Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

About 10 days!

I'm contributing one and two line blurbs about shows to "The Weekly Music Agenda" and the Weekend agenda (whatever that is called)[mine are most of the international entries and the blues/soul ones. They have plenty of folks writing indie-rock ones]

Jim Bennett & Lady Mary's "Sometimes" (JaBen label) that has been receiving lots of Saturday afternoon WPFW airplay just debuted at 25 on the bluescritic.com Southern Soul radio chart

Why doesn't the Lamonts club in Pomonkey (off of Indian heady Highway just south of the Wilson Bridge in MD) have a working website? I need a southern chitlin circuit soul fix but need to know who's playing there when...

I ended up calling Lamont's. They're supposed to mail me (via snail-mail) a schedule! Gator Day (in honor of WPFW dj the Gator) is Saturday 3-31 I think.

for cross-referencing purposes:

The finest products of the DC rock scene: What will be remembered/treasured?

Laurence Small, the now-ex Smithsonian head who billed taxpayers via the Smithsonian for cleaning his pool and other non-legit expenses (and whose salary quadrupled during his 7 years) may gone, but there are still big problems there--some music-related, My sources report that:

Smithsonian Business Ventures, under whose direction the Jazz Cafe
operates, is threatening the Jazz Cafe with imminent closure (specifically, they have been
instructed not to book anyone else at this time, beyond April)

Um, I never have actually gone to the Jazz Cafe but I recall that there were some acts there I would have liked to have seen on their Friday night performances (I think that recent Buck Hill birthday party thing was at the Jazz cafe, and they had some good local Latin-Jazz acts).

OH NOES NOT THE JAZZ CAFE

Now as to a place I have actually been to, Lamonts, per my earlier posting actually mailed me an 8 1/2 by 11 inch envelope with flyers for their upcoming Spring and Summer events. Fort Reno, Fort Dupont and Lamonts--who says there's nothing enjoyable about a DC summer.

The Jazz Cafe is held in the atrium outside the imax theater at Natural History. It's nice enough but I'd never consider it a music destination - I haven't been to concerts there but the acoustics must be horrible!

Steve, did you make it to Crowd Control last month? I think the next one's coming up.

Wale, who performed at the last one, is really taking off.

Did not make the Crowd Control (1st Thursdays at DC 9), Thursday nights don't usually work for me. Will they eventually get a backlash from some ala Diplo and Hollertronics (or would that only occur if they start puttiing out cds of obscure funky stuff from somewhere else and don't give proper credits)

Ted Leo gets called a "DC Scene Legend" in the Express today, and is playing live and talking with Kojo Nnandi on WAMA 88.5 at 1-ish today. His 930 club show tonight is sold out. He lives in Jersey now, right?

I last saw him at Fort Reno a few summers ago.

wamU that is, available online as well.

Get those demos to Fort Reno booking by April 2nd: 3351 Highwood Drive SE, Wash. D.C. 20020

WTOP Radio Police crackdown on area nightclubs

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Prince George's County Police will put the padlocks on nine area nightclubs cited as hotspots for violence.

Last year, crimes committed in and near the nightclubs generated more than 1,000 calls for police -- 800 from one club alone.

County Executive Jack Johnson put club owners on notice on Thursday, and is ordering that the clubs be shut down immediately for drawing an element that he calls "just unbelievable."

"They're prone to violence. They're prone to crazy dancing, explicit sexual connotations. We are not going to have those establishments in Prince George's County. We're just not," Johnson says.

Police Chief Melvin High says a 2006 ordinance gives the police authority to shut down the businesses.

"Specifically when it's activities that present an imminent threat and danger to the health, safety and welfare of the public," High says.

The closures can be appealed, but Johnson says for some of these clubs, it's overdue.

The following bars and businesses are affected by the shutdown:

Crossroads, Bladensburg
La Pearl, Capitol Heights
CFE, Forestville
Classic III, Camp Springs
Tradewinds, Camp Springs
Knights of Columbus, Forestville
Cuzco, Hyattsville
Tick Tock Bar and Restaurant, Hyattsville
Millenium, Hyattsville

One of the business owners being targeted by the police crackdown is Amrit Singh, the owner of the Tick Tock Bar and Restaurant in Hyattsville. He says none of the allegations are true.

Singh says his business is staffed with security, including Prince George's County police, and that he's never been served with a complaint about crime or criminal behavior.

So why is his business being slated for closure? Singh claims it's political payback -- he didn't support County Executive Jack Johnson in last November's election and instead backed Johnson's opponent.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Isn't Keith Washington, the PG Cop who shot and killed unarmed furniture deliverymen (and who repeatedly has been involved in tantrum throwing incidents) still on the force because he's a buddy of Jack Johnson? Yea, Jack Johnson is really cutting down on crime. Also, a "CRAZY DANCING" problem. Yea, that's what's causing the trouble. PG County like DC has education, crime and jobs problems that County Exec Jack Johnson should be worrying about. Sadly, people have been killed near go-go clubs and dancehall clubs (and street corners nowhere near go-go clubs) for years. The clubs in some cases might share some of the blame, but there are bigger societal issues that need to be addressed. I went to a happy hour at the Crossroads once, and saw a few African shows there, and around three or 4 soca shows there and never noticed any problems. The shootings late Sunday night/Monday morning there occurred on a dancehall night(white Bermuda dancehaller Collie Budz was there).

I wish Johnson's "Crazy Dancing" quote to WTOP had made the Washington Post cover story.

smash is reopening in adams morgan dudes! wonder how it'll affect crooked beat.

sales price battles maybe

Steve, did you see that some of the PG clubs have reached an agreement to keep operating at least until they work something out with the county?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/01/AR2007040101116.html?hpid=topnews

This whole situation has been far more insane than any club closings in DC.

Yea, I did (and I heard more on the local channel 4 tv news where Johnson's chief of staff said that some of the clubs have worked out new policies to supposedly make things safer). It's a very complicated issue(I have my issues with the Crossroads, but expecting nightclubs to change people's behavior, and the underlying existing educational and cultural atmosphere that the troublemakers grew up with seems to be asking a bit much). I've only been to the Crossroads of those clubs (and Tic Toc Liquors).

I see also in the Post that Graham and the club owners met and hammered out changes w/ the under 21 rules. Based literally on a flip of the coin, Graham agreed to include in the bill the club owners request that under-age drinkers be charged with a misdemeanor!

Brian Smith....how is Dredd's Prince Dance Party anymore tired that the Mousetrap et al? You must be joking right? I am a long time Cat patron and I think the Prince thing is a breath of fresh air at the Cat. At least Dredd can mix and put together a decent party. Not that I know anything about DJing but I can tell the difference between what he does and what most of the other DJs do at the Cat. Also how would you know what he does with any money that he makes and if it goes into his restaurant? Just curious are you his manager or accountant? If so forgive me. At first take it sounds like you are just being jerky for whatever personal reasons you might have. Are you a "DJ"? Just my 2 cents.

lols at "DJ" scare-quotes

Hey Janet!

I am a "DJ" and, as I've stated on many occasions, I think Dredd is a fantastic "DJ"! I used to enjoy seeing him at Aroma very much, and I'd love for Uncle Q's Living Room to find a new home. I think the Prince Dance party is marginally more tired than Mousetrap (also a tired night) because it's revolved around a single artist for the past, what, six or so years? Is it possible to go out and hear the same set of songs by the same person for that long and have fun? As evidence by his parties, of course it is! Does that keep the event from getting tired? Of course not!

It's easy to see the difference between what he does and what most of the other "DJ"s at the Cat do, because most of the "DJ"s at the Cat are for shit and base their nights on a marginally different kind of nostalgia than Dredd.

Also, I am not his accountant or manager but thanks for asking! LOL!

Brian I respect your opinion, but we just have to agree to disagree or whatever. Like I said I am glad the Prince party is at the black cat because it brings in a more diverse crowd than the usual wanna be fake hipsters (like myself) that sit around the red room talking shit.

Neither of us are really in the position to judge because we are obviously both wrong because these dance parties (mousetrap, prince, etc. )at the cat are always packed.

I am still curious to know why you would say that Dredd only does these parties to keep his restaurant afloat? He must make a ton of money on these things because I know what it takes to keep a restaurant open and I just can't believe that. Maybe you know something that I don't. What are these DJs making on these kind of parties? Enough to pay a lease, pay salaries, utilities, etc on a restaurant? Damn I am in the wrong business.

Please let me know where you spin at so me and my "hipster" friends can check you out.

Cheers.
JM

Janet,

I didn't say he only does them to keep his restaurant afloat, I was mentioning them in relation to Vegetate as a substantial income stream for him at a time before they had their liquor license at Vegetate and were far from busy.

I'll invite you and your "hipster" friends to see me "DJ" at my next night but in general I aim for a crowd that listens to more contemporary music.

but wat if they are contemporary indie fuxx? :D

You jaded ilx guys are so mean! You need to encourage the indie-only hipsters to stretch out. Today Prince, tomorrow, maybe she'll be ready for [insert fave Cologne or Baltimore or wherever contemporary club item here]!!!

hey steve i wasn't being mean! i'm a contemporary indie fuck!

Nope, you saw that Ethiopian musician a long while back, so you're disqualified from membership in the indie club. What were you thinking?

Alright, we'll let Brian define "contemporary"

anything released in the last 12 minutes

i wasn't thinking i'm sorry it was at the unification temple and brainwashed me it's not my fault!

the moonies brainwashed me, rather

see? i can't even type correctly anymore

Brian you never told me where your next gig will be?
Is it a secret?

[the suspense builds]

Brian must be over on the DC thread on ILE, or just busy elsewhere. Brian, I guess you let the S.A.L.T. (sad and lonely )blog die.

On a different subject, big Trans Am profile in the Post Weekend section today. These guys are no longer based in DC, they're all over the world--one is in New Zealand where they recorded their most recent cd.

I still haven't read that violinist by the L'enfant metro station story inn the Sunday Post magazine that has a thread of its own.

Chris Richards big-ups the Critical Condition go-go band in the Post today.

Now I'm even wondering if Brian's gonna be doing any more dj'ing out and about in DC anytime soon. Maybe outside a Metro station?

Oh boy, Eric Hilton from Thievery Co. is opening another club, "Marvin". I think he and Joe Englert are gonna compete for most clubs. Speaking of Marvin, though the tv guide said a Ray Charles concert would be on, the Howard public tv channel aired a Marvin Gaye 1980 show from Montreaux instead last night. I watched some and taped the rest. Marvin and band were awesome some of the time, and rushed through songs perfunctorily other times. Plenty of annoying fundraising pitches interupted the show.

I gotta get Critical Condition doing Green Day "I Walk Alone" go-go style. The P.A. palace has it.

that dcsoul recordings guy is doing the below(and I missed it) and I think the MoreBetterMan, an old school DC soul dj and host, was appearing somewhere last night. Or that's what I thought I heard on PFW.

Moneytown

THE MOST REDICULOUSLY WILD Funk, Soul, Afrobeat & Latin Dance party in the Washington Metro Area! The Night debuts on April 11th at Rock and Roll Hotel (see "Upcoming Shows" above for details), though a future set date will be either be a Friday or Saturday.

Come out and shake your assets to HARD grooves provided by:
DJ Knewjak
DJ LunchMoney
DJ Pi
DJ Nitekrawler
....and Very Special Monthly Guests!

Those folks also do "Heat" on the second Thursday at Saint Ex.

Lots of folks seem to peruse the District Soul chatboard, but not many post there (kinda like here!). They have a thread on or by that Dc soul recordings guy (who has updated his site with lots of great photos of old DC funk bands (dcsoulrecordings.com)

Dischord bands still be touring alot. Several in South America now after earlier trips to Australia.

Chuck Brown's got a new Chucky Thompson produced studio cd coming out. It will be his first studio cd in ages. Chucky has worked with Mary J Blige among others.

Anybody heard Chris Richards and Dava Nada (the Bullets) dj?

Haven't heard them live but the Rubber Bullets Critical Condition mixtape is great. Was Richards talking about "Classy" by CCB? That song should, by all rights, be the go-go song to crossover. Incredibly catchy summer jam.

(Curmudgeon if you find that CCB/Green Day thing shoot a D.C.-ex-pat-living-overseas an email!)

He did mention "Classy." If I find the CCB/Green Day cover I'll let you know.

Thievery Corp are gonna co-headline a show with Manu Chao at Merriwether Post. I did not realize they were that big in popularity.

I still have not ordered those CCB go-go discs. Soon.

Anybody going to this??!

FRI APR 20- MN8 Presents: TEEDRA MOSES, PJ MORTON $18 mainstage 9:00 (Black Cat)