Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

The only electronic night i have ever been to is called Matter and it is held at the Blue Room on 18th street. I am not sure if it still exists, as i havent seen it listed for a while. The Djs played a lot of techno, including all the requisite hip german stuff, but whenever i went, there were 20 people there, and everything was being played at lounge volumes. it was a bit sad really, though the bar has a good beer selection.

SALT (listed first, because it's my night, dammit)
synthfunk, indiepop, dancehall, grime, electropunk, hip hop, industrial, hits
DJ's Sad and Lonely
1st Wednesday monthly
Cafe Saint-Ex

<>
indiedisco and beyond
DJ Will Eastman
generally 3rd Saturday monthly
the Black Cat

Confusion
disco, new wave, funk, postpunk, hiphop
DJ's Serpico, William Alberque, Cullen Stalin, Sad
generally 4th Saturday monthly
the Black Cat

Yellow Fever
reggae, groove, soul, hip-hop, dub
DJ's Yellow Fever
Tuesdays biweekly
Cafe Saint-Ex

Spilt Milk
rock, disco, funk, mod, punk, soul
Tuesdays biweekly
Red

Blowoff
indie house?
DJ's Bob Mould and Richard Morel
Saturdays
9:30 Club

Taking the Piss
jingle-jangle indie pop & psychedelic
occasional Fridays
Marx Cafe

We Fought the Big One
UK post punk, shoegaze, guitar pop, indie dance
DJ's Brandon Grover and Rick Taylor
1st Friday monthly
Marx Cafe

The Wag
60's garage soul & trash
DJ Mark Zimin
1st Saturday monthly
the Black Cat

The Mousetrap
brit pop, indie
DJ Mark Zimin
generally 2nd Saturday monthly
the Black Cat

Cold
coldwave, darkwave
2nd Sunday monthly
the Blue Room

Atmosphere
post punk, UK indie, dream pop
3rd Sunday monthly
the Blue Room

The Melting Pot
everything, 1964-1980
DJ Neville Chamberlain
Thursday biweekly
Cafe Saint-Ex

UH-HUH!
rock and roll
DJ Johnny
Sundays
Cafe Saint-Ex

Groove
soul, mod, garage
DJ Beat Neat-O
Thursdays biweekly
Cafe Saint-Ex

I'll work on a whole separate list of the club/hip hop/EDM events...

24 Hour Access: 24 Hour Psycho

February 28, 2004 at 5:30 p.m.
A first for the Hirshhorn---the Museum will open the Douglas Gordon exhibition for twenty-four consecutive hours. 24 Hour Psycho (1993), the artist's video installation that stretches the Hitchcock classic into a twenty-four-hour experience, is the inspiration for this all-night happening. Launch the leap year with this unique, drop-in event, which will also include music, gallery discussions, and a "Meet the Artist" interview with Douglas Gordon conducted by Hirshhorn Director of Art and Programs and Chief Curator Kerry Brougher on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Ring Auditorium. "24 Hour Access: 24 Hour Psycho" is made possible through the generosity of Aaron and Barbara Levine.

http://hirshhorn.si.edu

The following music (presented by Signal 66) will be played:
5:30 ˆ 7:00pm DJ Sandwich Man
7:00 ˆ 8:00pm Band Chessie
8:00 ˆ 8:30pm DJ Debut
8:30 ˆ 9:15pm Band The Hipnotix
9:15 ˆ 9:45pm DJ Beat Neat-o of Groove
9:45 ˆ 10:30pm Band Rose
10:30 ˆ 11:00pm DJ Neville Chamberlain
11:00 ˆ 11:45pm Band The Phobes
11:45 ˆ 12:15am DJ Neville Chamberlain
12:15 ˆ 1:00am Band Sounds of Kaleidoscope
1:00 ˆ 1:30am DJ Happy Family
1:30 ˆ 2:15am Band Sons of Disobedience
2:15 ˆ 2:45am DJ Neville Chamberlain (tentative)
2:45 ˆ 3:30am Band Gully Jimson

Habib Koite from Mali at the National Geographic Grosvenor
Hall--Habib's got a nice live cd out--He trys to meld styles from
different parts of Mali, and while he's not a big fave of mine he's
definately not bad

Bobby Sanabria & Quarteto Ache at the K. Ctr. Eisenhower Theater--A
wonderful percussionist, bandleader, and sideman (not to mention a
college professor) who is very charismatic and entertaining with his band

Los Hombres Calientes from New Orleans at the Clarice Smith Center-An
interesting bunch from New Orleans who blend that city's jazz with
flavors from throughout the Caribbean. I believe WPFW's Jim Byers is
hosting and leading a chat with them as well.

Muzsikas at the Freer-Hungarian vocal combo
________________________________________________________________

Sat. 2-14

Sanchez and Richie Stephens at the Crossroads-Jamaican lovers rock for
Valentines Day
_________________________________________________
Sun. 2-15

Haj Youness, Casablanca, Moroccan oud player and the Voice of Wisdom
Orchestra at 2 p.m. at the Smithsonian S. Dillon Ripley Center
Lecture Hall

La India and Sonora Caruseles at the Washington Hilton, 1919
Connecticut Ave. NW salsa
__________________________________
Tues. 2-17

Peru Negro at the Kenn. Ctr- Excellent Afro-Peruvian veteran combo--if
you like Eva Aylon or Susanna Baca this outfit's blend of soaring
melodies, strumming, and funky drumming (on instruments including
wooden boxes and donkey jawbones) will be up your alley
__________________________________
Other cool stuff:2-11-Super Furry Animals
from Wales at 930;2-12( & 2-13) jazz singer Jane Monheit at the
Birchmere; 2-13-Atmosphere at 930;2-14 Black Dice at Ottobar;Jazz
singer Dee Dee Bridgewater at K. Ctr.;Carmaig De Forest at Roots Cafe;

To get on my DC African/Latin/World whatever events ocassional e-mail thing, contact me at ritmika@hotmail.com The above comes from that...

Which reminds me...any news regarding a new location for the Metro Cafe?

dc-improv-announce-owner@yahoogroups.com

salsanews@aol.com

the blow_up@hotmail.com

bw_zydeco@yahoo.com

Dizzee's supposedly coming back for a bigger tour in the summer, but I'm not sure if he'll hit DC or not. I don't know of anything regarding Dear or Mayer, but if they came I imagine it would be at 5ive, unless it was a one-off somewhere else.

What's odd it that it seems to be only the EDM scene that really tries to escape the city - the most successful go-go and indie artists are, if anything, too tied to DC.

Is it odd that the most interesting and boosterish electronic dance DJ in DC over the last year has been Bob Mould?

The DC go-go artists have seemingly given up on being national and international acts (go-go hasn't crossed over) although Chuck Brown gets flown to Japan periodically to play.

Dischord indie rockers are always playing worldwide but such gigs just never get much local press here. Q and Not U are also booked to play that big fest coming up in California over the summer(Coachatella or something). Black Eyes toured Europe awhile back.

Why did they locate it in Georgetown? You can only make so much money from selling prog to white hats from GW. Better to be on U st with a big deep house section. They never seemed to have their shit together anyways. They cheated me out of $40 once but totally inadvertantly. I had my revenge during their clearance sale I guess.

As for Q and not U, I tried to see their last show at the Black Cat and ended up waiting in line for an hour by myself. As I was waiting, the show sold out. That is all. They need to play here more often.

I always wanted to check out the Grits & Gravy dj night at Bar Nun... Years ago I saw DC rappers Opus Okuben playing with a live band at the now defunct Metro Cafe. Wow, they were great. Now they just mostly play Europe, sometimes with Ny jazz guy Steve Coleman. They were at Black Cat around New Years Eve but I missed them.

anyways, wednesday night P Brotzmann is playing with Hamid Drake and William Parker. Its at Twins on U st (btw 13th and 14th?) at 8pm.

DC 9 is in the original Asylum space, I'm not sure what it was between then and now. Half the music I've heard played there has been great indie/hip hop/disco, the other half has been too much midrange compressed guitar and singers that sound like they're in beer commercials. Which is a better hit rate than most places, but the DJs seriously can't mix or sequence their tracks.

List of EDM events is not so good. Seems like no place is doing well with regular nights and lineups are changing like crazy. And Cubik is filling the main room at Nation with the level of talent that would have played the front room at Buzz.

how long have you been in DC? what is the reason for the instability?

Is the below show which is at the Ottobar coming to DC?

Thursday March 25th
DEFINITIVE JUX PRESENTS:
Murs
The Perceptionists
(Feat. Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, DJ Fakts One)
RJD2, C Rayz Walz
Hangar 18, SA Smash and more
Doorsat 8pm/ Show at 9pm- ALL AGES

3 years! I want stuff NOW ;)

I've been complaining to friends for 2 or so years that I wish someone would book all of the Afropop and Latin acts that play for free in Central Park in NY each summer, in DC... So I'll have to form my own group to do this...

There's the once.twice festival coming up in Baltimore next month-

April 15th - 17th, 2004
Baltimore's 4th Annual
once.twice:festival of sound and video art feat.
AKUFEN . DIMBIMAN . AGF . CHRISTOPHER WILLITS .
DABRYE . SUE COSTABILE . MATTHEW DEAR .
GHISLAIN POIRIER. NAUTICAL ALMANAC.JIMMY EDGAR
MYLENA BERGERON . CAROLINE HAYEUR .
SCOTT PAGANO + more TBA

once.twice also runs the occasional Treatment night at Sonar, the last one in November featured Magda and Sammy Dee.

On a different note, any musicians (d.j.'s?) who wanna perform for free outdoors or maybe at Carter Barron or other locations during the June 18-21st 2nd annual Fete de la Musique DC should call 202-724-5614 or e-mail jose.dominguez@dc.gov . There will also be meetings at the DC Arts Commission, 410 8th St. NW , 5th Fl. on Mon. 3-15 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 and on Thurs. 3-18 from noon to 1.

I'm trying to encourage them to expand the musical horizons of this event...

Five is a great venue, nearly perfect, but the different promoters that do nights there only really book house, d+b, and reggae. There was the electroclash/breaks night there, too, but that's over and has turned into a retro night.

9:30 Club, as you mentioned, is a live music venue. They'll have the occasional DJ, but it always comes off as a bit out of place.

It costs a lot of money to run a club in DC due to the scarcity of suitable spaces. In a town with 8-foot ceilings in 95% of all buildings, there’s going to be a lot of competition for the remaining few with large open spaces. Permitting, safety codes, and accessibility standards are pretty tightly enforced, which means you have to sink a lot of money into a space before you can do anything with it. This goes for bars, dance clubs, live music clubs, and pretty much everything. And don't even get me started on ANC's and "voluntary agreements".

"After over 4 years in business, the owners of Now! Music and Fashion
have decided to close permanently, so we can move on and pursue
other opportunities. We've had a blast talking to you about music,
putting on instore performances, and participating in the local
community. But the best thing about running a record store has been
the opportunity to meet you. Many thanks to our loyal customers and
friends we've made along the way.

We will be having a going-out-of-business sale beginning this
weekend. All clothing and music (except consignments and bargain bin
stuff) will be on sale for 30% off the regular price."

So I don't think DC's gone utterly down the pan. Close, but not gone yet.

They're also stocking the Ellen Allien album and remixes, Coloma's Finery. I think I even saw that Damon Album demo double 10" there, too!

Melody on Conn. Ave. is very underrated - I always thought they were better than DCCD for keeping up with current releases and pointing customers in the right direction. Good international and classical sections, too.

930 Club has added disinfectant sprays, and is cleaning bathrooms more

Things they could have considered doing in 1992 (sardonic chuckle)

Ha. But now they’re postponing all shows at their various locations till April 1.

Black Cat still open. Will re-evaluate over the weekend

Bliss staying open in DC. I thought it holds more than 250. Is that just a recommendation from the mayor?

Oops I mean a 1000

New rules for licensed DC nightclubs today. Will have to shut down. But if licensed as a tavern or bar , can stay open with new rules re serving beer. Folks must sit at tables with no buying of beer at bar. Tables must be set a distance apart from one another!

Listen Local DC is hoping Mayor & city council can make $ available to help musicians

But mayor says no.

Rare Essence is latest DC go-go band to advertise a Facebook and Instagram live video stream . RE is doing one Saturday night

RIP DC soul singer Skip Mahoney (originally Mahoaney) who had an amazing falsetto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GFnawFYOUc

Watched Junkyard Band stream on Facebook that drew 7,000 views at one point, and then Rare Essence that got 16,000 views!

Watched Junkyard Band stream on Facebook that drew 7,000 views at one point, and then Rare Essence that got 16,000 views!

Watched Junkyard Band stream on Facebook that drew 7,000 views at one point, and then Rare Essence that got 16,000 views!

Have since heard other go-go bands and djs

Backyard Band streaming again. On Fri. March 27. Also saying they will be back live in May at Echostage

Funk Parade cancelled. Seeing go fund Mes for Black Cat employees, imp 930 ones, DC legendary musicians old folks, Tropicalia...

DC govt has a new form that independent contractors and non profits can use to apply for $

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