Mark Noone Says

I was pondering what to write about The Surf Club Live show featuring Ruthie and The Wranglers and The Billy Coulter Band this Saturday night when the brilliant idea hit me. I would enlist the help of  a consummate professional- a guy who has been in the music business around here for many many moons- Mr. Mark Noone. Here's what Mark has to say:

"Ah yes, Wranglers at the Surf Club! Back when it was Chick Hall's Surf Club, and I was holding down the bass guitar duties with Ruthie and the Wranglers, we played there every Wednesday for about a year or so. We even recorded a live album there that turned out quite well! That was back when we were more of a honky tonk band. Now Ruthie and the Wranglers is a more refined country/roots act, I saw them last at the Rams Head in Annapolis. They were very good! Very polished. Great to see that Wranglers are back at Surf Club again.

A band I'm in now- Hula Monsters played a rather posh wedding reception, which boasted a stunning blond bride. This was a couple of years back, but the groom looked very familiar. He turned out to be none other than Billy Coulter. Billy, in another life, used to be in a band called The Inserts. Inserts were a cool kind of 80s band, they played with Slickee Boys a few times, and after the reception he played his current stuff for us. It was catchy and rockin’! A bit like if the Stones met Jon Anderson at a Mott the Hoople show. We were all very impressed. That's what you will hear from him and his talented band this Saturday night."

Stay tuned for more writing from Mark Noone this weekend. In the meantime- make your entertainment dollar stretch- go see local live music. Remember DC can't rock without you.

Free Music/Free Spirits

Takoma Park. It's a haven for the oh so politically correct set- plus artists, writers, and musicians. You could shoot a Nerf gun down Carroll Avenue, and your chances of hitting a Republican are probably a thousand to one. (I'll bet Cheney has never even stepped foot in this berg.) At any rate, this Sunday head on up there for a  great escape from all the talking heads and problems of the last week.

Since 1981 The Takoma Park Street Festival has been a great all day party with craft and food vendors and stuff for kids to do.  Best of all, three stages of live music will be happening from one end of town to the other. This year's line up is pretty amazing, including Ruthie and The Wranglers, Janine Wilson, Tommy Lepson, Billy Coulter, King Soul and more! Hit the link above for a list of all the bands, times, and locations. Wake up with 7 Door Sedan at 11 and polish the day off at 4 with Chopteeth and/or The Nighthawks , but whatever you do, don't miss PRABIR AND THE SUBSTITUTES at 2 p.m. at the dance stage.

Parking can be problematic at this event, but The Metro is just a few blocks away.

Why Go Anywhere Else?

Friday night. Date night. Get out and see friends night- and a lot of talented friends are playing this Friday night. Two totally different shows at two very different venues- but if you are an ambitious night owl, you can catch them both.

First the venerable Alice Despard, former owner of The Galaxy Hut, is playing at The New Deal Cafe in that all American socialist experiment- Greenbelt, Md.
Alice has pared down her band to The Alice Despard Group. Bare essentials here: she plays guitar with a rich and amazing energy that is all her own. You might want to ease Alice into the folk category, but she has always leaned towards an edgier side and her drummer, Evan Pollack is in total sync with what she has going on. Add to the mix Alice's voice which I could listen to all day even though girl singers are not usually my thing. The opening band, The Lost Patrol starts at 8; Alice goes on around 9:30.

Meanwhile just down the road the honky tonk which was once Chick Hall's but is now Surf Club Live will be feature two true blue road house classics: The Thrillbillys and Ruthie and The Wranglers. (The one and only Johnny Castle)

The Thrillbillys, one of our local super groups, usually play the TINY Sunset Grille in Annandale so this is a great chance to see them in action over on the other side of DC in a much larger venue. (Though they have such a strong fan base that I wouldn't be surprised to see Sunset Grille pilgrims showin' up.)And Ruthie and The Wranglers are no strangers to The Surf Club. They recorded one of their earlier CDs right here on the Surf Club stage. When the band doesn't have you up and dancing, Ruth can bring about a sea change: she has the kind of cry in your beer voice that will make you ask the bartender to leave the bottle.

Things get rolling at Surf Club around 9 or so, but go on fairly late-until 1 or so.

Please support these local bands and venues before they go the way of Starbucks and Hard Rock Cafes-just what this corrupted capital DOESN'T need!

Count 'em

(prabir and the boys)

I didn't know it was happening until the middle of the last band's set Sunday night when my faithful companion turned to me and said- you've seen eleven bands this weekend. Eleven bands. In this order: Honkytonk Heart, Reverb Galaxy, Beatnik Flies, Atomic Mosquitos, The Flea Bops, Thrillbillys, The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, The Grandsons, Ruthie And The Wranglers, Prabir and The Substitutes, and Greenland. I went to JVs out in Falls Church- a tiny dive with a bar and booths. I went to The Surf Club which has yet to change from the honky tonk road house it has always been out on Kenilworth Avenue, and I went to The Black Cat downtown- a staple of the DC rock scene since back in the early nineties. I heard all kinds of music- from seasoned rockers to young punks and except for a $20 benefit none of the shows were over $8, and all of them were good if not excellent.

There's plenty on the calender this weekend starting with GHz Thursday night at Bangkok Blues. John Zidar-drummer and the zee in GHz writes: In case some of you still don’t know, Bangkok Blues was remodeled last year and looks better than ever, with a lighted stage and a great house sound system. The place is now owned by an excellent sound man, Darrell Taylor, and he has turned BB into a great place to see and play music, which is why we have selected this venue to record our first live album! Darrell’s also a great guy who treats musicians well, and we want to support any venue that runs its business the way he does.

The last time I saw GHz there, Mary Ann Redmond-local songstress- sat in for a number or two- no extra charge. That's the great thing about local shows.

(GHz w/Mary Ann Redmond)

Try it. Just see one band.
(At least it's a start.)

And if you go Thursday please say happy birthday to John -the guy banging on the drums.

Bill Kirchen had organized a benefit at Surf Club Live this Sunday for Chris Gaffney, a musician fighting liver cancer, but Chris passed away on Wednesday. The benefit will go on as planned as there are sure to be medical bills and hard times ahead for the family. Please come out and support the musicians who are supporting this cause. The line up will include: Bill Kirchen with Johnny & Jack & Mark Gamsjager, The Thrillbillies with Johnny Castle, The Rhodes Tavern Troubadors, Ruthie & the Wranglers and The Grandsons.

4PM Bill Kirchen with Johnny & Jack & Mark Gamsjager
5PM Thrillbillies
6PM Rhodes Tavern Troubadors
7PM The Grandsons
8PM Ruthie & the Wranglers
9PM Bill Kirchen with Johnny & Jack & more

Hours of good music for twenty bucks. (That's still a deal at only $4 per musical hour or per band.) And if you think Sundays are dull and boring- think again because this Sunday is anything but-Lynn2 has more on what there is to do:

My Favorite DC Sunday

This Sunday I get to do some of the things I like best about my hometown. First, there's the Earth Day event down on the mall. I'm not big on Earth Day- seems like a lot of hype about the issues I work on every day. At the same time, when you're fighting the power (because that's what it's about - not kayaking and cute little critters) you will take any star power you can get. Plus this year it's about global warming. If you are among the 7 people who don't think it's a big deal then you must not get out much. Anyway, I have always loved music events on the mall. It's when we locals get to take over from the tourists. I have great memories of laying down the blanket, assembling snacks and beverages and settling in to hear the bands and see who happens by. It still amazes me that in the years before cell phones you could still run into several dozen people you knew and build a little encampment. Now it's even easier.

In addition to lots of exhibits, speakers and music you can check out something that's really homegrown: Thievery Corporation. More than a band, they're an empire, a concept, a political force. Thievery has a global following, but they could only come from here. The Washington Post once described them as a world beat stampede, and I can't top that. The foundation are local guys Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, but the live line-up is lots more, and usually includes some surprises. DC has birthed a lot of special things: half smokes, Ben's Chili Bowl, Go-Go, harDCore and more - if you haven't checked out the Corporation you've missed one.

When that's done, I plan to mosey up to the Black Cat for the DC CD release party where Prabir and the Substitutes will unleash their new recording. This reporter has used up all her words on this Richmond-based band (wish we could call them our own) who continue to wow the local crowds. They're with Greenland so when you're a bit sun-burnt and ready to play some pool, have a beer and hang out watching two great bands Black Cat is your place. One day you will wish you saw Prabir and the Substitutes way back when.... this might be your time.

Good Things Come

Intimate is what they used to call tiny clubs. (Now a days I favor hole in the wall.) They are small, perhaps cramped even, but what they lack in space they make up for in attitude. The good kind, not the bad. The kind where the bass player moves over a little so you can get into the bathroom or the heckler in the crowd is your buddy and the drummer's cousin. And this is the place where you find tout these things because the atmosphere is anything but stuffy. So here are a few such dives, I mean intimate places, that i like to frequent and what's going on this weekend. ( I always like to start a weekend early.)
Thursday night Ruthie and The Wranglers are at The Sunset Grille. The Grille is so small you sometimes have to wait in the other room for someone to leave. Mercifully both rooms are equipped with a bar. Once in where the bands play, you can choose a bar stool or sit at one of maybe three tables if memory serves me. You never have to worry about being close enough to the band there- if you were closer you'd be in it. And people still manage to dance.

Then in town there's The Velvet Lounge, Drinks are served downstairs and upstairs is like someone's basement- dark and kind of small with a sound system befitting the 9:30 Club. If the band rocks, the people rock and so does the floor, but that's part of its charm. This Friday catch The Lookies -featuring the Rummager (ex-Velvet Monkeys, Gumball) Rambling Shadows (ex-Velvet Monkeys, Crippled Pilgrims) and 7 Door Sedan (ex-White Boy) My friend, Bill says: I love these 3 bands, they are each quite different, and don't have any following. It's gonna be arty, punky, psychedelic, and all original. And GREAT.

Following the law of PILE IT ON- there's another show Friday that older DC rockers can appreciate, and where young punks can pick up a tip or two at yet another small venue- The Quarry House. You get to know people at The Quarry House because we all smash in there together and steal each other's tater tots. Greenland a young local group with a great older sound and The Howling Mad will be there featuring local rock legends Michael Reidy and Abaad Behram. Look for them between the women's room, several cases of beer and the sound equipment.

And last but certainly not least on Saturday it's Ottley!, 7 Door Sedan and Dollar Bin at The Sidebar in Baltimore. I haven't been there, but according to Glenn of 7 Door Sedan band stickers are holding this place together. More on this show on Friday.

We Get By With A Little Help

There's good things and bad things about being in the music world- just like anything else. The good are fairly obvious: for one- having the capability to affect people emotionally-to move them to clap or cry. (or leave the room for a beer) The downside can be literally costly- like the lack of any sort of benefits or health care. Fortunately musicians are good about banding together (yeah, pun intended) when need be, and that's what's happening this Sunday at El Boqueron II in Rockville- at a benefit for Maxine Blank. Her name may not have been on the bill, but she has run many a sound board for tons of bands and venues in this area. Now she has medical bills beyond her means, and her friends which include The Nighthawks are organizing - MAXAID featuring tons of great local music like Ruthie and The Wranglers, Patty Reese, The Nighthawks including Ratso, Janine Wilson , special guests and more. Plus there's a silent auction of rock 'n roll stuff. Eight bands for only fifteen bucks! (two get in for $25) Look at the line up on the poster above or hit this link- MAXAID to learn more about it. A bargain AND a good cause and an early event- doors open at 4- and it's over by 10.
So come out, have fun and help make this night a big success.
I'll see you there.

Hey Kids It's 10:00. Do you Know Where Your Parents are?

(Bucket and Hayley of Deadbeat)

The NIRS affair took me back in time-back to when you showed up at at somebody's house, and their parents weren't home, and the basement was a party/band room, and a band was playing... no, four bands are playing, and in the case of Tru Fax and The Insaniacs, the DAD of the house is in the band, and in the case of Deadbeats, the daughter of the guy in the next band is in her own band. And so it went on until no one knew or cared what time it was. (Maybe it had something to do with the Ukranian hootch that was going around) Then and now were all mixed up and topping it off -The Beatnik Flies- Diana Quinn-Mark Noone finale extravaganza.

Oh And Josh Arnson (former Insect Surfer)


and Ruth Logsden of Ruthie and the Wranglers were there, too.

(Joe Dolan cracks up Ruth Logsden)


(Diana Quinn and Mark Noone just before they joined the band)

Maybe it was all a dream. Good party though.

All You Need Is LOve

(Tom Terrrell and Bill Warrell @ The 9:30 party)

What better way to have a good time than to start
a bar in 1977... have a reunion thirty years later
and invite all those people that made it happen?
Thank you Bill Warrell, for making this whole scene possible.
And how great it was to see Tom Terrell who was being
chased around all night by family, fans and friends alike.

This was the real DC.

People got there early and stayed late.
Laura Fasulka came all the way from New Jersey.
Some people came from just down the street, but
we never each other anymore, but that's what
reunions are all about.
Here's just a little of what went on Sunday at the 9:30 Club:
(And thank you Seth and Rich for giving up the place for "space")


See that beautiful woman with the water bottle?
That's Dodie DiSanto- a founder of the original
9:30, talking to Michael Beil. Susan and Cort
next to her and Boyd at the bar.

And below- Laura, who used to go to all
the Troublefunk shows with me,
Susan, from the ticket window at the ole joint, and
Milo of golden WHFS days.



Another great thing was the photo booth
where Charles Steck did a brisk business.
(See the Beatnik Flies getting their picture
done
behind Alberto And Laura?)



Here's Jean, you may have seen her lurking around
the new 9:30 Club as the bar manager, but she was
a pillar at dc space back in the day, and Ruthie
of Ruthie and The Wranglers getting ready to play.



You could catch people on stage like Mark Noone
and The Beatnik Flies...



and you could catch 'em off-
Marie, a bartender from the ole 9:30 and
Mark, an incredibly steady customer.



Kenny from The Beatnik Flies
and PHil from Puptent.





Eric and Rick used to man the door at the old club.


The best thing about this event was it was an act of love.
It wasn't about who you were or who you are or who
you know. Everybody who came brought
something to the party,
and gave it away to someone who need it more.



Thanks ...everybody.

And The Bands Played On

Here's just a tiny sample of the great bands that
turned out for Tom Terrell and the dc space reunion
Sunday night. As promised the performances started
in the late afternoon and ended around 1:30 a.m.-
running over time only about 25 minutes.
It was unbelievable efficiency in action.
Hats off to the crew at 9:30!



The legend that is ... Chuck Brown.



As promised Tiny Desk Unit virtually reunited
with Michael Barron on the West Coast. Bob Boilen
is playing and working a tiny Mac, while Susan Mumford
sings.
How cool is that?




The Howling Mad with Michael Reidy who can still
deliver a band with energy from outside this universe.














The Beatnik Flies and Mark Noone played together like
they've been doing it forever (which they kind of have
though not with each other)

I'm leaving tons of people out because I was too busy yacking.
If anyone has good pictures- send 'em to me.

All present gave their all- and all were proof positive
that you're never too old to rock this town.

WATCH THIS SPACE

Space was the place
Originally uploaded by alex.DC

It happened before- it can happen again...
DC Space Reunion at the 9:30 Club- Sunday- July 29th, 2007 in conjunction with a benefit for the one and only Tom T. who is fighting cancer. Tons of performances: Ajax Joe Drayton, Amy Pickering, Beatnik Flies, Bill Warrell, Bobby Donovan, Rust Bucket, 9353, Ruthie and The Wranglers...

And that's just the top of the iceberg-more later!