Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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

Did not see any of Damaged City fest (hardcore punk) but saw a short video clip of fest participants The Marked Men, that looked intriguing. I kinda like Flasher too, who are a bit more post-punk than hardcore

I saw Malian singer Salif Keita and band Sunday; plus jazz singer Cecile Mclorin Salvant on Saturday.

Discovered late last night that Rhizome DC, a small co-op type place that usually just has experimental music (and doesn't have a budget to publicize their calendar that is at least now on a website) is having Ian Nagoski talk tonight about Arabic, Armenian, Turk, and Kurd records released in the US from 1893 to 1950, as a benefit for the International Rescue Committee. Alas, already have other plans

http://www.rhizomedc.org/new-events/

bounce beat bands gonna have to play elsewhere because of a few knuckleheads

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/food/article/20857826/its-not-the-last-call-for-uniontown-bar-grill

New videos out from Resurrecting Queenz; Reesa Renee; singer of Elikeh

new Spinrilla single out from the Reaction Band

new GoldLink album pays homage to PG and DC lyrically, but I don't think he uses any DC beatmakers or go-go musicians (despite his praise for go-go in interviews)

x-post--Its security plan also prohibits patrons from wearing white T-shirts, sunglasses, backpacks, flip flops, or hoodies.

The ban on flip flops should solve all their problems, I'm sure.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/goldlinks-at-what-cost-documents-a-dc-thats-disappearing-heres-how-the-album-came-together/2017/04/20/517d5778-23a0-11e7-b503-9d616bd5a305_story.html?utm_term=.f229628c401c

Rapper Goldlink has DC rappers and r'n'b singers from multiple generations on his new album. Alas no go-go says me here, but rapper Ciscero in the article contests : I think it represents the DMV well. I think what it really represents is the essence. He didn’t have a go-go song playing throughout to be like “look, this album’s about the city.” He’s got the essence of the people in it, which is really what go-go is. Go-go was just a reflection of the people, and that’s what the album sounds like

Jazz and more musician Luke Stewart photo exhibit through April 30th, but I don't see hours for this place listed

http://www.metromicrogallery.com/current-exhibit.html

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/20858947/oddisee-on-the-iceberg-dc-and-his-great-aunt-mary

WCP: Your show in D.C. is coming up. Who do you hit up when you’re back in town, and do you still see yourself as part of the scene there?

O: I see family, I ride my bike, I get some injera and I do my rounds, but I’m pretty low-key. I go back for a reset button. But I don’t really feel connected to any scene. NYC and D.C. are doing fantastic jobs of eradicating safe spaces for art and creativity, I don’t know where open mics are in D.C., where MCs—like what I came up doing—freestyle for one another and play demos and beats and learn how to perform.

WCP: But you still see D.C. shows as a homecoming.

O: Yeah, they definitely feel like a homecoming. It’ll be the best show on the tour. D.C. is that place where, without a doubt, every single day, people are like, “Welcome back, welcome home, good to see you.”

x-post -- there's a go-go inspired song near the beginning of the Goldlink record but all the music tracks for the album were put together by folks from outside DC I believe

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/howard-theatre-moves-to-terminate-contract-with-operator-as-debts-mount/2017/04/26/2d3038d4-2a00-11e7-a616-d7c8a68c1a66_story.html?utm_term=.c4ae9a0b04cc

Ohhhh, what a sad, complicated mess.

x-post-Goldlink did record the album in a Falls Church, VA studio with DC engineers and a DC executive producers but Kaytranada (who has worked with Goldlink before) and some of the other music makers for the album are from elsewhere

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/20859820/rare-essence-backyard-band-come-together-to-crank

Song didn't wow me on first quick listen, but I will give it another chance or 3

Well I guess they finally let all the kids and their parents inside for the Jacob Sartorius show at the 930.

(a line was already there when we went to the Guardians of the Galaxy matinee at 1:30 or so. It went around the block while we watched the movie. Now we're at the burger place chilling out. I had no idea who Jacob Sartorius is. I still don't, really.)

I am stumped as well

I assume he was grown in a lab

I think so. I decided to google him:

At the age of 8, Jacob started taking acting lessons and began pursuing roles in community theater year-round.

so many musical bubbles, and we haven't kept in touch with that one

Saw the Messthetics Saturday night at Comet. That's the new instrumental rock band with Fugazi's drummer Brendan Canty and bassist Joe Lally; plus guitarist Anthony Pirog. Some tunes were loud and fast while others were slow soundtrack contemplative ones. Pirog adds a bit of psychedelia to all with his quick finger action and effects pedals.