Benefit a Baby

Posing on Memory Lane

Anybody who remembers the above card might want to think about going to Poseur's 30th Reunion party this Saturday night at the Rock and Roll Hotel featuring deejay Mohawk Adam. I spent too much time at 9:30 Club and DC Space to have clear memories of this place besides a lot of lights and noise, but I'm willing to bet a bunch of people who were there more often have hazy memories, too. But that's exactly what these things are for - to remind each other of those crazy  happy times and maybe create another in the process. To borrow from the lexicon of James Cramer, Esq., "Remember the time?"

9 p.m. / $15

Beach Goers Shouldn't Throw Rocks at Glasnost Houses ?

Sitting with the ants on my counter this morning after fleeing the mosquitoes out in the garden, I can't help but think about the show coming up at IOTA this Thursday. It's a double bill featuring the Atomic Mosquitos and Igor and Red Elvises. Think Black Lagoon Surf Instrumental meets Siberian L.A. Lounge Pop Punk.  Or to put it more simply-East Coast meets West. (Bethany Beach meets Moscow?)

Did we mention there'll be a theremin?

Pretend It's Saturday

Don't want the weekend to be over? It doesn't have to be.  Drew Gibson's at IOTA tonight along with a really good selection of draft beers. Be different. Have something to talk about at the office tomorrow besides sports.

DC Band In DC

Check out indie-native type music from the Nighttime Adventure Society this Saturday night at the Black Cat. And here's a link to front woman Laura Zax's song about the town she grew up in- you guessed it- Washington DC.

The Heat Is On

It's getting deep, deep into summer here in DC now.  Time for the politicians to scamper home and run for office, and time for the real denizens of the District to get down to the dog days. Never mind that the ice sheets of  Greenland  are melting according to the crazy cats at NASA. Never mind that DC has had it's hottest summers two years running, and I'm not even counting 2012.

What matters is that we persevere in keeping cool even if it means creeping out of the AC cave we call home to go out and enjoy the end product of a blazing day: the sultry evening.
The Blackberry Belles have a show opening up for the Royal Bangs down at the The Red Palace this Friday. I can't describe their music, but some might say a thrashy, trashy meld of Sonics, Seeds, Doors and Black Keys- they sound like a rock band your parents wouldn't want you to listening to during the 60s which is why you should go.

Rock Show Hits Quarry Saturday

I really shouldn't be writing about this show because people are going to go anyway. Why?
Three reasons off the top of my head: Two really good bands, a bourbon list you don't have enough time to read, much less drink your way through, and all the ambiance that a dive bar from the 1930s can cough up. Oh, and a room full of musicians and fans all yelling hello, dancing even though there's hardly any room, and cruising for left over tater tots.

Hot Town

Little Red and the Renegades always put on a fun show especially on a hot night when you can pretend you are somewhere cooler like New Orleans. According to my friend Kiki, this year Washington has been hotter than New Orleans almost every day in July so far which makes me question pretty much everything.

Falls Church Imaginary Beach Time

The bad news? There's no actual beach here.

The good news? There's no Bay Bridge traffic, there is live music, and if you close your eyes the cars on Washington Street can sound like waves. (Ok,  if you hold a shell up to your ear, they do.)

Best Deal in Town

My friend Olivia chilling at Fort Reno

Food trucks, frisbees, trees and music. No one is too old or too young to hang at Fort Reno. This Monday's bands include Nox, Alma and Cigarbox Planetarium. Never heard of 'em? That's why these concerts exist: to give DC bands air play- back to Nature style. Concerts include free sunsets and no cover.

Music Here and There

I was at a back yard party with a live band recently, and I sat next to a man who was lamenting the lack of music in the DC area. (Boy, did he pick the wrong seat!) He was immediately supplied with a DC ROCKS lecture and quite possibly a card. But it is true- music might be harder to find if you are of a certain age that grew up with newspapers in the hand and no internet. Or then again maybe you just aren't looking in the right place.

This Friday King Soul is playing at a venue I was unaware of-  Seventh Street Landing. It's a relatively new waterside park in Southwest DC where you can find farmer's markets, art markets and live music, too. Set times run from 6-8:30 p.m.
Then on  Saturday The Loggers are reconvening at Parker's in Bethesda. Go up and talk to those guys, and you'll learn a lot about what small town Bethesda used to be like, and if you remember Bethesda in the Sixties and Seventies, you'll be hearing familiar tunes.

Or if you prefer a slightly more urban venue, psychedelia garage style Blankus Larry and friends will be squirreled away in the back of Comet Ping Pong on Connecticut Avenue. 10 p.m. Saturday.

One thing that hasn't changed with the internet is rock posters. An art form in itself.

Not the Fighting Kind Of Nunchucks

Sometimes I actually know a band that's playing at Fort Reno and this Thursday is one of those shows. The Nunchucks rocked when I saw them open for the last Slickees Boys' show at 9:30 Club sometime back, and here's your chance to see them for free. You can bring the dog. Or the kids.  Concerts start at 7 and are over by 9:30 star time.

History Repeatedly Repeating

It's the name of a band, but it should be the name of the show this Sunday when The Black Sparks meet John Stabb's latest project History Repeated at the Black Cat. John's band Government Issue was a force to be reckoned with back in the day, and the boys of Black Sparks might not be old enough to drive a car, but they're pulling no punches. Truly an all ages event.

DC ROCKS Summer Break

Summer is upon us.

Schools are out as of this Thursday in the District and just hatched graduates are already wreaking havoc in places like Ocean City and the Tastee Diner. "Sometimes things are slightly wonderful" as our friends in 7 Door Sedan would sing and "other days you have..."
Well, they leave it at that.

Mosquitoes are already ravenous, and threatening to take over DC. Ants have raised a tiny flag on my roof declaring the house a 24 hour cafeteria. The heat and humidity are pretty much only good for growing tomatoes and chia pets, but the weirdly warm winter did produce perks such as an abundance of mint which came in handy for the Mint Julep/ Mojito cocktail clash on Cinco de Mayo/ Derby Day this year.

Beaches beckon, and life does slow down as Congress empties out, and tourists wander in.  There's usually a breeze down at Fletcher's even on the hottest days, and there's plenty of free music out there this time of year including DC ROCKS' favorite venue Fort Reno which is off and running starting Monday, June 18th.

 Please note: DC ROCKS will miss Fort Reno's opening day as well as a good part of the next 10 days here on line due to that other slightly wonderful thing- Summer Vacation. Please feel free to post about upcoming concerts or other things DC centric, on the face book page.

A Refuge for Writer's Block

I'm fond of Busboys and Poets because it's one of the few places I know where the hostess gives you the option of eating at a table with chairs or a couch. Big or small, it's nice to have choices in life, and Busboys and Poets offers variety: part bookstore, part bar, part cafe, but perhaps most importantly, it's a place to gather with a big room set aside for parties, readings and music.

I'm also fond of  George Pelecanos, a prolific and talented local writer that uses the real Washington as his location- a place which tourists and national politicians rarely see. Monday evening George will be reading from his book The Cut at Busboys and Poets' original store on 14th and V N.W. at 7:30 p.m.
(And if you can't make it to this event, look for George later this month out in Hyattsville.)

Don't Wait 'Til The Thrill Is Gone

(Photo courtesy of Google Maps with Tom Cruise sitting in?)

Sometimes places are here for so long that you forget that they are still in existence. This could well be the case for Hank Dietles' Tavern on the Rockville Pike- one of those endangered species type bars that qualify for the Genuine Dive Status Requirements as follows:

1. There's a real good chance it's older than you are.

2. It's about the size of a large shed.

3. Modern stuff like a sound system and a flat screen TV may have  been added, but here's more important criteria:

A gum ball machine? Check

Old wooden booths? Check.

Plastic lawn chairs on site? Check.

4. And this- this might be the MOST important thing of all....It still has a phone booth. ( Yes, a very small enclosed confined space dedicated to the task of communicating with other humans for a small fee using a blunt instrument which we once called a "pay phone.")

Where better to see a band that's been around long enough to use pay phones and be packed with atmosphere and talent.  Catch the raw and powerful Johnny Castle with his Thrillbillys this SUNDAY evening at this classic dive starting at 5 p.m. (Early enough to have your fun and not be late enough to regret your choice on  Monday morning.)

Update- JUNE 8th:
Sadly- inexplicably- the phone booth has gone with the winds of change. Just another sad reminder to catch what you can when you can. On the flip side this reporter walked into Hank Dietles' tonight and found Billy Hancock playing a killer set with Warner Williams, plus Mark Noone, formerly of the Slickee Boys, sitting in for two songs. Enough said?

Art is Where It's At

If you haven't had a chance to check out ARTOMATIC,  Saturday might be a good time to get over there. Evening events include "Zombie Prom Night," plus our friends in Dear Season and 7 Door Sedan are just two of the bands on the bill for that evening's entertainment. But music is only part of what goes on here. A massive amount of energy has been poured into this temporary station for the mildly insane including workshops for all ages, talks and demonstrations, wine tastings and performances. Meet all kinds of area artists who are volunteering, exhibiting, teaching and creating mayhem- a refreshing detour from the usual.

Artomatic runs every day except Monday and Tuesday through June 23rd opening at noon.

Saying Our Goodbyes

Saying good-bye to a treasured dive is always rough- especially one that has spawned its own subculture of people called "The Grillbillies." The Sunset Grille in Annandale has had many close calls with closing, but this week it looks like things are wrapping up for good. This Thursday, Johnny Castle and the Thrillbillies will be there one last time to usher out an era that they helped create. This tiny place has seen an inordinate amount of talent come through its doors, and we will be very sad to see it go. If you can't get down there one last time, here's a tribute to the Grille from DC ROCKS' photographer Chip Py.

Even sadder though is saying good-bye to a person.

Today begins the official send off to Chuck Brown with an all day/ all evening viewing at the Howard Theater. The service happens on  Thursday beginning at noon at the Convention Center. I've been listening to a lot of Chuck Brown's music on the radio this past week, and it's never without joy to hear that voice calling out to us, but it's going to take a long time to get over not seeing that smile again.

Thank you, for giving us that and more, Mr Brown.
You gave us your all, and hopefully, this town won't ever stop listening and learning from you.

Do Go Back to Rockville

Rockville once upon a time was a typical American town with shady streets and old houses radiating out from the Montgomery County Courthouse. Over the years however, it's been turned upside down by developers looking to save the town from itself.  I took a field trip there last winter and didn't recognize a thing although weirdly enough the newest idea is to give Rockville back an old fashioned town center.

But one thing at least, has literally not changed: the grave of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald is still right across the Pike in St Mary's Cemetery. Being Memorial Day weekend, the traditional beginning of summer marked by a day of remembering the dead, DC Rocks says why not combine both of these seemingly incompatible traditions? First take a (hopefully) battered copy of The Great Gatsby on a field trip to contemplate the man who so eloquently wrote "and so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

And afterwards, to celebrate summer's onset, the new old town of Rockville is throwing a very large party, and we're all invited.  Lots of our musical friends will be there including Ruthie Logsden and Greg Hardin, Dave Chappel, Billy Coulter, Justin Trawick, The Nighthawks, Dan Hovey, Chopteeth and King Soul. Over 40 free performances on 8 stages should provide a boatload of entertainment for just about everyone Saturday and Sunday from 1 in the afternoon until 10 at night.  Check out the schedule for details.

Fretting Over Options

As I write this  WPFW, DC's last bastion of real radio, is blasting Chuck Brown and trying to raise money for their membership drive, a very worthy cause by the way. I am torn between wanting to hear Chuck's voice and wanting to turn it off because I miss him so, but I love that station, and I love it that they are playing our beloved departed Godfather.

It seems trivial to write about anything else, but the sun comes up every day no matter what, and if you are looking for a distraction this weekend- well, there is stuff out there.

Artomatic is going on from May 18th through June 23rd, and there is always something cool to check out for artists and performers of all stripes.

Any Bad Seeds or Cramps fans at large out there? Then you might remember Kid Congo Powers who once slung a guitar for these bands and more. He'll be making a scene this Saturday night at Comet Ping Pong- a place which gives you things to do while you wait for that pizza.

DC Not Rocking Today

Washington lost a big piece of its soul today when our local hero and Godfather of Go- Go, Chuck Brown, died of pneumonia at the age of 75.  I never saw him without his beatific smile on stage, and that's why there is a picture of him on my refrigerator- just seeing that face could cheer me up every day. The man was the epitome of cool, yet his performances radiated warmth. One song could go on for a half hour, yet he never seemed to tire. He made so many people happy. He made so many people dance. And he never stopped giving us his all and above all that- his love.

While Washington won't be the same without Chuck Brown, his music and his influence will surely live far beyond this day. He was not just a performer; he was a true artist that brought a different beat to the party. The best party.

Take it to the bridge, Mr Brown. We can't blame you for bustin' loose, but it's going to be that much quieter down here without you.

Looking For A Cheap Date?

When economic times are tough, Washington, DC traditionally has a way of keeping its marble head above water, but the denizens pay a high price for just about everything including food, drink and entertainment.

That's why DC ROCKS is always scouring the area for cheap seats and happy hours, and nothing says affordable quite like the word "FREE." Summertime will bring more outdoor concerts than you can shake a blanket at, and all kinds of music from downtown to the farthest reaches of Suburbia, but just to get you started this Thursday catch the mighty 8 piece King Soul  at Veteran's Park in Bethesda and Saturday local party favorites The Grandsons will be at the McLean Palladium in the Old Dominion.

More happenings as the summer goes on, but don't miss our favorite venue Fort Reno- back in action sometime after DC schools get out in June.

Weekend Warriors Take on Wednesday

By Wednesday you might well be on your way to surviving another work week, but musicians don't know the meaning of a Monday through Friday 40 hour grind. You play when you get a gig, and that's what Drew Gibson is doing this Wednesday night at the Rock n Roll Hotel. He's got a pretty mellow thing going on so if you just want to just chill and contemplate life beyond the office, this is the show for you.



$10 bucks- 2 bands including the Bobby Thompson Project.
Feel the love.

A Case of (Minor) Mistaken Identity

DC ROCKS fans may love local music, but what they really dig is the history of the DC scene. One of my readers, a fountain of knowledge in his own right, Kendall Church, brought it to my attention that it was not Ian MacKaye's dome on the Minor Threat record jacket referenced  in my article about the punk rock exhibit at the library. That head (and body) belong to Ian's brother Alec who was not in the band - hence the confusion. I went to a Very Reliable Source and was not only given confirmation on this factoid, but was rewarded with more minutiae for all you trivia fans:  Alec MacKaye was also the hand model for the Teen Idles.

Make Some Noise at the Library

Shhhhhh?

Okay, but there's a punk rock thing going on at the Arlington Central Library where, on a recent field trip, former Slickee Boy Mark Noone contemplated channeling Ian MacKaye. This is a cool exhibit full of flyers featuring local bands from the legendary to the long forgotten. Take a kid or an old friend and see if you can't tap into those foggy memories.

Red Flag Warning this Saturday

What can happen when The Yachtsmen, those preppy inmates of Gilligan's Island, meet up with Igor and the Red Elvises at IOTA this Saturday? Nothing more than barely contained international insanity disguised as a really fun rock show.
What to drink?
Why, what else but vodka martinis, darling?

9 p.m. and only $15 rocks the boat at the door.

Spark Up a Tuesday Night in Takoma Park

Once upon a time The Electric Maid was a diner in Takoma Park where Mark's Kitchen is now, but the sign has moved around the corner to a place with no connection to the little eatery.
Electric Maid these days is a space for art and performance, and this TUESDAY The Black Sparks will definitely rock this space. If you haven't had a chance to see this very young punk band, take an aspiring musician and check them out. Their age does not define their talent. EARLY EARLY show starts at 6 p.m.

High Jinks At Quarry House

Here's a show that nobody's going to sit still for: The Ubangis* and Jumpin Jupiter at the Quarry House this Saturday night. Both bands have more energy than a barrel  full of monkeys in a hen house full of hungry poultry chasing June bugs. Or perhaps think jungle drums meet Elvis. Did I mention high jinks and shenanigans?

These are seriously crazy bands at a tiny venue where somebody's sure to lose an eye, but hey, it's sure to be good (almost clean) fun.

********Ubangis had to cancel due to illness, but Jumpin Jupiter will still go on****************

Captured By Pirates

A lot of music rolls across DC ROCKS's desk, but now and then a band really catches our attention, and We Were Pirates is one of those bands. Their CD "Change" has been in heavy rotation in the DC ROCKS office this past month. Check out their somewhat haunting and captivating pop sound yourself THIS FRIDAY when they play with Dance for the Dying, Tomio and The Silver Liners at the Rock n Roll Hotel on H Street NE. Just ten bucks for live human bands playing all night long.

For those of you looking for something a little less urban, Cravin' Dogs will be playing the Friday Night Eclectic series at the Strathmore Mansion which is a fun place to hang out and pretend you live in high on the hog.  $10 in advance/ $12 at the door.

The Man with the Ankh

If you have ever frequented the Galaxy Hut, then you've most probably encountered Art Daniels in one of  his roles as bouncer, door man, sound man and bartender. Art has been there through two owners, and maintains a sense of calm and decorum which permeates the room. What brought Art and his beatific smile here to this tiny place, and what keeps him here? I suspect the music, and Art is a music maker himself.

This MONDAY evening look for  The Art Daniels Band. appearing with The Curious Mystery at the Galaxy Hut.  Hopefully you all were unaware that taxes are not due until April 17th this year so you will have already dealt with that mess early.
Right?



Right?

Easter Redux Depending on Your Moon or Song of the Month

DC Rocks has come to an understanding with itself that it needs something new now and then to keep things interesting. And though we don't do reviews here, I can make up the rules as we go along and have decided to create a Local Song of the Month column to shed a bit of light on local music for all you shut ins who cannot get out as often as you'd like.

April's selection is "Matter and Light" by Marshall Keith - a song that fits in with this mystical season of natural and spiritual renewal when seemingly dead things come back to life. I take some delight in the fact that Easter,  the most important date on the Christian calendar, still bows to Mother Nature, and therefore must fall on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. (No wonder it's so hard to keep track of Mardi Gras.)

And to further muddy the holy waters, here comes Greek Easter which will take place this weekend. The Greeks like to use an astronomical full moon and a Gregorian calendar just to keep everybody guessing and practicing their algorithms.  This is why I shy away from organized religion which has way too many rules and exclusion clauses.

And so it was a Sunday when I first listened to Marshall's CD Roadside Shrine, and my first thought was to take a nap. I figured I'd lay down on the couch, take in the music and fall into a lovely stupor. But the music was too powerful; I had to sit up, entranced, with both my eyes and ears wide open.

"Matter and Light" is my favorite track on this CD, and what I refer to as my kind of church music though not in the traditional sensibility of 100 years of boring. This is a song which feeds and soothes the angst filled modern soul and gives us the possibility of renewal just like Spring.

Give it a listen and see what you think.

Please Make It Stop

Taxes and Death. Here we go again. Nothing puts a pall on a weekend like the thought of sitting down with yourself, adding up what you are worth and forking part of that over to Uncle Sam (who we think might drink a bit despite his best intentions to take care of business).  Still distractions abound this SATURDAY with a rather astounding mix of music on a single night -mostly for free.

Chopteeth brings its multinational groove to IOTA in Arlington with enough people in the band to make it a party wherever they go. Over in Bethesda there are two shows to check out: long time local rockers The Loggers plan to take over Parker's and for all you Dead heads, The Black Muddy River Band is over at the Mussell Bar taking no prisoners. If you want to go a little further afield, you'll find Cream inspired  GHZ at Outta the Way Cafe in delightful downtown Derwood- well worth the drive if you can find it on the map. Last but certainly not least check out this hardcore line up featuring Scream playing a benefit at St Stephen's Church in Mt Pleasant:

All shows are tax free and non deductible unless you happen to be a band member. No cover at Outta the Way, Mussel Bar and Parker's. IOTA $15. Scream just $10- a benefit for DC Jobs With Justice so
if you donate more you can write it off next year.

I Was So Much Older Then

DC ROCKS started as an experimental writing exercise, but early on the topic of music dominated this page,  perhaps because I used to do music reviews or maybe because I've always been surrounded by music living in this town. This week alone, DC's musical past rears up to nip our brains with no less than three events exploring just how rich our history is.

First the Arlington Central Library has a punk rock exhibit being established by an anonymous curator who was deep into the scene back in The Day including a large selection of posters and other collectibles. In keeping with the theme,  the library will be showing the documentary "Instrument-Ten Years with the Band Fugazi" on April 18th at 7 p.m.

Coming up this Wednesday evening-this month's DC Music Salon topic is concentrating on the notable bluegrass scene here. The salon will include stories from local musicians including Tom Gray of The Seldom Scene and the Country Gentleman, and ethnomusicologist Kip Lornell, as well as film clips of local bands and more. 7-9 p.m. at The Shaw Library.

Lastly our local rock curators- film maker, Jeff Krulik and writer, Mark Opsasnick are giving a presentation on the History of Rock and Roll in Prince George's County (1950s-1970s) this Friday evening at the College Park Arts Exchange on Knox Road. Topics include everything from teen dances at the Hyattsville Armory to rock shows at The Varsity Grill and Richie Stadium. The event starts at 7:30 p.m., but seating is very limited.

Both the DC Salon and College Park events are interactive so listeners as well as talkers are welcome.

All three of these events are labors of love, free, and open to the public.

Breeding Lilacs Out of the Dead

Spring in Washington is a wonderful thing to behold. This year has been especially spectacular and bewildering-a virtual Venn diagram of flummoxed flora; tulips blooming with azaleas, daffodils overlapping roses and my collards just exploded. Cherry blossoms came and went faster than you could say tour bus while last year's old leaves continue to cling.

This weekend Passover begins, and Easter crops up on top of that, but for those seeking relief from ritual, two shows are flanking the egg hunts: King Soul is back* at Hill Country BBQ to save your souls on Saturday night, and our old favorite Prabir, with his new band Goldrush, will be at my favorite little escape from this world-The Galaxy Hut on Sunday night with local companion band The NRIs. 

King Soul = No Cover
Galaxy Hut charges its standard $5 shipping cost for all live shows.
Both a bargain!


*King Soul fans beware- if you've been meaning to go- this is their last gig at Hill Country until fall.

A Different Kind of Rock Show

The first and last time I went to Carderock to rock climb, I was sixteen. It was a cold and grey December day, and my boyfriend and his friends wanted to teach me the ropes. ( ha ha) I was halfway up the cliff when I learned that clinging to unforgiving stone by my fingernails was not my idea of fun. Still it's a beautiful and a wonderful place. Yesterday was particularly spectacular with the temperature around 70 under a cloudless sky.

Hard to believe the city is only fifteen minutes down the road, and suburbia sprawls all around here, but  Carderock provides a perfect little Spring break and a chance to come eye to eye with a frog a world away from DC's chattering talking heads.