In Between Time

This is a weird week- these lame duck days between Christmas and the next thing. Traffic is sparse. You can drive around relatively unmolested by commuters and park in Adam's Morgan without taking a taxi. (Where is everyone? Are you all still in the malls returning things?) The news is all about looking backwards- the year in review- the best and the worst of everything- none of which is news.

New Year's Eve has never been a favorite of mine- maybe because I never had anywhere to go. Our idea of excitement was to pick up the phone and dial up the time continuously from about 11:45 on, then at midnight, run outside and bang pots and pans together. "At the tone the time will be..."

You get the idea.

Then when I was older there were suddenly too many places to be, and all kinds of confusion about where the most righteous place was to land when the clock struck twelve. I soon realized that was all just a goose chase on a hamster wheel.

But if you are looking for somewhere to be without a lot of running around, there's a great New Year's Eve party going on via the Knights of Columbus, and it's got a DC Rocks kind of price tag: $45 for all you can drink (what?) appetizers, a champagne toast, and a full breakfast at mid night thirty. Oh and a band. A big band- the ever raucous eight piece King Soul will be playing all night and then some. Find all this under one roof at the Rock Creek Mansion on Cedar Lane  in Bethesda.

And by the way in case you do feel like staying home and calling the time- you're going to have to call a friend instead. As of last Spring, dialing up the time became another lost thing of the past.

New Space for This Place

Greetings Survivors of the Yule. Time to turn our thoughts to Other Things like the new club in town. Everyone is raving about The Hamilton- the newest venue from Clyde's featuring a large beautiful performance space which holds at least 300 people seated and more standing.

Tons of local bands are playing there coming up- too many for DC ROCKS to list, but for starters the schedule includes a humongous variety of local talent: David Kitchen, Wil Gravatt, Christylez Bacon, Soul Crackers and Justin Trawick- and that's just this week! The Hamilton is located in the old Garfinckles Department store building which was built in 1929.  inches away from Metro Center. The restaurant upstairs is open 24/7 in hopes of adding true night life to our sometimes stodgy downtown.

Merry

Hope this holiday seasons brings fond memories to keep you company,

and great  friends to keep you laughing...

Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas from DC ROCKS.

Dance This Mess Around

Yahoo and Then Some!

Please note the Music Cafe is deep in the heart of the country- tiny, no bar, and last time I went I ended up parking in the back yard. But that's all part of the charm. This Saturday is going to be a killer two for one show:  Ruthie and the Wranglers and Billy Coulter. A good place to land after you get lost looking for Christmas trees.

What the Holiday Heck?

What do you want to do? Run around like a chicken with your head cut off? Sit in a car stuck in traffic circling the drain of a shopping mall?

Heck no! Yes, dear humans, just walk away. Join the 99 percent and drop that manic consumerism. Give the gift of freedom- take someone you love to see live music. There are two traditional shows this weekend. Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun await you at Jammin Java this Friday.
And the Last Train Home once again pulls into IOTA station for the entire weekend which peaks with an all ages show and juice boxes for all my friends at the Sunday matinee.

Shopping is for sissies. Spend your money on an experience. Memories last longer.

A Preview of The Past

Unicorn Times 1979

The Bayou brings back a lot of memories for a lot of people around here. The club opened in 1953 and morphed with the times showcasing jazz, bluegrass, rock and more. The list of bands that played there- both national and local ran the gamut from Count Basie to the Ramones. Nils Lofgren to Chuck Brown. U2 opened for The Slickee Boys on their first U.S. tour. (There are a lot of stories buried under what is now a movie theater in Georgetown.)

 This Wednesday the  DC Music Salon will be hosting a discussion looking back on the bar and looking forward with a sneak preview of a new film "The Bayou: DC's Killer Joint" at the Shaw Library from 7 until 9 p.m. Bring your memories or curiosity. Both are welcome.

Music Meets Art Head On This Saturday

Bob Boilen, Robert Goldstein and Robin Rose. Any of those names sound familiar?
(Picture a Tiny Desk Unit on an Urban Verb kind of street with art thrown in.)

This Saturday find all three at Hemphill Gallery where Robin Rose currently has an exhibition up called "The Big Payback." (now think James Brown) Hemphill is hosting a rather eclectic panel discussion with Robin Rose and the musical minds of both Bob Boilen and Robert Goldstein about the relationship between art and music and the blurry lines that connect and inspire.
10 a.m. Free.

Sunday Night Train

Move Over, Rover-There's a New Club in Town

Washington has seen a lot of clubs come and go, that's for sure, but the 9:30 Club which is constantly garnering national acclaim in Billboard magazine, has definite staying power. Now 9:30 has partnered up with the U Street Music Hall to catch both local and national acts that may be clawing their way up or sliding their way back down in a smaller venue. The club's capacity at 500 (somewhat smaller than the Black Cat)  fills a much needed niche in DC, and it's only a block from the Metro.

There's been press lately about the electronica music partnership between the two clubs, but keep your eye on the schedule for "9:30 Presents"- early shows at U Hall which will feature all kinds of live music, all ages, and all over by ten p.m. (Adults, however, can hang later and rehash the show over another cocktail as the club transforms into the late night groove.)

This Saturday night Chopteeth and Alma Tropicalia will be sure to give you motion loving music fans a chance to try out the "1200 square foot cork- cushioned dance floor." Show starts at 7. $15 cover.

Thank You Ian Hunter

DC Rocks was driven North last Friday to stalk the man who inspired the name of this blog in a tiny club in a tiny town in Pennsylvania.  Ian Hunter has spent most of his seventy plus years rocking the world, but I get many a blank look when I mention his name. Mott the Hoople usually rings a bell. If that fails, "Cleveland Rocks" might work, but both the band and the song are just the tip of the iceberg of this soul filled man. His songs are anthems and ballads, well written and magnificent live-his voice full of character-his songs ever relevant.

Less than a hundred people turned out in New Hope last Friday, but I am thankful I was able to be one of them. And to everyone who is reading this- thanks for helping keep DC Rocks going...
Thanks for playing music
Thanks for writing.
Thanks for reading.
And thank you, Ian Hunter.

Happy Thanksgiving from DC Rocks.

Black Friday

"Friday- it's Friday Gotta get down on Friday..."

Yes, that's from the uber- annoying song made famous by Rebecca Black. If you have a kid around,  you might have had this tune inserted into your brain, and can't get it out. In our house, the ear worm was administered by my ten year son singing falsetto, complete with a dance routine.

What may be even more annoying is all the hype surrounding Black Friday due to FFS. (Frantic Shopping Syndrome) Remember when George Bush Junior told us to shop our way out of  9-11? Well, we ought to have enough stuff by now. The only thing I would consider purchasing on Friday is a deeply discounted turkey. Or tickets to a rock show.

So consider Friday as the perfect time to turn your back on the mall and go out to the Barns of Wolf Trap for The Grandsons' annual show with Derek Huston winging his way in from New Orleans.

Or you could take yourself downtown and meet up with a bunch of old 9:30 Club types at the Black Cat for the big reunion with American Corpse Flower, Sister-Ex and Throwdown Syndicate. Our old pal, Freak Fred will be back in town for this ear plug worthy show which pays tribute to beloved DC music man, the late Tom Terrell.

Last but not least The Nighthawks and Skip Castro are over at the State Theater- a great place to see live music brought to you by seasoned pros.

The Past Isn't Even Past with the Vi-kings

This Friday The Vi-kings- are playing at Clyde's at the District Line. (You know where that is, right? Just across Wisconsin Avenue from Woodies?)  The Vi-kings were born out of a Whitman High school reunion, but what they do best is take you for a ride back to the past- back when we gave peace a chance.

Actually I don't know WHAT is across the street now, but Clyde's is still there even after the Beverly Hillsification that happened to Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase a few years ago. My classmate, Catherine's  dad, John Richards Andrews was one of the men who designed that Clyde's, and I think it was the first one that branched out from the original dive down in Georgetown. On your way downstairs to see the band, look at the big honking mural over the stair well. See the little guy in the kilt under the tree? That was painted in Mr. Andrews' memory. Now you know.

Great music. No cover. No minimum. Have one for "Rick."

Remember Those Salad Days and Other Things

In 1606 the term "salad days" first cropped up when Shakespeare's Cleopatra was pondering her youthful hot romance with Julius Caesar. In 1971 "Salad Days" was known as Episode 33 of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Some years and a cart load of fake blood later,  DC's own punk rockers Minor Threat produced a song by the same name  in 1985.

And that song has inspired former Slickee Boy drummer, Dan Palenski to sequester himself in a radio station down in Richmond, Viriginia. He keeps that punk rock thing alive with his show- you guessed it- Salad Days on WRIR from 7-9 every Friday. This Saturday, however, Dan will host another show- "Songs From the Big Hair " from 3-5 p.m. Joining him to send out a shout out to DC's own 80's scene will be long time pal, Robbie White, who is driving all the way down there so we can hear him up here.

WRIR is an independent radio station- a rare breed. Listen on the net, DC- this one's for you.

So Long to Surf Club...Really

Yes, the rumors are true, and the unbelievers will just have to take this picture as proof. "Chick Hall's Surf Club" and "Surf Club Live" is no more. The building has been sold, gutted and is on it's way to becoming a laundromat.

Thank you to the Hall family and the Byrums for all the effort you put into this place, and for giving DC a place to dance for over fifty years. No amount of detergent can wash away all the musical memories you helped create.

Don't Let Little Red Down

Live music needs live bodies. Please support this show and the venues that give life support to local bands. Little Red and the Renegades will be kicking up (the imaginary) Texas dust at Hill Country BBQ this Thursday. It's a lot more fun than a telethon.

Occupy This

We don't usually do bands from out of town, but Danny Ross has spun our attention his way with his "Laid Off Tour." Keeping up with current events, Danny Ross is a recently laid off Congressional staffer on his way here from New York with a nine piece band which is NOT economical, but will be a lot of music for just $12.
Danny will be occupying IOTA this Friday night along with local favorite Justin Trawick.
Spend your tax dollars wisely- support local clubs and music!

Local Bands at Local Hangout Rule DC

A Winner On Eighteenth Street

Though we're not big on sports here at DC Rocks - this review from good friend and sports fan, jholbax, gave us food for thought:

"I still find it hard to speak about the Phillies loss in the first round. I watched a lot of those games, as well as many other of my favorite teams games at Ventnor, a little slice of Philadelphia on 18th Street N.W.  To me, the place has always been very friendly. They have a knack for hiring fun staff, the food is good, and Philly Phans Phlock there, so it's always easy to talk to anyone at the bar. 

Now to why I am writing about this place: I was really hungry. One of the reasons I stopped in there was because they have this great pigs-in-the blanket appetizer. I ordered a Bud and the pigs.  Catherine, the bartender, says, "Ahhh we just took them off the menu."  I am crushed and ask for a menu.  She gives it to me, and I peruse. I see "Fried Lobster Mac."  Ask the bartender about it- she says get it. I do. 

Mac and cheese with lump lobster, seemingly formed by an ice cream scoop, and then deep fried lightly with a really nice bread crumby crust.  Ladies and Gentlemen - may I present the newest best plate on 18th St.  It is fantastic and only $11."

Trick...or Treat? That Is the Question

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