All Hallow Even

Trick ?

OR

Treat?

Rock the Pumpkin

A lot of spooky things are going on this Thursday, but if you are in the mood for a treat rather than a trick, two shows are popping up on DC Rocks' paranormal radar.  David Kitchen will be celebrating his birthday at JVs with a concert deviously disguised as a Halloween party. (And David always has more than a skeleton crew of kicking musicians along for the night.)

Here in the always frightening home of democracy, the frenzy also known as Jumpin Jupiter  and Kiti Gartner and the Deceits will be holding forth at Gypsy Sally's - the new rock haunt in Georgetown. Both of these shows have a ridiculously low cover of only $5. And you might want to follow Jay Jenc's advice: "Wear a damn costume for cryin' out loud."

Get into the spirit before the spirits get into you! Boo haha.

Bring Out Your Crazies

This will be the perfectly insane Halloween gig brought to you by the crazy fun guys in Ubangis. AND the chameleon musician also known as  Marshall Keith, too?  Yes. 

photo by Kacey Keith

Zero admission for creepy transitions at The Quarry House this Saturday.

Sorry, Diana!

We have a winner for the Zombie/Southern Culture show.  Congratulations Michael Bennet! It was a random drawing, but many of you had winning answers which showcased your highly evolved senses of humor- perhaps the only thing that can truly save you from a Zombie Apocalypse.

Here's one from Tru Fax's irrepressible Diane Quinn:

I don't like entering contests because I never win them.  I should
have won that red bike with the essay I wrote on the history of
bicycle clothes when i was 10 which included the perfect outfit for a
Victorian girl. I still carry the bitterness of losing that contest. And, when i was five, my mom sewed the best witch dress, cloak and pointed hat ever, but I lost to Mark Scheibly, whose father owned the little town store. He wore a manufactured Caspar the
Friendly Ghost costume. How could a store-bought costume have won? I
was outraged.


Hope to see you all there - win lose of draw. (blood)

Wait For It

Last Friday I asked why some of you don't enter contests, and it turns out that a select number of DC ROCKS readers are a procrastinating, pessimistic posse of music loving, brainless zombies. (My kind of people.) Some said they were compelled by the  killer line up at U Hall  next Tuesday (pun intended) which includes  Southern Culture on the Skids, the Fleshtones AND Los Straightjackets.

Whatever the reason, there's still time for the hard core, procrastinating non contestant types amongst you to enter, and here's the posting, in case you never got around to reading it. Contest ends at midnight tonight; winner brainlessly picked by a random zombie.

Down By the River

My friend Doug Dupin is a big fan of rolling into a rock show under his own steam. Preferably balanced on two wheels. That's why he likes Gypsy Sally's which is conveniently located near where the towpath turns into Water/ K Street) under Key Bridge- a downhill ride for Doug. This Friday local song bird Mary Battiata (and Little Pink) will be singing with a couple of Nashville girls, Annie McCue and Amelia White late into the night. Doors at 10/ $10 cover.

Zombie Time

Cool show in a venue much like the old 9:30 Club, but without the poles. I've got two tickets for you and your significant other. Southern Culture on the Skids. The Fleshtones. And our own Eddie Angel playing with his killer instrumental band (emphasis on mental) Los Straightjackets. (Think Razz and Tex Rubinowitz) Old school show at the U Street Music Hall October 29. Who's in?

For a chance to win, write me at dcrocksblog@gmail.com.  (You wouldn't believe how many of you slackers don't even bother to enter.) Put Zombie in the subject box, and why you don't enter contests in the message, and two tickets could be yours. No brainer people. Like Zombies.

Contest ends this Thursday.

October Festivus

Ruthie Logsdon, like a lot of musicians around here, is always looking for a good place to play in Montgomery County. This past year at a tribute fundraiser for drummer Barry Hart, she went to the Golden Bull in Gaithersburg, and here's what she thought:

" Wow, where has this place been hiding? Seems like wasted space where bands should be showcased ! Before that, the only time I went there was for a seafood dinner with a mega salad bar (then a new feature) on special occasions with my family when I grew up in Rockville. It's relatively new (as far as hosting bands there goes), but I'm okay with helping to break it in- especially since they have a full bar." 

Help Ruthie and the Wranglers sample those sixteen beers on tap this Saturday- after all it is an October fest kind of thing to do.  And only $10 for a full night of music.

Budget Worthy

ROADDOG is up at El Golfo again this Thursday night, and here's the math on this show. Give them  five dollars for the cover charge, and you get a ticket good for an eight dollar Margarita. (I was never good at numbers, but it's like they give you $3 to have a drink and hear live music.) Plus the band features veteran players including key board master Arif Durrani, and Mike Colburn who can deliver a song like nobody's business. It's a heck of a deal. 

Writer's Block on the Calendar

Something is going on with my calendar widget in the side bar of the DC ROCKS site. 

You won't see it if you read the email version, but every time I go to make changes the powers that be  won't save them so I might have to dismantle the dang thing. 

In the mean time I can't write that the Vi-King's show this week was cancelled. Or that long time but seldom seen TONE is playing a rare show this Thursday night at DC9.  Please write me if you have any idea of how to fix this issue besides throwing my computer against the wall. And think about going to see TONE with Sansyou. Independent music for the masses.

Don't Dismember This Plan

A lot of shows at the old 9:30 are hazy to me. I often can't recall if I saw a band or just saw it listed on the calendar, but music fan Scott Stenger clearly remembers when Dismemberment Plan played F Street with the Embers in 1994 or '95:

"Their energy was what made it unforgettable. I found myself completely engaged in their performance. It was nothing like I had ever seen before! Their witty banter between songs immediately won me over. I've seen them a dozen times since then, but I will never forget that show, which was the first time that I saw them."

Dismemberment Plan must be doing something right because they've got two nights coming up at the new 9:30, and DC Rocks is giving away a pair of tickets to their show on October 19 with local art rockers Deleted Scenes. Just write to dcrocksblog@gmail.com. Please put D- Plan in the subject box, and "I wanna go" in the message unless you have a better memory than I do and want to share a story. Contest ends by midnight on Tuesday.

Insanity Reigns

Ahoy good people. The Yachtsmen were just added to Monday night's Igor and the Red Elvises bill at IOTA this Monday.  Citizens take shelter; rockers come forth.

photo credit: alice despard

Entymology

A couple of years ago,  I was in a car with a CD player, but I thought I was listening to music on the radio. I was wondering how I missed the band I was hearing: they had a Sixties psychedelic groove going on what was usually a boring classic rock station.  Then I realized it wasn't FM radio, it was our own Beatnik Flies who have been together since 1978,  and it was their CD playing on the sound system.  ( Remember them ? They played the old 9:30 all the time. No, not the guy with the blonde 'fro. That was the Insect Surfers)

I saw The Beatnik Flies over the summer at the Quarry House, and they rocked the house down, but like a lot of things that are over thirty, don't take it for granted they will be around forever. (My 1970s era washing machine finally gave up the ghost just last month.) Beatnik Flies are on deck this Saturday at the Tree House Lounge- another new place to check out on Florida Ave NE. 7 Door Sedan, a perennial favorite, as well as Sister Ex and G U T S are also on the bill which will be providing music 'til the cows come home. Show starts promptly at 8.

Y'all Come

photo by DC Rocks

This weekend go back in time and relive the spirit of Chick Hall's Surf Club- a much missed and beloved area honky-tonk. It's been five years since the Hall brothers gave up the family business, and they are ready to throw a party. The Surf Club reunion is this Saturday at the College Park American Legion. Show up with $10 cash as early as 5 p.m., and you are in for a night full of cheap drinks and ass kicking playing from The Hall Brothers along with loads of local musicians joining in on the jam.

Bring Back the Music

Just the other day I was bemoaning the lack of bars and night clubs in Georgetown. The Bayou, The Cellar Door, Desperados, Emergency...all the little rock clubs are pretty much gone where they used to be as numerous as mushrooms. But now there's a new place to check out -Gypsy Sally's- which I hear tell boasts a vinyl room and a decent sound system. This Friday the Dead will flock there, or should I say Deadheads shall gather, as well as brew-philes. Here's why from Jamie Daly of the Black Muddy River Band:

"Dogfish Head is unveiling a new brew, "American Beauty Ale," and they're celebrating by throwing a party at Gypsy Sally's, the new Georgetown rock club. As befitting the event soundtrack, BMRB will open for On the Bus, with each band doing half the songs from the album "American Beauty" plus of course many other Grateful Dead favorites. Music starts at 8:30. Hope to see you there!"

$10 cover

Here's The Plan

DC Rocks has a couple of ticket give aways coming up including The Dismemberment Plan with Deleted Scenes on October 19 at 9:30, and later in the month- Southern Culture on the Skids with Los Starightjackets and Fleshtones at U Street Music Hall which I keep calling U Haul by mistake. Not that I need to bribe you all to read DC Rocks. Just saying.

Local Man Strikes Again in Hold Out

George Pelecanos just might be one of the best kept secrets in Washington. I  met a gregarious gang of New Yorkers at a reception last summer, and upon hearing my Greek name, they wanted to know if I had ever heard of George Pelecanos.

Of course, I said.

What? they yelled.

No one in DC knows him!

You're kidding, I said.  I asked George if this was true, and he confirmed that he was better known in other places even though his numerous crime novels are deeply set here on the lesser known streets of  the District.

Tomorrow night George will be reading from his latest book The Double  at Politics and Prose- an independent hold out of a book store that has survived the slings and arrows of the big chains. Come prowl its nooks and crannies and take in real D.C.

Love Is the Drug For Me

This week after being bombarded with government shut down stories, my personal favorite came from Michelle Bachman when she warned us that Obama's health care plan could be as addictive as crack.  Need a break from the Theater of the Absurd? ( aka Capitol Hill) This weekend is full of musical temptations, and no shut downs here- except for a couple of streets.

Kicking off on Friday,  Middle Distance Runner- a pop based rock band that likes the Beatles and pizza will play out at U Street Music Hall with Teen Mom. They might put themselves in the middle, but I think they stand out in a crowd. ( Early show, y'all. Doors at 6)

Saturday one of DC's long time favorites- the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours will resurface on Harleys as they pursue their inner Hog. No kidding- the band will be playing from 11:30 am until 2:30 p.m. up at Battley Cycles' Open House in Gaithersburg. Free. Still jonesing ?
Look for roots rock paragon- Mary Battiata and her band  Little Pink at the New Deal Cafe where echoes of another administration left a cool place to see music. Also on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Finally Sunday you can overdose on free crack, I mean free music, which abounds all day at the Takoma Park Street Fest. The streets of old town are shut down to cars, but open for roaming between  three stages, vendors and more.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Some of us can- especially in the music world. Local gang Jellyroll Mortals and Victoria Vox roll out the welcome mat for Spottiswoode and his Enemies this Thursday night at the Hamilton. 

Both Sides Now

I heard something interesting go by on the radio this week during the endless discussions of the government shut down. Seems a lot of people were not just divided by the health care issue, but also by whether or not they remembered the last furlough. I remember the world didn't end in 1996, but it sure didn't get any better either. I also heard someone smart point out that if the airports were closed, this thing would last about 30 seconds. 

Whatever happens, here's a show both sides of the aisle could agree on. It's fun seeing big talent shoe-horned into a tiny throwback dive like JV's, and this Thursday the David Kitchen Band will command that micro stage with an A-1 line up including Jack O' Dell, Steve Wolf, and Dan Hovey.