Old Man Winter

The bitter cold yesterday reminds us that Mother Nature and her little sidekick Old Man Winter are always in charge. Color me perverse, but I like seeing vestiges of snow out there reminding us that the season is indeed winter.  Winter should be winter.

When I lived in California, the thing I missed most about the East coast was the vivid change of seasons.  Spring here in D.C. is outrageously beautiful starting with the white blooms of the star magnolia and peaking with the cherry tree thing. The darker greens of Summer are announced by fireflies, and that first crimson maple leaf on the sidewalk is a bright harbinger of more colors to follow. Now we are back to winter again, and even as I write an unexpected snow is falling which gets me jazzed up and thinking about making pancakes to celebrate.  I won't apologize.  Snow has always floated my boat. Here's proof.

For those of you winter weary pilgrims thinking I am nuts, there's a a slew of shows to warm things up.  This weekend, especially Saturday, Ground Hog Day, which, by the by, is a great movie to watch  in winter.  Looking into my crystal ball, I see all kinds of music kicking off with the Cravin' Dogs and Wicked Sycamore tonight.

On Saturday: The Yachtsmen, Seven Door Sedan and Apollo 66 will be tearing things up at the Silver Spring American Legion, the 18th Buddy Holly Tribute features a zillion players at the Rock Creek Mansion,

We Were Pirates, a perennial favorite, is back with  a CD release party at the Rock n Roll Hotel

and "There Will be Cake, " a phrase sure to grab my attention,  means a bunch of bands at Slash Run.

For those avoiding the pigskin festivities on Sunday chill out with Vintage #18 at JV.

Here's a partial list of what else is going on round town the rest of the month.  Please send along your suggestions.

FEBRUARY

1

Cravin' Dogs/Wicked Sycamore @ Takoma VFW

2

The Yachtsmen/ 7 Door Sedan/ Apollo 66 @ Silver Spring American Legion

Buddy Holly Tribute @ Rock Creek Mansion

There Will Be Cake @ Slash Run

We Were Pirates CD party @ Rock n Roll Hotel

3

Vintage #18 @ JV Matinee @ 4 pm

A Suite for Gil Scott Heron @ Millennium Stage

4

A Video Tribute to LuX Interior and the Cramps @ Slash Run

8

Red Room Opening @ Black Cat

10 

Punk Flea Market @ DC-9

Thrillbillys @ Villain and Saint

12

Hackensaw Boys @ Millennium Stage

14 

Rhodes Tavern Troubadours @ VFW

15

Bowie Valentine @ Villain and Saint

Valentine Slim @ Takoma VFW

16

The Vi-Kings @ Villain and Saint

Rock-A-Sonics @ Glen Echo Ballroom

17

Justin Jones. Rodney Henry/Jimmy Swope @ The Pie Shop

18

The Yachtsmen @ Galaxy Hut

23

Thrillbilly Matinee @ JV @ 4

28 

Suga Grits/ Black Masala/Surprise Attack/Nkula @ Gypsy Sally's

Dave Chappell @ JV