Saturday: It's Alive !

You may not have been there then when they recorded Billy's favorite live albums (see above)- but you can be a part of it now. No, not New York, but the D.C. scene. Billy Coulter is recording his next CD this Saturday night with friends John Penovich and Brian Simms joining the band- and you, yes, you will play the "audience."

It all takes place at the Franklin Park Performing Arts Center way out there in Loudon County where you can actually see a lot more stars up there in the sky and the waning full moon to boot. The concerts are held in a converted dairy barn so take a trip out to the country and chill, and rock. Tickets $15. Show starts at 8 p.m.

FRIDAY: All You Wanna Do Is Dance

Two bands guaranteed to make you move your feet.

Now Rockville Rocks on Friday

Strathmore Arts Center used to throw great outdoor events featuring local bands on the lawn which soon grew too big for the neighbors to handle. (I remember the Nils Lofgren tribute looked like a mini Woodstock on the Pike.) Now they are trying something different inside the Mansion with a concert and art series called "Friday Night Eclectic" featuring music, arts and cocktails- always a winning combination.

This Friday don't miss the appropriately eclectic and original rock of the Cravin' Dogs.
Plus artists Bobbi Kittner, Sam Kittner, Katja Toporski and Rod Glover will have exhibits of their work in the Mansion galleries. A cash bar kicks off the night with $2 PBRs from 8-9 p.m- the rock show starts at 9. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. All ages.

Girls Rock Tonight

Q: How often do you get to see an all girl line up?
A: Velvet Lounge.

Olivia Mancini Tippy Canoe Antonette G America Hearts
Doors 7:30pm/Show 9pm/21+/$8

GHz Cycles Back

DC ROCKS has always admired the sound of GHZ, a band that can really capture a time gone by when they cover classic bands like Cream and Hendrix, but now they have something new going on. It's their own CD, "Morbid Curiosity," which harkens back to all that great rock-but with solid original tunes that make you THINK you might have missed something from Wishbone Ash or the like.

See for your own bad self this Friday evening when GHz has a CD release party- in real time- at Bangkok Blues in Falls Church.

Cars Make Way for Dancing at Glen Echo

Glen Echo has always been a cool place to hang out. Back in 1881 the Chautauqua movement came to stay. Clara Barton built a house as a Red Cross head quarters in 1891 and lived there until her death. In 1899 much of the land was rented and became an amusement park which lasted well into the sixties. After this enterprise was abandoned, the National Park Service started managing the land, and artists soon drifted back again building yurts for their studios and hosting music festivals. Now Glen Echo Park has had a full face lift. The Denzel carousel and the Spanish ballroom are restored, and the Bumper Car Pavilion may not have cars anymore, but there's lots of action when dances are held there.


This Friday night band members of The Grandsons and Little Red and the Renegades will combine forces with Dancing by the Bayou. Zydeco dance lessons start at 8, and the music goes from 9-12. $15 will get you in for a lot of fun-plus you can be a part of local history.

What Happens on 4-20?

Got you there... the really cool thing that's happening is a new free download from Prabir/Goldrush. "It's a Hit." So, whatever else you do this day, be sure and see what our friends from Richmond are up to now. You will like it. Don't wait for a lazy Sunday.

You can find it on Facebook or Myspace.

Lyn2

Late Notice: It's a New Deal for Sunday

I am in Manhattan, but if I were home I would go to the New Deal Cafe in old Greenbelt and see Ken Moss and friends and Color School. Old Greenbelt itself is a unique find built during the New Deal as a model for walkable/livable communities - thus the Cafe's name. No cover - good coffee, beverages and food are available. It seems like a good Sunday night thing to do. Check out the Old Greenbelt Theater too - last of its kinds. I heart Old Greenbelt and New York. New York has better pizza.

Lyn2

Local DC Rocks the State This Sunday

Take Our Advice

Shortstack's got a CD coming out and a release party at Black Cat on Friday. These guys will captivate you with a sound that's rootsy but new. They will be joined by Suns of Guns and Birds of Avalon from Chapel Hill. I took Bill Hanke's recommendation to see them last time they played Black Cat, and it was the best advice I got all year.

Home Week

DC home boys, Daniel McCormick and Jacob Long are back in town with Mi Ami- a somewhat ethereal yet throbbing San Francisco group that pretty much defies any sort of pigeon holing. Daniel and Jacob, formerly of Black Eyes, (brought to you by Dischord records) make up two of this trio which definitely has roots in the punk scene. Catch their act at the Velvet Lounge this Thursday night and trade in your tax frenzy for a saner sort of diversion.

Been a Long Time Since We Rock and Rolled

by Lyn2

It feels like ages since I saw 7 Door Sedan and Sister Ex, so Tuesday night's Black Cat show is welcome. You won't hear either of these bands for a little while so if you've been saying "next time" the time is now. 7 Door's hypnotic sounds will be back after a hiatus, and Sister Ex is working on those brilliant songs in the studio this spring.

It's also Jane Henderson's birthday celebration.

Tuesday night, Black Cat Backstage, 9 p.m. And like every show at the Black Cat, but unlike most others, it's all ages venue, and you can play pool in the Red Room in between bands.
Show the kids you're not to old too rock on a week night. $8 cover.

Breakfast Can Rock With The Loggers

Stock Wilson wants you to know that The Loggers will be raising a ruckus in front of Port City Java at Eastern Market on Capitol Hill Saturday morning April 10th from 10am to noon. Come on down and shop the market, grab a latte and dance!

Get Your Groove On

Silver Spring has been sprung. The once faltering downtown business district has been revived and revamped. It now features a wildly popular faux Main Street lined with chain stores and restaurants. (Ever the contrarian, I tend to haunt places like the Quarry House (1937) Dale Music (1950) and Tastee Diner(1946) all local old school hold outs.)

One welcome change, however, is that Silver Spring has become the shopping/swapping district for vinyl. The CD Game Exchange, Roadhouse Oldies and now Joe's Record Paradise (which migrated from Rockville) are all within a few blocks of each other. Joe has been pushing vinyl since 1974, and the shop is now in a former pool hall which is an enormous space. Look for the grand opening party this Saturday with live music from 3-6 p.m.

Some Don't Like It Hot

It was 78 degrees in Washington when I went to bed last night which is just plain wrong in my book. Record breaking heat here where, not too long ago, it seemed like it would never stop snowing.
I am not ready for August in April, and neither are my lettuce seedlings, but at least by the weekend things should be back to our regular spring weather programming. Wade with me if you will through the pollen and catch Little Red and the Renegades this Friday night at Haydee's in a city where spring really is an amazing thing. Little Red brings you the sound of New Orleans without the plane fare, no baggage fee and no cover. 9 p.m.