DC Rocks Readers.... Meet DC Noir

One sliver of a silver lining of our collective curfew is the ability to watch things on our screens which would otherwise be unavailable. Over the weekend, those who were paying attention, caught Rolling Stones members playing the apropos "You Can't Always Get What You Want" each from their respective homes. There was Keith with a drink on his coffee table, Mick standing in front of his art collection, Charlie stuck in a corner, and Ronnie looking like he's playing at the top of his stairs.  Bands played world wide, millions of people watched, and I didn't have a clue. I can't tell you what I was doing last Saturday because I'm not even sure I knew it was Saturday.

This morning, however, I woke up to find a welcome bulletin in my inbox because I don't want to miss this happening. The DC Film Festival is giving us the opportunity to watch an encore presentation of past films to make up for having to postpone this year's event. A couch fest if you will. Each "series" will last a week beginning today with DC Noir, a movie which captures DC in a way that many won't recognize.  Why?  Because the unique thing about this film is just how local it is.

Most movies supposedly set here, will flash a cameo of the Washington monument or a stock aerial shot of downtown. This movie lives here in Petworth and Parkview, and in all four quadrants. The producers, cast, and crew are all local, and you won't see one shot of a famous landmark unless it was inadvertent. The score comes from Fugazi's Brendan Canty, and go-go's Backyard Band will pop up as well.  The script is based on four short stories by George Pelecanos. An honest and gritty writer, George has dedicated much of his life to portraying the real DC, and this film feels true.

Easter and Other Things

Happy Easter, you all. Yes, today is the "real" Easter as my father used to say. Why?
Because the Greeks are always right.
That's why.
But I was lucky. My father didn't object when my non- Greek mother would fill a basket with eggs and chocolate on "American" Easter and hide the basket in the yard because a rabbit left it there. I knew it was my mother, but we pretended I didn't. I also knew there was no such thing as a Greek Easter Bunny. On the Greek side of the family, tradition called for red eggs representing the blood of Christ, which was not fun until we got to bash them together playing a game at the end of a huge party with all our cousins.

At least that's what happened in my family. Another take on religious  confusion is worth a visit with David Sedaris in an old episode of "This American Life" called Santa vs the Easter Bunny.

Also confusing is how musicians are going to survive this social distancing edict playing in their yards like bewildered bunnies. Mark Segraves, a dear friend of live music,  wants you to know that DC is planning to help with a little plan they are calling "Pandemic Unemployment Assistance" or PU for short. (Ok, it's actually PUA, but you'll remember it better if I say PU- assistance )

From Mark:
"If you are an independent contractor or a gig worker who is out of work, you qualify for up to $600 a week in unemployment compensation. Here is how to apply in DC. Remember you apply in the jurisdiction where you work not where you live. If you work in multiple jurisdictions you’re advised to apply where you earn the most money. You are NOT entitled to the state unemployment payment. But you are entitled to the federal supplement of up to $600 a week. To apply IN DC send an email to PUA@DC.gov. ask to be put on the notification list for when the application process opens."

Even though Mark is trying to help, I know you musical types. You'll attempt to read the above and crawl back in bed, confused and depressed... but here's my thought. Pay attention to that last sentence which I put it in bold so you can read it bleary eyed. Send that email and ask to be notified about PU assistance. Hopefully it won't stink. Maybe you'll get a little money so it's worth a shot, right?

Good luck, my friends. 

Checking In

Holding the fort at home, I am losing track of time. This happened once before, when I attended a four day wild and wonderful wedding event in New Orleans in which an abundance of frivolity and an abandonment of caution led to a distinct blurring of days.  Jubilant tribal gatherings, simple hugs and sharing feasts- all of that seems a bit unreal now, just as our current plight with Covid 19 seems like a nightmare.

Still there are silver linings. I live under the flight path to National and am no longer startled awake by early morning planes. The roar of Canal Road has given way to bird song, and I find myself saying things like Look! There's a car on Chain Bridge.

Meanwhile I am having a hard time finding things to write about so I reached out to a few musical types and asked them these three questions:

1. How are you doing and what are you doing to keep sane?

2. What are you up to musically ?

3. Any virtual performances ( or anything else) that you want people to know about in April?


 Guitar slinger, Dan Hovey, currently of The Nighthawks replied:

"I try to get up every day.  I'm teaching my Montgomery College students via Skype, which is rough but better than nothing. I got back on FaceBook, which I still don't understand, but with my daughter Anna's help, I got a video posted of me doing the tune "How Long." I should have another one pretty soon. And I helped Jack O'Dell record a demo of his new tune "Non-Essential Blues" by emailing tracks back and forth. 

Mark Wenner and I shot a few videos in my back yard (at an appropriate distance). They're up on FaceBook, too. So... making music at home and sending it out through that system of tubes called the internet." (The Nighthawks are planning a live performance on Facebook at 2 pm on Sunday.)

Next I checked in with Devoted Friend of Live Music, Bill Henke, who is currently a barista at Ceremony Coffee in Bethesda. 

"Really strong pot keeps me sane, thanks to my Maryland Cannabis card! Thankfully I'm still employed but I work alone. maybe 3 customers an hour. I make great espresso for myself, do LOTS of cleaning, and crank up WFMU, while thinking of WHFS. Personally, I like a world with less people, less traffic. I feel like I'm in a small town... like Bethesda of the 70's!!! (But I woefully miss the Nats.)

I was blasting RUMBLE at work yesterday, and a fellow wanders in drawn to the music. He says "That was in Pulp Fiction. I got to tell him about one of my favorite subjects: Link Wray! I told him that Link even played in Bethesda. Magical.  I left out the story of Link playing with The Cramps at the Psychedelly, and Lux driving the mic stand thru the ceiling... Watching spring envelope the landscape is so much more special now.   For the first time I saw baby squirrels darting about like water bugs." 

Joe Dolan of The Vi-Kings and The Beatnik Flies:

"I wake up and shake off the weird dreams. Then I actually have breakfast even though I'm not a breakfast person. I have been catching up on my drinking as I catch up on my favorite hobby.  Watching TV. I have never felt comfortable performing unless I am surrounded by world class musicians, but I have posted two homemade videos. "Perfidia" and "I Couldn't Get High." 

I didn't have to ask Tom Clifford of King Soul. He is playing records in his basement and sharing Tom's Record of the Day on Youtube with the help of his daughters. A very cool thing. Also King Soul "got together"and made a video of Jake Flack's song "The Other Side."

Jake commented that he is "keeping sane and safe over here in Takoma Park.  Working on some songs and pumped that the KS video is being well received."

Dave Chappell, guitar hero in his own right, is "staying in touch with family and friends ... watching ridiculous reruns of Weeds, Eastbound and Down, and old music clips on Youtube. He walks a few miles everyday and is working on a new record with seven songs already done. "Trying to beat the devil, 24 hours at a time .. 'til this is over."

And finally the uber busy (and salty) drummer Jack O' Dell, who usually divides his time between The Thrillbillys and The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, has his own way of keeping the beat and a way with words:

1. I’m smoking a lot of weed. I’m gardening like an Idaho Prepper. I’m writing songs more than before. My life was a Mexican Soap Opera before Corona so really I’ve barely noticed the crisis. I like ice cream

2. I’m in a more creative groove writing songs. I’ve posted a new one on Facebook.

(I’ve been encouraged to do a cleaner demo so I hired this hack, Dan Hovey, to do the guitar and I recut the vocal in a proper studio. ) I’m writing a new song called "Earthquake Weather."  And I smoke a lot of weed. 

3. As I have things ready and I learn about my new, I don’t need to leave the house anymore, camera. I’ll be posting things in f-book, instant grams, and whatever. MySpace. 

4. Not just any ice cream. Hagen fucking Das coffee ice cream. 

Dear readers, even if you aren't fond of social media, it is a forum where we can still connect with our stranded musical community via comments or sometimes a PayPal option.  Please check out the videos if you can, and check in with people you love.  Or go see Bill for a cup of coffee and pick up a little DC music history with your java.

Hang in there everybody. 

                                                                          💟

Still Living with Woodpecker

Hello out there, my captive audience.

How are we doing?

I'm talking out loud to you now. Somehow it makes more sense than conversing with the cat or texting my son who is sheltering in place in his bedroom downstairs, quarantined after his arrival from South America last week.

Since the world shut down, the cat and I have been doing a lot of bird watching through the window together. The red- winged blackbird is back, and right this minute a woodpecker is hammering the chimney guard next door. What the heck? How does he get any nourishment from beating his beak on a metal cage?

These weary bleary days, more music- less noise is my survival mantra. For respite from woodpeckers and other things, I highly recommend a virtual visit to the Voluminous Vault of Robbie White where you can tune in to archived episodes of his radio show "Forbidden Alliance."

"Forbidden Alliance" named for a Slickee Boys tune, has been on the air every Sunday morning since the summer of 2016 with curated eclectic playlists, color commentary, and interviews featuring a panoply of local talent.  Musicians, writers, film makers, deejays and more have made the scene with Robbie and his venerable co-host Weasel in over 200 episodes. Everyone has taken turns squeezing into the WOWD sound booth which, as Robbie once pointed out, is smaller than the station's disability accessible bathroom.

Enjoy the music and learn something about the myriad of talent we have running native here,  and maybe you'll discover a new favorite band to see when we get out of Covid Land.

If you are listening to the live broadcast this Sunday, Robbie will be flying solo until social distancing conditions improve, so consider checking in and letting him know he's not alone.

Through the Looking Glass

Yesterday at 3:25 p.m., I sat on the couch with my laptop and went to my first virtual happy hour... in Richmond no less. A long time favorite, Prabir and his friends were playing. I was a bit early for the 3:30 show, and Prabir was still setting things up in a badly lit room, but his personality transmitted just fine.  He clinked his wine glass against the camera and welcomed the "audience." I imagined myself not on a couch, but standing around in a rock hole with a bunch of people I didn't know, drawn together for music. The introverts commented that they were happy to be "out." We sent hand clapping emojis and hearts floating through cyberspace. In between songs, Prabir would stop and see who was "there," and say hello to people he knew. It was a surreal experience, but keeping each other sane with creativity will be our Rx in the days to come.

Round these parts, Justin Trawick will be playing a concert from his living room couch in Arlington tonight and Sunday at 8 pm. We also get to see his hat collection.

Aside from the virtual concert, many of us have extra time to surf the 'net "to the point of pain" as Wesley says in the Princess Bride, but "your ears you will keep, and I will tell you why."

Please seek out local bands and send them love on line. Buy their music if you can- a song usually only costs a buck- or just send a message of support. Meanwhile please let me know if you have a virtual concert coming up for the new, now virtually twisted DC ROCKS couch locked calendar.

Fear and Loving in DC

At a gathering of very old friends on Sunday, we took a crack at elbow bumping, shoe tapping and air hugging, but these pre-pandemic precautions lodged mostly in our thoughts and not in our hearts. The sweet comfort of a warm embrace proved hard to resist, and as the party wore on we just plain failed to comply with the new regime.

But we do have this comforting thought to cling to...

The Great Unknown is in the driver's seat for now.  How long will we be able gather in public ? Buy cat food? See music?

It seems things are changing faster than I can write. Mayor Bowser now recommends avoiding crowds of one thousand or more people. Consequently the folks at IMP  have postponed all of their shows after tonight's concert at the 9:30 Club.

DC ROCKS pretty much only covers smaller events so if you are still feeling hearty and hale, perhaps consider going out this weekend before The End of the World.

For starters the Quarry House seems to be having music again. Thursday there's a free show with The Hall Monitors.*  Also The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours have a no cover event at the Takoma VFW featuring new songs including the timely "We'll All Be Dead in a Week." (Think Irish shanty) 
I recommend hitting both. (In for a penny...in a for a pound, right?)
Or head to the Black Cat to see our old pal Alec MacKaye in Hammered Hulls - opening for Algiers,

Later in the weekend, Justin Jones and John Bustine with Jonny Graves will liven up the Quarry House on Saturday night.

And Sunday evening, WTOP reporter Neal Augunstein trades in his reporter outfit for rock n roll threads with a Modest Proposal reunion gig at Pearl Street Warehouse. This is an After Dark Fund event, and a very righteous cause!

*Hall Monitors show cancelled

Early Fling with Spring

What is going on outside? I see daffodils, crocuses, and birds going ape. The willows are greening, star magnolias are about to pop and full on cherry blossoms are due by the end of the month. My yard thinks it's April. I guess Winter has been cancelled until further notice ?

Things are a bit upside down in the music world as well. This Saturday "Queen Soul" will be at the Takoma VFW without their big hearted band leader Tom Clifford who spent Valentine's Day getting a cardiac tune up.

Tom is doing well, but please send healing vibes his way and love to his soul mate and chief medical officer Mrs. Clifford.

Here's the ever incomplete DC ROCKS March calendar:

4

Caustic Casanova/A Deer a Horse/Venray @Songbyrd

5 

Thrillbillys @ JV

6

Thaylobleu/Some Kind of Nightmare/NOE @ Pie Shop

Thrillbillys @ New Deal

7

Chuck Brown Band @ Pearl Street

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

Snake Farmers @ JV (4 Pm)

"Queen Soul" @ Takoma VFW

Airport 77s @ Silver Strings

8

Blue Magna/Don Zientara @ Glaxy Hut

12

RTT @ Takoma VFW

13

Billy Price @ City Winery

19

DOGO du Togo @ Bossa Bistro

A Shrewdness of Apes/ Jackie and the Treehorns/Betamax@ Pie Shop

Flower Avenue @ Takoma VFW

20

The Half Smokes @ Takoma VFW

21

Lunch with Bob @ Takoma VFW

26

Dave Chappell Band @ JV

27

Joel Harrison/Anthony Pirog @ Rhizome

EupnonX @ Slash Run

A Leap of Faith

I was always suspicious that the concept of leap year was a mistake on somebody's part. Let's start with the Egyptians who brought us the 365 day solar calendar as far back as man can remember anything. Technically our planet's jaunt around the sun is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, so they were pretty dang close. And whose to argue with the Egyptians?  Julius Caesar that's who. His astronomer pointed out the extra six hours and advised adding an extra day to the shortest month of the year. Voila! The leap year. This construct seemed to work for about 1600 years until Pope Gregory noticed that Easter was drifting into summer. Not a happy camper.

Turns out you can't round up that five hours and forty-eight minutes without consequences, and Gregory wasn't Pope for nothing.  He found his own astronomer to fix the hitch in that giddy up by decreasing the frequency of leap years. Plus he erased ten days. Yep, Romans who went to sleep on October 5 back in 1582, woke up 8 or so hours later on October 15 which must have been somewhat confusing for those not paying attention to the town crier.

Most of Roman Catholic Europe went along with the idea, but the Brits were having none of it, and America was on the same page until 1752 when the now eleven day lop was finally self-imposed. Suddenly George Washington's birthday leapt from February 11 to February 22 which means our current Presidents Day should have been closer to Lincoln's birthday which is February 12. Abe was robbed.

Are you still with me?
How did I get this far in life not knowing any of this?

Here I must thank Ben Guarino who wrote a great article about leap year things in The Washington Post this week including the newest proposal- the Hanky-Henke Permanent Calendar which would favor consistency over accuracy.  Whoops, I misread that. It's actually called the Hanke-Henry calendar, but I think hinky is a better name in general as hinky definitely defines the DC ROCKS calendar which will be amended later this weekend.

In the meantime two bust out shows happen this Friday: the Airport 77s at Slash Run and a rockabilly meltdown with Rock-A- Sonics and more at the Takoma VFW.

Also on Friday we have Kill Lincoln at the Pie Shop and the Allman Others Band at Hill Country.

February 29th, Anno Domini 2020, look for Jumpin Jupiter leaping around at the Rhodeside Grill, and Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Bomb tearing up Slash Run.


(If Julius C. and Pope Greg were still around, they'd make it four Fridays and two Saturdays so no one would have to choose between gigs.)

Columbia Stations Redux

Marie @ Columbia Station #1

Last week Columbia Station, a jazz club for 25 years, closed at 2325 18th Street in Adams Morgan. The end of this club may give some music fans a serious case of deja vu because back in pre-historic times, a very different Columbia Station once existed. Many of us have fond, albeit heavily impaired, memories of the first Columbia Station- the one at 1836 Columbia Road.  

An ad from a 1979 Unicorn Times (which I had stashed in a closet) reminds us we saw bands like The Slickee Boys, Grits, and Skip Castro along with the caveat: "proper attire discouraged."

But much to my surprise, very little other information can be found online never mind a picture. Even with history hunter Andrew Ratliff's help, we could only dig up this one grainy photo from the Washington Post.

I had to turn to old pals to fill in the blanks although more than one said they'd have to think a bit to come up with a story not rated X.

Former manager Doug Porter remembers: "Columbia Station served many purposes as the neighborhood crossroads. Artsy types met to do artsy things. Old men came in and sat at the same spot at the bar each visit to watch the world go by. But things got different after about 10:30 at night. The station became a choice location for people of every persuasion to meet the one night stand of their dreams." Doug still has his business card.

He also recalls "Columbia Station always had a problem with rats. In the early years, then owner Paul Tauber would open up by clapping his hands loudly as he walked through the door. After Tauber sold the place to the Wheeler brothers, things got so bad the bartenders started keeping a baseball bat behind the bar to fend off the more aggressive ones."

Marie Broussard continues the rat-mares with a vivid memory of her first shift as bartender in 1980. "My first night of work, a rat came crawling out of the phone booth in the dining room and died in the middle of the room during the dinner rush. I think it succumbed to James the Dishwasher’s special peanut butter and rat poison sandwiches. After a prolonged death scene, while people jumped up and fled their checks, James scooped him up and took away the body."

Marie also recalls:  "We did dinner theatre for a while, and Arch Campbell came to review the show - a Kurt Weil review starring Sheila Joy.  Arch had a few too many and left for the TV station to go on air. We were gathered around the TV when Arch wandered back in the door after two hours of looking for his car. I don’t know if he ever did review that show."

Former bartender Mary Connole recalls a rodent-free story when Doug Porter was managing. "On my 30th birthday Tex Rubinowitz was playing, and I had told Porter that I had a crush on him. Next thing I knew Doug announced on stage that, for my birthday, I'd like to take Tex home." 

On a sadder note, my friend Jan Stovall, devoted Beatle fan, says she "was sitting outside on the patio when my waiter frantically announced that John Lennon had been shot. We were all in shock. I immediately went home, and friends started calling to commiserate."

Mark Hall also worked there as a manager/bartender and booked bands from roughly 1976 until about 1982. He remembers The Original Fetish, The Urban Verbs, Bill Holland and Rent's Due, Root Boy Slim, Razz, Catfish Hodge, Billy and the Shakes, The Dinettes, The Beatnik Flies, and Switchblade to name a few.

The one article I did find online was about Columbia Station's demise in 1984. Another old friend pops up here as well:

"As the neighborhood changed, so did the clientele," said Theodore Pawlik, a disenchanted former patron.  "And from there the nature of Columbia Station as an institution went through phases when they the owners weren't sure exactly what they wanted."


You can bet that more than one musician playing this weekend either remembers or has played Columbia Station starting Thursday with Dan Hovey (Rootboy Slim) and the David Kitchen Band at JVs. 

Friday a crazy, guitar slinging birthday bash happens for Anthony Pirog at Black Cat's Red Room.
(Happy Birthday, dude!)

Saturday... be on the look out for Joe Dolan (Beatnik Flies) and band The Vi-Kings throwing down a 1960s dance party at Rosensteel Hall which is a great place to see live music with its roomy dance floor and cheap drinks. 

Finally all you Dead-head types will appreciate the Black Muddy River Band's groove at DC Brau on Sunday. 

All We Need Is Love

Valentine's Day is almost here, and Valentine's Day (or VD as we used to call it back in high school when we knew it all) makes me think of love, and love makes me think of that song written by John Lennon for a TV show. A very special TV show. "Our World" was the planet's first, live, international broadcast which happened on June 25th, 1967. The producers wisely banned political types as cameras around the globe zoomed in on different scenes from a rancher on horseback in Canada to the construction of the subway in Tokyo. The Beatle's debut performance of "All You Need Is Love," was the program's finale. Shot at EMI Studios in London, the star studded audience included cats like Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithful, members of The Rolling Stones, The Who and Small Faces.  What a crazy cool party that must have been. Rock and roll was the revolution, Flower Power was on the rise, and the world got smaller - at least for one day.

This weekend let's try and keep that love going starting with Sunday because the folks at Hank Dietle's Tavern really need your help. Hank's is a historic road house out there on Rockville Pike that was gutted by fire last February.  Usually places like this get torn down in a heartbeat, but local heroes are purposefully rehabbing the building to be a new live music venue.  Sunday's fundraiser/party at Rosensteel Hall will feature seven bands with plenty of room to dance, confab, and be merry.  Plus the Knights of Columbus will be selling reasonably priced drinks and food. Please show your love for the local music scene by coming out for this event. Hit the link above for details. 

Backing up to Friday, the aptly named Valentine Slim has commandeered the Takoma VFW as well as the Wheaton VFW on Saturday. 

Other choices on Saturday include a David Bowie Valentine at the Pie Shop which would my cup of tea. 

But if you are feeling fancy, I recommend Eric Felten's Red Dress Ball at Glen Echo also on Saturday.

Blow Up Your TV

John Prine was one of my first loves music wise. His songs were smart and funny and often easy to figure out for struggling guitar geeks. He wrote Spanish Pipe Dream, part love song, part revolutionary anthem in 1971 back when we all watched the same stuff on TV.  Just to refresh your memory, when this song came out, the Viet Nam war was still raging, Nixon was president, and the digital age, which would eventually divide us all, was just beginning to dawn. The time has come once again to blow up the TV. Let's get out and talk to one another. Shall we?

Thank you, Fritz Hahn for updating your list of tv free bars.  I would also like to nominate the Galaxy Hut which screens movies via a VCR and has an an astounding list of beers on tap. The Hut also hosts live music most Sunday and Monday nights.

Bands often have to compete with screens in clubs, but what we pay attention to is up to us. Try the insouciant Malvivants at El Golfo on Friday. On Saturday Newmeyer Flyer's crew brings us Beatle's Love Songs at the Hamilton to kick off Valentine week because who couldn't use more love right now?

Sunday brings us a punk rock show at Slash Run where we can scream real loud as Pee Wee used to say without anyone minding.

And if the thought of Valentine's Day gives you the willies- consider attending the Worst Date Story Competition at Black Cat coming up on Tuesday Feb 11.

Worship the Rat

Hello February. You bring Love and Mardi Gras and a good excuse to watch one of my favorite movies- Groundhog Day. In this goofy romantic time loop, Bill Murray's character gets stuck living February 2nd over and over again, but it's not so different from our retail life now that I think about it.  Halloween gives way to Christmas... which transitions to Valentine displays... which once set off a panic in my own heart, knowing that I had to get my kids to churn out tokens of love for some forty classmates.

The more recent Russian Doll  would make a great double feature with Groundhog Day if you can stand the recurrent repetitive repetition of repeating scenes.

Now, for something completely different, February first gives you a variety of chances to see live music starting with Saturday: Little Red and the Renegades will kick your Mardi Gras spirit into gear over at New Deal Cafe while the Cravin Dogs bring their gonzo folk thing to El Golfo.  Also up for consideration- King Soul converts their blue-eyed soul into a St Patrick's Day parade fundraiser at Barking Dog.

Sunday, aside from Groundhog Day,  I hear there is some sort of sporting contest going on, but Galaxy Hut is blessedly featuring a football free end zone with Karaoke Sexy.

February February February February February February February February February

1

Little Red and the Renegades @ New Deal Cafe 

King Soul @ Barking Dog

Cravin’ Dogs @ El Golfo

3

Dave Chappell/ Steve Abshire @ Blues Alley

6

Thrillbillys @ JV

8

Newmeyer Flyer Beatles Love Songs @ Hamilton

9

Tommy Lepsom @ JV

13

RTTS @ Takoma VFW

14

Bumper Jacksons @ Hill Country

Valentine Slim @ TAkoma VFW

15

David Bowie Valentine W/ Spiders From Mars and more @ Pie Shop

Eric Felten Red Dress Ball @ Glen Echo 

Valentine Slim @ Wheaton VFW

16

Hank Dietle’s Benefit @ Knights of Columbus Silver Spring

20

David Kitchen Band @ JV

21

Anthony Pirog and friends  @ Black Cat Red Room

27

Dave Chappell Band @ JV

28

The Allman Others Band @ Hill Country

Kill Lincoln etc @ Pie Shop

Beanstalk Library @ Pearl Street