Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/article/20847560/the-year-in-music-2016

separate links included for jazz, metal, go-go, punk, danceclub/electronic, weird/experimental, hiphop

alas no old-school dc soul or southern soul (Hardway Connection; Young Senators Reloaded) and nothing from various immigrants like Ethiopians or elsewhere (Maracuyeah does get a mention under danceclub)

Finally saw Granny & the Boys at Showtime Lounge. Not bad (actually quite good), but still not Hardway Connection at Lamont's either.

Long before Granny and The Boys began playing soul songs at Showtime, Eddie Jones and The Young Bucks delivered their own idiosyncratic take on rhythm and blues 52 weeks a year at now departed clubs like Eugertha’s, Faces, and Gwen’s Majestic. Jones has been playing guitar and singing with various versions of the Bucks since the late 1960s, in addition to performing gospel pieces with a number of different ensembles and working as an occasional sideman for Bobby Womack and Peaches & Herb. Jones and the Bucks now play together infrequently, except for their annual January gig at Westminster Church. There, Jones frequently tells tales of old-school Washington and brings on his siblings as guests to hit the high notes and harmonize with him. ... Eddie Jones and The Young Bucks perform at 6 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. tonight Monday January 9

RE wowed 'em in NY at Globalfest. Videoclip I saw sounded great. Pareles liked them in the NY Times too.

Fader and others are all about DC rapper Shy Glizzy changing his name to Jefe. New tunes out too.

Eddie Jones and special guests were great doing the old-school soul at Westminster Monday. I can never convince soul record collecting geeks to go there because to them it won't sound exactly like 1965 does on their hi-fis (plus no vinyl scratchiness). Whatever, their loss.

http://www.btrtoday.com/listen/spotlightonthecity/week-of-011017-2/

So this DC music playlist has Paperhaus, Anthony Pirog, Cigarette and other mostly current dc rockers. Plus old-school DC outsider wacky rockers Butch Willis and Jonny Cohen. No go-go, rap, r'n'b, club, south of the equator immigrant sounds though

The Howard U gospel chorus was so great on the ABC TV tribute to the Smithsonian National African American history and Culture museum, last night (recorded awhile back at Kennedy Center). Big Tony and some of Troublefunk did their best in their brief spotlight backing Dave Grohl on a go-go-ized take on "Crosstown Traffic."

HU! (chanted as if I was a Howard student)

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/20848948/a-gogo-symphony-not-as-crazy-as-it-sounds

Nice Alona W article on Go-go drumming great JuJu House creating compositions for the symphony-- tonight

Monday the 23rd--

6 pm to 9pm -3 sets $5 Little Margie Clark (from old-school DC girlgroup the Jewels that toured with James Brown) with veteran DC keyboardist Bobby Felder and band at Westminster Church in SW DC near Arena Stage

9pm at Galaxy Hut- Anna Connolly and band

Little Margie show was fun. Good band with her . Nice rendition of "Chain of Fools."

Anna C was folky but covered a Shellac song and had Joe Lally from Fugazi on bass.

Oh, Don Zientara, longtime Dischord engineer, performed solo after Anna C.

The Rhythmic Imagination in
African Music [Lecture]
Thursday, January 26, 2017
from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM (EST)
Montpelier Room
James Madison Building - 6th Floor
101 Independence Ave SE
Washington, DC 20540

Its free. A Princeton Professor from Nigeria is talking

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/20849841/premiere-listen-to-the-spacedout-rap-of-nappynappas-new-balance

CP also has an interview/review rave of Priests re their new album that has various (mostly or all local) musical guests on it

Fader is writing about BYB cover of "Cranes in the Sky." Team Familiar was also covering this.

https://medium.com/@marcuskdowling/priests-new-album-is-an-annoying-fast-casual-newdc-protest-album-8a253506c2fc#.ma0rvl1cy

For as much as I love love love Katie Alice Greer’s lead vocal evoking every bit of Siouxie and the Banshees, I’ve heard that song before, and my forebears used it to fight Ronald Reagan. Rushing to crown the same music that didn’t “defeat” Reganomics as protest music is too fast and casual a move in the face of the Orange World Order.

Marcus Do#ling review

On Twitter, White Ford Bronco singer Gretchen Gustafson says the band donated the money they made from the show—$5,000—to Planned Parenthood.

The 90s cover band's show being one for Congressional Republicans at that meeting in Philly

Wish I knew what time Kid Congo was reading. There's a book/literary fest--AWP Conference at the Convention Center today through Sunday I think; and this is in association with that. https://thirdmanrecords.com/news/third-man-books-at-the-awp-2017-conference-in-washington-d-c-021017

Friday, Feb 10 | 6pm - 2:30am

The Dew Drop Inn
2801 8th Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20017
HAPPY HOUR PRICES OF FOOD AND DRINK
Admission is FREE for DISCVRY

READERS:
⟴ Ana Božičević, Kendra DeColo, Elisa Gabbert, Dan Hoy, erica lewis, Kid Congo Powers, Ciona Rouse, Kiini Ibura Salaam, Abraham Smith, Sampson Starkweather, Janaka Stucky

Missed that.

But last Sunday I saw the Valentines Soul Jam at DAR Constitution Hall with the Stylistics, Dramatics, Harold Melvin's Blues nOtes, the Intruders and Cuba Gooding Sr. A fun time (even if the groups no longer have all the original members from the early 70s). Stylistics had the best falsetto, harmonies and dance moves. Blue Notes and Intruders were good too. Around 2,000 people there.

RIP from cancer Spyda the DJ, a DC Caribbean music spinner

Guess I should listen to that Priests album again (which does sound better than their earlier stuff), but a local Ethiopian group I saw on Facebook live, seemed more innovative an exciting to me. Maybe its just me. I dunno-- I heard Siouxsie & the Banshees the first time around.

http://dc.curbed.com/2017/2/16/14637974/clarendon-iota-club

Iota in Arlington may get knocked down

So many random old and young DC rappers getting bits of quick crossover media attention.

Wow, Amanda asking for Fort Reno donations early (on Fort Reno.com website), instead of last minute like usual--

February 13, 2017

Happy New Year everyone,

As I keep my hopes up for lots of work cancelling snow falling in the coming weeks, my thoughts turn to preparation for summer concerts.

The 2016 season went very well by all accounts. However, when all was said and done, we didn’t raise the funds we hoped we would.

To put on eight shows this summer we will need at least $6000 to cover expenses and retain a small seed for next year. We are exploring our fundraising opportunities but in the mean time, I am asking now for folks to give what they can to support the concert series.

2017 is the 49th year of free music in Fort Reno Park, help us get to 50 (and beyond)! We have 100 days to raise the needed funds. In other terms that is: $60/day - 6 people giving $10/day.

Through our fiscal sponsor, The Washington Peace Center, all donations are tax deductible. Please use their PayPal for credit/debit transactions. If you prefer to write a check, make it payable to The Washington Peace Center and put “Fort Reno Concert Series” in the memo. Mail the check to:

The Washington Peace Center
1525 Newton Street NW
Washington, DC 20010

I am very grateful for all the support for 2016, look forward to seeing everyone in July.

Sincerely,
Amanda

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/dc/men-charged-in-fatal-shooting-of-dc-rapper-swipey/415554458

Sunday I went to the District of Dance, hand-dancing and soul music event at Anacostia High which had a panel discussion, 4 bands and a dj. Plus free food.

Monday night I went to the Gogo as DC History panel at MLK Library.

Interesting q from audience member at end of go-go panel re how DC 12 year olds are listening to DC rapper Shy Glizyy and other rap but not go-go. Audience member suggested go-go acts need to figure out how to adapt that into their sound, while Andre of RE blamed radio for ignoring them most of the time, and industry for not embracing them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/structural-issues-force-closure-of-carter-barron-stage/2017/03/01/94c1e82c-fec1-11e6-9b78-824ccab94435_story.html?utm_term=.820c57bcdbd5

At least one year, probably 5! To raise $620,000 to rebuild and reinforce Carter Barron stage which is a lot for the National Park Service apparently (but not much in the scope of federal govt budget)

http://dcist.com/2017/03/there_wont_be_shows_at_carter_barro.php

They may have more shows at Fort Dupont as a result

Missed all the DC Music Download Fest gigs and panels. Heard that the BYT editor was kinda arrogant at the Sunday panel regarding what he would or would not listen to if sent to him.

I did go to an interesting but poorly advertised Wash. Perf. Arts sponsored panel discussion on culture and stereotypes which included a Kronos Quartet member, a DC oud player, a Smithsonian museum ethnomusicologist of Tex-Mex heritage, and Multiflora Prod. promoter plus moderator James Early who had been involved with Folklife Fest, Folkways records and various Smithsonian museums.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/heres-how-suttle-thoughts-keep-the-longest-residency-in-go-go-going/2017/03/02/a67a2dba-fa05-11e6-bf01-d47f8cf9b643_story.html?utm_term=.8f46faeb9313

I have long criticized the Wammies for not being inclusive enough--so many artists in so many genres never get recognition. I think they should just end it. Its hard to do such a member only ballot approach (just ask the lame Grammys). Alas, their normally held in February Awards are postponed (with no new date scheduled), but the Board of Directors issued a statement that they are going to revamp and modernize the event. The WAMA prez has some health issues now, and no name or names appeared on the letter from the Board.

I love this Bad Moves tape. Also got the Bless and Governess tapes and they both seem pretty good on first listen.

I like the song or so I've heard from Bless and from Governess, still need to check out all these tapes.

http://music.blog.austin360.com/2017/03/12/evan-johns-60-left-his-mark-on-austin-music-as-a-firebrand-guitarist/

Hard-living guitarist who learned from bluesmen at Smithsonian folklife fest, Danny Gatton, punk rock and more and made his own guitar sounds in DC till 1984, and after that in Austin, Texas

― curmudgeon, Sunday, March 12, 2017 9:00 PM (0 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2012-09-28/if-i-had-my-way/

RIP Ms. Xela , DC rapper died in a car accident

Maxx Kidd, owner of old-school go-go label TTED, and '70s soul songwriter has died

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/20855392/maxx-kidd-gogos-fiercest-advocate-has-died

good read, would love to hear that lost soul singles collection.

Some of the songs are on Youtube I think (or at least some other songs from the groups that are on the comp)

http://dcist.com/2017/03/local_jazz_legend_buck_hill_dead_at.php

Buck Hill could have been a jazz big name playing in NY and touring, but he instead stayed in DC working as a Postal Service letter carrier by day, sax blower by night

So the Washington Post has an article on the big new Anthem hall that IMP is building in the SW waterfront and the article brushes over what used to be there. Old man me screaming at clouds says don't forget that the Channel Inn (old-school r'n'b), Zanzibar (afropop, r'n'b and more) and H20(Latino salsa, go-go and more) used to be there (and that Anthem will not likely offer anything for those audiences)

Here's my 2010 piece for those curious about the old days. Don't feel like linking to that Anthem article

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/13074513/zanzibar-on-the-waterfront-closes-down

https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/2942

Andrew Morgan has channeled his love of private-press synthesizer funk into a bustling label and mail order business. Matt McDermott speaks to the outsider soul expert at PPU headquarters in Washington, DC.

I always assumed this stuff was ok, but not as good as more popular funk. But the article on these crate-diggers is kinda interesting

"The PPU sound is unpolished, raw, black independent music," Noble says. "To say it's funk, or boogie or disco, sure it's there, but his whole sound is demo mode—the dawn of the age of black people starting to utilize electronic equipment to make funk in home studios. When I was reissuing records I didn't want to hear their Casio keyboard horn symphony stuff that they wrote on topical matters and cut straight to CD-R, CD Baby, whatever, but Andrew loved that

I've been seeing Instagram photos of flyers for Shaolin Jazz events but have yet to go. Maybe I will make this (or go see Flying Nun label sweet-voiced pop band The Courtneys at DC 9 or various other things that night. But I have relatives in town so I might not do any of these things)

Saturday, April 1, 8 pm – 12 am

This event is held at Hyphen DC.

To celebrate Kung Fu Wildstyle [new exhibit at the Freer], the music collective Shaolin Jazz proudly presents a special edition of Can I Kick It?, a unique experience catered to lovers of kung fu flicks and the music these films inspired. DJ 2-Tone Jones mixes a score to accompany a cult classic martial arts film. He blends hip hop, soul, funk, and more to create a live soundtrack to the movie,

RIP 96-year old r'n'b drummer TnT Tribble who died last week. Pennsylvania born DC resident whom I saw around 1989 or so drumming with Eddie & Denise at Gee's 4400 Club on Rhode Island Ave

https://www.bear-family.com/tribble-t.n.t.-vol.-2-red-hot-boogie.html

Read on FB that he died. There was an awesome 1989 Jay Bruder article on Tribble's role in DC r'n'b history, that I have as a pdf but I can't find it online

Obit from a DC angle on guitarist who played here, and later moved to Texas

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/20856873/revered-dc-guitarist-evan-johns-has-died

http://legacy.washingtoncitypaper.com/bestofdc/artsandentertainment/2017/best-ethiopian-guitarist-legend-guests-in-a-small-space

http://legacy.washingtoncitypaper.com/bestofdc/2017