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

DC Rocksphoto

All Souls Gather Saturday

Like the tide over the years, Chick Hall's Surf Club has been up, and Surf Club has been down. In its country music hay day amazing things happened there including the likes of Patsy Cline and Lefty Frizzell, not to mention Chick Hall himself, one of DC's secret music legends. When JB Byrum took over the club several years ago, he did his best to keep the Surf Club music scene alive and well, despite the ups and downs of the economy and lack of community support. 
This Saturday - show JB the love- come out to the last live show booked at Surf Club for the foreseeable future. (If I were a music fan with nostalgic leanings and a craving for grits and similar groceries, I would definitely make the effort to be there.)
 King Soul is playing, and on the eve of the eve of All Hallow's Eve, Tom Clifford and his very capable band can take care of all your soulful needs.

Surreal Is the New Real

Parties down at the water's edge take on a reality of their own...and this one on Friday night featuring Color School (not the art movement but a band)  looks like it will take on a life of its own.

Ghoul's Night Out

Every year I hear some confusion over the event known as All Hallow's Eve or Halloween. The origins of this celebration are murky, but some stories include a Celtic festival marking Summer's end. Flash forward a few hundred years, and we've got the Christian twist which turned things Saint-ward. Still later traditions included wandering from door to door begging for food in exchange for prayers for all those lost souls.

What I know is Halloween is Monday. Trick-or-treaters go out on Monday, and adults better go out over the weekend in order to spiritually prepare themselves for the upcoming sugar fired effects of over active young beggars. This Friday Strathmore Arts Center is hosting a mixed media event including three bands and poster art called Rock Paper Zombies.  I love this description:

"Just like the hip party you would host—if you lived in a mansion with an art gallery, a cool band and a bartender."

Doors at 8 for Happy Hour specials. (Happy Hour, by the way, was invented to combat the effects of small children and/or beastly co workers on the adult nervous system. Use it wisely and with abandon.)

Virginia Is For The Lost

JVs is a tiny little joint stranded out there in Falls Church near Seven Corners, Virginia. Seven Corners, by the way, should be on the DC area's list of top ten traffic horrors. I also nominate the obvious - the Springfield Mixing bowl, but also- how about trying to merge onto and cross over I-395 from Maine Avenue to the D Street Exit? Scares me every time.

Why would DC Rocks send our readers to this godforsaken suburban outpost?  (Wait-would using godforsaken and suburban in one sentence be the same as a double negative?)

Here's three reasons:

Because the music you will stumble upon there is just that good.
Because they just don't MAKE places like JV's anymore,
and because what do you have to lose besides yourself in Virginia?

Okay 2 out of 3.

There are 2 shows worth checking out at JVs this weekend the first being guitar guru, Dan Hovey and Mary Ann Redmond on Friday night. On  Sunday starting at 5 look for an old fashioned country jamboree running all night and hosted by the legendary Hall Brothers (former proprietors of Chick Hall's Surf Club.) No telling who will show up, but guaranteed the music will be well worth the trip- on both nights.

Be sure to bring your GPS.

This Crew Has Gotta Swing

Vi-Kings Do Rock a Party

The Vi-kings don't like to think of themselves as putting on a concert so much as creating a Happening. A lot of talent is packed into this band including percussion legend, Bob Berberich. This from Stock Wilson pretty much sums things up. Hope it works for you: "The Vi-kings are the breeze that blew through Liverpool, Surrey and Richmond. Out of the Haight, down Sunset Boulevard, up the Mississippi and along south Michigan Avenue, it blew down Beacon Street, across Washington Park and into... Chevy Chase."

Yes, the Happening happensat the Chevy Chase Women's Club. (7931 Connecticut Ave, Chevy Chase, MD) Friday 7:30- 12  Doors open at 7 p.m. with limited tickets available. $20

Gotta Love the Title: "Anti-Mosquito Activist Tells City to Put a Sock in It"

Just when I despair of DC radio being the most boring thing on the planet, along comes my neighbor and local hero, Doug Dupin who has taken the role of David in this summer's battle of Man Vs. Mosquito. On WAMU this morning,  he provokes a DC official into talking about dirty socks.

d.c.space still on our mind(s)

The corner of Seventh and E Streets, Northwest D.C. It's a Starbucks now; it was Clara Barton's office long ago. In the middle of all of that it was d.c. space where all kinds of art and music took place from 1977 until 1991. If this means anything to you, or if you would like to get a glimpse into how cool this little place once was-the DC Music Salon is hosting a retrospective this Wednesday at the Watha T. Daniel- Shaw Library. A discussion, a presentation and a happening featuring people who were there, live footage, music and more. 7- 9 p.m.

The Basement People

photo by chip py

Quarry House types (and you know who you are) or if you ever wanted to be one -there's a great show this Saturday night featuring the David Kitchen band. As usual DC Rocks promotes a lot of music for very little money in a not to be replicated, genuine throw back dive.

Save Where Poe Slept

Quite a few towns like to claim the relatively short and somewhat tragic lifespan of Edgar Allan Poe.  There's a square in his honor in Boston. (though he once called his birth place a "provincial frogpondium") His dorm room is well preserved on the lawn at the University of Virginia. (even though he had to drop out for lack of funds) There's a museum in Richmond where Poe grew up with the people who almost adopted him. And there's The Poe House in Baltimore where Poe met and married his young cousin. Mr. Poe died in Baltimore on October 7, 1849, and his death is still a bit of a mystery which  I suspect is just how he would like it.

Baltimore, I have to admit is a way cooler city in many respects than this humble burg, but the city has cut funding to this very romantic site. This Friday- 162 years to the day after his demise, The Velvet Lounge on U Street NW is hosting a benefit to save the Poe House with a raffle and live music including DC ROCKS' fave- Nunchucks. The event kicks off at 9:30 p.m.
Only $8 admission.

A sculpture of E. A. Poe by Paul Spaulding landed in NW DC

They'll Be Dancing in the Streets

Where are all these people going? Right where they were last year- watching music in the middle of the street in the middle of Takoma Park which makes this none other than the Takoma Park Street Festival. Bands band bands.  Food food food.  Farmer's Market and festive stuff. Live music scheduled from 11- 5 on three different stages- all this Sunday. Free.

Guitar Wonks' Alert

Friday Is Top Heavy

Today is Wednesday. Hump day- gotta get through to the other side day for the majority of working stiffs. For many musicians though, it's actually the weekend. A Sunday night kind of thing since a lot of bands start their weekends on Thursday. Here in Washington where the weather has been and continues to be partly sunny partly cloudy chance of thunderstorms for what seems like years now, it could be any day -same weather.

You could make things different. Go and see a live show. There are a lot of choices this week. Thursday night The Thrillbillys will command the Sunset Grille as usual.  Friday night  Baked and Wired in Georgetown is hosting an unplugged show with Peter Maybarduk.  Energetic types might want to go downtown to the Rock n Roll Hotel to catch The Great Unknowns who are doing  a benefit show for American veterans. And last but not least, you dancing animals should head over to Surf Club Live for a double header featuring The Grandsons and Curly Taylor and Zydeco Trouble. All of these shows are less than $20, but a little money goes a long way in the music world around here.

A Truly Honky Tonk Girl for One of DC's Last True Honky Tonk's

Good Things in Small Packages

The Sunset Grille in Annandale could not be a weirder, funkier, more down to earth kind of bar if it tried. (Yes, it's in Virginia, but it's a straight shot off that necessary evil- The Beltway.)
Music there ranges from pretty good to over the top outstanding, and the cover is never a big deal. Never a bad view-The Grille might be eight people deep from bar to stage- the picture above ,of the night Eddie Angel of Los Straightjackets showed up, was taken from the bar with a phone.

This THURSDAY go see David Kitchen and you will see what we mean.


Here's what's happening from Mr Kitchen:

"Come to The Sunset Grille, my home away from home where this Thursday night I will be bringing in my buddies to play the flat out rock and roll, double shuffling country numbers and funky old soul tunes that will have you dancing for sure. Dan Hovey on guitar, Jon Combs on bass and Robbie Magruder on drums. "

Thursday is the New Friday by Lynn Thorp

Whether you are in DC or one of our readers to the North or South, there's something for you to do this Thursday night.

At the Ottobar in Baltimore, DC's own Dear Season (Nathan Strejcek, Phil Duarte and Sean Randolph) will join Glen Matlock and the Philistines and two other bands. (Rock History Quiz: Do you know who Glen Matlock is?)

At DC9, you can catch 7 Door Sedan, Sister Ex and Marshall Keith. Doors at 8:30, bands at 9 pm in that order.

And at JV's out in Virginia-it's Dan Hovey. A lotta music.

You can't go wrong here folks. Support local music and your friends!

Thursdays Can Be Thrilling

Our Man About Town

George Pelecanos writes prolifically and profoundly, and sets his books in and around his hometown- our own Washington D.C. A big music fan, George writes about the real streets and sounds of Washington and that rarely includes Pennsylvania Avenue- especially now that the Powers That Be have seen fit to close the roads around the White House which cripples crosstown traffic. (How ironic that with all the latest 9/11 hoopla, there is talk of terrorists taking advantage of our horrible evacuation routes!)

But I digress.

George Pelecanos- will be reading from his new book, The Cut at Politics and Prose this Monday at 7 p.m. This independent bookstore has outlasted the Borders mega chain and holds down the fort near the corner of Connecticut and Nebraska.

Remembering Kazz

DC ROCKS readers may want to know about the plans to honor Kazz Montgomery, a legendary figure in our music and entertainment scene and a bright light in the lives of many in our community. Here's the info:

Saturday, September 10, 2011
GREENE FUNERAL HOME
814 Franklin Street, Alexandria VA 22314
(703) 549 - 0089

The viewing will be from 10am - 11am
The funeral service will be from 11am - 1pm

Any flowers or cards, etc. that you may wish to send may be delivered to:
GEORGIA BROWN'S RESTAURANT; 950 15th Street NW; Washington DC 20005
PHONE : (202) 393-4499

Goodbye Summer and Good Riddance

Perhaps the only good thing about the end of summer is the first freeze will knock out that incredibly pesky pest- the Mosquito. Besides feeding bats, I can't think of a single reason these blood suckers are here on the planet except to ruin the great outdoors for the rest of us.

Everybody complains, but few really do something about the invasion. My local hero, Doug Dupin is on the mission. He participated in DC's West Nile monitoring  program and was disappointed that the Tiger Mosquito, clearly our worst offender, was eluding capture. Doug went the extra mile , however, and developed the perfect lure-which involves smelly foot wear.  A giant step forward for civilization in the War of Bug vs Man. Read more about here at The Palisades Museum of Prehistory.

Relax-Chuck's in Charge for Labor Day Weekend

With temperatures back in the nineties forecast for Saturday, it's back to DC weather as usual- as usual as Washington can get being the weirdest city on the planet. (Did anyone else think this was a particularly long August? Not to mention rather peculiar?) At any rate, the long weekend will give DCPS students a much needed respite after two full weeks of school if you don't count that Earthquake break.

What's up for Summer's Last Weekend?

Friday night, Last Train Home, the DC band with Nashville wanderlust, will report back to their true home bar IOTA for one show only with good friends Chris Watling, Dave Van Allen and Kevin Cordt coming out for full press band support.

Then Sunday, the deepest DC experience award has got to go to the National Symphony's tribute to native cats John Sousa, Duke Ellington and Mr.  Chuck Brown (!) happening on the West lawn of the Capital at 8 p.m. This concert will be followed by a performance featuring the only man in that crew that is still very much alive.

So good bye August and hello September. Slip out of those white bucks and gear up for November .

Hunker Down- Shows Cancelled Tonight

Mother Nature is not to be argued with so Surf Club and Chuck Brown shows have been cancelled for this evening. Fill the bathtub with gin and take it easy 'til we meet again.

Real Rocking Beats Quaking

DC really did rock yesterday, but now it's time to get over the earth quake and look forward to real rocking plus maybe a hurricane this weekend. (As the Cowardly Lion would say "Unusual weather we're having, ain't it?") And why do they name hurricanes but not earthquakes? I would've called this one "Little Susie." (You know "Quake up, Lil Susie, quake up)

Although live shows have been suspended at Surf Club of late, this weekend the show(s) will go on so please come out and support this venue and keep this place more than just a great idea.

Friday night a Hank Williams tribute brings a variety of musicians out to give HW the musical nod he so well deserves. (You might want to sport dancing shoes and a cowboy hat for this one.)

And Saturday brings the long awaited return of The Beatnik Flies- a band that that just plain defies the box. It's been two years since the Flies played, and with The Yachtsmen at the helm for openers, this will be a night to remember. Original music and attire all OVER the place so come as you want to be.
Just be sure you are there.

Play It Again, Marginal Man

All the original members of Marginal Man will reunite THIS SATURDAY at the Black Cat. If you know the name of this band then I am preaching to the choir, but if you don't this is original DC harDCore springing from our very own home town when 9:30 was on F Street and Dischord Records gave bands like this a voice... on vinyl.

Here's Mark Noone's take: 
 "Marginal man had the power. That double guitar attack contributed to their wide loud sound. They also sported a great front man and killer drummer; Slickees were considering him when Dan Palenski left."

And this from a deep background source at the 9:30 Club: 
"Although they came out of the harDCore scene, I always felt they were a little different than many of those other bands. They had plenty of songs that were serious, like "Identity", but also had some more fun, light-hearted songs, like the instrumental "Chocolate Pudding", and a pop sensibility to their songwriting.  I now see them as one of the founding bands of the "pop-punk" genre, which later became huge and spawned very successful bands like Green Day, although their influence on others up and coming bands was not apparent at the time. It takes time and perspective to see how influential they were."

Also on the bill: Strike Anywhere and Damnation ID. 

Tickets $15

Support Your Local Surfers

You may have heard that live shows at the Surf Club have been suspended due to an overlooked and unchecked box on a form and an unfortunate series of events possibly resulting in a nearby shooting last March after the club had closed. This incident did NOT involve live music and did not occur at the Surf Club and is the ONLY act of its kind in the three and a half years JB has owned the club.

Politically the towns of Edmonston and Hyattsville are torn between having a club and shutting it down. Most people involved in making the decision have never attended a show there and mistakenly think it's a dark and violent place, not one where the disco ball inspires swing and zydeco types to go nuts only on the dance floor.

Shows have already been cancelled, but a temporary though precarious permit has been issued for the Hank Williams tribute and The Beatnik Flies Reunion- August 26 and 27. If you want to see more shows like this, please take a minute  and help keep this historic and endangered honky-tonk  live and alive.  Here's how:

Write to Chairman Franklin D. Jackson of the Prince Georges County Liquor Board. Chairman Jackson oversees the board which has the authority to amend the oversight in the application that would allow live bands to once again play at the Surf Club. Please speak of your experiences there, and whether this included witnessing any sort of violence.

(Chairman Jackson's emails are directed to him by staff members.)

Email:

KEMarkomanolakis@co.pg.md.us (Kelly)

DMBryant@co.pg.md.us (Diane)

Direct Mail:

Franklin D Jackson, Chairman

Board of License Commissioners

County Service Building

5012 Rhode Island Ave., Room 204

Hyattsville, MD 20781

Gone Fishing

Yeah. It's August. Things are slow, and as usual Congress has left such a mess that even DC Rocks needs a vacation.
 See ya next week.

Bring Out Your Dead

Tired of listening to "Box of Rain,"on the tape player out in the garage? I was never a big fan, but can't deny they influenced my life back in the day. There was the time my housemate went to a show and came home with a puppy. Another housemate designed tee shirts featuring Jerry Garcia's head on a Maryland Terrapin body which, considering Jerry's physique at the time, totally worked.

At any rate, the time has come to fling those cassettes and simplify your life. Pull on a tee shirt and truck on out to Surf Club this Friday night for the Black Muddy River Band-  acoustic covers brought to you by three real guys playing instruments right in front of you. Get your Dead on live.

Last Chance

Fort Reno is winding down this week so if you've been meaning to get up there...it's now or never. This Thursday the season closes out with an extremely rare appearance by the The Evens who do NOT appear in clubs. (At the 9:30 Anniversary Party you might have seen them in the balcony, but not on stage)

If you do not know who The Evens are then check the Who's Who Directory of Local DC Bands...DC ROCKS itself. Yep, there's a little search box at the top of this blog.

Go early. Parking is limited due to Wilson High School construction, and those in the know know this is  a show not to miss.

This Dog Can Hunt

Sonic Phenomena

Can't get enough of Slickee Boys?

Nope, they aren't coming back.

And yes, you missed the event of the summer if you missed their last show at the 9:30 Club, but here's a saving grace- former Slickee- Marshall Keith will be at Surf Club this Friday night along with outer limit music making Cigarbox Planetarium and The Spectacles. 

Marshall has struck out on an ethereal path all his own which can be heard most often on his solo CD Roadside Shrine. Live and in person, just go ahead and expect the unexpected.

Be Cool and If You Can't Be Cool Be Hot

Every summer I lose my will to do just about anything right around now. The Dog Days are here followed swiftly by the Doldrums which are brought on by the "code red" air quality. My garden has to fend for itself. My neighbor, Joel comments that I've let my lawn go dormant as if that were a Plan.

The only thing that rescues ninety plus days are the slightly less steamy though still sultry nights.
That is the time to defy the elements and make your own heat: dance hard and create a breeze of your own.

Here are possibilities for this week: The Atomic Mosquitos which do not have an annoying habit of sucking your blood to ensure future progeny will be at The Surf Club Friday night and the Quarry House on Saturday. On the other side of Old Man River, look for Kid Goat and Yell County at IOTA- also on Saturday night. And finally Greenland, a perennial favorite of DC ROCKS, will be at the stellar Galaxy Hut this Sunday.

A Guy with a Guitar Walks into a Bar

Saturday Night We Need a Time & Space Inter-County Connector by Lynn Thorp

(and the best poster award goes to...)

It's hard to know where to be Saturday night. To catch all the shows you'd have to rely on good old 410 our East-West Highway, but a time-space travel machine would be easier.

Over in Prince Georges County, you've got The Yachtsmen, Monsters From the Surf and El Quatro at the Surf Club. The music is back at this iconic place, and they need your support to keep it live. If you've never gone because you don't know where Kennilworth Avenue is, choose the Eastern end of the night's listings, and I guarantee you will be back for more. Three bands, a great sound system and dance floor, plus pool tables and a place that feels like a honky tonk should on a Saturday night.

To the West, you can opt for Color School at Parker's in Bethesda. Check out their newly posted songs, and you'll hear these guys are a real treat live. No cover here.

If you need to get your Dead on, not far north of Parker's you can catch Black Muddy River Band. This mostly-Grateful Dead acoustic trio does it better than I've ever seen. They're at Branded 72 BBQ in Rockville.

So wherever you are on the East/West continuum of our thriving music scene, support our local bands with whatever rocks your boat this Saturday.

Stranger Things May Happen But This Is a Good One

This load of alliteration just in from last week's Surf Club Soul man Mark Noone:
"Aloha nui loa friends and fans of Hawaiian Swing Music and Boogie Blues! Washington DC's highfalutin-hillbilly-hula-honchos, The Hula Monsters will be swingin’ the stage with the legendary boogie-woogie-bad-boy-barn-busters, The Nighthawks at Surf Club Live right there on Kenilworth Avenue in Hyattsville this Friday night, July 15th.  
Get there early, stay late, bring your dancin’ shoes! 
Only 10 bucks!!!"
And watch Mark transform himself yet again on Saturday night. Same Bat place. Same Bat time. Whole different persona. Stay tuned.

Be In Love With the Past

All of you sentimental people out there looking for nostalgia in cool places-check out Owen Wilson channeling Woody Allen in his new film "Midnight in Paris." Then head over to Clyde's cavern club Friday night for those masters of the flashback The Vi-kings. These guys are veteran rockers bringing you back to the Sixties with a secret weapon in their midst-Bob Berberich. Bob's a walking legend around these parts, and we are lucky he is still keeping the beat alive. In the mean time Vi-Kings' ring leader Joe Dolan wants you to know he is putting you all on the guest list. (which is his way of saying "no cover")

Live Music Attack This Weekend

Be prepared for your in box to be full from DC ROCKS this week because when it rains it pours,and when it rains, this DC native is a happy summer camper.
This show was brought to our attention by Dead Leaf Echo. All ages is always a cool scene.

Dash Out to the Rock and Roll Hotel Thursday by L. Thorp

Dot Dash, Ft. Reno, August 2010
Photo Courtesy of Peter Muise

Dot Dash and The Jones share the stage with Urge Overkill Thursday night at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Two great local acts and a blast from your mid 80s - mid-90s past.

ERROR Please note Goldrush at Galaxy Hut JULY 17

Sorry about the mix up.

BAck to the Future JULY 17

Our old friend Prabir will be at the Galaxy Hut NEXT Sunday in his new incarnation Goldrush.

The Galaxy Hut is so small you're bound to come away with new friends, and the music will surprise you. Absolutely worth a school night out.

Wait a minute...make that a summer school night.

Support Your Local Hercules

Everyone knows Hercules. He's the guy immortalized in myth and cartoon as the strong man who can throw a raging bull or a large car across the street with one hand. If you remember the original myth, however, Herc had a huge to-do list which included taking care of man eating birds, (right after he cleaned up the Aegean stable) rounding up the Mares of Diomedes, and going after the elusive Golden Apples. All of these chores seemed insurmountable, but Hercules some how found a way.

A few years ago, James Byrum, unsuspecting music lover, put himself in the same position as Hercules. He bought the Surf Club.

Next thing you know, here came the man killing birds, (county regulators)  strange creatures which had to be herded inside(local musicians)and those golden apples- ever elusive profits- are still hanging out of reach.

Yet James continues to defy the odds by bringing on more live music than ever this month. This week alone look for The Thrillbillys Friday, King Soul on Saturday night, and an afternoon open-mike with Stacy Brooks on Sunday.

Come out, have fun and support our local music heroes.

You Can’t Go Back and You Can’t Stand Still by Lynn Thorp

my daughter nicole carrying the flame

Everybody keeps asking me if I’m sad that DC’s legendary Slickee Boys are playing their last reunion show this Sunday. Surely I will miss these annual-or-so reunions of great friends, but I’m not aware of any other local band who has retired and then entertained us at least yearly for twenty years so it’s hard to complain. Also, I’m not one for living in the past, and DC provides plenty of proof that when one door closes another one will always open. All the musicians who’ve played in the Slickee Boys have and will continue to make great new music. I was thinking about this recently when 7 Door Sedan played at DC 9. Here you’ve got a band full of talent who have all played a role in DC music history but this band isn’t on a nostalgia trip. It’s new and fresh, and it’s about DC now. Check out Ft. Reno on Mondays and Thursdays this summer, and you’ll see there’s no shortage of new music around here.

A buzz of loss reverberated in some of my circles lately when Garrett’s closed, a bar and restaurant well-known since 1979 for its friendly local ambiance in the heart of Georgetown. Garrett’s was the site of many momentous occasions in my life, but I’m just hoping that many more pleasant memories are made sampling the new places that DC has to offer. There’s great food galore, interesting spaces and even homegrown beer! Here’s my plug for the first on the scene – DC Brau – whose Public Ale should become the everyday go-to beer for all of you of the beer-liking persuasion.

DC’s ushering in a new age built on the old one. Don’t forget that the heart and soul of this city is still being ably nurtured at Ben’s Chili Bowl, and that Chuck Brown did two shows in one day recently. The wheel is turning and the beat goes on.

We Have a Winner

Slickees at Ottobar 2009  photo by DC ROCKS

Congratulations Todd Savitch! You are our big winner to the Slickees show this Sunday.
Rock on.