Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

i really like max levine ensemble, but i seem to be in the minority among my friends

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Saturday, June 23, 2012

Nice enough pop-punk I guess

http://dcist.com/2015/12/dc_musicians_instagram_their_favori.php

DC musicians look back at their 2015

and below, writer Michael West on his fave jazz musicians in 2015

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2015/12/28/the-jazzies-d-c-s-best-jazz-in-2015/

Oh yeah, posted the jazz thing already. Oh well

Nitpicking:

In Wash CP Bells Of article, writer asserts Dag Nasty were part of "Revolution Summer." Sorry, not true. That rev summer bands were the punky ones who went kinda arty a bit. Brian Baker of Dag wanted to go rock and pop

In Express article reprinted in W Post Weekend section writer suggests punk/go-go double bills eventually became routine at 930 Club. Eh, more occasional than routine, and they started at rented halls not the 930.

Went to opening of 930 35th anniversary thing last night. Lots of collage like stuff on walls, too many videos of recent 930 shows (Leon Bridges...) , old postcards and "Volume" newsletter/flyers and more. Enjoyed more catching up with folks than trying to look at stuff with so many people there. Mayor Bowser and a 12 person entourage made an appearance, plus lots of old musicians, writers, photographers, etc.

CD Cellar in Arlington is closing and merging with fellow CD Cellar store in Falls Church that is going to new nearby location. Farewell Arlington events Friday and Saturday with lots of rock and noise bands.

Friday night also offers old-school 1966 movie the Big T.N.T. Show at the 64 seat Library of Congress Pickford theatre if you want to see 35 mm footage of the Byrds, Ronettes, Ray Charles, Lovin Spoonful, Ike & Tina and more; instead of hunting for excerpts on youtube

Been reading the backlash comments to the 930 exhibit/fair thing online...About what was left out

I saw Chris Richards posted a link to that thread of the woman saying the 9:30 event was a total whitewash - did it seem that way to you?
I definitely saw a handful of rap shows at the F Street location in the early 90s. I never actually saw go-go there, but I know they certainly had shows.

It was very crowded when I went there and I moved through much of the exhibit space more quickly than I would have liked, so its hard for me to be definitive. But let's see-- there was a Public Enemy setlist, a Chuck Brown cardboard standup, a Big Tony bass, and uh downstairs way too much showing of Leon Bridges (retro black soul singer popular with mostly white npr types) footage at the club on repeat along with, was that Marilyn Manson? I think there might have been a brief video clip of r'n'b act Mint Condition in the exhibit. I saw Curtis Mayfield at the old club and some rap shows and reggae dub poet Mutabaruka. They had some go-go shows but not many. The late black dj Tom Terrell used to spin lots of black music there as did other djs.

But yeah, I don't recall seeing pics in the exhibit of early 80s black punks like guitarist Dave Byers, punk-funkers like the Psychotics, funk-rockers like Brian Tate of Brickhouse Buring (who also worked and dj'ed at the old club), mention of EU playing the club in 86 and Spike Lee seeing them there and choosing them to do Da Butt for his movie, 80s through the present reggae and international acts; dc rap poets, national r'n'b and funk acts (Jill Scott and Funkadelic and others).

Seth used to manage Tony Perkins and the Psychotics but they then had a falling out.

Roger Gastman (who did the Corcoran punk/ go-go/graffiti exhibit and the Cool Disco Dan movie) was the main editor for the book I think along with the 930 Club ownership.

I missed a James Brown with Chuck Brown poster; an Israel Vibrations one; a tribute to early 90s metal-funk act Lucy Brown; and apparently there are some photos of some other stars like Al Green in the collages, but just showing that Leon Bridges and that rock act video from recently, on repeat on the video cube on the main floor doesn't make much sense to me.

fact-checking error in 930 book ---Mark Noone of Slickee Boys mistakenly remembers Troublefunk/Minor Threat gig as being an IMP show at 930 Club, when it was a Dogbite & Blush show at the Lansburgh's Hall

Thanks for the description, btw. Skipped this, thinking it was likely to annoy me, but I'm still interested in hearing about it.

Backyard Band were performing on Fox 5 TV morning show this morning. I missed it, video online I think.

Those 2 closing night live music gigs at the Arlington CD Cellar looked good. Protect-U, Cigarette and many more

Am guessing Backyard Band will not be the surprise guest tonight at the NPR All Music Considered (but only Anglo pop acts performing )Sweet 16 celebration at the 930 Club.

There was one African-American woman singing with an all white retro soul band, an Asian-American and lots of white people. If Tiny Desk guy just ran his own personal blog, I would be cool with that, but this gig was supposed to represent all of National Public Radio's ALL music considered website (which does have writing about Latino music, r'n'b, rap and more)...

signed,

cranky man shaking fist at clouds after telling kids to get off of his lawn

https://www.capitalfringe.org/events/778-royal-height-fringe-music-in-the-library

soul singer with the Winstons and the Legendary Orioles for free Saturday at 2 pm

Woodridge Neighborhood Library
1790 Douglas St. NE

Casual Dots are back tonight, ten years later it seems, with punk veterans Christina Billotte, Kathi Wilcox, and Steve Dore. At Comet Ping Pong

Aww man, missed Casual Dots (in DC & Baltimore) and soulman Royal Height,oh well, can't see 'em all.

https://www.capitalfringe.org/calendar/program/fringe-music

Luke Stewart is booking some of Fringe library gigs now=more jazz

Too bad about the knuckleheads at the end of that Scarface, Northeast Groovers gig the other night.

Saw Chuck Brown's guitar and a bit of other music-related stuff in the "1963 to 1975" exhibit about Washington D.C. at the Anacostia Museum, yesterday. Worth checking out. It's there till October 23rd. Sadly, nowhere near as many folks there as I saw later in the day at the Renwick.

http://www.washingtonian.com/2016/01/11/hank_dietles_oldest_bar_in_montgomery_county_maryland/

An Eddie Dean piece, of course. That's a good thing

http://bandwidth.wamu.org/backyard-bands-adele-cover-is-putting-go-go-back-in-the-spotlight/

BYB, Beladona and others including bouncebeat bands covering this

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/11/pj-harvey-seamus-murphy-review-hollow-hand-southbank-centre-royal-festival-hall

PJ Harvey spent some time in DC in preparing her next record. The songs referenced in this live review are on her new album (haven't heard it yet)

"River Anacostia" "Near the Memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln" and "Community of Hope"

Hyped for the PJ record.

I do some volunteer work w/ teenagers, and tonight I asked a couple about what music they're into. Did not expect their immediate answer to be Jazmine Sullivan. The youth of DC know what's up.

And speaking of r&b, KING is at U St in a couple weeks and people should go to that.

Go-go vocalist and old-school r'n'b dj James Funk made it over to the WPFW 89.3 (and online) studio (now at K and 20th Sts NW) and has been on all day spinning great tunes. I wonder if anyone will make it over there to replace him?

James Jas Funk ended up being on the air from 7 to 7 Saturday.

Unrelated:

http://dcmusicdownload.com/2016/01/22/how-d-c-musicians-balance-day-jobs-with-their-creative-pursuits/

1 dogwalking business and 2 other jobs; all 3 play in rock bands

Mon Feb. 1 zoning hearing at Office of Zoning in Judiciary Square on Union Arts Building (411 NY Ave) new owners plan to convert building into a "luxury boutique arts hotel".

https://www.facebook.com/events/232235183782617/

an inevitable bummer

Thursday night January 28 events that I just discovered or I had forgotten about because of ‪#‎snowzilla‬ :

Electronic music pioneer Morton Subotnck (of Silver Apples of the Moon fame) is performing at American University's Katzen Arts Center for free at 7:30 with Jenny Lin and others; also

Ed Hamilton author of “Legends of the Chelsea Hotel” will read from his new book, his first fictional one, “The Chintz Age: Tales of Love and Loss for a New New York” (Cervena Barva Press 11/2/15) at 7:00 pm at Upshur Street Books, 827 Upshur Street, Washington DC. The Chintz Age focuses on artists and their response to gentrification, but it’s also a book about real estate and the urban housing crisis. While the stories are set in NYC, the themes they deal with, according to the pr, are equally relevant to any rapidly changing urban environment.

Coup Savage & garage punkers Foul Swoops are Capital Fringe;

Old-school rapper Slick Rick is at the Howard;

Backyard Band are at Capitale

Garland Jeffreys at Rams Head Tavern Annapolis

Kelly Willis at the Birchmere

Grant Lee Philips at Jammin Java

Gonna be away and have to miss King at U Hall. Oh well...

wait King as in the r&b group who have an album coming out this year?

Yes sir... I think the album is streaming now on npr or it may already be available. King on Sat Feb 6 all ages at U Hall

http://www.ustreetmusichall.com/event/1038061-king-washington/

Got mine last week!

Borderline-unfathomable that Dawn Richard is still playing a room as small as dc9. Seems like she's gotten 930-sized love and then some (deservedly).

Wow. In March.... I saw her at the Howard last year and the crowd was small, but that is a big room. There were probably around 150 to 200 there.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2016/01/29/union-arts-to-become-a-boutique-hotel-with-an-arts-program/

more details here. Boutique hotel will contain a few artists spaces, but likely no performance diy space

http://bandwidth.wamu.org/how-hardway-connection-found-fame-in-a-scene-it-had-never-heard-of/

Playing Sunday night at Bethesda blues and jazz

Union Arts zoning hearing tonight

..........

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/01/a-trove-of-rarities-in-jazz-singers-exhibition-at-library-of-congress/?ref=music

This opens Feb. 11th

More music stuff at the Library of Congress:

2/9: Nicholas Brown of the Music Division discussing "boy-band sheet music and memorabilia in the Library's collections" (Noon, Whittall Pavilion)

2/11: Ted Gioia presenting "Love Songs: The Hidden History" (7pm, Montpelier Room, Madison Building; free but tix req'd)

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2016/02/11/government-issues-john-stabb-battling-stomach-cancer/

DJ EZ Street of WKYS is hosting a go-go panel discussion tonight Friday from 6:30 to 8 (although I also saw a 7 pm start time listed elsewhere) at Union Temple Baptist Church, 1225 W St. SE

http://www.uniontemple.com/content.cfm?page_content=announcement_include.cfm&announcement_id=40

Union Arts benefit gig thing tonight too (with Priests, Janelle & Anthony, Escape-ism w/ Ian S., and more)

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2016/02/22/at-panel-discussion-a-call-to-action-for-preserving-the-future-of-go-go/

Thanks for posting.

Can't help but think that preservation mode is one of the least fruitful modes for a scene to be in.

Yep. Despite less clubs hosting go-go, and few go-go bands releasing new, original material, events like the following are happening:

Keeping Go-Go Alive! Team Familiar, Junkyard, Sugar Bear w/ EU, and Suttle Thoughts at DAR Constitution Hall
Apr 16, 2016 Sat 7:00 PM EST

Even just the title of that event builds in a losing proposition ("Keeping [Anything] Alive"). I wish people would think bigger.

This might be interesting

http://www.politics-prose.com/event/book/ben-ratliff-every-song-ever-twenty-ways-to-listen-age-of-musical-plenty

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 7 p.m.

Most discussions of music in the digital age have focused on open access and the ethics of downloading. Ratliff, a New York Times jazz and pop critic for nearly twenty years, and the author of The Jazz Ear, Coltrane, and Jazz: A Critic’s Guide to the 100 Most Important Recordings, looks instead at the sheer wealth of music available today, and considers how this unprecedented diversity changes how we listen. Focusing on musical qualities such as speed, repetition, and harmony, Ratliff explores the music-making traditions of several continents and periods to posit a new aesthetic of listening.

Ratliff will be in conversation with Chris Richards, the pop music critic for The Washington Post.

5015 Connecticut Ave NW

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