2:02 PM
So much hating here in Baltimore. Just look at some of these comments. And most of these haters are too busy being ignorant to see and hear the vibrancy and versatility of our small city's big scene. I agree that it is kind of pathetic to think that posting your band on this thread will help your career out at all; but simultaneously, spreading the word about some of our favorite bmore bands seems perfectly apt to me. So, J. Roddy walston and the business, Vincent blackshadow, sqwaaks, celebration, soul cannon, height, labtekwon, thank you, beach house, noble lake and wye oak are just some of those who come to mind as some of bmores hottest talents. But with all the hate in this town I won't be surprised when these bands decide to split town at their first whiff of success.
Jeff | April 28, 2008 11:09 AM
Know whats sad? All you people bashing Baltimore. It has an amazing music and art scene. In any city there are the "too cool for school" types and there always will be. And a few of the bands people have posted on here are very good. See what "Perry" said. At least Baltimore is not pretentious like New York where everyone is trying to be someone. People here are down to earth and really do care and support art and music. I agree with "WHATABOUTMYBAND", posting your bands names is lame. If the music is good you will hear about it.
WHATABOUTMYBAND | April 24, 2008 11:07 PM
I love the comments with people posting their own bands, like it's going to help them or something.
pathetic | April 24, 2008 10:19 PM
you're kidding, right? this place is so lousy with rubbernecking ironics with nothing to say (thanks, MICA grad-speak), it's all crappy art-school horseshit chasing its ass around the room, trying hard to look bored and over it all. ohhhh, I have a beard and messy hair (assymetrical! yay!) and a fixed gear bike and some kind of hat, do i belong yet?
and if you see an attractive woman a reliable first line is "so where are you visiting from?"
and NOwhere can you hear decent techno, like almost everywhere else in this stupid hillbilly-ass country. shitty fucking trance, yeah, generic breaks, sure, and 80's parties out the ass. but anything remotely interesting? yeah, maybe to *your* herd. not mine.
hey Cex, choke on your dick, what a turd.
Dart | April 24, 2008 1:38 PM
Baltimore has no drummers that can keep time? You ever hear of Dennis Chambers? Holy cow you're ignorant.
MICA? Well THERE is your problem...lol.
Been in Bmore 20 years now. The scene isn't what makes me wanna move. It's the political corruption and the lowlife locals. By the same token I have had many opportunities to relocate for work and stayed put. So it ain't all that bad. The biggest problem that Baltimore's art/music scene is the lack of any sort of hometown support.
Perry | April 23, 2008 11:44 AM
The article is right on. Baltimore has some of the best music and art around. Some bands of note: The Red Vines, Among Wolves, Caleb Stine and The Brakemen, and June Star to name a few.
Blargha | April 23, 2008 2:24 AM
Sorry ya'll. Gotta call you out on this one. While Baltimore isn't the crappiest music scene in the DC - Boston corridor (congrats Philly!) -- it sure isn't very good.
While there certainly has been an upswing in ego-bending "pitchfork-approved" indie bands swarming out of here (I'm thinking Beach House, etc.), the overall scene is basically full of unsupportive clubs run by "too cool for school" art shlubs who have a greatly inflated view of their own importance.
On top of this, success in Baltimore is viewed as a crime of integrity, which explains why -- like the well regarded MD blue crab -- everytime somebody tries to climb out of the pot, as it were, all the others just drag 'em back down.
Anyway, hence the reason I put my money where my mouth was, and moved to NYC's East Village the first chance I got.
2 weeks in NYC will open your eyes to why Baltimore has it all wrong. Always has. Always will.
Pacofish | April 22, 2008 11:27 PM
Not only music, but Baltimore's going through an art and performance art renaissance as well. It's the place to be, without a doubt and I'm glad it's finally being recognized as such. The thing that makes Baltimore's scene so great is not just the amount and quality of the work being produced, but the support that all of the local artists are giving to each other, instead of competition. It's beautiful.
my favorite Baltimore beatboxer: The Bow-Legged Gorilla
myspace.com/theblg
jenny | April 22, 2008 2:36 PM
A//POLITICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
blond bomber | April 22, 2008 11:28 AM
club > hiphop in bmorecity
Baltimores 80's Baby | April 22, 2008 9:03 AM
Bmorestandup is defintely correct when he says the city has a lot of talent. But To name people would be redicoulous because its so many deserving artist who should be given shout outs, this blog comment would be way too long.
So to keep it short and simple my two cents and a market bag would be to say.
The People in this blog are people I have watch grow over years. Ogun is probably if not on of the hardest working rappers in the city. The Get Em Mamis (OR I LIKE TO CALL THE PLAGUE) are some of the most focused young women you'll ever meet when it comes to this music thing. Both artist are genius when it comes to music they make and i do beleive they colab on a mistape a few years ago.
And Lat but certainly not least DARKROOM. I see that name and i get goosebumps because i know they are going to deliver when it somes to my musical needs... I love this team
As far as the rest of the city i really believe you'll be hearing more from us. Im a fien for hip hop and I just smile thinking of all the attention the city I live in is finally gettn.
I believe we are ready for this. I believe this is Baltimore's Time.
Congrats To Darkroom, Get Em Mamis, Ogun and BALTIMORE CITYYYYYYYYYYYYY.
stinky pitts | April 21, 2008 6:26 PM
Just remember, for next time, the only rule at Wham City is NO JERKS.
baltimorestandup | April 21, 2008 4:02 PM
It's nice to see local artists like Get Em Mamis and Ogun get mention in this article. Baltimore is filled with other talented artists like PenDragon www.myspace.com/pendragon and Street Heat of Team Arson...just to name a few. WEAA 88.9 has shown it's support by showcasing local hip hop artists on their airwaves. Venues like Suite and the 5 Seasons also give Baltimores' hip hop artists a place to perform and expand their audiences. Much love to Rolling Stone for giving credit where it's due. Baltimore Baby.
crazyeggs | April 21, 2008 3:51 PM
yall should check this band out. Soul Cannon def. one of Baltimore's best bands.
www.soulcannon.com
http://www.morphius.com/label/index.cfm?cc=SLCN-01
PenDragon | April 21, 2008 11:22 AM
Baltimore Baby!!
PenDragon. Team Arson.
Bangin' Music. Ill Videos.
Draggy Baby!!
www.myspace.com/pendragon
www.dragwroteit.blogspot.com
Bmore Real | April 21, 2008 10:20 AM
1- No shortage of live music, any night, you can find any type
2- The least pretentious hipsters you'll find on the East Coast
3- Natty Boh
4- A local rap and club music scene that is too independent to go mainstream
5- Bird-shaped Sports Teams
michelle | April 21, 2008 9:34 AM
33 years? that's a long time to be in a spot you abhor! you should seriously think about moving hon! in the 2 short years i've been here i've found bmore to be a crazy awesome place full of down to earth people, a creative/edgy music and arts scene, and some tight bars/clubs. baltimore is the east coast's best kept secret!
Matt | April 19, 2008 7:08 PM
Brian...all I have is one question to ask...have you ever been to bonnaroo?
hello?? | April 19, 2008 6:28 PM
baltimore sucks ass. i have lived here all my 33 years, went to MICA, and can't believe how MUCH this town blows for a 'local scene'. No drummers can keep time here either. Someone was seriously drunk on their 'tour of b-more'
Anonymous | April 18, 2008 4:11 PM
Don't forget Spank Rock
MP | April 18, 2008 3:16 PM
If you enjoy the places and people above in Charm City, definitely check out EMajor: http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/majority_rules/
HAROLD | April 17, 2008 3:10 PM
THAT DUDE IS A BEST! BMORE DEF GOT TALENT.
Jeff | April 17, 2008 2:30 PM
Baltimore's home to live music is The A/V Beatbots Club...check out audio and video recordings of local bands tearing it up:
http://av.beatbots.com
We've had recordings of many of the bands in this article (Double Dagger, Dan Deacon, The Get 'Em Mamis, Ogun).
Check us out...for once Rolling Stone got something right: Baltimore IS the best scene!
Marcus | April 17, 2008 2:14 PM
Good Review... Ive been following G.E.M. since they were tha plague and i can tell you now this groups is going to be huge. def the best of baltimore
im feeling the two tracks you posted from darkroom productions. good job guys!
Marcus Henderson
poohloo19 | April 17, 2008 1:59 PM
B-more stand up! The Get Em Mamis are Awesome!
Stage Front Tickets | April 17, 2008 8:45 AM
Baltimore Rocks! Did you check out Zeeba Lounge? It's a hookah bar that's open until 4:00 am. It's BYOB but pretty classy- there's also belly dancers. Plus, Baltimore happens to be home of the Ravens- the best football team ever!
Brian | April 16, 2008 11:18 PM
Bonnaroo, best festival? Really? Coachella's the one that garners the big reunions yearly (Rage, Portishead), the stunning exclusives (Prince, Roger Waters), and the best lineup each year. Plus, they won Billboard's award for the best festival of '07. You guys gotta explain how the Roo wins out.