Trick or Treat?

Halloween causes confusion. People seem uncertain about when trick or treaters will strike- especially when Halloween falls on a week day. I was once an avid participant and have not forgotten anything including the little cardboard boxes for Unicef which supposedly offset our voracious greed for Three Musketeers and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Halloween always happens on October 31st, and what happens on Halloween stays on Halloween. Like zombies, trick or treaters are unstoppable: they go out at twilight, stay out in the dark and will slog through all kinds of weather for hours for candy corn.

But Halloween parties- that's another story. Halloween parties might happen throughout the whole month of October, though the ones for overgrown trick or treaters usually happen on the weekend of or before Halloween. One amazing party, the Zombie Walk of Silver Spring, used to be a crazy ass happening. Now Silver Spring is trying to curb this monstrous event with sponsors, but it still could be a fun thing to check out.

If you're more in the mood for music, Indie bands like the Nunchucks are taking over the Velvet Lounge Saturday night. And if you'd just as soon forget about Halloween altogether, there's a zydeco dance brewing at Glen Echo.

Spooky Doings This Friday

This Atomic Mosquitos show may be up in Frederick, but the poster is out of this world. Gotta be the work of that theremin playing mad man Stephen Blickenstaff.

Beer and a Movie in Aisle 8

Grocery shopping is not exactly my favorite activity, but things just got a whole lot better at Whole Foods in  Tenleytown DC. A few weeks ago I slogged up the stairs from the basement parking and there- like a mirage in the desert -was a bar with people talking and laughing. I wasn't dreaming.  You can get a glass of beer or wine and sit at the little bar, but even more amazing, you can take your drink and go prowl the produce. Yes, it's the dawn of civilized food shopping. (I don't know how we made it this far.)

Here's the other thing: they have a happy hour from 4-7 which features a variety of good wine and micro craft beers all at a dollar off their already reasonable prices. Yes, we're in a grocery store. The ambiance might be a little weird, but there's no Budweiser here. This Thursday - you might want to volunteer to pick up the milk and eggs because while you're up there you can check out the DC Brau tasting at 5 p.m. and also a screening of The Love of Beer- an independent film about women brewers at 6.

Not Debatable

In early October I sat down with my 11 year old to watch the first of the Presidential debates. He whined loudly, while I claimed that our time together would be an educational opportunity. But even I had to admit it was out of the box boring with a capital B although when Mitt Romney looked Jim Lehrer in the eye and promise to cut funding to PBS,  I had to squawk. Big Bird jokes aside, Romney's remark was particularly ludicrous considering only about 10 percent of public broadcasting funds come from the government according to the Nieman Journalism Lab. Why do public stations  have all  those admittedly annoying fund raising campaigns? Because they need the money- that's why!

And we need them.

Commercial radio, at least here in Washington, is a veritable wasteland. Many of the true talents of the airwaves have been forced underground, but the world wide web has given us a safety net, and broadcasts aren't limited to tiny stations with weak antennas anymore.  In DC WPFW keeps jazz and zydeco alive while WTMD in Towson is bringing back the unique voice of Weasel.  Yes, it's the same crazy guy whose name was synonymous with Bethesda's home grown radio station WHFS. The same man who kept us fellow late night lunatics company back in the 1970s, and whose musical knowledge must be encyclopedic by now.

(I'd love to see him moderate a debate- at least it wouldn't be a snore.)

Catch Weasel's show Friday nights and Saturday afternoons.

One Creepy Poster For Friday

Gotta love rock n roll as a relief and an outlet in these debatable times. 9 p.m. @ The Velvet Lounge
in the real people's D.C.

What Can You Do in 48 Hours?

Photo from Cairo Fred (Who Are Still Not Sleeping)

A lot of kids these days seem oversubscribed with swim practice before school, music lessons after school and weekends full of sporting events. Energy like that can dissipate as we get older, but my friend Gary continues to defy the curve. A typical night out for Gary, a musician and an economist, can include catching part of a symphony, taking in half an O's game, then cruising by the Quarry House for a last set there while I'm still contemplating getting out the door...

This Thursday the State Theater will show case people who can get things done in a short amount of time: the finalists  of the 48 Hour Video Contest. Twelve ambitious but sleepless bands and film makers were randomly married in creativity for this project and congratulations are in order. All twelve videos will be screened at the awards event, plus expect live music from Drew Gibson, The Beanstalk Library and Cairo Fred.  Sounds like an inspiring event for music, film and  time management fans.

Doors @ 6:30

Sunday Hit the Streets of Takoma Park

Takoma Park seems to attract people who like to live their lives a bit off the beaten path. Artists, musicians and activists all hide out in bungalows and Victorian houses on its hilly tree lined streets. (I should know because a lot of my friends live there.) Perhaps the town's proximity to the University of Maryland has something to do with it. Back in my college days, downtown College Park might have had a small town feel by day, but weekend nights were often giant parties with bikers and students co-mingling (and fighting) in dive bars on Route One. Takoma Park, just down the road, was an easy commute and out of the frat kid fray.

Now Takoma Park has an amazing farmer's market founded in part by a quietly wonderful man named John Hyde. He was not one to brag, (the last time I saw him, he was wearing a duct taped barn coat) but his passion brought true change and innovative thinking to the market place way ahead of the curve. He came up with ideas to feed the less fortunate from farm to table before that was even a catch phrase. (Just yesterday WAMU ran a piece on Farmers' Market Economics, and John's name came up more than once.)

The market is open every Sunday from 10-2, but this week it will be operating at the west end of a giant throw down known as the Takoma Park Street Festival. Two large stages flank either end of  town with another in the middle- food and craft vendors shoe horned in between with outstanding local music of all kinds from 11-5. Free. Rain or shine. The music schedule and links to the bands can be found here.

Way Back When Bethesda And Now

Bethesda. The parking sucks.  A lot of the old places are gone, and the sky scrapers that loom over the corner where the old Hot Shoppes was render the place unrecognizable to me. I freely admit that I feel more at home with what was rather than what is. And I'm not over losing places like the Psyche Delly, the Red Fox Inn and Shakey's Pizza. (I'm not sure they make them as hokey as Shakey's anymore, but it might have been the first place I had a beer. I was underaged of course, and served a pitcher. )

Sigh.

But back to now.

"Taste of Bethesda" happens this Saturday. Look for loads of free music all afternoon. 

And food. Lots of food. (If there's one thing Bethesda is known for now it's an astounding number of eateries.) Plus a Metro stop offsets that parking thing. 

I'm in.

Here's the music schedule:

Fairmont Avenue Stage 11am        Adrian Duke (Jazz) 1:30pm     Lloyd Dobler Effect (Rock) St. Elmo Avenue Stage 11:15am    Signature Live (R&B/Soul) 1:45pm      King Soul (Southern Soul) Cordell Avenue Stage 11:15am    JCJ Band (Latin) 1:45pm      Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band Norfolk Avenue Stage 11am         Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble (Folk) 12pm         Jayantika Dance Company (Indian) 1pm           Tepua Hio Hio Polynesian Entertainment 2pm           Farafina Kan Junior Company (African) 3pm           Culture Shock; Afta Shock (Hip-hop) Veterans Park 11am        The Village Jazz Band (Dixiland Jazz) 1:30pm     ilyAIMY (Folk Rock/Alternative)

Get Thee to the Glen

photo credit: (c) Richard Cook 2001 

Glen Echo has a history of being abandoned. The Chautauqua movement had high hopes for this beautiful tract of land back in the 1880s but had to give up their dreams by 1900. A variety of entrepreneurs took over and turned the place into an amusement park which had many years of great success, but finally ended up as a troubled run down place by the end of the 1960s.  In a happily ever after sort of way, but slowly,  Glen Echo has recovered as a show place for all kinds of arts. Every weekend music abounds especially this Saturday when the Cajun And Zydeco Music Festival  runs from noon until midnight with local bands like Little Red and The Renegades and Sir Alan and the Calypso Ponzi Schemers during the day, and the evening culminates with a Zydeco dance in the Bumper Car Pavilion.

Next Friday (October 12th) The Vi-Kings will preside over what they are calling a "Hullabaloo in the Glen" which is a semi-private event, but those in the know (as in you dear reader) can go. The kicker is you need to buy tickets in advance at the Vi-Kings' web site because of Park Service regulations. Unlike a lot of cover bands, The Vi-Kings deliver a live kind of energy back to the bands you might have missed fifty some years ago when Glen Echo might have been ebbing, but the music of the Sixties was roaring. I try and see this band as often as possible for two reasons:

1. The sheer  fun of it
2. Bob Berberich

Music Music Music

Local music madness is taking DC by storm this weekend. If you've been wishing you could get out and see bands, but never have the time, then hark, I say- keep tuned to this site! Taste of Bethesda, the Takoma Park Street Festival and much more are all coming up: live music day and night and, for the most part, free to boot. First up is the STPP Festival which begins Friday. Many thanks to event volunteer Mary Frances Powell for the low down on this event:

"The main point is to raise awareness of DC's music scene.  Friday, October 5th, all bands playing the festival will be from DC. On Saturday and Sunday there will be a mix of local and non-local talent.  All of the bands are up and coming; a few we expect to make it really big in the next year.  Our main purpose is to get people together to listen to great music and learn about all the bands.  The majority of it is free.  Some of the places that have allowed us to host bands are: The Black Squirrel, Comet Ping Pong, The Velvet Lounge, The Codmother, Zoo Bar, and Nanny O'Briens to name a few.  All the venues are walkable, so you can go to Cleveland Park, then hit up Adams Morgan before making your way to U St.  This is DC's biggest musical festival." 

By the way I got an email from Ben Eiserike today on this very subject. His band Club Scout is just one example of what's in store. Check it out.

Rivers Run Through It

Every now and then I forget to appreciate how pretty Washington is, but then I cross a bridge-any bridge- back into town and can't help but enjoy the view. The Memorial Bridge is an obvious classic - running right into the Lincoln Memorial, but the 11th Street Bridge gives you the bird's eye on Nationals Park with the Capitol in the background. Key Bridge looks downstream to the Kennedy Center and upstream to where the Three Sisters gage how high the river is running.  Just last week I  travelled by canoe from Fletcher's Boat House up to and almost under Chain Bridge- still in the city but in a world apart from Pennsylvania Avenue. On that note I can't help but think of this song by  The NRIS called "Across the River." I saw this local band at Galaxy Hut some months ago. Keep your eye out for them to play again.

In the meantime both the Potomac and the Anacostia are getting more attention these days. This Saturday the Southwest Arts Festival will be celebrating the neighborhood in a relatively new park space on the Maine Avenue waterfront with all sorts of activities including decorated bikes, hand dancing, and music from the Wil Gravatt Band, the Dixie Power Trio and more at Seventh Street Landing. 

Big Hair Lives

Robbie White grew up in the DC area, and he has spent a goodly amount of time immersing himself in the local and national music scene- especially back in the 1980s. This Saturday Robbie takes his show on the road down to WRIR in Richmond to hang with Slickee Boy drummer Dan Palenski. Dan runs a radio show called "Songs from The Big Hair"which is definitely not your usual heavy rotation. (Thanks to public radio, there are still live deejays out there that can play songs they actually want to hear.) Robbie commandeers the studio  from 3-5 p.m. so listen for shout outs to DC and the good old days. Stream it live!

Still Chipper

What's so great about Route 11 Potato Chips? Yep, it's a really good snack, but even more impressive is a factory with one dumpster which is emptied only twice a month. (My favorite way they do this is the cattle solution- all the not so perfect chips are consumed by local cows.)  Sarah Cohen, native DC girl and founder of the Route 11 empire, once told me that part of her despotic vision was to have everyone within a 110 mile perimeter of her factory eating Route 11 Chips which is a point of view I find easy to swallow.

This Saturday come join the party out at the Route 11 factory featuring music from The Acoustic Burgoo and The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours. If you can't make the trek, have a bag of Route 11 and know that somewhere, down in Virginia, a cow is smiling.

Art Most Spheric

What two words describe the man we call Andrew Bucket?
How about nutty?
No, that might be too ordinary.
Artist?
Most definitely.

I think I'll leave the other word open for discussion, but let's just say you never know what might happen if Bucket is involved. Last month he got married (and divorced) at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
This Saturday he is hosting an event called Popped-up Video at Artisphere. A myriad of artistic events is going on there at all times including the photography exhibit Beyond the Parking Lot curated by Cynthia Connolly. ( If you ever went to DC Space, you will remember that name)

Artisphere which once was the Newseum is that weird domed building you might spot coming down the hill in Arlington trying to get back to DC. It might be the biggest, newest space devoted to the arts in the DC area hosting all kinds of events from dances to film and everything in between. It even has a bar ! Artisphere is just across Key Bridge near the Rosslyn Metro with free parking on weekends and week nights.

Popped Up Video starts at 8 p.m. / $10

Consider This on Saturday

For the most part local musicians in this area fly safely under the radar which is not a good place to be, but there are great resources around like "All Songs Considered."

 "All Songs Considered" is a radio show brought to you by the folks at NPR, headquartered right here in DC. The show is for the more eclectic minded longing to find anything but that churned out commercial sound, and co-hosts Robin Hilton and Bob Boilen are with you. Here's something worth considering: Bob has been in the DC music scene so long, he should have some sort of historic plaque hanging around his neck. His band Tiny Desk Unit was the first and last group ever to perform at the old 9:30 Club.

Last month "All Songs Considered" featured DC based band  Drop Electric which, come to think of it, reminds me a little bit of Tiny Desk Unit with its eerie other worldly sound and a penchant towards the visual. Drop Electric will be creating their scene this Saturday at the (relatively new) 9:30 Club when they open up for Papadosio from Asheville, N.C. If you can't make the show, check out Drop Electric's site for some impressive video work.

Postcards From H Street Festival 2012

A Glimpse of Baltimore Rock Opera

Doing "The Wobble"

Unidentified Rolling Object

Past Meets Up with Present on new Heritage Trail

H Street

Lots of new things have been happening on and around H Street for quite a while now. The Atlas Theater has been revived, and lots of little watering holes and eateries have been shoe horned into original row house/shop spaces that existed when my Greek grandfather had a confectionery back around 1915. I used to take my father on field trips there so he could recount everything he remembered about the neighborhood which was destroyed during the riots in the 1960s. I only remembered that  H Street- the one that languished as a shell of its former self  for years. The block the shop was on was demolished, but change has finally come.

 This Saturday come celebrate this reviving neighborhood at the H Street Festival which features all kinds of activities including 'live music everywhere." And check out the new heritage trail which peers into the past bringing history alive as well. Festivities begin at noon.

Saying Goodbye to a Show Man

Mark Noone with Vance Bockis photo by Mike Ratel

Like everyone, Vance Bockis has a story, but Vance's story is particularly sad. Just this year Shift, a short but riveting film, celebrated his six year triumph over heroin addiction and his comeback to the music scene and... life. But last week Vance was unable to recover from a recent surgery and died at home at the age of fifty.  A life long musician, Vance was in several bands including 9353, The Obsessed and The Factory which played The Slickee Boys' farewell show at the 9:30 Club in 2011. Mark Noone, front man for the Slickees Boys, had this to say in remembering his friend:

"Show Business. It’s called that because it’s all about putting on a show, and the business of music depends upon the talent that can do just that. People usually remember Kim Kane even if they have only seen Slickee Boys once because  he individually put on the best show amongst his five band mates. I remember seeing The Factory for the first time, and marveling at the front man. I soon realized that it was Vance Bockis- the singer from The Obsessed; but now he was looser, more self-assured, newer. He had this zonky swagger. I immediately loved this band, and I tried to study Vance, and see what made him such a wonderful front man. He was a killer singer; his pitch, timing and inflections were just right. He was smart and a true musician. He was keenly aware that one had to put on a show. And beyond that, whenever I saw him off stage, he was the same sweet and intense guy. I was always happy to see him. Sweet, intense and zonky- I was a fan.


I’ve known too many people who never made it out of the depths of addiction alive, but Vance did. I don’t know how he did it; he had to be stronger than I or any of us may have thought. I thought it was very kind of him to tell us his story in Steven Biver's documentary Shift. It is a very important film. I’ve watched it a bunch of times. For me it’s kind of like hanging out with him. The last six and a half years of his life, he was happy, hopeful and excited. Personally I was delighted that Factory had re-formed. I saw the new band twice, and loved it and was thrilled that the band could play Slickee Boys’ final show at 9:30 Club. I apologize for being selfish, but I can’t help imagining what he could have offered us in the years to come. I’ll miss him, and I’m still a fan."


A service for Vance Bockis will be held this Thursday, September 13 at 6 p.m. at Fairfax County Memorial Funeral Home. 

Get Your Gumbo On And Then Some

The hot and soupy hurricane leftovers weather we've been having lately at least sets the mood for the "Gumbo and Goulash" dance at Glen Echo this Saturday night with Little Red and the Renegades and the Continentals, but it also describes a couple of other shows, too.


What goes in a stew? A little of this and a lot of that which is exactly what makes up the cast of thousands in Chopteeth's world beat band. Check them out at the U Street Music Hall which the 9:30 Club is occasionally booking as a smaller venue worthy of note .

If you want to get out of town by sundown,  there's a free, psychedelic, all ages happening called Revolve going on in Hyattstown, MD, and this time there's color, sound and light involved in the mix with music courtesy of none other than ex- Slickee Boy, Marshall Keith, Rupert Chappelle and Morpho. (Just take 270 to the Outer Limits and turn right at the Twilight Zone. Going to be out of this world.)

Back to School Night With Your Clothes On

Are you still having bad dreams of taking that math exam you didn't study for.... in your underwear?
People with children can have those dreams, and feel the shudder of going back to school. Long past are the days when you could shove a child out the door with an apple.  Now it's: Finish your summer reading! Where's the gym suit? You need what by Monday? Never mind back to school night which means showing up on time, cramming yourself into a student size desk and receiving a ream or two of paper to keep track of as well as instructions and deadlines, and don't forget to sign up for the bake sale, and... don't show up in your underwear.

But wait, we're adults now. We can make the rules and sign our own permission slips.

This FRIDAY unleash that inner child and report to The Vi-kings who recreate what fun was all about back when band members were toiling away just down the road at Walt Whitman High- and being in a band. It's back to school night without the school!

Or
head down to the Velvet Lounge where DC's own Color School is in session with Round About and Wes Tucker and the Skillets. Three bands for $8 in a dive bar where you can play hooky all night long.

Postcard to New Orleans

Dear Nola,

Hang in there, pal.

We'll be thinking of you until the sun comes out,
the power's back on, and all are safe and dry again.

love  from

DC

p.s. Thanks for all those Mardi Gras memories...you rock.

Sweden Prepares To Rock DC

DC ROCKS freely admits its name was lifted from an anthem Ian Hunter wrote for Cleveland, Ohio,  and, accordingly, this site tries to cover DC people doing DC things. But that doesn't always translate on Google. Often bands ask to be written up because they are playing in DC and not from DC. This tiny office can't handle that much music, but when Swedish band One Inch Giant found this blog and asked if we would post about their gig, an exception had to be made for these three reasons:

1. To promote diplomacy and good will on Earth, not to mention world peace.

2. Might be an educational opportunity to find out what Sweden has to offer besides Volvos, Ikea and meatballs. (oh and massages)

3. This band is coming all the way from Sweden to play a small, very local dive bar with a great roof top.  The least we can do is be there to welcome them.

One Inch Giant will be at DC9 with local band Auroboros  this Thursday.
$8

Lights Camera Music!

I  remember back in high school, before music videos were de rigueur, I was driven to make a slide show to go along with a song I wanted to play for the school variety show. It took me over a week to take the pictures and get the film processed. Then I had to borrow a projector. Nowadays though, I take movies with my phone,  feed them to a computer, and can have my own channel in cyberspace within an hour.  Times may have changed, but the urge to pair music and film lives on.

Got a phone? (Okay, a camera)
Have a band?

If either one of these arts is up your alley, then you might want to enter the 48 Hour Video Contest- the newest thing from the folks who brought you the 48 Hour Film Contest.  This project brings film makers and bands together, and gives them a chance to get great exposure and have an amazing experience. Winners will show their films at the AFI Silver Theater, and the top three bands will play at the State Theater. Check out the link above for all the details. Entries are being taken now.

If You Find It You Can Go

Last time I looked there was no sign for the Quarry House, and finding out who might be playing there continues to be a well kept if unintentional secret. Still being a lover of the under dog- or under bar in this case, I would rather hang in this dive than the more brightly lit places in Silver Spring so I keep on going back.

This Saturday diligent research (perhaps a facebook posting?) reveals  Ruthie and the Wranglers will be on deck to rock the tater tots off your table. The beer and bourbon list here is worthy of summer reading so ask for it if you don't see one lying around. (And if you don't particularly care for bourbon, please feel free to buy one for Ruthie. Bands here tend to be very fan friendly)

DC's a Veritable Variety Store of Music

What do you like? Post modern grundge with a psychedelic twist? Bluegrass nuances backed by a hint of punk? If it's out there, DC's got it. You might have to look under a rock or two, but it's around here somewhere.

This Friday is no exception starting with the The Nighthawks playing outdoors in Wheaton- free and early in the evening. Then Iota has three- count 'em- three Dead tribute bands including On the Bus, Covered with Jam and the BLack Muddy River Band which ought to satisfy even the hard core of the tye-dye set.

On the the other hand, if you'd rather be stuck in an airless room arguing with Todd Akin rather than hear "Truckin'" one more time, you might want to head over to the Black Cat for Elikeh's AfroPop CD release party with hip hop guest cameo,  Head Roc and opening bands Alma Tropicalia and Chariots.

Down at the 9:30 Club, recent Berklee graduate Owen Danoff is back home now. He'll open for We Were Kings with a solo acoustic set. This show includes four bands for $15- a great chance to check out this all ages anchor of the DC scene.

Wednesday in August= Plenty of Parking

Looking for something to break up the week? Tony Blankenship of The Courtesans describes his show at the Black Cat thusly:

"The Courtesans have been honing our Three Piece Power Pop Prowess with a few new/newish tunes ready to cement our place among the great unknown local bands in the annals of great unknown local bands. 

Joining us, from Annapolis, MD, is Skribe.

Skribe is a one man band who alternates between the banjitar, acoustic and electric guitar with the percussive accompaniment of the ELECTRIC SUITCASE! He's got this Mississippi-tinged garage/folk aesthetic, and puts on an awesome show. He's a good friend, so make sure you show up early to see his set. "

Rock and Roll Hotel Turning Six

Happy hour all day and rocking bands all night. All ages show;  all ages bands with History Repeated featuring John Stabb (formerly of Govt Issue) to the Black Sparks. (underage punk) Sounds like a slamming fun birthday party.

Rain on Me

Photo courtesy of DC Rocks

Is it me or is everyone extra jittery about storms this summer? Ever since the Derecho hit town, I've been hearing warning after warning about the possibility of severe weather. There's even an electronic sign in my neighborhood cautioning "beware of standing water." Really? Where???

Meanwhile my yard in D.C. is crisper than a fresh Oreo. The weeds are wilting. My grass- what's left of it- has the consistency of a Pringles potato chip. The only living beings undaunted by the ohthisisn'treallyglobalwarmng-it's justanaturalcycle thing are the mosquitos arriving daily by the cloud.

But once again I digress from the true mission of DC ROCKS which is to rout out good cheap fun.

This week look into JV's Thursday when Dan Hovey will be wielding his mosquito repelling ax.  Finding JV's is a challenge, but two or three go rounds with your GPS should get you to 6666 Arlington Boulevard in this far flung corner of Falls Church. (DC and Maryland people will recoil here visualizing Satan, but if Hovey- a Maryland man himself, can get over there, so can you.) Once there you will have an extremely personal relationship with the band. The stage clears the door by about two feet, and is no more than a dart's throw from the back wall. Superb guitar playing will erase those tremors experienced while weathering the Black Hole they call Seven Corners, and a stiff drink might buck you up for the ride home.

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.