Chill Out at Fort Reno This Summer

Fort Reno's first concert of the season was cancelled Monday- so you can still make "opening day" this Thursday when former Government Issue still rocking punk, post punk, John Stabb hits the stage with Sleeper Agent. Gangland Buries Its Own and the Black Sparks which bill themselves as a "not-at- all-kid-friendly DC punk band of 9 and 12 year olds with TOO much energy" fill out the line up.

Keep your eye on Fort Reno's calendar this summer- there's something for everyone- from the newest young punks to seasoned pros like the Nighthawks. The Fort Reno series features DC area bands and the coolest, highest, natural venue in the city. Bring kids and dogs, bug spray, a picnic, and a blanket, but please bear in mind-no glass or alcohol.

Concerts start at 7 and everything is cleared out by 9:30.

FORT RENO

(pic courtesy of John Hansen)

Some people go for the free music. Some go for the scene which ranges from little kids playing ball to teenagers lurking behind the stage to the grandparents and parents that remember shows from way back when to yes, robots, gorillas and over sized bananas. Some are hoping for the Good Humor truck or to discover a new favorite band, but whatever you go for it's unquestionably the coolest place to be in DC and you never know what you'll see- Monday and Thursday evenings.

Follow the Bouncing Ball from Rockville, MD to Fort Reno, DC

You may think of Rockville as a suburban wasteland which it kind of is, but Rockville has a lot of history- like Uncle Tom's Cabin, (for real) the grave of F. Scott Fitzgerald (really) and good ole Montgomery Doughnuts. (Man, I miss them.)
Back here in the present you can catch The Hula Monsters- a band that is never lacking in talent. (and I personally know them to be a bunch of damn good sports) You can take just about anyone from 5 to 105 to catch their Hawaiian Swing thing at Town Square Plaza.
Look for Dave Chappell dominating the guitar on this gig. They'll be on from 6-8 this Thursday evening.
AND just down The Pike more history was made when General Jubal Early's troops were spotted in Rockville by look outs stationed at DC's Fort Reno during the summer of 1864. Fortunately now the biggest battles fought there this summer are on the tennis court, and the look outs have been replaced by people walking dogs. The last concert of the season is happening also on this Thursday featuring: The Jet Age, Yell County, and Title Tracks. It's definitely the coolest greenest scene and be seen spot in town.
As always the shows there go from 7-9:30.

Traffic has gotten a lot crazier since 1864 so you most probably can't make both, but at least there's no lack of musical possibilities.

Looks Like The Last Monday

These United States it's not just our country- it's a fine local band which you can see along with
Jukebox the Ghost tomorrow evening- free atop Fort Reno in Northwest DC- our fair city's coolest outdoor venue. The summer season is winding down- so if you've been meaning to go- grab a blanket and a picnic and come check out this great summer tradition which has seen the likes of Fugazi, The Slickee Boys, Grin and too many bands to mention for many a DC moon. And anyway-where else can you get the founder of Fugazi's sister to autograph your arm?

Are You A Believer?

I saw it. I swear. I saw a girl converted at the last show. She came in a skeptic and went out a fan. It's that simple. Prabir and The Substitutes. There can be no imitation, and they are playing THIS Thursday July 31, at The Quarry House in Silver Spring. Opening up for Prabir will be Puptent. Lyn2 thinks the "oddball boys" is the best description she has heard yet. I found them somewhat mesmerizing last time I saw them at Fort Reno.

And speaking of Fort Reno-ALSO this Thursday- the ambitious rocker can catch Kid Congo Powers*, The Shirks and Girl Loves Distortion. (a favorite of Roddy Franz from The Urban Verbs) between 7 and 9:30- then hit The Quarry House almost in time for Puptent.

And that's not all- there's NO excuse to stay home July 31- go west and find Susan Cowsill at Iota; go east and catch Sleepy Labeef and The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours at Surf Club Live. Too much for one cat, but plenty for all.)



*Check out Kid- he has quite the rock pedigree.

Rain, already.

But not on Fort Reno tomorrow night-July 24 .
See Statehood, Tsarina and Imperial China.

Summer in the City

Ft. Reno concerts are one of my favorite things about DC summers. They bring back the true meaning of free music. This Monday, July 21, check out Puptent and Ra Ra Rasputin. Puptent's Ben Azzara, Phil Duarte and Ted Watts are the shamans of sound, often re-inventing their songs and never playing the same set twice. There's some punk in there, and a lot of other ingredients too. The melange of energetic melodies, invention that's never noodling and a "pop not pop" sound is perfect for a hot summer night in the grass. Given that Ra Ra Rasputin call themselves "Rasputniks" and lists among their influences LCD Soundsystem, the Feelies and Q and Not U, I am looking forward to seeing this band, too. Shows start at 7:15 and end by 9:30. You can walk from the Tenleytown Metro stop.(the above brought to you by Lyn2)

The View from the Top

Tonight's another chance to sit on top of one of Washington's highest hills and catch the cool breezes plus three DC bands for absolutely nothing-no money down. A lot of venues around the area offer free music in the summertime, but Fort Reno has the edge on raw (and sometimes seasoned) talent. Tonight's line up includes: Black and White Jacksons, John Wayne Hero and Friends of the Library.

In case you don't know- right next to Wilson High school just off Nebraska is a great big hill- once a Civil War Fort- now just mostly green space with a little wooden stage sitting very close to Chesapeake Street. During the school year you might see kids hanging out with their friends there, but during the summer Fort Reno is home to a very local- very vibrant rock scene.

Concerts are free- now we can boast arsenic free- and start at 7 or so. It's a summer tradition for all DC rockers of a certain age. And now for rockers with kids. (Though if they are in high school, they often go up to see each other as much as the bands.)

Tonight- three groups are playing including Sarah Azzara, The City Veins and The Boom Orangutangs.

Hold The Fort

Never mind the arsenic- the summer concert season is starting up again this Monday at Fort Reno. Check out the website for the lists of bands and how to donate a few bills or volunteer to keep this great DC rock tradition going. If you grew up here, you probably have more than one story about seeing Fugazi or The Slickee Boys way back when or meeting your friends behind the stage. Now a days you'll still see kids from Wilson around (quite possibly ignoring their parents sitting over there in the grass.)
All concerts start at 7 and end at 9:30. Bring the family.

DC Rocks Turns ONE

I began writing DC ROCKS a year ago today. I started this whole thing in an effort to get away from my family. I love my family, but overgrown teenager that I am, I needed another place to go. I didn't know what I wanted to write about, but I wanted it to be about something else -something besides the DC/family stories that I was working on. My first posting was mostly about junking, but almost immediately local music and musicians began to creep into the format. Still I had no idea what a Godzilla of a theme this would turn out to be. Next thing I knew though the Fort Reno concerts were starting up so I wrote about that- then the Beatnik Flies had their first reunion concert, and I wrote about that. Soon music was filling the page.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I've always been a music fan. I got a guitar when I was ten. I sneaked into bars like Mr. Henry's to see bands. I thrived in college group houses where stereos were as necessary as air, and where The Back Room at The Varsity Grill was in staggering distance. Then came the 9:30 Club and dc Space. (I hung out there so much I once married a bartender, but that's a different story.)

Music has always been the landscape wherever I lived, and though I've scorned DC in the past, I am amazed now more than ever at the wealth of all kinds of talent here. I'm not an expert- in fact I pretty much rank myself as an advanced beginner in almost everything I've tried to do. But there are no rules here. I get to make this up as I go along, and it's been really fun to fall into it head first.

I want to thank everyone- my readers and friends for reading, encouraging and putting up with me.

You all make DC Rock.

When It Rains It Pours

The kids at Fort Reno tried to carry on last night, but the rain gods won out which, selfishly, is a good thing for my yard. Waking up this morning, I noticed the top of my magnolia is brown, and even the stronger than dirt day lilies are dying. This has never happened in all the years I've been here. The yard is practically a federal disaster area- drought- wise. Congratulations to Sam, who made it to the concert with his drums despite a flat tire. At least he go to go on before it rained. Keep playing, Sam- the gods are with you.

The Evens' Evening @ Fort Reno- Highest point In DC

The buzz around The Evens concert last night (amongst those paying attention) was Prez Bush's latest lame move of commuting Scooter Libby's sentence. Ian MacKaye didn't hold back his opinions much to the delight of the crowd. Both he and Amy Farina sounded like a much bigger band than they are, and it was a great show.
For those not paying so much attention- the roving bands of Wilson kids- some vaguely aware of the music, most knowing that guy up there from Fugazi had graduated from their school- they were more into the social scene which was later deemed "awkward".


And for those 12 and under there was always
the Good Humor truck-frisbees, and fireflies.
Something for everyone.

Pup Tent @ Fort Reno

The drummer from Pup Tent rocked so hard last night that he broke a drum!

The Concert Scene from Fort Reno

At Least the Music Is Still Free

Tonight you can catch one of those free concerts at Fort Reno -the highest spot in our nation's capitol. (It IS still OUR nation, right? Somebody needs to remind Dick Chaney.) Anyway music might be a good way to take our minds off the fact that this administration seems hell bent on making Thomas Jefferson roll in his grave. In fact he's probably spinning like a top by now. What ever happened to the concept of public servants?

LeJeune, Pup Tent and Engine Room all play tonight starting at 7:15 until 9:30. Come on out. Show the world DC is not just for megalomaniacs. Peace.

The Past Is Still Here

Fugazi @ Fort Reno -2000
The kids on my block are practicing for our neighbor's annual summer party called Fete de
la Musique. Everybody that wants to can perform. My daughter is in an all girl rock band covering Pink Floyd and Queen. (Don't ask me- I couldn't tell you.) It's a great thing though to see the old rock holding it's own with the new music- especially among the young.

Plus the concerts at Fort Reno are starting up again, and my son rode his bike up there to check it out for the first time. ( I didn't tell him his parents had taken him more than once to see Fugazi when he was much younger.)

Even Deejays like Cerphe and Weasel are still kicking around this town, though it's somewhat disconcerting to hear Weasel in the morning. I tell my kids I used to be up doing homework and listening to him do his maniacal thing at night on WHFS, our "home grown" radio in Bethesda. Then in the morning, somebody at the station would play "Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35" by Dylan-- ( "Everybody Must Get Stoned...") just when we'd pull into the school parking lot which we thought was both hilarious and bold. Half the time we'd be late going in because we didn't want to get out of the car. That was radio worth listening to.