An Open House With the Works

 DC Glass Works in Hyattsville will be having an open house this Saturday from 3:30 until 8:30 which will feature glassblowing demonstrations, refreshments (god, I love that word) and real live music from the rarely live (due to scheduling issues) but always ready to rock- Rhodes Tavern Troubadours. Pop on in and say hello or blow something up. In a good way.

Music starts around 4:30.

Happy Mardi Gras

Today New Orleans rocks...

Jackson Square

(Photo by Mark Hall)

It's Not Too Late To Go South for Mardi Gras

(photo by Bruce Guthrie)

That is if you can make it to Clarendon right there in rebel territory-also known as the commonwealth of Virginia for their own home grown Mardi Gras parade which includes all the right ingredients- beads, live music and floats. Parade rolls at 8 p.m. starting at the corner of Veitch and Wilson and continuing up Wilson Boulevard. Iota has the after party featuring 2 pop bands Tereu Tereu and The Pomegranates- no cover!

You CAN Like Mondays by Lyn2

Phil "Philvis" Duarte has this to say about Monday night's Midwinter Meltdown at the Black Cat.
A Food For Thought reunion of sorts. Shards of Guilt Combo, Special K, Girltrain, All Scars, Beefeater, Burnt Ernies, Fidelity Jones, Delta 72, the Dusters and then some shall take the stage for your entertainment. It's ALL AGES and we love you be there for the ROCK. Pup Tent is Ben Azzara, Ted Watts & Phil Duarte. The Formers are Yvette Williams, Stefan Bauschmid, John K & Dug Birdzell!

There are some who feel that Monday night is the best night to go out since there are no crowds and you have to really want to be out to drag yourself off the couch that night. I think when you combine that with the chance to hear Puptent's special brand of sound and vision, it's a winner. I can't tell you what The Formers sound like but given the band resumes why don't we go find out.

To summarize: Monday, February 23 at 9 pm; Black Cat backroom. Shows end by Metro time. There are pool tables in the Red Room. Food in Food For Thought cafe. Beer at the bar. What more do you want?

Lyn2

Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez

I always get that "do you know what it means to miss New Orleans" feeling right around this time of year because I do. Down in New Orleans the parties and parades are happening now, and you'd be hard pressed not find a King Cake or gumbo hanging around wherever you go. The parades are created by clubs or "Krewes" with mythological names like Muses, Bacchus, Zulu and Rex, and this weekend they'll be rolling most of the day and into the evening. Fantastic floats tower overhead- sometimes double deckers - with costumed people flinging beads, doubloons, toys and cups into the melee. (Despite the prevailing fantasy that girls lift their shirts for beads- which I'm sure does happen near Bourbon Street - in real life the crowds are primarily families -parents with little ones on their shoulders, hands outstretched, and the atmosphere is not tawdry but magical. )

Now I'm getting misty so I will quit here, but if you know what it means or if you want to know- head over to the Surf Club this Sunday afternoon for our local answer to Mardi Gras angst- Little Red and The Renegades Mardi Gras Zydeco Dance Party. The fun starts at 3, and cover is just five bucks. What a deal for a great band and les bon temps.

The first thing I think of when I hear The Hall Monitors is it's back to the rock and roll drawing board- but that's a good thing. Influenced by the likes of Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and The Yardbirds, I also hear The Animals in there and just good ole deep into back of the garage serious sixties rock.
See what you think.
Also playing are rock and roll rockabilly types Billy Woodward and The Senders plus the more punk rock oriented (stop worrying and) Love the Bomb. (I wish they had told me that as a kid- I could have spent less time under my desk and more time sleeping at night.)

All three bands are playing THIS FRIDAY NIGHT at The Quarry House - the bargain basement of the DC area rock world.

Prabir and the Substitutes, Galaxy Hut Alexandria Va

Prabir and the Substitutes, Galaxy Hut Alexandria Va
Originally uploaded by chip py the photo guy

Best New Band!

(Photo by DC Rocks staff photographer Chip Py)

Last night while Prabir and The Substitutes were killing the crowd at the Galaxy Hut, the band won the Wammie- our local rock award-for New Artist of the Year. Congratulations to Prabir, Charlie, Chris, Robbie and Tyler!

Torn

There's a reason DC ROCKS has two authors named Lyn-it's so we can attend different shows on the same night. This is a tribute to the wealth of talent at work around here. This Sunday night, it's a monumental split since the bands involved are among our favorites. Everyone knows we've got a "Prabir and the Substitutes Problem." We've been in withdrawal during their 3 months absence from the DC scene. It's also well known that of the fabulous new entrants of the last year or so, 7 Door Sedan is one that stands out for DC ROCKS, and they haven't played since early December.
Sigh.

You can imagine our dilemma, with both of these acts playing this Sunday night, President's Day Eve.

The answer? Geography among other things.
Lyn1 will cross the Potomac to get to the Galaxy Hut in Arlington for Prabir and the Substitutes and their friends The Palominos- both outstanding acts for a mere $5. Lyn2 will hit the Quarry House in Silver Spring for 7 Door Sedan's first show since early December. New songs are promised and the opening act is King Mixer with Lyn2's childhood friend Danny Ingram on drums.

Valentine's Day or Carnival ? Have it All at the Surf Club

Valentine's Day. For some it means making your kids sign and address 66 Spongebob cards which is a hazard not mentioned in those what to expect about childhood books. For others it's the mandatory box of chocolates or a traditional dinner out, and for still others it's a night to get in bed with a book and ignore the whole thing. 

But there's something or someone for everyone out there.  This year why not do that something at The Grandsons and Hula Monsters  Hawaiian Swing Mardi Gras Monster Dance Party at the Surf Club this Saturday night? These guys are the consummate professional party men who happen to be talented musicians as well and can keep that dance floor well occupied.

Get in the on the second line and feel the love.

Dark Night of the Soul

The weather may be weirdly warm in DC right now, but being February you know it's not over yet. Our last snowfall (or should I say snow melt) can be as late as April although that is rare. What isn't rare is that March starts out like the proverbial gentle lamb and ends with my all time least favorite weather-30 degrees and raining. This week the forecast calls for nearly 70 degrees then a wintry mix by Saturday. (which sounds dangerously close to my least favorite weather.)

These dark days call for soul soothing measures like food and music. If you have a hankering for soul food-you could always head over to the Hitching Post in NE DC for fried chicken, greens and macaroni and cheese. If you feel the need for soul/funk/r & b,  DC9's got it this Thursday night featuring Boston based Jesse Dee and DC based Sol and Stacy Brooks.

$8.

And don't forget the Thrillbillys are always ready to shake rattle and roll the Sunset Grille -also on Thursday night if you happen to be on the Virginia side of the river. 

Sunday Night Therapy With Ken Moss and More by Lyn2

Sunday night rock therapy as the weekend ends and the Monday dread sinks in is just what you need February 8 at the Galaxy Hut where you can see three bands for five bucks. Ken Moss (currently 7 Door Sedan, formerly Acrylix and more) will share his prolific song-writing talents. The line-up is Ken on guitar with friend Bill Merkel on bass. If you like 7 Door's Sweden or the one I call "The Crazy Guy Song," you know that Ken has a knack for poetry put to melody across an array of styles. This is a great chance to hear what he's been stocking away.

The Crowd Scene, formerly of London and now of Arlington VA are headlining. Eric Brace calls them "British pop" in his rave reviewl that plus a quick spin through their web site convinced me to stay through the whole show. The openers, Get Off My Lawn are, according to Ken, two guys who were in The Intentions who swear they shared a bill with Acrylix at Baltimore's Marble Bar in the 80s. Get Off My Lawn's Myspace doesn't tell me much so I wandered over to check out The Intentions. Why can't I remember these guys? Apparently they loved Razz and I got a rewarding Undertones feel from the first track on their page. Anyway, I digress. This Sunday at the Galaxy Hut sounds like something not to miss.

RARE RTT RIOT @ The Avalon

Anything can happen at a RTTS concert, and since they are far and few between these days, don't miss this Saturday's show. Here's the scoop from Jake Flack:

"Attention rock n' rollers of ALL ages: The RTTs annual winter dance-party meltdown at the Avalon Theatre is Saturday, February 7.
The fun starts promptly at 10 a.m. and goes until the last kid says, "Mommy, I want to be in a band too." Mission accomplished! In the spirit of inclusion and togetherness we invite all aspiring young musicians to bring your favorite instrument and join us on stage. We've invited our newest fans, Sasha and Malia. After seeing this video rumor has it that the RTTs are in heavy rotation on the 2nd floor of the White House!"

Bye Bye And Chip Py Photo Guy

(JP McDermott)

Local artists and rock fans alike celebrated the life of Buddy Holly last Saturday night at the Surf Club with a musical tribute organized by JP McDermott. The place was packed, and photographer, Chip Py captured the action on stage. See more pix of this show at Chip's Flickr site.

(Chris Watling)

And if you missed that, JP is giving a lecture/presentation at the Smithsonian later today, the 50th anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of  Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly (The intro to this clip is priceless- "Now no matter what you think of rock 'n' roll, I think you have to keep a nice open mind about what the young people go for... )

That was "a long long time ago..." as Don Mclean would say. 

And would you believe it's been 38 years since that song was an instant hit?  I could barely do the math, but "American Pie" came out in 1971. I was still in elementary school, but I remember that single being all we would listen to at slumber parties. My daughter uses that song to mark a certain demographic divide, but that's another story.

Long live rock and roll.

Rave on, Buddy Holly.

Happy Feb Rock Fans

In February it will be

my snowman's anniversary

with cake for him 

and soup for me!

Happy once 

happy twice 

happy chicken soup 

with rice.

-Maurice Sendak