Dancing In September

My cousin John who lives out in Ashton, Maryland declared he saw a leaf fall yesterday, but Autumn officially doesn't actually arrive until September 22 this year, and many a warm day and beautiful night lie in between. Stave off that seasonal disorder by focusing on the positive. September starts handily on a Friday which means five weekends, people!

Kick up your heels starting with Valentine Slim who will take over the Takoma VFW this Friday night. "Slim" has a long musical history in D.C. which includes dancing for the Psychedelic Power and Light Company at the Ambassador Theater- an amazing tale there, and I could digress, but I won't so hit the link for more. Nowadays Slim concentrates on bringing out a country blues rock kind of thing, and the Hells Bottom VFW is the perfect venue for the sound.

Saturday night catch Dede and the Do-Rights in an all star line up at Hank Dietle's - another perfect little honky tonk. On a larger scale, local bands invade the 9:30 Club. Look for The Split Seconds, Thaylobleu and more at the rare night club where all ages can see live music.

The British Are Coming... Again.

April 18, 1775. February 7, 1964. August 19, 2017. What do these dates have in common?  All three mark British invasions and, like kudzu, there's no escaping their impact on our landscape. We may have repelled the Red Coats, but when The Beatles landed, they kicked open the door and in marched The Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and The Kinks. Cream, Elton John, Jethro Tull and The Hollies. It seems like "Long Cool Woman" was covered at every school dance I went to, but I missed seeing most of these bands in person.

But while we've been "lazing on a summer afternoon," many local musicians spent the last few months holed up in the woodshed, working on a show bent on recreating the hellacious sounds of 1967-1974 with music from all the bands listed above plus Queen, Traffic, Donovan and more. The "invasion" happens this Saturday night at The Fillmore in Silver Spring.

For those of you looking for a more intimate show, check out Jau Ocean and Boat Burning at Bossa on 18th Street. Boat Burning's last EP was produced by Roger Miller of Mission of Burma, and these psychedelic cats are ready to go. Early show 8 p.m. to 10:30 on Saturday as well.

Local Rock Alerts

DC's public library is archiving a lot more than books these days. A compilation of local music came out last February called "Rock the Stacks," and for those still unaware or simply curious, Songbird in Adams Morgan will be hosting an all ages listening party tomorrow from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. More information about that event can be found here. 

And on Wednesday the DCPL Punk Archive will be host a live show on the rooftop of the Woodridge Neighborhood Library of all things. No whispering allowed.

Ghost Town

Union Station 1920s

Look to your left.
Now look to your right.
Anybody home?

Anybody?

Are you feeding your neighbor's cat?
Taking in the mail for another?
Is that a parking place right in front of the Tune Inn?

Yes,  it's August in Washington when the town shrinks down to just us chickens. And the crickets. For other signs of life on Planet DC, check out the DC ROCKS' incredibly incomplete but better than nothing calendar as well as Fort Reno this Thursday. Share in the sugar love of Night of 1,000 Cakes while being serenaded by Weird Babies, Aaron Leitko and Herschel Hoover. Last show of the summer! And a hearty shout out to to Amanda MacKaye and all her volunteers for keeping this venue alive.