Ancient Tribes and Troubadours

First page of Teddy's photo album

I spent part of last summer packing up an old friend from 930 F Street days. It was a strange and sad mission because he was on his way out of this world and would not be returning to Adams Morgan where he had lived for over forty years. I met Teddy when he was bartending at the 9:30 Club in the 1980s - after he finished divinity school at Georgetown.  He had a commanding presence, an eloquent voice and biting wit. He never stopped educating himself and everyone and anyone who walked into the bar. We used to call him "Father Ted."

Bookcases lined the walls of his two bedroom apartment on Lanier Place. I knew Teddy loved to cook and garden, but as I boxed up his things, I learned he studied every religion under the sun, including astrology.  He loved wind chimes and unicorns and magic. He kept every piece of paper his life generated, all liquor promotion swag, plus lots and lots of match books. Here we are stuffed in his apartment for one of his infamous Russian New Year's parties.

Our 9:30 tribe is scattered now, but the weird and arty people, which populated what was once an outpost for the arts in a semi-abandoned downtown, are still in my life, and I suspect they always will be- at least as long as we are on the planet.

Tribal rite with corn. 

I wonder if there's still that camaraderie behind the scenes as live music venues come and go nowadays, but I do know that my DC music scene is made of interlocking components stemming from a tightly knit community.

Thursday night, for example, The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours will swap out drummer Jack O' Dell (who has a gig with Arty Hill) for Ben Holmes (of King Soul and The Hula Monsters.) Arif Durrani's absence on keyboards will be filled in with the horns of Chris Watling (of King Soul and The Grandsons) and Chris's high school buddy Derek Huston who is up visiting from New Orleans where he is a kick ass sax player.  Feeling confused? Just make sure you're get to the Takoma VFW.  Show starts as soon as you get there (round 7:15) and rocks 'til 10 pm sharp.

Valentine Slim will liven up the Wheaton Legion on Friday - straight up no subs, but on Sunday  Thrillbilly/ Troubadour Jack O'Dell will be playing honorary DC denizen/ex- Commander Cody guitar slinger Bill Kirchen's special holiday show at the Birchmere with Junior Brown.