Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

yeah that's par for the course. and one reason i don't dance out the way i used to--my schedule doesn't work like that these days.

Oh man that was a great time - I haven't seen anywhere run so smoothly on a packed opening night before (for those that don't know, I'm one of the partners in U Hall). Skip, let me know next time you come out, would be great to meet another DC ilxor - I think daria-g was the only other one I saw there last night.

congratulations! i've seen nothing but positive words for the place, can't wait to experience it myself.

I DIED, will do. Good luck keeping up the momentum in the next few weeks!

So happy for I DIED and the other U Hallers! Looking forward to a Fri/Sat when I can stay out past my bedtime.

I went on Wednesday as well, it was real fun. It's a great space, the crowd was pretty good, and Aeroplane was damned excellent. Congrats I DIED for a successful opening.

Theo Parrish tonight at Trinidad and Tobago Clubhouse on Georgia Ave. Anyone going?

I don't think I can do 10 PM-4 AM, is there anyone worth seeing on Sunday?

I don't know too much about the guys playing on Sunday. Also, Loco Dice spinning on Tuesday at Aqua in NE.

they're doing parties at aqua now? i remember it just used to be bad asian college nights and the big gay latin party "fuego" on fridays.

How was Theo Parrish? I'm going to Delorean, Dum Dum Girls, and Beach House this week. Lots of music.

Did anyone here go?

I'm curious about Dum Dum Girls. I was underwhelmed by Beach House last year but I're read folks say this Baltimore duo's newest cd is an improvement so that has me slightly interested.

There's a ton of stuff going on in multiple genres tonight through next week. Dance and rock and jazz and more--

Friday--Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-chas at Glen Echo and the reggae dj thing at the Marx Cafe in DC

Saturday I might go see Ruben Blades speak for free at 3 at a Smithsonian (but he's not singing or acting I don't think)

Saturday night I might go see New Orleans' Hot 8 Brass Band at the PG Publick Playhouse ($10 ticket)

Sunday afternoon 2 to 4 I might go see Jim Byers' latest Metro Mambo event at the Smithsonian Anacostia museum with old DC mambo musicians on a panel and a live band afterwards.

Japandroids and Gang Gang Dance next week

So "I Died" what does this mean--(from an e-mail from local club Ibiza)

Ibiza is equipped with a million dollar MARTIN lighting and sound system

I see that Love is reopening while Fight Club Dc (Blagden Alley place)is shutting down Saturday night(with the Points and Cloak/Dagger and others performing)

It means they have a really good soundsystem! We used the same soundsystem designers for u hall because Ibiza has some of the best sound in the city. I think u hall sounds even better, just because it's a less cavernous room with more sound treatment. Or I could be biased.

Thanks. I have never been to Ibiza and figured you'd know if that was all hype or not.

Fear of a PG County Planet part 10--I was not the only white person at the Prince George's Publick Playhouse in Cheverly Saturday night for New Orleans' Hot 8 Brass Band, there were around 15 or so. But I know that blue-eyed jam band fans like New Orleans brass bands (and no I do not like jam bands) and I'm guessing many of them have cars so where were they? Their loss, the mostly middle-aged, likely PG Based African-American audience (with some Hispanics) there (aroud 90 folks) enjoyed the show(and they probably don't go to see brass bands when they play the Velvet Lounge or State Theater).

So metal club Jaxx in Springfield which I have never been to, is now having Latin nights. I guess the audience for metal is shrinking or is Jaxx not marketing correctly?

U. St. Music Hall's no photography policy gets attention

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/28/AR2010032802383.html?sub=AR

Shouldn't someone have told Will Eastman to avoid photographers with that goofy 1970s pornstar moustache

I am a big supporter of the moustache.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/blueimage/MtownApril2010.jpg

The first Funk & Soul party to go down at U St. Music Hall goes down on Wed. April 7th, and it's FREE!! See flyer for details:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/blueimage/DYNAMITE_Sm1.jpg

I'm going to Serena Maneesh that night but sounds fun. How's U Hall coming along? I haven't been since opening night.

Looks like its closed on most Mondays and Tuesdays (like some Ethiopian restaurants on the block. Ha. Inside reference for dc ILEers)

So Gang Gang Dance was real good on Tuesday night. Shame the opener sucked so hard, I don't even know what to say. Was like a bad mix of Jandek and afrobeat, maybe?

That description sounds right. And the opener was the bass player of Gang Gang Dance wasn't he? I didn't like the female vocals of GGD but the percussion and keys/samples were pretty invigorating.

I also don't understand which indie bands are popular these days. I was underwhelmed by Beach House a year ago at the Black Cat backstage and this year they sold out the big room I think. Meanwhile Gang gange Dance get a half-filled RnR Hotel crowd of about 70.

Beach House hasn't changed, they are still boring as sin live. As for selling out, the show was on a Friday night, it was the kickoff of their tour, the new album got 9.0 on P4K, they get Sub Pop promotion, etc. Things are coming together for them. GGD haven't put out a full-length record in 2 years and have been getting zero buzz.

Ah, that makes sense.

Yeah, the opener was playing bass for Gang Gang Dance, but he's not a permanent member, I can't even remember if I could make out what he was playing anyways. Echoing xpost: As for the comparison of the crowd sizes, Beach House definitely has more buzz, but a show at the RnR Hotel on Tuesday probably dissuades quite a few people from going, versus the Black Cat on a Friday night. At least the crowd at Gang Gang Dance was pretty into the show. Also, the Woods/Real Estate show at the RnR last Saturday sold out ahead of time which still kinda surprises me.

Another issue with Tuesday shows in NE: With GGD not coming on till 10:30 and doing their encore at 11:40, I ended up leaving during the encore and being a nice guy and driving a buddy to the Metro as he was concerned about getting the last train.

Meanwhile the Post and CP only blogged about Wilco's Tuesday show at Strathmore. The NPR superstars have gotten enough attention already for a lifetime. And then Rahm Emanuel was there at their show so that got them even more coverage.zzzz. I figured someone else at CP would blog about GGD but it did not happen.

Theo Parrish tonight at Trinidad and Tobago Clubhouse on Georgia Ave. Anyone going?

― Ivor, Saturday, March 20, 2010 3:40 PM

damn i need to check this thread more

anyone been to this place on u st.?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/28/AR2010012802126.html

"(True story: On the first nights of operation, the bass was so powerful that it was vibrating glasses and bottles off the bar.) "

x-post. Oh yeah, I forgot about Patty Boom Boom. I still haven't been there. Reggae and dancehall from Theivery Corp pals could be alright, I guess.

I designed Patty Boom Boom, too. Weekends are uncomfortably crowded, but other nights are pretty fun. Different DJs each night, but each leans heavily toward roots/one drop/early dancehall stuff. There's a live band every Tuesday, the Arkives, and they're ridiculously tight and they draw a fun crowd without being too packed.

My plan is to finally go check out DJ Nitekrawler's soul music Moneytown thing at Dahlak tonight with some friends of mine

Moneytown was fun (although the sound system in that not too big place was cranked so loud some of the vinyl-generated sounds, ie. records, were getting distorted)

So the U st. Music Hall calendar only goes to April 10th and I thought DJ Nitekrawler told me about an event planned there for later in the month. Hint, hint to event promoters--the earlier you list things the better for those of us who do part-time writing in the media world

U Street's sidewalks on weekend nights are now nearly as full of drunken bargoers as Adams Morgan's or Georgetown's

Curmudgeon, if you're talking about the event I think you are, we're still trying to hammer down a critical detail - it'll be listed as soon as we're confirmed!

Otherwise, the calendar at U Hall this Wednesday-Saturday is looking pretty sweet.

I am talking about a soul event DJ Nitekrawler mentioned to me, but I'm also just grumbling that your calendar only covers the next 5 days. It does look great, but it makes it hard for me to pitch stuff to the City Paper or for them to add the club listings to their danceclub listings. Plus I'm sure others like to plan ahead as well. But maybe cuz your place is new you have not booked far ahead.

I had wanted to include that gig in the monthly Yahoo group calendar I send out to some folks only once at the beginning of the month, but did not have the details.

Generally we held off on a lot of bookings before we were open, just in case we were delayed for some reason. Now that we're up and running our calendar goes further out, and within a few weeks should read two months or so in advance.

That's great. Thanks.

Lots of stuff going on this week. Serena Maneesh on Wednesday, Acid Mothers Temple on Thursday, Efdemin on Saturday, among others of course.

Going to Serena Maneesh, not sure I will be able to convince out of towners to do Efdemin but will try like hell.

Plenty of international stuff happening--Tego Calderon, Caetano Veloso,Rokia Traore and there are a bunch of movies - music docs and more happening--a Fela movie doc next Saturday afternoon at the Museum of African Art; Jazz films (plus Raymond Scott) on Mondays in April at the Library of Congress; and Filmfest DC starts on April 15 and includes a number of music-focussed movies.

Thinking about True Womanhood and Hume tonight at Black Cat.

I designed Patty Boom Boom, too. Weekends are uncomfortably crowded, but other nights are pretty fun. Different DJs each night, but each leans heavily toward roots/one drop/early dancehall stuff. There's a live band every Tuesday, the Arkives, and they're ridiculously tight and they draw a fun crowd without being too packed.

― I DIED, Thursday, April 1, 2010 4:03 PM

thanx 4 info!

I walked past it Friday night and it was packed.

x-post. I bet Serena Maneesh will be loud in DC9. Can't make that show but I need to listen to them.

Am0n--Baby Cham is gonna be at the Crossroads over the weekend(likely a very late show)