A.A. Bondy played a packed crowd at Brillobox this past Saturday night with Sean Bones and locals, Yankee Heat. I recently saw A.A. Bondy open for Conor Oberst at Mr. Smalls. I have to say that Saturday’s show at Brillobox definitely was my favorite. The show was small and intimate and full of Bondy’s fans.

Prior to this weekend, I had never been to a show where the entire crowd was silent during the first song of the set. Each audience member anticipated every word of A.A.’s song and promptly told anyone who was talking to stop. It was a somewhat surreal experience to see how much respect the audience had for Bondy’s music.

With Bondy’s newest album, When the Devil’s Loose, he is now backed by a full band where previously he played as a solo artist. When the Devil’s Loose continues themes from American Hearts with lyrics about Americana, vices, and spirituality. Bondy takes you on a journey through a different time and era that’s possibly from somewhere deep in the South. Bondy completed his set with songs from American Hearts that he performed solo armed only with a guitar and harmonica.

I had so much fun at this show. I was with good friends listening to excellent music – one of my best Saturday nights in a long time. Definitely check out Bondy’s music on his website and you can also download a free MP3 from one of my previous Geekstar posts.

Here are some photos from Saturday’s show:

Where: Brillobox
When: Friday, July 24
Time: 9:30 PM
Price: $5
Who: Aaron Jentzen, U.S. Royalty, The Early Hours

DOWNLOAD A FREE SONG BY U.S. ROYALTY: EVERY SUMMER
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U.S. Royalty: www.myspace.com/usroyalty & http://www.usroyaltymusic.com/

“With propulsive rhythms destined to move more feet than a parade for a queen, monarchial rule never sounded so good.” - Spin.com

U.S. Royalty was born in late 2007, birthed from the lifelong musical collaboration of brothers John and Paul Thornley. John (vocals and piano) and Paul (guitar) were raised in an extremely musical environment in a house filled with instruments, record collections, and often rocking all night at cross-generational jam sessions.

After playing together under various band names, the brothers connected with drummer Luke Adams while all three were sequestered in Indiana as students at Grace College. They championed everything from Oasis to David Bowie to Sam Cooke. The band also celebrated classic standards of the 1940s, the automatic touchstones of the 1970s, and the au courant vibrations of still viable acts like Sun Kil Moon and Rufus Wainwright. The trio banged around the heartland, polishing and experimenting, making the best of their less than conducive geographical location.

Eventually drifting back east to D.C., they plugged into the emerging scene bands, artists, fashion designers, and DJs contributing to the creative resurgence of D.C. nightlife. Through warehouse parties and happenings at small size venues such as DC9 and La Casa, they soon encountered D.C. indie rock journeyman bass player Jacob Michael. Jacob Michael joinged the band and U.S. Royalty became reality.

The winter months that followed were spent shivering around a single heater after ensconcing themselves in an abandoned trailer in rural Maryland. There the band crafted their initial set of songs, honing in on a sound assuredly contemporary but deeply steeped in resonant sounds of the twentieth century.

U.S. Royalty is currently playing a select number of shows along the east coast. U.S. Royalty is John Thornley (vocals, keys) Paul Thornley (guitar, vocals), Jacob Rabadi (bass), and Luke Adams (drums).