Dan Deacon

The electronic-music composer and performer Dan Deacon says he's a bit concerned about his sold-out solo show Feb. 19 at the Ottobar. He's questioning whether or not he'll have to get on stage. Operating below stage level over the past half-decade, the Mount Vernon resident has become a club and festival draw and something of a cultural export for Baltimore. He positions his keyboard, microphones and electronic contraptions in the audience and lets his horde of young fans dance and sing around him -- so close, in fact, that he nearly becomes obscured.

Here's a tip to everyone making music videos: involve puppets*. Somehow. Sock puppets even. If the new Muppets movie taught us anything - and it taught us a lot -  is that puppets can improve even Jason Segel vehicles. Puppets could make Skrillex music videos passable. So it was a pleasure to see the new video from Baltimore proto-punks Dope Body. It features all the big P's: punks, puppets and paranoia. The video is for Dope Body's "Bangers & Yos," off their first proper album "Nupping," which was released last year.

The trailer for the Dan Deacon-scored, Francis Ford Coppola movie "Twixt" has premiered. Michael Sragow has the trailer over at Gets Reel . Coppola first heard Deacon on National Public Radio last year, and said in an interview he was drawn to Deacon's unconventional aesthetic. "I was fascinated with his intelligence, and also with his sense of adventure," he said. But it was Deacon's background in composition - he was trained at State University of New York at Purchase - that inspired Coppola to tap the musician to score his new movie, which stars Val Kilmer and Elle Fanning.

Dan Deacon, Celebration and Matmos are playing the Ottobar Friday.  The show was posted on the Ottobar's website in late October , but Friends Records' tumblr clarified Monday that the show would mark the debut of a new Dan Deacon ensemble. Deacon will now be performing alongside Denny Bowen ( Double Dagger 's former drummer), Dave Jacober (of Dope Body), Chester Gwazda (who produced "Bromst"), and Jordan Casey. Deacon's promoting several re-releases: "Meetle Mice," "Silly Hat vs. Eagle Hat," and "Spiderman of the Rings.

Dan Deacon, Celebration and Matmos are playing the Ottobar Friday.  The show was posted on the Ottobar's website in late October , but Friends Records' tumblr clarified Monday that the show would mark the debut of a new Dan Deacon ensemble. Deacon will now be performing alongside Denny Bowen ( Double Dagger 's former drummer), Dave Jacober (of Dope Body), Chester Gwazda (who produced "Bromst"), and Jordan Casey. Deacon's promoting several re-releases: "Meetle Mice," "Silly Hat vs. Eagle Hat," and "Spiderman of the Rings.

This clip from last month's Head 2 Head Transmodern Festival is mostly typical Dan Deacon live fare — sped-up, indistinguishable vocals, sweaty kids participating in a dance-off, enough energy to make a bull's heart stop. But it's also sweet in an unexpected way: Deacon, perhaps our city's most famous connection to Francis Ford Coppola , debuts a new song (which momentarily sounded like an AT&T ad) for his girlfriend Stefani. When it's over, he explains he began writing the song on her last birthday but never finished until a couple days ago. A song that took a year to write?

Another day, another Wale concert. The Washington rapper, who just opened for Lupe Fiasco at Merriweather, and who'll perform at Morgan State's homecoming next month, announced a third regional date for this Fall. He'll perform at the Fillmore Silver Spring October 22. Tickets, at $31, go on sale Friday. Also doubling up on shows is Sting. This guy, who's out plugging a new 25th anniversary greatest hits collection, was scheduled to perform October 29 at DAR Constitution Hall.

Erykah Badu will perform at Rams Head Live December 2 , it was announced Wednesday. Consider that an early Christmas present. Badu puts on an exceptional show, clever, iconoclastic, a blast . She's promoting her two-part album, "New Amerikah," whose second half was released in Spring of last year. You might have seen " Window Seat " already, give the tender "Out of my Mind" a try. Tickets, at $75, go on sale Friday. Also December 2, J. Roddy Walston and the Business, fresh from a bunch of festival dates, like All Good in West Virginia , will perform at the Ottobar.

By the time Dan Deacon released Spiderman of the Rings, his 2007 national critical breakthrough, he had already established himself as a manic performer. His reputation stretched well beyond his base in Baltimore. The success of the album, which garnered kudos from Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, brought on more opportunities to tour. Soon, thousands of artsy hipster types across the country filled Deacon's shows, where he often shunned the stage, turning his performances into goofy participatory events.

Francis Ford Coppola must be listening to Baltimore electronic music at his California vineyard. The Academy Award-winning filmmaker of the "Godfather" movies tapped local musician Dan Deacon to score his upcoming movie, "Twixt Now and Sunrise," which stars Val Kilmer and Elle Fanning. Deacon, who was classically trained at the State University of New York at Purchase, is now better known for founding the artists' collective Wham City in Baltimore and making hyperkinetic dance music.

Occupy Baltimore organizers blamed Baltimore Police for the cancellation of a concert Saturday by the band Celebration. They said police warned them any concerts at McKeldin Square would be shut down, and the concert was canceled preemptively. Baltimore Police said concerts are not allowed at the square over safety and crowd concerns. The cancellation comes as law enforcement across the country has stepped up its efforts to dismantle the activist movement Occupy Wall Street.

Celebration is going to perform at Occupy Baltimore November 12. After organizers sought support from local celebrities and artists, the band is the first to agree to perform at the encampment at McKeldin Square. Others - Dan Deacon, Wye Oak, Animal Collective's Deakin - have expressed support for the protest but said they're unavailable to perform because of touring commitments. Celebration, which put out a widely acclaimed album earlier this year, " Hello Paradise ," is finishing a tour with locals Arbouretum.

Erykah Badu will perform at Rams Head Live December 2 , it was announced Wednesday. Consider that an early Christmas present. Badu puts on an exceptional show, clever, iconoclastic, a blast . She's promoting her two-part album, "New Amerikah," whose second half was released in Spring of last year. You might have seen " Window Seat " already, give the tender "Out of my Mind" a try. Tickets, at $75, go on sale Friday. Also December 2, J. Roddy Walston and the Business, fresh from a bunch of festival dates, like All Good in West Virginia , will perform at the Ottobar.

Around the Web is a weekday roundup of posts by Sun community network members and other Baltimore area bloggers and websites. To suggest a post, share it on our wall on Facebook, tweet a link to it using the #mdblogs hashtag or fill out this form. Thursday, October 20, 2011 Steve Charing OUTspoken: 'Occupy' must harness its good energy What needs to be done, what would be smart, is for the Occupy movement in the U.S. to follow the model of the right wing's protest counterpart, the Tea Party, and delve into electoral politics whereby these complaints could be effectively addressed by a government that's sympathetic to its causes.

This week, Midnight Sun looked at the possible return of National Premium , and the obstacles it's got ahead. We also talked to regional promoters about the new Fillmore Silver Spring , and their concerns about having Live Nation as a competitor. We posted a preview of our list of the 100 best bars in the Baltimore area . Ponytail broke up , for good this time. Baltimore Beer Week revealed its schedule. The Baltimore Book Festival catered to music lovers.

Another day, another Wale concert. The Washington rapper, who just opened for Lupe Fiasco at Merriweather, and who'll perform at Morgan State's homecoming next month, announced a third regional date for this Fall. He'll perform at the Fillmore Silver Spring October 22. Tickets, at $31, go on sale Friday. Also doubling up on shows is Sting. This guy, who's out plugging a new 25th anniversary greatest hits collection, was scheduled to perform October 29 at DAR Constitution Hall.

Artscape, Whartscape, Scapescape — there's been so many -scapes lately, it's hard to keep track. But it's almost impossible confuse any them with Starscape, the overnight electronic and dance music festival that's now in its 13th year. Celebrated annually at Fort Armistead Park, Starscape begins at 2 p.m. Saturday and ends at 6 a.m. Sunday. Major headliners of the genre will perform, among them, Bassnectar, Zeds Dead, Uncle Jesse and Daedelus. DJ Steve Aoki will also be there.

This week, Midnight Sun looked at the possible return of National Premium , and the obstacles it's got ahead. We also talked to regional promoters about the new Fillmore Silver Spring , and their concerns about having Live Nation as a competitor. We posted a preview of our list of the 100 best bars in the Baltimore area . Ponytail broke up , for good this time. Baltimore Beer Week revealed its schedule. The Baltimore Book Festival catered to music lovers.

It's a crowded week. There are two music festivals (Silopanna and the Baltimore Independent Music), and several concerts with two headliners on the bill: Maroon 5 and Train; Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock; Dan Deacon and Future Islands. Elsewhere: Chuck Brown celebrates his 75th, Journey, and the Out of Your Head collective. On Monday , The Get Down, 701 South Bond Street, hosts its wweekly party Happy Mondays! $2 domestics all night. 8 p.m. Free. Also: Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow, one of those concert duos we're seeing this summer, performs at Jiffy Lube Live . 7 p.m. Tickets start at $31.50 On Tuesday , the Out Of Your Head Collective performs at their Tuesday gig at the Windup Space, 12 W. North Ave. 9:30 p.m. Free.

This year's High Zero Festival will take place between September 22 and 25, organizers said earlier this week. That gives it an entire weekend of its own, unlike last year, which coincided with Virgin Mobile FreeFest. The 13th edition of the experimental music festival will feature outdoor concerts, recording sessions, workshops, and like last year, guerilla street performances.  This year, there will also be a dance performance on September 20 at 2640 Space and a film night at the Charles Theater September 21. Most concerts will take place at the Theatre Project in Mt. Vernon.