well hello
is anybody out there?
anybody?
Crawling out of the bunker, it feels like musicians have been outnumbered by singing cicadas this summer, but things have been changing. Slowly but surely our local music scene is emerging through the fog of The Variant and other Covid set backs. Feeling trepidatious? Me, too.
When King Soul played their first indoor gig at the tiny Takoma VFW, they drew a double-vaxxed, practically punch drunk crowd thrilled to be at a bar with their favorite band kicking ass. I immediately retreated to the spacious back yard. Since then I've managed to go inside for shows. At least for a song or two. The VFW still has bargain basement drink prices, and shows are extra early with music stopping by 9 which sort of suits a pandemic kind of schedule.
Speaking of schedules, I'm not maintaining the DC ROCKS calendar due to things being so weird right now, but hit the links to find shows at the venues mentioned.
For those of you raring to go, I'm very happy to report the return of the newest oldest road house in Montgomery County. Hank Dietle's has been painstakingly retrofitted as a live music club, and the place has never looked so pretty. I love the front porch which provides a covid get away for those of us still wary of gatherings. Lisa White, who booked the 9:30 Club for many a moon, will be wrangling music there most every day which is a feat in itself.
JV's, another old haunt, opened their doors as soon as possible, and have had live indoor shows for months now. For the Brave of Heart, I see our local hero Daryl Davis is there on August 19. Black Cat and Galaxy Hut are open, too, but sadly, no more music at the Hut.
Outdoor options include Jammin Java and The State Theater who graciously toed the line with free outdoor concerts which are still happening in August although it looks like shows will be moving indoors as well. Look for The Nighthawks outside at The State August 29.
On Sundays DC Brau has loading dock concerts outside and extremely good beer all of the time. Plus Roaming Rooster, right around the corner, makes a great fried chicken sandwich which you can oh so conveniently order while drinking a beer.
