Thursday, February 20, 2014

Fifty Shades of Gray Too Many




Last week, or maybe even all this winter, I've felt startled to see the sun. A couple of weeks ago I left home around four o'clock, and the light outside was the color of slate. I thought the sun might be going down soon, but an hour and a half later, I came home in a gun metal fog which finally gave way to the charcoal of dusk. The next morning would bring, you guessed it, the cold gray light of dawn.

Then last night I had a nightmare. I dreamed I heard an automated voice saying sternly "Snow will accumulate  4 inches." It scared me so much that I woke up and had to assure myself it was just a dream. This has never happened to me before. I love snow and always have. To me snow is what punctuates the gray with exclamation points of light. (whoops, sorry- my english major slips out from time to time.)

At any rate Washington has nothing to fear this weekend except a lot of muddy snow melt as the temperature is predicted to flirt with the sixties. At least those coveted parking places will be freed up again. (and no, people, you can not legally save these spaces with lawn chairs. Sorry. )

Feel like music? I'd hit up the Quarry House Saturday night for 7 Door Sedan and Doug Stevenson and the Spades. If you feel like getting out of town, the irreverent Maritime Republic of Eastport is throwing a Mardi Gras party with Little Red and the Renegades.

And Sunday when you are thoroughly besotted with spring fever,  IOTA has Color School in the house in an early slot. Show starts at 8.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

We Are WHat WE Are



Congratulations are in order to all the Washington Area Music Association winners and nominees.  If you have never heard of WAMA, you might want to take a minute to watch the 25th anniversary video for a little back ground and some great footage of DC music history and what our music scene is all about. WAMA has been criticized for being too closed a group, and it's true that often the same people rotate around, but membership is open to everyone inclined towards things musical, and no one else has stepped up to create anything like it.

I watched the anniversary video this morning and realized some things haven't changed much. You can still see great talent often awkwardly stashed in a corner of a hotel bar or restaurant. On the other hand, good size venues are popping up like Gypsy Sally's in Georgetown and the renovated Lincoln and Howard Theaters. A lot of this year's winners like David Kitchen and Dave Chappell are  featured here on DC ROCKS because we are lucky to see them play without paying a lot of overhead, but it would be good to see them in those slightly larger venues as well.

Since everything is all about me, this year I see my connection to the scene as both slim and stretchy- like a rubber band. Once upon a time I lived in a group house that had notorious all night keg-ers. When the beer ran out, we'd take up a collection for a late run to Tick Tock Liquor on University Boulevard which stayed open late and was also a bar.  My boyfriend's little sister crashed the party a couple of times, and she always brought her best friend- this year's WAMA song writer of the year and roots rock vocalist:  Patty Reese.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Be Mine Cowpoke


Feel like getting more down home than duded up this Valentine's Day? Want to go where you don't need a reservation and drinks are cheaper than a ten dollar Stetson on a five cent head?
Then check out the Valentine's Day show at the Takoma Park VFW on Orchard Avenue. This space has been described to me as a micro Surf Club complete with stage, a dance floor, and, this Friday, a whole lot of live music to boot.


Monday, February 10, 2014

A Forum For Bealtle Maniacs


This week's forecast calls for snow on Wednesday. That being said, let's try and rise above the usual high pitched screams and save them for the library. Yes, a snowy forecast provides the perfect setting for the upcoming Beatles retrospective at the Shaw Library.



DC Music Salon will be screening this landmark concert and rambling down the Penny Lane of memory with local eyewitnesses including rock journalist, Michael Oberman, and manager to the stars, Tom Carrico. Join everyone at the library this Wednesday evening from 7-9 for photos, stories and lots more. Events like this are a labor of love for  Marc Eisenberg, and yet another reason DC ROCKS.


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Meet These Guys


LOOKEE all you peoples that live up that 270 corridor way. Here's a chance to see a fun band shake the dust off old memories.  The Vi-Kings are playing a free show this Friday night at the Golden Bull way up there in Gaithersburg to commemorate that fateful night when the cuddly mop tops took over earthling TV and gave Ed Sullivan a rocket boost in the ratings. 

Musicians like this space- it's a big room with plenty of dance floor, and this week's show is free due to  the gig being moved from Saturday to Friday. To get you in the mood - here rare clips of Beatles footage brought to you by the folks at Rolling Stone.