Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

http://bandwidth.wamu.org/looking-for-d-c-s-most-interesting-music-try-the-library/

There was a punk basement library gig last night, and there's a Fringe music show by the r'n'b-rock hybrid group Coolots at the entrance to MLK Library at lunch today. The article covers more details on the 2 sets of gigs, including the worthy folks who have already done some

http://bandwidth.wamu.org/looking-for-d-c-s-most-interesting-music-try-the-library/

Oops with the double link

Soul musician Little Royal who goes for a James Brown-like approach, once featured in Washington City Paper's People Issue, performs at Westminster Presbyterian Church in SW DC tonight for 3 sets between 6 and 9 pm for $5. Show up anytime and you'll get your money's worth. Royal has had a stroke but he still puts on a decent show with his band. Downhome food for sale in the basement

Classic or Dud (or just sad)-- Wonderland bar folks naming their new Brookland bar with a name of a historic African-American New Orleans Bar, and not even being aware of such a historic music-associated bar. Apparently there were many Dew Drop Inns.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-out-guide/wp/2015/06/17/dew-drop-inn-to-the-new-brookland-bar-from-the-owners-of-wonderland-ballroom/

The Hideaway might have made a great name, but "I always liked Dew Drop Inn," McGovern says. "I saw one in North Carolina when I was 12, and I've been fascinated by it ever since. I think it was the first pun that I really got. And it's a good American name."

http://www.offbeat.com/articles/the-dew-drop-inn-past-present-future/ the New Orleans one

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2015/06/17/after-echostage-deaths-dancesafe-surveys-club-conditions/

Interesting that DC Police are not trying to shut Echostage down (they blame nightclubs in some parts of town for gun-related violence but not this megaclub for a Molly related death).

http://bandwidth.wamu.org/your-band-sucks-author-jon-fine-i-got-a-job-that-was-a-big-failure/

Jon Fine discusses his book with Washingtonian‘s Andrew Beaujon at Busboys & Poets in Brookland June 23. He was in B Magnet

In the world of twitter and instagram, this past Saturday night's Northeast Groovers reunion go-go gig, playing with Backyard band (whom had special guests)was a big deal; elsewhere not so much

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/film/2015/06/22/this-wednesday-watch-tv-ones-unsung-documentary-on-chuck-brown/

do they post those online?

Good question. I saw in my FB news feed that someone posted a link to the Ike Turner one, so maybe they do at some point afterwards

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2015/06/23/fort-reno-is-broke-again-needs-your-money-to-make-concerts-happen/

Oh Amanda.

http://www.fortreno.com/

jfc

Why is the organizer surprised that the same police request is being made this year as last year? Am I missing something?

The National Park Service and United States Park Police recognize the importance and value of the Fort Reno concerts to the community. The NPS and USPP met with the concert organizer in February to review last year’s series and discuss planning for 2015.

One of the primary goals in permitting any event is to ensure public safety. These fees are standard practice for many permitted special events.

The National Park Service, U.S. Park Police and Fort Reno organizer Amanda MacKaye discussed the fee for police coverage in February, the spokesperson says.

This is the update to the WAMU Bandwidth story. Amanda therefore knew in February of this year that the NPS could be making the same request.

As for why she is surprised--She has a purist mentality based in part on all the years Fort Reno occurred without any attention from the NPS. Also, I know is that I attended a DC Music Salon at the Shaw Library all about Fort Reno concerts. Amanda just kept saying again and again how Fort Reno is just all about sitting on the grass and babies and dogs. She did not want to talk about details about how it was run. She did acknowledge that Fort Reno shows used to start in June, but she decided to do a shorter schedule because she thought it would make the shows seem more special and there would be less events to solicit volunteers for. She has her rules for how bands must submit music if they want to be considered--cds or vinyl only, nothing sent electronically...

Apparently pre-sequestration, and post-Fugazi, there were no payments made for Park Police security.

The Smithsonian Folklife Fest starts today. One theme- this year--Peru. Its on a small area near the Museum of the American Indian due to new National Park Service rules. 11 am or so to 5pm and then evening concerts from 7 to 9. Eva Ayllon tonight

Amanda therefore knew in February of this year that the NPS could be making the same request.

I mean not "could be making" right but "would be making" if Reno were to be treated like literally anything else

Amanda just kept saying again and again how Fort Reno is just all about sitting on the grass and babies and dogs. She has her rules for how bands must submit music if they want to be considered--cds or vinyl only, nothing sent electronically...

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, June 23, 2015 9:19 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

idk man just like willful naivete doesn't change the bureaucrat's rules

this whole thing smacks of special pleading "because DC punk" and it drives me crazy

they sent out the press release for demo submission in March, which would have been a GREAT time to ask for money/support/etc

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/afterhours/music/fort-reno-is-broken-let-someone-else-run-it.php

NPS is charging permitted events $70 per hour per officer for police presences this year. Even if the cost seems extreme—Baldwin calls it “bordering on extortion”—the requirement itself does not. The Park Police say they documented 12 incidents at Fort Reno’s shows last summer that required its officers’ attention, ranging from illegal vending to drug and alcohol use.

The permit application fee is $120 per event. While this cost has also increased in recent years, this requirement is far less questionable than the one about cops. If Amanda MacKaye doesn’t have permits four months after she met with NPS officials about this summer’s series, blame rests with either a spectacular bureaucratic mishap or just bad planning (she won’t say).

Chris Richards and some others say folks should be more upset about the NPS fees, and keep trying to fight the NPS power. But it does not seem possible at this point.

I do have some concern about security fees being used to restrict live events. Over the years the DC Police have allegedly charged insane overtime police fees for parades and other events that they have determined are in their jurisdiction (and not Park Police and NPS).

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2015/06/26/heres-whos-playing-fort-reno-this-year-if-fort-reno-happens/

those who have comfirmed have the \m/ in front

Alfajor
Boon
Delanos
East West Hwy
The Fuss
Hemlines
Incredible Change
\m/ J. Flax and the Heart Attacks
\m/ Jack on Fire
\m/ Magnetar Flares
Near Northeast
\m/ Notaries Public
\m/ Polyon
Proxy States
\m/ Rancho Notorious
Sara Curtin
\m/ Spirit Plots
Teen Liver
\m/ Two Inch Astronaut
Wanted Man

Is there a listing anywhere of the historical Fort Reno lineups? I'd love to try to remember which ones I saw from like 1992-1997 in high school and college.

Did Jawbox or Shudder to Think ever play? They were two of my favorites but I don't remember ever seeing them there.

Good question re lineups. I think Cynthia Connolly and someone else recently shared a '90s era flyer that listed Fort Reno gigs for a summer. I feel like I remember seeing Shudder to Think on it. Don't have access to FB at the moment to confirm.

Not to pick on Amanda M. more, but at that DC Music Salon at the Shaw Library I went to regarding Fort Reno, I figured all kinds of specific old shows would be discussed. Especially since I had been to a DC Space oriented one where Cynthia and numerous folks there happily reminisced about old gigs there. But alas, when two guys mentioned at the Fort Reno one their memories of like 1971 or something shows, Amanda kind of shut 'em down saying "whatever particular bands played when is not important to me, just that local bands get to play for free in a park setting."

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/41307/an-oral-history-of-fort-reno/full/

Thank you to all the generous people near and far that have donated to the concert series this week.

We have been gifted enough funds to close the gap for this summer’s session and to seed us a fund for the future.

The website will re-launch with the official schedule and necessary information about the concert series soon

From Fort Reno website

per my posting on the Rolling Outernational thread

Peruvian Amazonian chicha meets cumbia meets surf-rock group Los Wemblers were great for free this weekend at the Smithsonian Folklife festival on the national mall. I saw 'em twice. A fun dance band. On July 3rd they are playing a free 1 hour gig on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. That show will be streamed live on the K. Ct. webpage and video archived.

They are also doing daytime gigs July 2nd through 5th; and might have another free one added.

Hey so I'm starting to play out with a seriously talented group of dudes and was wondering if anyone had any advice on good places to play for a band just getting going. We're booked at the Pinch thanks to friends letting us play with them, but are there other venues that are friendly to new bands? Also I know that house venues are great but how do you book something like that?

Re house venues--Paperhaus folks have Facebook page and probably other social media ways to contact them. Not sure how Babe City and others work. If you're rock DC9, Black Cat, etc. list on their websites I think how to submit music, etc.

Thanks curm. Word is some people are better than others as far as inviting new acts

I am sure it is not easy for new acts

I'm connected to a few diff house venue folks (Hot Tub House, Jam Jar, Heartbreak Hotel, my place the Lamont St Collective), if you're into that route I can put you in touch with folks in a few diff neighborhoods?

that'd be cool. should i message you with my info?

Tree House Lounge is the friendliest to new bands. http://www.treehouselounge.com/

It's run by Colin Hoss, formerly of the Grog & Tankard - which had previously been the place to go when you were pretty sure the audience was going to consist of your girlfriends and your roomates.

Also consider Solly's U St. Tavern http://sollysbooking.wix.com/sollys

Next tier up is DC9. IIRC the bookers for DC9 also handle a bunch of other venues, which is handy if you plan to gig a lot. http://dcnine.com/

Black Cat Backstage and Galaxy Hut are very nice but they have become stringent about your proven draw.

I've played all these places and had a great time.

Thanks! I was thinking about Galaxy Hut next.

Email Lary at galaxy✧✧✧@gm✧✧✧.c✧✧. My band didn't get a gig there the last time we asked (I dunno whether they were being indie snobs, whether they just didn't like our music, or didn't trust our draw estimate), but perhaps you'll have better luck.

Wha? galaxy✧✧✧@gm✧✧✧.c✧✧

Cool. What style do u play?

Novelty / geek rock. But kinda on hiatus due to small children.

Yeah half my band just had children in the past year. Makes getting everybody together very tough

ya heez you can shoot me an email here

or fb me facebook.com/justinjacobysmith

thanks hoos! just messaged you on fb

Re: Tree House Lounge. A tiny room that is very easy to fill. I think my old band was like the second or third act to play there.

Went there last month to see a band that includes some high school friends of mine (Age of Airships). Don Zientara from Inner Ear opened. He had engineered said friends' EP; it was nice to see him perform as well.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2015/07/01/another-summer-of-fewer-shows-smaller-acts-at-fort-dupont-and-carter-barron/

Its more than just sequestration woes with the failures at Carter Barron and Fort Dupont.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2015/07/01/soular-sundays-return-to-marvin-gaye-park-this-weekend/

I am curious about this

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2015/07/08/nps-updates-fort-dupont-schedule-and-details-budget/

In case its not clear, I like some of the acts ISOM Global, the contractor employed by NPS, chose for Fort Dupont; I just want a longer schedule so they can please fans of old-school soul and funk as well as fans of 80s neo-soul, 90s house dance, etc. A four show schedule can't please all or even most. With the over 100 grand budget I think they coulda done more. NPS would not share a breakdown so its not clear how much is going to overtime pay for Park Police or to the contractor or to lights, sound, etc.