May Day on the Roadway

DC rush hour 1964 /Library of Congress

According to the Inrix Global Traffic Scoreboard,  Washington has once again taken a non-coveted second place for the worst traffic in all of these somewhat United but generally fractious States of America.  (Perennial favorites New York and Los Angeles remain in the top ten, but Boston knocked off  L.A. for the number one spot, and Chicago claimed number three.) Our little town in second place to these giants?

I'm feeling it, people.

Who remembers when the Beltway emptied out by 7:30 and became our own personal Daytona Speedway? Anyone else remember dirt roads near Tyson's Corner or Gaithersburg?

Dulles Access road construction 1960 near Tyson's Corner

Ok. That's all ancient history, but it wasn't so long ago that I used to defend our fair city proper as somewhat traversable except for that lethargic part of K Street near the White House and Independence Ave during cherry blossom meltdown.  Now I have to remind myself to break out the GPS Lightsaber no matter what time of day. There's even a wiki-how page on how to avoid DC area traffic, but it doesn't mention the zen of happy hour. As a possible silver lining, commuters have plenty of time to hoist a beer, enjoy a hot wing and sober up again until the worst of the "rush" is over.  Better yet- stay out and watch a band who just got howling lost in Virginia or was recently in tears on 495, but still managed to show up on time for you.

Planning ahead for May distractions, don't forget that big Switchblade reunion this weekend!

Here's a few more:

2

Thrillbillys @ JV

3

Switchblade Reunion Weekend w/

Rhodes Tavern Troubadours

4

Switchblade w/ Rock-A-Sonics

Little Red @ JV

Sister Ex/ Fallout Shelter etc @ Pie Shop

Ubangis/ Apollo 66 @ American Legion Silver Spring

Vintage #18 @ Hamilton Loft

8

Strawberry Sleepover/ The Beginner's Mynd @ DC9

9

Rhodes Tavern Troubadours @ Takoma VFW

10

Ex Hex/ the Messthetics/ Clear Channel @ 9:30 Club

Spirit Plots/ The Effects/ Erotic Killers @ Slash Run

Rock-A-Sonics @ JV

11

DC Funk Parade

Seldom Scene @ Black Rock

"Blue" and "Blood on the Tracks"= Newmyer Flyer Tribute @ The Hamilton

Takoma Porch Fest

12

Thrillbillys @Villain and Saint

17

Desperados/ Wax Museum Reunion w/ NRBQ and Skip 

Castro Band@ Birchmere

Jelly Roll Mortals @ Takoma VFW

18

Ruthie and Wranglers/ Billy Coulter @ Villain and Saint

21 / 22

Nils Lofgren @ Birchmere

22

The Duskwhales @ Evening Star Cafe

23

The Duskwhales/ The Young Birds/ Maddi Mae @ Songbyrd

The Delarcos/Taciturn/ We Capillaries @ Pie Shop

24 

Kill Lincoln @ Black Cat

Seldom Scene @ Birchmere

Capitol Ska and Reggae Review @ Songbyrd

25

Dee Dee and the Doo Rights @ Takoma VFW

26

Chuck Brown Band @ The Hamilton

29

Ziggy and Lou Tribute @ Gypsy Sallys

31

Punk, Funk and Pies for the People @ The Pie Shop

Vintage #18 @ The Hamilton