A Leap of Faith

I was always suspicious that the concept of leap year was a mistake on somebody's part. Let's start with the Egyptians who brought us the 365 day solar calendar as far back as man can remember anything. Technically our planet's jaunt around the sun is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, so they were pretty dang close. And whose to argue with the Egyptians?  Julius Caesar that's who. His astronomer pointed out the extra six hours and advised adding an extra day to the shortest month of the year. Voila! The leap year. This construct seemed to work for about 1600 years until Pope Gregory noticed that Easter was drifting into summer. Not a happy camper.

Turns out you can't round up that five hours and forty-eight minutes without consequences, and Gregory wasn't Pope for nothing.  He found his own astronomer to fix the hitch in that giddy up by decreasing the frequency of leap years. Plus he erased ten days. Yep, Romans who went to sleep on October 5 back in 1582, woke up 8 or so hours later on October 15 which must have been somewhat confusing for those not paying attention to the town crier.

Most of Roman Catholic Europe went along with the idea, but the Brits were having none of it, and America was on the same page until 1752 when the now eleven day lop was finally self-imposed. Suddenly George Washington's birthday leapt from February 11 to February 22 which means our current Presidents Day should have been closer to Lincoln's birthday which is February 12. Abe was robbed.

Are you still with me?
How did I get this far in life not knowing any of this?

Here I must thank Ben Guarino who wrote a great article about leap year things in The Washington Post this week including the newest proposal- the Hanky-Henke Permanent Calendar which would favor consistency over accuracy.  Whoops, I misread that. It's actually called the Hanke-Henry calendar, but I think hinky is a better name in general as hinky definitely defines the DC ROCKS calendar which will be amended later this weekend.

In the meantime two bust out shows happen this Friday: the Airport 77s at Slash Run and a rockabilly meltdown with Rock-A- Sonics and more at the Takoma VFW.

Also on Friday we have Kill Lincoln at the Pie Shop and the Allman Others Band at Hill Country.

February 29th, Anno Domini 2020, look for Jumpin Jupiter leaping around at the Rhodeside Grill, and Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Bomb tearing up Slash Run.


(If Julius C. and Pope Greg were still around, they'd make it four Fridays and two Saturdays so no one would have to choose between gigs.)

Columbia Stations Redux

Marie @ Columbia Station #1

Last week Columbia Station, a jazz club for 25 years, closed at 2325 18th Street in Adams Morgan. The end of this club may give some music fans a serious case of deja vu because back in pre-historic times, a very different Columbia Station once existed. Many of us have fond, albeit heavily impaired, memories of the first Columbia Station- the one at 1836 Columbia Road.  

An ad from a 1979 Unicorn Times (which I had stashed in a closet) reminds us we saw bands like The Slickee Boys, Grits, and Skip Castro along with the caveat: "proper attire discouraged."

But much to my surprise, very little other information can be found online never mind a picture. Even with history hunter Andrew Ratliff's help, we could only dig up this one grainy photo from the Washington Post.

I had to turn to old pals to fill in the blanks although more than one said they'd have to think a bit to come up with a story not rated X.

Former manager Doug Porter remembers: "Columbia Station served many purposes as the neighborhood crossroads. Artsy types met to do artsy things. Old men came in and sat at the same spot at the bar each visit to watch the world go by. But things got different after about 10:30 at night. The station became a choice location for people of every persuasion to meet the one night stand of their dreams." Doug still has his business card.

He also recalls "Columbia Station always had a problem with rats. In the early years, then owner Paul Tauber would open up by clapping his hands loudly as he walked through the door. After Tauber sold the place to the Wheeler brothers, things got so bad the bartenders started keeping a baseball bat behind the bar to fend off the more aggressive ones."

Marie Broussard continues the rat-mares with a vivid memory of her first shift as bartender in 1980. "My first night of work, a rat came crawling out of the phone booth in the dining room and died in the middle of the room during the dinner rush. I think it succumbed to James the Dishwasher’s special peanut butter and rat poison sandwiches. After a prolonged death scene, while people jumped up and fled their checks, James scooped him up and took away the body."

Marie also recalls:  "We did dinner theatre for a while, and Arch Campbell came to review the show - a Kurt Weil review starring Sheila Joy.  Arch had a few too many and left for the TV station to go on air. We were gathered around the TV when Arch wandered back in the door after two hours of looking for his car. I don’t know if he ever did review that show."

Former bartender Mary Connole recalls a rodent-free story when Doug Porter was managing. "On my 30th birthday Tex Rubinowitz was playing, and I had told Porter that I had a crush on him. Next thing I knew Doug announced on stage that, for my birthday, I'd like to take Tex home." 

On a sadder note, my friend Jan Stovall, devoted Beatle fan, says she "was sitting outside on the patio when my waiter frantically announced that John Lennon had been shot. We were all in shock. I immediately went home, and friends started calling to commiserate."

Mark Hall also worked there as a manager/bartender and booked bands from roughly 1976 until about 1982. He remembers The Original Fetish, The Urban Verbs, Bill Holland and Rent's Due, Root Boy Slim, Razz, Catfish Hodge, Billy and the Shakes, The Dinettes, The Beatnik Flies, and Switchblade to name a few.

The one article I did find online was about Columbia Station's demise in 1984. Another old friend pops up here as well:

"As the neighborhood changed, so did the clientele," said Theodore Pawlik, a disenchanted former patron.  "And from there the nature of Columbia Station as an institution went through phases when they the owners weren't sure exactly what they wanted."


You can bet that more than one musician playing this weekend either remembers or has played Columbia Station starting Thursday with Dan Hovey (Rootboy Slim) and the David Kitchen Band at JVs. 

Friday a crazy, guitar slinging birthday bash happens for Anthony Pirog at Black Cat's Red Room.
(Happy Birthday, dude!)

Saturday... be on the look out for Joe Dolan (Beatnik Flies) and band The Vi-Kings throwing down a 1960s dance party at Rosensteel Hall which is a great place to see live music with its roomy dance floor and cheap drinks. 

Finally all you Dead-head types will appreciate the Black Muddy River Band's groove at DC Brau on Sunday. 

All We Need Is Love

Valentine's Day is almost here, and Valentine's Day (or VD as we used to call it back in high school when we knew it all) makes me think of love, and love makes me think of that song written by John Lennon for a TV show. A very special TV show. "Our World" was the planet's first, live, international broadcast which happened on June 25th, 1967. The producers wisely banned political types as cameras around the globe zoomed in on different scenes from a rancher on horseback in Canada to the construction of the subway in Tokyo. The Beatle's debut performance of "All You Need Is Love," was the program's finale. Shot at EMI Studios in London, the star studded audience included cats like Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithful, members of The Rolling Stones, The Who and Small Faces.  What a crazy cool party that must have been. Rock and roll was the revolution, Flower Power was on the rise, and the world got smaller - at least for one day.

This weekend let's try and keep that love going starting with Sunday because the folks at Hank Dietle's Tavern really need your help. Hank's is a historic road house out there on Rockville Pike that was gutted by fire last February.  Usually places like this get torn down in a heartbeat, but local heroes are purposefully rehabbing the building to be a new live music venue.  Sunday's fundraiser/party at Rosensteel Hall will feature seven bands with plenty of room to dance, confab, and be merry.  Plus the Knights of Columbus will be selling reasonably priced drinks and food. Please show your love for the local music scene by coming out for this event. Hit the link above for details. 

Backing up to Friday, the aptly named Valentine Slim has commandeered the Takoma VFW as well as the Wheaton VFW on Saturday. 

Other choices on Saturday include a David Bowie Valentine at the Pie Shop which would my cup of tea. 

But if you are feeling fancy, I recommend Eric Felten's Red Dress Ball at Glen Echo also on Saturday.

Blow Up Your TV

John Prine was one of my first loves music wise. His songs were smart and funny and often easy to figure out for struggling guitar geeks. He wrote Spanish Pipe Dream, part love song, part revolutionary anthem in 1971 back when we all watched the same stuff on TV.  Just to refresh your memory, when this song came out, the Viet Nam war was still raging, Nixon was president, and the digital age, which would eventually divide us all, was just beginning to dawn. The time has come once again to blow up the TV. Let's get out and talk to one another. Shall we?

Thank you, Fritz Hahn for updating your list of tv free bars.  I would also like to nominate the Galaxy Hut which screens movies via a VCR and has an an astounding list of beers on tap. The Hut also hosts live music most Sunday and Monday nights.

Bands often have to compete with screens in clubs, but what we pay attention to is up to us. Try the insouciant Malvivants at El Golfo on Friday. On Saturday Newmeyer Flyer's crew brings us Beatle's Love Songs at the Hamilton to kick off Valentine week because who couldn't use more love right now?

Sunday brings us a punk rock show at Slash Run where we can scream real loud as Pee Wee used to say without anyone minding.

And if the thought of Valentine's Day gives you the willies- consider attending the Worst Date Story Competition at Black Cat coming up on Tuesday Feb 11.

Worship the Rat

Hello February. You bring Love and Mardi Gras and a good excuse to watch one of my favorite movies- Groundhog Day. In this goofy romantic time loop, Bill Murray's character gets stuck living February 2nd over and over again, but it's not so different from our retail life now that I think about it.  Halloween gives way to Christmas... which transitions to Valentine displays... which once set off a panic in my own heart, knowing that I had to get my kids to churn out tokens of love for some forty classmates.

The more recent Russian Doll  would make a great double feature with Groundhog Day if you can stand the recurrent repetitive repetition of repeating scenes.

Now, for something completely different, February first gives you a variety of chances to see live music starting with Saturday: Little Red and the Renegades will kick your Mardi Gras spirit into gear over at New Deal Cafe while the Cravin Dogs bring their gonzo folk thing to El Golfo.  Also up for consideration- King Soul converts their blue-eyed soul into a St Patrick's Day parade fundraiser at Barking Dog.

Sunday, aside from Groundhog Day,  I hear there is some sort of sporting contest going on, but Galaxy Hut is blessedly featuring a football free end zone with Karaoke Sexy.

February February February February February February February February February

1

Little Red and the Renegades @ New Deal Cafe 

King Soul @ Barking Dog

Cravin’ Dogs @ El Golfo

3

Dave Chappell/ Steve Abshire @ Blues Alley

6

Thrillbillys @ JV

8

Newmeyer Flyer Beatles Love Songs @ Hamilton

9

Tommy Lepsom @ JV

13

RTTS @ Takoma VFW

14

Bumper Jacksons @ Hill Country

Valentine Slim @ TAkoma VFW

15

David Bowie Valentine W/ Spiders From Mars and more @ Pie Shop

Eric Felten Red Dress Ball @ Glen Echo 

Valentine Slim @ Wheaton VFW

16

Hank Dietle’s Benefit @ Knights of Columbus Silver Spring

20

David Kitchen Band @ JV

21

Anthony Pirog and friends  @ Black Cat Red Room

27

Dave Chappell Band @ JV

28

The Allman Others Band @ Hill Country

Kill Lincoln etc @ Pie Shop

Beanstalk Library @ Pearl Street

A Visit with Papa

Last week I escaped to Florida to visit my brother's digs in Pompano and to see Key West for the first time which, for me, meant a mandatory pilgrimage to the Hemingway House. I became acquainted with Mr Hemingway in 1979 via my writing professor Jack Salamanca who hammered into me a lifelong respect for spare "muscular" prose and authentic dialogue.

When he wasn't writing, Hemingway liked to drink and fight. And fish. He also loved women and married four of them. The Key West house was a wedding gift from his second wife's uncle. 

At some point the 1851 Spanish Colonial "fixer-upper" was upgraded to include a catwalk which connected the master bed room to Hemingway's writing studio where he worked every morning. To me the room feels a tad too clean and uncluttered to have been a writer's lair, but descendants of Hemingway's polydactyl cat "Snow White" still prowl the property keeping a whisper of his ghost alive.  

Key West has its tropical allure, but I'm glad to be back in DC where I can be hopeful for snow although there's not much chance of sled time this weekend. We do have lots of live music choices starting with the quandary of Dave Chappell at JV's or The Thrillbillys at Takoma VFW on Thursday.

Friday Vintage #18 plays the DC Blues Happy Hour at the Silver Spring Legion while the Black Cat hosts "Canvas Vibes" - a no cover music and painting event. 

Black Masala's playing at the New Deal Cafe, and Newmeyer Flyer presents a big fat Jimi and Janis tribute show at the Birchmere - both on Saturday.

Finally on Sunday The NRIs and Don Zientara are at the Pie Shop while The Delarcos and Insurgent DC invade Galaxy Hut. 

Ambitious non-deciders could have a very busy weekend !

All Summer in a Winter Day

This week I felt like I was living in a science fiction kind of world. Last Saturday my son asked me if we were about to have World War Three because of all the memes he was seeing on social media. And despite a bit of snow yesterday, this winter isn't really acting like winter. There's a climate changing vibe in the air.

I remember a teacher long ago reading aloud a Ray Bradbury story. I always loved it when the teachers read to us. It was the best part of a school day, but that story always haunted me. It was about a rainy planet where the sun made very rare appearances. Children were eagerly waiting in a classroom, about to see the sun for the first time, but for some reason, they locked one girl in a closet, and she missed it.

That's all I remember, but since we live in futuristic times I can plug in the words "Ray Bradbury" and "rainy planet" and up pops "All Summer in a Day." Complete and online. Hit the link, and we can read it together right now.

Guess what? The reason they locked her in a closet was because she was different from the rest of them. She was from Earth.

I love Ray Bradbury, but he can often be disquieting which is why I turn to exuberant noise with little or no cover charge  when I am feeling disheartened, and often I find this kind of thing goes on in taverns. For example The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours are back in full swing at the Takoma VFW tomorrow evening with cheap drinks at the cash bar and early sets 7ish-10 pm sharp.

On Friday kick off the carnival season (which began on Monday) with Little Red and the Renegades at Haydees.

Saturday two post punk but still punk style shows compete for attention with Sister Ex and crew at The Ugly Mug 

and Catscan!'s record release party at Slash Run. Let's make some noise!

Almost forgot ...Rock-A-Sonics liven things up at New Deal Cafe also on Saturday...and on Sunday kick back with Jumpin Jupiter at JV- four p.m., late matinee and no cover.

Everything Old

 On January 1, 1920, the front page of the Evening Star covered topics from presidential campaigns to DC's voting rights in a way that is alarmingly current.

And although representation was proposed, District citizens didn't get the right to vote in a presidential election until 1961, never mind that we are still waiting for a say in Congress.

Our lack of sovereignty even lost us the right to drink in 1917 years before the rest of the country. We were supposed to be a model of temperance.

Instead we made do with bootleggers and over 3,000 speakeasies, and probably led the nation in subterfuge. At least today we have legal drinking establishments. Please take advantage of this inalienable right and make a resolution to make or see more live music this decade.

Here's a few ideas for January:

2

Thrillbillys @ JV

3

Last Train Home @ The Birchmere

4

Dot Dash/ The Ubangis/Apollo 66/ Candy Smokes @ American Legion Silver Spring

5

Black Muddy River Band @ JV

9

RTT @ Takoma VFW

10

Little Red and The Renegades @ Haydees

11

Sister Ex/Red Medicine @ The Ugly Mug

Catscan!/The Electric Grandmother/ Crab Legs @ Slash Run

12

Jumpin' Jupiter @ JV @ 4 pm

16

Jackie and The Treehorns/ Goodbye July @ Pie Shop

Thrillbillys @ JV

Flower Avenue @ Takoma VFW

Paul Collins/Teen Cobra/The Jennifers/ DJ Daisy @ Slash Run

18

Lunch With Bob @ Takoma VFW

Nah./ Dominy/Milo in the Doldrums/ The Duskwhales @ Pearl Street

23

Thrillbillys @ Takoma VFW

Dave Chappell Band @ JV

25

Joplin- Hendrix Tribute @ The Birchmere

26

The NRIs/ Don Zientara @ Pie Shop

The Delarcos/ Insurgence DC @ Galaxy Hut

27

Bleeder/ Don Zientara @ Galaxy Hut

28

Sol Roots @ JV

30

Rock-A-Sonics @ JV

New Year's Again?

Is it me or is New Year's Eve rolling around more quickly than it used to? I feel like I just got used to writing 2019, and now I have to move on to a whole new decade? Tomorrow?!

When I was little, the New Year's Eve plan was to write up solemn resolutions. One year, when I was about twelve, I wrote my list in what I thought was very fancy (albeit almost illegible) script promising myself to feed the dog without being told, watch very little TV, and rise with the sun.  (I don't know what I was thinking with that last one, but none of those things ever happened.)

Later in life, New Year's Eve activities became more of a quandary. Have a party?  Go to a party? Which party? Would anyone come to my party if I did have one?  Where would everyone be at midnight ? Ugh.

This posting wishes all you resolution breaking, commitment averse, procrastinators a very Happy New Year, and for anyone looking for a last minute party,  King Soul comes to the rescue with a no cover gig at Clyde's.

Murry Christmas

Even though my father religiously paid his dues to St Sophia's, we never attended church on Christmas Eve or anytime for that matter. Instead our routine was to stay at home with family and friends, have Greek soup, and trim the tree. Dad also had his own private rituals. He would slip into the family room before it got too late to make a few prank phone calls, snickering to himself while he dialed. Once his victims were on the line, he would bellow "HO! HO ! HO!  This is SANTY CLAUS! Pause. "I'm calling FROM the NORTH POLE! Have you been GOOD this YEAR?" Sometimes the child would delightedly answer his question, but more often than not, they would just yell back. "I KNOW THAT'S YOU, PAPOU! You can't fool me!"

"NO IT'S NOT!" he'd yell even louder, as if volume made the difference.  "IT'S SANTY CLAUS !" Then he'd add a few more HO HO HOs to drown out any protest, and roar on about reindeer and the North Pole before hanging up. I loved listening in- especially since he had no qualms about calling kids who were old enough to shave. No matter what age, it was the same treatment. "Hello. Is this Stacey? HO! HO! HO! THIS IS SANTY CLAUS! HAVE YOU BEEN A GOOD BOY?"

"Why yes, I have, George. Could you bring me a fire truck? A real one?"

"HO! HO! HO! George?! George who? THIS IS SANTY CLAUS!!!! MURRY CHRISTMAS!" He'd yell, with his DC accent slipping through.

 On Christmas Day, he would put on a fake white beard and goofy hat, and argue with grandchildren insisting he was not Papou until they finally gave up and went along with the program.

I'm grateful for all the goofy memories I have of my father. He inspired the zany in everyone. For anyone looking for fun this holiday week, JV's, which, by the by, is owned by a very busy Greek woman, is open with live music both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Murry Christmas, every one.

Ancient Tribes and Troubadours

First page of Teddy's photo album

I spent part of last summer packing up an old friend from 930 F Street days. It was a strange and sad mission because he was on his way out of this world and would not be returning to Adams Morgan where he had lived for over forty years. I met Teddy when he was bartending at the 9:30 Club in the 1980s - after he finished divinity school at Georgetown.  He had a commanding presence, an eloquent voice and biting wit. He never stopped educating himself and everyone and anyone who walked into the bar. We used to call him "Father Ted."

Bookcases lined the walls of his two bedroom apartment on Lanier Place. I knew Teddy loved to cook and garden, but as I boxed up his things, I learned he studied every religion under the sun, including astrology.  He loved wind chimes and unicorns and magic. He kept every piece of paper his life generated, all liquor promotion swag, plus lots and lots of match books. Here we are stuffed in his apartment for one of his infamous Russian New Year's parties.

Our 9:30 tribe is scattered now, but the weird and arty people, which populated what was once an outpost for the arts in a semi-abandoned downtown, are still in my life, and I suspect they always will be- at least as long as we are on the planet.

Tribal rite with corn. 

I wonder if there's still that camaraderie behind the scenes as live music venues come and go nowadays, but I do know that my DC music scene is made of interlocking components stemming from a tightly knit community.

Thursday night, for example, The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours will swap out drummer Jack O' Dell (who has a gig with Arty Hill) for Ben Holmes (of King Soul and The Hula Monsters.) Arif Durrani's absence on keyboards will be filled in with the horns of Chris Watling (of King Soul and The Grandsons) and Chris's high school buddy Derek Huston who is up visiting from New Orleans where he is a kick ass sax player.  Feeling confused? Just make sure you're get to the Takoma VFW.  Show starts as soon as you get there (round 7:15) and rocks 'til 10 pm sharp.

Valentine Slim will liven up the Wheaton Legion on Friday - straight up no subs, but on Sunday  Thrillbilly/ Troubadour Jack O'Dell will be playing honorary DC denizen/ex- Commander Cody guitar slinger Bill Kirchen's special holiday show at the Birchmere with Junior Brown. 

The Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun

Welcome December and your solstice driven traditions which serve to brighten the gloom of late afternoons. Celebrations like Saturnalia have not changed much through the ages. The fields are empty, the harvest is in, and it's time to convert those fermenting fruits into festive party drinks.

We are copying the Romans when we bring evergreen things in the house. The Vikings also admired the conifer and decorated them in order to encourage their spirits through the darkest days. Mistletoe was revered by the Druids and seen as a sign of life and peace in the bare branches of winter forests. It even grows here in DC so keep an eye out for it when walking through the woods.

Those were the days, my friend, when sun worship was not associated with Florida or Coppertone. People fought darkness and depression with parties, gift exchanges and Yule logs. And light-lots of light- which is a lot easier to produce since Mr Edison came along.

At one time or another Saturnalia, Sol Invictus and the sun god Mithras's birthday were all associated with December 25th until Christians misdirected the date to mark the birth of Christ. The tradition of gift giving was then assigned to the Magi, and eventually devolved into an excuse to buy pajamas for the cat.

May I suggest slightly saner, local alternatives ?

Farmers markets are full of ideas as is the DC Holiday market which has live music through December 23. If you prefer to shop from bed, don't forget local authors like Mark Opsasnick. His new book Rock the Potomac "provides a comprehensive history of popular music in the Washington, D.C. area..."  (And believe me, anything Mark writes is comprehensive with a capital "C.")

Another great choice comes from former WHFS deejay, Cerphe Colwell. His "musical memoir" Cerphe's Up includes interviews and stories of cosmic connections made with Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Frank Zappa, Little Feat and many more.

Finally take your friends and family out and make sure those starving musicians get something to eat while we await the solstice which is December 21st at 11:19 pm in the District of Columbia.

DECEMBER

5

A Shrewdness of Apes/ Color School/ Noe  @ 7Drum City

Thrillbillys @ JV

6

Bob Band @ New Deal

Atomic Mosquitos/ Killers From Space @ Hill Country 

The Super Chargers @ Velvet Lounge

Eastern Standard Tine @ Union Stage

7


The Delarcos/ Apollo 66/etc @ Sliver Spring Legion

District Boat Parade @ The Wharf

Rock A Sonics @ Glen Echo

The Super Chargers/ One Way Out @ Velvet Lounge

8

The Nighthawks @ New Deal

11

 Swingin London Tribute @ Gypsy Sally's

12

RTT @ Takoma VFW

13

Valentine Slim @ Wheaton Legion

15

Bill Kirchen @ Birchmere

19

Thrillbillys @ JV

Flower Ave @ Takoma VFW

21

The Yachtsmen @ Dive Bar

Valentine Slim @ Takoma VFW

Solstice!!!

22

Daryl Davis w/ Patsy Stephens and the Hall Bros @ JV

23

EU and Sugar Bear @ Haydees

Caustic Casanova/Eat the Cake /Queen Wolf @ Pie Shop

25

Jimi Smooth @ JV

26

Dave Chappell Band @ JV

Thrillbillys @ Takoma VFW

27

Tommy Lepsom @ JV

28

Punk the Capital screening @ Black Cat

29

Nighthawks @ JV ( 4:30 pm)

31

Sugar Bear and EU @ Bethesda Blues

Oh He Dead @ Pearl Street

King Soul @ Clyde's Chevy Chase

First Night Alexandria w Grandsons and more...