It's A Honky Tonk Suburb

JV is the kind of place that will surprise you.
First of all the location is in a suburban shopping center which screams nondescript.
You have to know JV is there to stop for anything except maybe the Baskin Robbins next door. The surprise is JV boasts an atmosphere that is genuine Honky Tonk  with no apologies, and you will soon forget you are in a godforsaken spot on Route 50 just down from the circle of hell known as Seven Corners.
Next the music. 
If you are there before the band you will wonder where the heck they are going to fit much more than a harmonica player, but they do. I have seen at least five pieces. (Still if you sit in a front booth,  you can make a request without leaving your seat.)
Last amazing thing- how good the bands are especially when someone like guitar guru Dan Hovey shows up. Dan will be playing there this THURSDAY with, of all things, the Dan Hovey Band. 
As Dan says they will "start swinging about 9 and rocking about  about 20 minutes later."

Even Reston Rocks

Chip Py got his start in rock photography right here in the trenches of DC ROCKS, and I have to say he has got it down. (check out the poster above) And David Kitchen is as good as Chip Py makes him look so by all means get out and see him this Friday night.  He'll be playing at the M & S Grill somewhere in the wilds of Reston. There's no cover charge, and it's a new CD release party to boot.

By the by- from the horse's mouth- David says:

"I'll have some incredible players with me Friday night: Ariel Francis- bass, Larry Ferguson- drums, Dan Hovey- guitar, Mookie Siegel - keyboards. Yikes! I'm pinching myself."

Sixty Two Years Young

I met a guy named Pete visiting from San Jose last weekend at a dinner party, and one of the first things he told me was he could not believe the amount of great music around here. He presumed Washington was a stuffy little town, but Pete soon changed his mind after he saw the lights of U Street.

Even more amazing is the talent you can find crammed into places like JV's Restaurant-a lilliputian outpost hidden in a strip mall on Route 50- not too far past that Satanic intersection known as Seven Corners. JV's is a hold out; a time capsule of a 1947 bar and grill which some might describe as a dive, but for others it's why we go there.

This Thursday go see for yourself and catch one of the area's finest guitar players- Dan Hovey when the aptly named Dan Hovey Band resumes its monthly gig with Dave Elliott on drums, and Claude Arthur on bass. 9 p.m.

Happy Birthday J. Z.

A birthday party is happening for John Zidar of GHz this Thursday night at Bangkok Blues, and John will be doing one of his favorite things- banging on the drums. Fortunately he does this quite well especially when re-enacting some of Ginger Baker's finer moments playing with Clapton back in the day. Add on bionic bassist Scott Giambusso and the ever dazzling Dan Hovey on guitar, and you've got a great band for a party. And to top it all off -there will probably be cake if you need that over the top excuse to get out.

Rally Round The Cause, Boys and Girls

The economic hard times are hitting.  I was in the bank just today and heard a guy loudly forecasting the doom we will face with the new "zero" interest rate. Closer to hitting home, a DC staple musician, JR Cline and his family are in dire need of a place to live. A benefit will be held at The Outta The Way Cafe THIS Thursday featuring a local band that was dear to my heart way back in the 70s when my cousin used to sneak me into bars- Harbison, Bond and Goddard. (You might remember their song that Weasel would include every week in his "Frantic Friday" set on WHFS.) Also look for other DC favorites including soul/blues power singer Mary Shaver with Dan Hovey (Root Boy Slim, Jr Cline and The Recliners) Rico Petrocelli, (Rosslyn Mt Boys, Mary Chapin Carpenter) and Danny Schwartz.
The show starts at 8:30.

And across town- another benefit at Bangkok Blues in Falls Church. This one is for "Hungry For Music"-a great organization that raises money so that kids can get their hands on musical instruments. A variety showcase of local music will start at 7 with Harry Blevins and continue until 10 with Little Pink. In between look for David Kitchen, Dulcie Taylor, Bumpkin Pie, Jelly Roll Mortals and Esther Haynes.

And for you guitar buffs- a Les Paul Epiphone Special II signed by Mr Paul himself will be available for gawking at. (The guitar will be raffled off at a later date.)

Both of these benefits are not high dollar events, but every little bit will help. You can make the difference here.

Get Out And Spend

(Greenland - photo by shervin lianez)

DC Rocks hopes you are not bowing under the weight of holiday angst, but if you are- don't forget there are outlets, and I'm not talking about Potomac Mills. Start the weekend early in Virginia with the annual Santa Jam thing- a benefit and lots of bands at The State Theater Thursday night- or you can head over to JVs and lay back with Dan Hovey- ace guitarist.

Saturday night in DC's northwest quadrant there's Greenland- the opening band of three at Comet Ping Pong. Also on Saturday-in the can't be two places at once category- another great show - Sister Ex and The New Standard will be rocking Surf Club Live.

Spend that hard earned dough wisely-a few dollars will go a long way in supporting our local music scene which could easily become a casualty of the economy.
Plus- gosh darn it- you could have fun.

And continuing the theme for the mandated Thursday night out- across the river from the Quarry House in another galaxy far far away (i.e. Northern Va.) GHz is playing at Bangkok Blues in Falls Church. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Dan Hovey is one of the best guitar players around, and GHz is one of the only cover bands that gets coverage here. If you can't wow 'em, why bother with retreads? Because this band delivers the wow.

Also on Thursday- Dave Kitchen, a versatile guy in his own rite with a great band will be doing his usual gig at the Sunset Grille in Annandale. All the bands and bars we cover here at DC Rocks need your support. PLEASE don't let these small venues and great players disappear with these challenging economic times. Just get out and shop. I mean drink. Be merry- it's Thursday.

He Might Be

the best guitar player you've never heard of- DC's own secret weapon, "armed and dangerous" Dan Hovey. He's the "H" of GHz-a psychedelic tribute band featuring covers of Cream, Hendrix and the like, as well as their own originals. Relive those days with three musicians that can handle just about anything with or without the kid gloves on. GHz will be performing at Bangkok Blues in Falls Church this Thursday night. Show starts round 7:30.

If You Couldn't Be There...

Be here-
Wednesday-September 10th when Gigahertz the Harp & Fiddle on Cordell Ave. in Bethesda.

Scott says:

Come down and grab some dinner so you'll get a good seat; we’ll play from around 8:30 ‘till 11:30 or so. GHz has been VERY busy the last three months recording and mixing material for our first studio release due out this fall. The new CD will include several of our latest psychedelic originals plus uniquely orchestrated remakes of some of Cream’s greatest B-sides and classic compositions from Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Morrison.

These guys are the bees knees if you have a hankering to travel in the way back machine and get lost somewhere in that broody psychedelic swamp that was the best of the sixties.

Outta The Way -The Name of The Cafe Where Ghz Play

It might be out of the way, but people do find this place called Outta The Way Cafe in the wilds of suburban Maryland especially when GHz is playing. Gigahertz consisits of Dan Hovey, Scott Giambusso and John Zidar. Together they're a power trio of musicians with a passion for Cream, Led Zepplin, Hendrix and the like, and the ability (emphasis on ability and then some) to deliver the goods. Original materiel, too. They're playing tomorrow- Saturday night in beautiful downtown Derwood.

Get ready for GHz THIS Thursday

The ever humble Scott Giambusso- the G in GHz
photo by Chip Py


I sent out a feeler to see if anything was new with Gigahertz- that Cream cover band I'm always raving about (which is rare for me because cover bands usually leave me hankering for the real thing- if not just leaving.)
And as it turns out- there's plenty to talk about- new songs - both original and not-according to John Zidar:
If you haven't seen us in 2008, we’ve got Presence of the Lord, and a phenomenal version of Layla in which Dan covers all five guitar parts himself at once. Think of Stanley Jordan starring in “My Left Foot”. His toes are funky, but it is amazing to watch.
And Scott Giambusso adds:
We are on a sort of writing spree. Dan has two new tunes, Rainmaker and Flimsy Bernuse,

and I finally got a good rewrite on a tune I started 4 years ago called "When Mars and Moon Collide". But most importantly I bought a new bass, and the band sound has risen to the next level. (so I say!) Anyway we are having a great time tearing apart the fabric of the sound barrier reefer and are all jazzed up about recording a live CD at Bangkok on Thursday.

(Musicianspeak-you gotta love it)

So there you have it. See 'em live-and be a part of it at Bangkok Blues this Thursday night. Set times: 7:30 and 9:30.

A White Room's Happening At Bangkok Blues

Yep. It's a school night, but the GHZ show starts early this Thursday, and you can eat dinner while you're there. (bringing a whole new meaning to the words dinner theater) GHZ (Scott Giambusso, Dan Hovey and John Zidar) take you back in time to a hazy period when Eric Clapton was in a band called Cream, and Jimi was the new star on the horizon. Scott says: This is the Get The Rust Off Tour. We have prepared some new material and haven't played out since November so everyone is itching to do some bashing, especially John whose feet never seem to stop twitching. (Mind you this is the bass player talking about the drummer-but they all twitch and bash- in a good way. )


These guys don't play together often, but they 're all consummate musicians- so be sure to catch this version of them which will take you back in time, but will also get you home in time for the evening news. Show starts at 7:30-this Thursday at Bangkok Blues in Falls Church, Virginny.

GHz Last Friday Night

GHz drew a good sized crowd the other night at The Outta the Way Cafe,
playing three sets and getting better with each one.
Chip Py caught these moments:


John Zidar on drums


Dan Hovey


and Scott Giambusso

Other Birds Seen Around Here Besides Turkeys

I told someone I was going to go see The Nighthawks at the Kensington Armory Thanksgiving "town dance" last Wednesday, and they said, "Are they still alive?"
Well, yeah.
And it was great.
And here are the pictures to prove it from my senior staff photographer, Chip Py:



The show sold out.



Johnny Castle



Keith Grimes



Paul Bell



Mark Wenner



and Dan Hovey sitting in.

Thursday Night

As Josh Arnson puts it-the Titanic is going down, and DC Honky Tonkin vowed to play until they lie with the fishes-It's their last gig at MY BAKERY Thursday night, September 27 in DC's glowing Glover Park. And if honky tonk ain't your thing- Dan Hovey's other incarnation, Bad Daddy is appearing at good ole JV's in Falls Church, Virginny at 9 p.m. No cover for either show...

Or you could flip a coin...

GHZ-Underattended but Over The Top

Everybody who did not show up to the GHZ gig because it rained should just crawl under the covers with regret. You missed an amazing show Friday night. They rocked the joint like it was sold out until 1 a.m., and they were even better than I remembered if that's possible. Dan Hovey is one of the few people I know who can make his guitar sound like a human voice- and he played until his tendons were on fire. Scott Giambusso, an iron solid bass player, gave everyone a strong backbone to play off of, and John Zidar punctuated the air with exclamations points of drumming that you don't see coming, but are just perfect. All three astounded the crowd, and even each other sometimes, and it's a great thing to watch a band this tight- doing what a band needs to do-play together. (It's not as simple as it sounds.)
Anybody who doesn't come see them play in November should have a doctor's note. Make the effort. These guys sure do. I predict GHZ will sell out the Capitol Center one day. It's just a matter of time. Mark my words.


Joe Dolan and John Stone of The Beatnik Flies made it.
(Turn around, John)
So did Kim Kane of The Slickee Boys...
Where were you?

P. S . Here's JOHN ZIDAR"S 2 cents on what Scott wrote above:

"I whimsically beg my daughter Rachel to change her name to Ginger on a regular basis because my other two kids HAPPEN to be named Eric and Jackie. The point of all that should be obvious ….

A small technical correction, I only appear to have 3 rack toms if you’re very, very drunk (SCOTT!!). Before the Ginger Baker fans out there explode with “Ginger only has two rack toms and two floors”, I want to clarify that that is my precise setup. I have made the set more ergonomic by putting the largest drum on the left so I don’t wrench my back playing “Sunshine”….. hey, WAKE UP, I’m laying out some drum shop talk here!!"

The Back Story of GHZ by Scott Giambusso

"One Tuesday in June, I walk in the back room of the Half Moon, and who is on stage working the gig with Dave Kitchen, but my old pal, Dan Hovey whom I don’t think I’d seen since the early 80s. We had played a few gigs about 25 years ago, and he and John Zidar used to come to my basement apartment, and we would attempt to play Chick Corea tunes and other some such jazz . Somehow, after spending years in New York, Dan moved to Kensington, Maryland, one mile away from my home in Wheaton. Back on the DC rock scene, he quickly became the most- in-demand freelance guitar player, and now here he was, playing my local watering hole.
I joined Dave and Dan on the stage, and we proceeded to tear the blues into little pieces. The energy was great and the grooves were strong and Dan’s soloing got better with each chorus. Since we were jamming, we tried to pick tunes we all knew. Just for yuks, I think I suggested "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream. Dan's eyes lit up as he had learned every lick Eric Clapton ever played or even thought of playing. We kicked it off and rocked down the house. What a riot! The next week I called him and suggested we get together for grins and play a bunch of the old Cream tunes and maybe some Hendrix and Led Zepelin.
But who would be the right drummer? Dan immediately knew that John Zidar was the only choice. I did not know that John was a huge fan of Ginger Baker and had studied every beat Baker had ever played. And that was just at age 14. After getting his degree in percussion at Maryland, John Zidar made the rounds in just about every circle in the music biz. John is so into Cream that he has been trying to get his daughter, Rachel, to change her name to Ginger. He is a meticulous player and a total octopus on his immense DW drum kit with the same setup as Baker's with 2 bass drums 24” and 22,” a snare, 3 mounted toms, 3 floor toms, I don’t know how many cymbals and a cowbell. John Zidar was the only drummer that could make Gigahertz a reality."

That's an excerpt from bass player, Scott's GHZ Diary...Thanks, Scott.

See the reality rock the Out of the Way Cafe tonight in dear ole wherever it is, Derwood, MD.
( Get yer google maps fired up.)

GHZ's Time Machine

Do you remember when your friends used to get together and cover "Sunshine of your Love"
in somebody's basement or at a party? Maybe they murdered it, or maybe they were actually OK. Well, what if they had been practicing for thirty years or so, and got really, REALLY GOOD ?

The band GHZ hasn't been formally together for that long, but they play like they have, and all three, Dan Hovey, Scott Giambusso and John Zidar have been playing professionally for over 30+ years with the likes of people from Charlie Bird to Root Boy Slim. (combined that's 180 dog years) What really matters is they rock.

Catch them this Friday, September 14, at Out of the Way Cafe (you can say that again)
(No, really- it's worth the trek) at 17503 Redland Road in Derwood, MD.
Revisit 1968.

Or you can see Dan and Scott play an acoustic set from 8-11 this Thursday night, September 13, at 100 King Street, a joint with the same name and address in Old Town Alexandria.

Go down under at The Quarry House

Dan Hovey's playing tonight with The Cutaways in one of my favorite dives, The Quarry House in Siver Spring. ( a downstairs dive at that- on the corner of Bonifant and Georgia Ave)
A hellatious beer list and tater tots on the menu.
If you saw my early rave about Dan, you'll know he's worth seeing.

Monster Rally Tonight

I'm always a sucker for free music, and in the summer there's a lot to choose from around here. Tonight you can get a free solid hour of The Hula Monsters. If you've been napping, the Monsters have been together for almost twenty years and many stellar players have rotated in and out- including Jack O' Dell, Dan Hovey, Dave Chappell- and Mark Noone (Mark is STILL in )
And you can believe that everybody in this band really knows what they are doing.
The show starts at 7:30 in Mason District Park, 6621 Columbia Pike in Annandale.
All you have to do is show up.