Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

Watched Backyard Band stream Friday. Missed Suttle one last night and Bad Moves last week.

Lots of go fund me’s — for 930/imp, black cat , and Bossa bistro employees

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/after-25-million-stimulus-stunned-nso-players-receive-one-week-notice-from-kennedy-center/2020/03/28/9c27603e-7118-11ea-aa80-c2470c6b2034_story.html

There’s a followup W Post article about more layoffs and the decision to preserve their capital ( probably the nearly 100 million endowment ) rather than to dip into that to pay people

Cissa Paz dc based Brazilian music singer Facebook stream Thursday April 2 at 8 pm

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/article/21125759/city-lights-revisit-the-fort-reno-ice-cream-eater-and-read-rian-johnsons-screenplays

There’s more to the story of Fugazi and the ice cream eater at Fort Reno

RIP Skip Mahoaney, DC soul singer I saw at Carter Barron and elsewhere. They just had a small family only service for Skip.

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/article/21126662/city-lights-the-songs-of-a-soul-legend-or-rare-reads-from-capitol-hill-books

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/article/21127932/city-lights-spend-friday-with-sir-eu-or-peruse-the-exhibition-presidential-pastime

Unorthodox dc rapper Sir E. U is releasing new videos every Friday during the pandemic. More details in link

listened to two people from Bad Moves and then Pallindrome and later Janel & Anthony on the Comet P Instagram live thing. I missed Luke Stewart. Nappy Nappa is supposed to be on now. But Comet live IG link is gone

Saw some of Sir E.U 's industrial rap

https://youtu.be/z2EtH68YR-8

7 minute video that's an introduction to Beat Ya Feet dancing and its relationship to dc go-go

There’s a Backyard Band online thing Friday. ...Rhizome has been doing some and now Mr Henry’s on Capitol Hill.

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/article/21134670/city-lights-hear-a-new-chapter-in-october-71s-mob-tale-or-join-dj-kool-on-gogoradio-live

Me re new October’71 psych rock hiphop album. They’ve led by Rob Stokes, best known as rapper Sir E.U’s drummer. The other short article by Alona is about DJ Kool doing 2 throwback sessions Sunday & Monday nights at 8 on Gogo Radio Live

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/27/arts/music/emo-songs-washington-playlist.html

Onetime DC area resident Joe Gross who has lived in Austin for a long time writes here about late 80s and 90s DC punk bands and gives 'em a song a piece. He's got obscure Annapolis bands here and more --Happy Go Licky, Fire Party, Fugazi , Nation Of Ulysses, Shudder to Think (I was not a fan of the singer's operatic/prog metal vocals) and more

https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2020/05/29/864470936/stream-over-100-shows-from-the-9-30-club

Those are from the club's current location, not it's original F street one but still some good stuff.

unrelated--

Wednesday June 3 12 noon Facebook live with Ta-Nehisi Coates and Natalie Hopkinson talking about Coates article from 20 years ago-- Dropping the Bomb an Oral History of go-go

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ta-nehisi-coates-drops-the-bomb-on-go-go-20-years-later-tickets-106128134106

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/13019207/dropping-the-bomb

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/article/21135953/city-lights-join-tanehisi-coates-and-natalie-hopkinson-for-a-discussion-of-gogo-history

12 noon today

above conversation was archived on facebook and will be available from DC public library go-go archive

Lots of folks protesting in DC Black Lives Matter protests got to hear TOB, Suttle, and a dj play bouncebeat go-go and or classic go-go from the back of a big truck that drove through town. Lots of video clips on twitter. A mobile Moechella put together by Yaddiya

https://wtop.com/dc/2020/06/bills-keep-piling-up-dc-area-nightclubs-ask-for-help-as-they-await-reopening/

Juneteenth Million Moe March coming

Paul Glenshaw (based in the Washington D.C. area) and Darroch Greer (based in Santa Barbara) created The Seven Tones Project

Musicians are invited to make home recordings of themselves playing Duke Ellington and/or Billy Strayhorn compositions. Then independent filmmakers select a recording as the basis for short homemade films. The films are posted on social media with links back to the contributing artists.

The project is taking off. Nearly 150 artists have pledged to contribute or have already contributed. Thirteen films have been completed, and 10 more are in production. Over 30 recordings are in the pool for filmmakers. The Smithsonian Associates and other education organizations have helped promote the project, and several Washington D.C. media outlets have reported on it. The Washington Post will publish a story this week.

https://afropop.org/articles/the-seven-tones-project-calling-musicians-and-filmmakers-to-create-beauty-inspired-by-duke-ellington

https://www.wusa9.com/video/news/local/dc/first-lady-of-gogo-maiesha-rashad-died-stomach-cancer/65-806e1e0b-75ac-4038-bfed-0f8de924e516

Maiesha pioneered grown and sexy go-go covers of old school r'n'b in the 90s with her band the Hip Huggers

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/article/21136945/tony-redz-19742020

WPGC dj Tony Redz from a heart attack. He also was in a bouncebeat go-go band, a rapper, and an actor

Chris Richards has been reviewing lots of local music

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/with-the-dmv-nightlife-on-pause-these-area-musicians-want-you-to-press-play/2020/06/09/4c919558-a9b2-11ea-94d2-d7bc43b26bf9_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/here-are-the-best-new-recordings-from-the-dmvs-quarantined-music-scene/2020/05/19/0787160a-99c6-11ea-ac72-3841fcc9b35f_story.html

Yaddiya is doing a special Juneteenth event

In Washington's classical scene news Washington Performing Arts (which brings touring recitalists and orchestras to town) is going all-virtual i the forthcoming season, and won't even start until 2021.

Whoa and wow.

In rock news , Coriky new album out.

Lotsa new rap efforts

New live Still Familiar go-go album

2 go-go Juneteenth protest events with live music Friday afternoon

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/go-go-is-making-headlines-again-now-its-time-for-a-history-lesson/2020/06/16/86e5d756-af92-11ea-8f56-63f38c990077_story.html

That’s a review of the go-go doc that’s gonna be on TV One Sunday

Yaddiya has a new ep out, and is being interviewed by Malachai right now on go-gotix Youtube and Instagram. Talking his own music and the Juneteenth rally tomorrow

Well now the Kennedy Center is done for the rest of the year.

yep. Not looking good

The Birchmere is going to reopen for certain nights in July, but it seems problematic to me:

Birchmere fans in July will pay an extra $35.50 in fees & minimums on top of the $15 ticket price, bringing total cost per person to $50.50. ... a $5.50 tax/facility fee, a $25 minimum food & beverage purchase & a $5 "COVID-19 fee." For local blues-rock bands & overpriced food. You can't even get free water there. They charge $3 or so for a plastic bottle of water.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/virginia-nightclub-to-reopen-with-changes-covid-19-fee/2343205/

new DC area recorded music --Coriky, Nag Champa (I think), Wale, Nappy Nappa and more plus TCB live on Spinrilla efforts

https://dcist.com/story/20/07/01/dc-music-venues-coronavirus-black-cat-songbyrd-fallout/


Dante Ferrando, the owner of the Black Cat on 14th Street NW, keeps fielding inquiries about his club’s status.

“I’m getting calls, ‘Hey are you guys open tonight?’ ” he says. “I’m like, no, you guys don’t understand. We’re not open until next year.”

That’s not an exaggeration. Ferrando says there’s no way for him to reopen in the foreseeable future and make any money. He’s considering adding tables into the main checkered-floor concert hall that typically hosts sweaty rock shows and dance parties, but if he did that, he’d only be able to sell tickets for a fraction of the room’s total capacity. With overhead costs like rent, insurance and staffing, it wouldn’t make financial sense.

“It’s pretty simple: The numbers just don’t work,” Ferrando says. “It’s insanely expensive.”

The city & the feds need to give clubs $

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/dont-miss-these-new-recordings-and-books-from-the-dmv-music-scene/2020/07/06/78bb97ac-bfb3-11ea-9fdd-b7ac6b051dc8_story.html

Chris Richards on recent dc music and books

https://thedcline.org/2020/07/15/in-uncertain-financial-environment-go-go-advocates-press-for-dc-arts-funding-equity/

My deep dive re how the Mayor & DC Council voted to give $ automatically on a yearly basis to Arena Stage and other large million $ entities, but not to go-go. Now go-go may get $ via 3 DC agencies, & individual musicians in many genres will be able to get $ from DC Arts Commission grants

Two recent lesser known losses for Washington DC this past week: RIP Tex Gathings, WOOK-tv news & (50s-70s) & Teenarama (63-70) black teen dance show producer; Leon Gibson-funky soul singer, tv & stereo repairman & store owner , DC Council candidate in the ‘70s.

Wammies were quietly given out online last week. Hmmm. Dupont Brass Band won for best rap artist ( apparently they have a vocalist in addition to horns).

RIP drummer Herbert Drake who played at Westminster jazz and blues shows over the years. Also, reportedly with Sonny Til & the Orioles. Maybe even with Dinah Washington and Otis Redding per one comment on Facebook.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KM7kjF1pNeg

5 years old go-go rapper Lil Kelz

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/article/21141789/how-a-5yearold-rapper-became-one-of-the-newest-faces-in-gogo

National Park Service says no more than 50 people including staff at Fort Reno till early October, so Amanda is going to wait until October and hope to do a fall 2020 season of shows if that is allowed then.

Meanwhile Carter Barron which was closed in 2017 because the stage was determined to be unsafe , is still closed. NPS drew up a plan for a new stage but they say they won’t have money to build it till 2021 into 2022! I wish they could hit up a millionaire or 2 in DC and start sooner ( or get more nps money to do so)

looking forward to hearing this - https://black-fire.bandcamp.com/album/soul-love-now-the-black-fire-records-story-1975-1993

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/12/arts/music/black-fire-records.html

Yes, it’s on Spotify. Some is too jazz fusion, but a lot is more than that.

Nitpicking- The NY Times article doesn’t mention that label owner Jimmy Gray went from being a DJ on WHUR in early 70s to being a WPFW DJ later in ‘70s

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/local-opinions/go-go-is-dcs-official-soundtrack-it-deserves-equitable-funding/2020/08/13/c6af908c-dbea-11ea-8051-d5f887d73381_story.html

Charles Stephenson, who managed EU, ran DC Commission on the Arts and co-wrote go-go book , has an editorial re the need for go-go funding ( that links to my DC Line article reference to 3 million for go-go)

https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/08/21/how-joe-englert-changed-the-dc-bar-scene/

Owner of many DC clubs Joe Englert died from complications from surgery at 59. Sad. I liked many of Joe Englert’s places. He deserves credit for his imaginative approach. But the Wtop and Washingtonian coverage also led me to think about it from different angles. I called Eddie Jones to find the name of an H street NE club where I once saw Eddie perform that Joe later bought and turned into Argonaut ( 2005 to 2017 I think). It was called Ledbetter’s. Eddie said when he was young his father sang there also.

isn’t it also significant ( and unmentioned in wtop and Washingtonian articles) that he was a white guy, with access to bank loans, coming into what was once a majority black city and was buying property & transforming it into places largely geared to white rock and pop listeners? I get that it’s complex but I think only State of the Union had rap and dance, right? I get that he did what he knew and did it well though.

Chuck Brown Day concert tonight 8 to 10 pm on YouTube, Facebook, and DC Public Acess

Fort Dupont Park concerts online through September start tonight too

Sunday there’s a go-go protest against the Postmaster near his home in Kalorama . Kalorama Park meet up at 7 pm

Is DC band Flasher still together? Saw on Instagram that guitarist Taylor Mulitz is moving to LA.

Kate Greer from Priests moved there a little while ago