Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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.

Rapper Logic got panned in Pitchfork but his NPR interview this morning was a bit more friendly.

Fort Reno Demos are accepted until Friday, May 26. Ft. Reno is also still looking for donations

http://www.fortreno.com/

5 years ago today, May 16, 2012, the Godfather of go-go Chuck Brown passed on

Like who knew Gaithersburg rapper Logic was popular enough to have the #1 selling album in the country. Not old me...

The neighborhood is changing department-- Love Nightclub, which has been closed for awhile, will become City Winery according to Washington biz journal

http://dcmusicdownload.com/2017/05/03/pearl-street-warehouse-hires-former-930-club-booker-lisa-white/

This will be in the Wharf. She was last booking bands at Gypsy Sally's. Hope this will be a clever mix of roots and Americana and not just jam bands and the same ol same ol paleface Americana acts

Meanwhile was reading on FB some folks grumbling that cutting edge rock and experimental acts all get booked in Baltimore but can't get DC gigs. Allegedly, the booker at RnR Hotel & DC9 isn't interested, and Black Cat's small room gets booked way ahead of time by others.

My fave southern soul acts don't get bookings here, and international rooted local acts seem to only get booked at Bossa. Bounce beat gogo takes place mostly down in Waldorf with a just a few Hyattsville or DC shows. Old-school go-go bands have a few DC and Md clubs (plus Crystal City Hotels) that they work.

Caribbean and Afrobeats/afropop djs seem content to just spin in the Md burbs and never are heard at Flash or U Hall.

http://www.complex.com/music/2017/05/how-dc-killed-go-go-and-why-goldlink-created-its-memorial

The article is more interesting than its misleading title. But its kinda flawed too.

Ariana Grande's drummer is DC raised Aaron Spears who is also known for his Pentecostal church gospel drumming.

http://dcist.com/2017/05/lord_protect_us_from_gentrification.php

Not really addressed in this article about the St. Elizabeth's arena that DC taxpayers are largely paying for (65 million!), is that other than for Mystics games and Wizards practices, it is likely to sit empty. I just don't see this 4,200 seater competing with the new IMP/930 owned hall Anthem in the Wharf, or with the National Harbor Hall or even DAR or the George Mason Arena or Echostage...

― curmudgeon, Thursday, May 25, 2017 8:33 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

IMP also expanding at MPP in MD--
Baltimore City paper article

http://www.citypaper.com/music/music-features/bcp-051717-feature-merriweather-20170516-story.html

Currently, Merriweather is undergoing a five-year, $55 million renovation that includes a new backstage complex, rotating stage, new concessions, a green-tiled band shell called the Chrysalis Amphitheater, and more.

hmmmm, maybe

Punk Out
Phillips after 5

July 6, 2017, 5–8:30 PM

Inspired by Germany’s punk scene, experience all things punk at the Phillips! Enjoy a silent disco featuring punk, David Bowie, and even some classical music.

$12

I need to figure out who's doing that go-go bouncebeat version of Migos "T-shirt"

It gets played on WKYS 9:30 pm to 9:50 pm Mon. to Thurs. night go-go crank session

Why did Broccoli Fest folks book '90s cover band White Ford Bronco for this weekend's Smile Fest thang at RFK?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/go-go-music-wants-go-mainstream-can/

Article wonders whether go-go bands will start touring the south. I don't think they will (maybe a few gigs here and there, but bandmembers have dayjobs and family here and are not likely to want to hop in a van for any extensive gigging without promise of sufficient payday)

Meanwhile just saw on Instagram that Rare Essence recorded a Tiny Desk gig Friday for NPR radio

http://www.mtv.com/news/3019154/go-go-forever/

Another history of go-go article but with cool old videos

http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/05/mary-timony-helium-dc-rock-guide

Mary Timony's guide to DC rock bands

Now I gotta figure out who's doing that bounce beat cover of Bruno Mars I heard on WKYS. Guess I gotta call the station. ....

Yep, the new mural at Ben's Chili Bowl ain't bad, but it turns Chuck Brown into a left-handed guitarist.

Oh, the Chuck Brown Band is playing for free at the Smithsonian Folklife Fest at 5:30pm Fri. June 30th

So Brendan Canty has another band-- Penguin, in which he plays bass, Devin Ocampo is on guitar and there's a drummer whose name I forget

http://www.fortreno.com/

Schedule is up. Shows from July 6 to the end of the month. Mondays and Thursdays. Way back when, Fort Reno used to do June and August gigs as well , but Amanda says the gigs are more meaningful if schedule is kept to just July.

TK Echo is a new band with Chris Richards, Aaron Leitko, an Orthrelm member and an Eat At It member

No Dead Monsters is hardcore band

Fort Dupont didn't start till July 30th last year. It also started in June in years past. No 2017 schedule yet. Carter Barron is closed till they raise money to rebuild the stage. Will be years.