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