Tag Archives: dc

Fucked Up @ Rock n Roll Hotel

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Fucked Up @ RNR Hotel.
Fucked Up @ RNR Hotel.

I had never seen Fucked Up before, but this was a good show… the singer Damian is, of course, well-known for his antics and he didn’t disappoint this night, jumping in the crowd, wrestling people, pouring hot wax on himself… but the most interesting thing about it was he did all that while managing to retain a personal-feeling connection with the crowd… it didn’t really feel like a STUNT, it just felt like he was goofing off, and we could, too. Fun time, go see them if you haven’t.

view the whole Fucked Up photo set | read the Wahsington Post review

Best Coast @ Rock n Roll Hotel.

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Best Coast @ RNR Hotel.

I like a few of Best Coast songs, but don’t know much about them… I think this was a pretty common sentiment among the crowd, which was sold out, but alot of people seemed unfamiliar with them, and just going on the strength of a few really catchy songs. They sounded pretty good, but I think I’d rather see this band outside where i could lay on some grass. Aslo some of the people at this show were realllllly drunk and annoying. Not the band or the venues fault, of course…

see the whole Best Coast photo set | read the Washington Post review

NOLA in DC pt II: Trombone Shorty @ 9:30, the Meters Experience @ Blues Alley

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trombone shorty @ 9:30 clubtrombone shorty @ 9:30 clubthe meters experience @ blues alleytrombone shorty @ 9:30 club

A week or so I ago was lucky enough to cover two New Orleans artists for the Washington Post – I asked my editor if he gave me the assignments because I’m from Louisiana, but no, total coincidence! The first was Trombone Shorty at 9:30 Club, who I wasn’t particularly familiar with before going in, but I figured it was going to be fun since he started the set with “As the Saints Go Marching In”… it was a pretty energetic show, Trombone Shorty has an almost unbelievable amount of energy and he got the crowd worked up to a level I haven’t seen in a long time at the 9:30.

Leo Nocentelli’s The Meters Experience (at Blues Alley) was alot more relaxed, focused more on a chiller mood that fit in with the dark atmosphere at Blues Alley, a dinner club I had never attended before. Actually, before going there, I had spent years wondering if the dinner clubs you see in old movies, where a big band plays to people dining even still existed… it does! This show was a lot less intense then the one at the 9:30, but it was chock full of stories and anecdotes about the early days of the Meters and how they came up with their songs, and so forth. Pretty interesting stuff.

Trombone Shorty photo set | Trombone Shorty Washington Post review
Meters Experience photo set | Meters Experience Washington Post review

Dan Deacon Ensemble, Future Islands, Teeth Mountain @ 9:30 Club

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Dan Deacon Ensemble @ 9:30 Club
Future Islands @ 9:30 Club   Dan Deacon Ensemble @ 9:30 Club
Dan Deacon Ensemble crowd.
Teeth Mountain @ 9:30 Club   Future Islands crowd.
Dan Deacon Ensemble @ 9:30 Club   Dan Deacon Ensemble @ 9:30 Club

Sunday, Dan Deacon and his Ensemble rolled back into the area (along with Future Islands and Teeth Mountain). It was awesome to see so many friends playing on the big stage at the 9:30 Club. It was especially great to see Denny Bowen (of Double Dagger, Smart Growth fame, and part of the Ensemble) up there, as I have known Denny for years, and used to have his high school bands playing in the basement of my old house, the Dirtfarm. Such a good show, so great to see Dan’s songs performed with instrumentation, and to see him work his showmanship magic on such a huge crowd, and a “professional” space.

Future Islands and Teeth Mountain were really good as well, I was especially taken by Teeth Mountain, their set really benefited from the big sound that is possible at a venue like the 9:30.

More Dan Deacon Ensemble photos here!

Mastodon & Kylesa @ 9:30 Club, DC

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Mastodon @ 9:30 Club   Mastodon @ 9:30 Club
Mastodon @ 9:30 Club   Mastodon @ 9:30 Club   Kylesa @ 9:30 Club, DC
Kylesa @ 9:30 Club, DC   Kylesa @ 9:30 Club, DC

View the whole set here. The show was fun, though I miss the days that Mastodon and Kylesa hung out in my house with my old roommate Sonny and played sold out shows at the Velvet Lounge vs sold out shows at the 9:30 Club. Still, times change and both bands are still very talented… I’ll never like Mastodon’s new sound as much as their earlier work, but it suits them and has obviously won them alot of fans, so more power to them.

Lykke Li @ 6th & I Synagogue, DC.

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Lykke Li.    Lykke Li.

Last night I went and saw Swedish performer Lykke Li at the “Historic 6th & I Synagogue” in DC. Great show. Live, she adds alot more drumming and dynamic sound versus the album… mostly at the hands of her backing group, a group of Swedish men who my friend declared as being the most handsome backing band in the world. The venue was seated-only, which at first I was put off by, but it was really cool. A totally different atmosphere than a rock club.

See the whole Lykke Li set here

Tradition Dies Here final show @ the Black Cat

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Tradition Dies Here.

Last week I went down to DC to catch one of my favorite bands from the “old days” of Maryland Hardcore (the early 00s), Tradition Dies Here. Mikey is leaving town for a year or two to travel the world so they had this show in case it is the last one. Good times, old friends. Good luck Mikey!

Click here for the full Tradition Dies Here set.

Dan Deacon & Gavin Holland @ Hirshhorn Afterhours, DC

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dan deacon @ hirshhorn museum

A week or so ago, I dropped by the Hirshhorn in DC to see Dan Deacon. I decided to go because I love Dan, and I figured this show, since it was at a Major American Art Museum, would be staid and reserved, with glasses of wine and DEFINITELY NOT with people mobbing Dan or stealing his equipment or stealing his famed green skull. I was wrong on all counts, as you will see if you click here.