Pitchfork

There are times-- like, say, halfway through any Dan Deacon track you please-- when it seems the rest of the major urban centers in this country have kept on making relatively normal music, whereas everybody in Baltimore got together, ate a whole bag of Spree apiece, and collectively shouted "HEY, LET'S ALL GO CRAZY AT ONCE!"

The rise of Spank Rock, Dan Deacon, and Cex are proof enough of this postulate; heck, even Beach House are kinda out there for a soft-pop duo. All those nuts and more will join together for Wildfire Wildfire/Wham City/Artscape's Whartscape 2007, a three-day fest going off July 20-22 at a trio of Baltimore hotspots. The Dirty Projectors, Cex, XBXRX, Soft Circle, Ponytail, Juiceboxxx, the Death Set, Yeasayer, and, er, Butt Stomach and DJ Dog Dick are among those repping the silly city from which so many of 'em hail.