It’s March. It is, or it was, or it’s going to be fifty degrees today, depending on when you read this. Point: it’s about time to leave hibernation. Nurse your winter-wounded-heart at Johnny Brenda’s, with pints of lo-fi love. Say Hi (To Your Mom) is headlining the evening (and no longer saying hi to your mom; apparently it’s been four years and you shouldn’t ask about it). His new 2011 release Um, Uh Oh, “has expanded beyond bedroom-pop eccentricities to embrace dark, ominous (but still major-key) synths, toothy bass and roughed-up electric guitars,” restless vocals and deals with the devil. Say Hi goes on at eleven. Opening for him is Brooklyn-based, New Orleans-raised Blair whose dream-pop stylings are infused with the sounds of 90’s alt radio rock and, well, kittens and rainbows. Hushed, melodic vocals repeat over catchy hooks; it is upbeat, mild-mannered and undeniably sweet. Yellow Ostrich, which started as the solo recording project of Alex Schaaf in a Wisconsin dorm room, is opening the evening. They recently became a three-piece, adding bass and horns to the rhythmic, vocal-centric, often a cappella set. Doors at 8PM.— CAROLINE SCHMIDT
Blair plays Johnny Brenda’s Tonight with Say Hi To Your Mom and Yellow Ostrich