CHINA/ U.S. RELATIONS SOLVED

Last night an international incident occurred at IOTA, and every musician worth their salt,  everyone that considers themselves to be a music fan needs to GO TO IOTA TONIGHT to see what promises to be another unforgettable performance by Shanren- a musical phenomenon from Mainland China on their first American tour.

This is not a drill, guys- this is the real thing.

DC ROCKS does not usually cover topics beyond the confines of our own Metropolitan area, but Shanren's  talent and sheer determination changed their lives, and all you have to do is get in your car or on the Metro to see and hear the joy that years of hard work can produce. If you don't believe me- here's what National Geographic has to say.

Their music is a fusion of modern rock and traditional roots- hard to describe and even harder to turn away from to get a beer. Make the exception and go out on a Monday.  See a band that came over 12,000 miles to perform for you, and see why it was worth it.

Opening for Shanren- The Weathervanes-a cool and capable DC band with American roots definitely showing.

$15 - a bargain in any currency.

You Don't Have To Play Ball on St Pat's Day To Win

St Patrick's Day can be a rough night for music lovers what with amateur bar flies clogging up the roads and bars, but this Saturday you can see a great show- "The First Ever Good Sports Music Fest"-  and be home before your corned beef and cabbage of cool off for supper.

Good Sports is all about raising money to send kids to college that might not otherwise have a chance to go- not because of lack of brains or drive, but because of lack that necessary evil- the almighty dollar.

That same dollar will go a long way Saturday afternoon at the Jammin' Java when three bands hit the stage for the Good Sports benefit including local favorites The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours and Scott Ramminger and the Crawstickers - which will be chock full of talent on this gig with the likes of Dave Chapell, Tommy Lepson, and Pete Ragusa-plus possible guest stars. Noon until 4 p.m.
Tickets just $15. That's $15 bucks for 3 bands, a good cause and four hours of music!

Massive Local Rock Show Friday

 I asked Tony Blankenship for his take on all the bands sharing the bill with him at the Black Cat this Friday, and he did such a good job that I have to thank him for doing all my work.  I think I'll just mosey outside and ponder the encroaching daffodils while he tells you what's going on:


Nunchucks take classic guitar rock and mesh it with the pop-sensibility of modern indie rock. They've been referred to as "Shred-pop", which is just as awesome as the name implies. Seeing these guys reminds me of when I was in high-school and going to rock concerts felt like being in another world. I was excited by the whole experience, and everything that happened on stage had a certain magic to it. Their guitar player kills me every time I see him.

Maple has this late 70s meets 90s rock thing going on. Kind of like the guys from Queens of The Stone Age playing Cheap Trick songs. It's a sight to be seen: rocking vocal harmonies, dueling guitars, mid-song tempo change, and nothing seems out of place or off. They've been together for a long time. The chemistry these guys have on stage is a beautiful thing.

Cane & the Sticks have this really intense dynamic. A song can go from vicious, jagged, rock n roll savagery to a place where really sweet melodic guitar lines and female vocals in harmony lure you in. Their music is passionate: it's primordial, it's psychedelic, and it's anything but safe. I shared a bill with them last year at Fort Reno, and they blew my mind.

The Courtesans summon the ghosts of late 60s garage rock and early 80s power pop. We want to conjure a force of evil known to man as "the pop song." The material is catchy, without apology. The bass is very present and melodic with leanings towards New Order. (Tony didn't mention it, but I hear a little Vampire Weekend thrown in there, too.) 


This show is all ages, and seems to me, all decades are pretty much covered. That's five decades of musical influences for just $10!

Field Trip on Friday

There's a scene happening out in the middle of Nowhere somewhat created by our friend Ben Pagac who relentlessly haunts the disappearing dance floors of the DC area. Surf Club is gone now, and Blob's Park still exists only by a stay of execution. Read Ben's piece on Blob's which will give you an idea of its history. It's a tavern worth seeing and definitely in the category of places that will one day be gone.

As far as what, who and when- it's a rocking dance party with two over the top bands Arty Hill and King Soul this Friday night.

The barrel starts rolling round 8 p.m. Music all night. $12 cover.

And Not So Far Afield

You can't go wrong with this little club. IOTA has expanded their band space as well as their beer taps. And if you've never been, The Grandsons are a fun band which will welcome you to the party.
Two bands actually...and only $12.

Don't Drop Everything Just Drop Electric

Drop Electric will bring their unexplainable but groovy sound to the Black Cat Saturday night along with Teen Mom, Mittenfields and Sam Cooper and the Sleepwalkers. ( Is it me or are there more band names than there are words in the English language?)

If you can't get to the show, be sure to check out his Drop Electric's band site for mesmerizing videos.

Bind Your Eyes with Trembling Mermaids

It's been a while since Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton gave us the sound that only a band named Cream could deliver. I was fourteen when I first discovered the "Tales of Brave Ulysses" mural painted on an inner wall of a hen house, but that's another story.

Ten odd years later, after the band broke up,  I remember sitting on the floor of a party somewhere in the wilds of College Park listening to "Disraeli Gears" while guys spoke in rapturous tones about the meaning of the songs and the guitar solos, and all that stuff men love to dissect.

Even now- type the word "cream" into the Google image search box, and three pictures of the band crop up before there's one of a dairy product. The guys in Gigahertz understand all this, and they not only bring the music of those times back, but sometimes offer originals which can be a seamless fit. Come see them this Friday in DC's very cool new venue- The Hamilton. Unlike most places DC ROCKS covers, this joint is not a dive.  It's not even a joint.  I would have to call it a performance space with the night club downstairs and a very uptown dining room plus more bars upstairs all contained within the walls of what was the grand old Garfinkle's Department Store on 14th and F NW.

Opening band- The Yachtsmen, the closest Mark Noone (former Slickee Boy) can get to playing rock originals on Gilligan's Island, has got to be seen to be believed.

All this for a rock bottom cover of $5 at the door.
Show starts at 8:30 p.m.

The Vi-Kings: Always a Party Waiting to Happen