Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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This is a thread where all DC residents past and present can post information about the music scene in the city and any interesting or important upcoming events. Anyone who has lived here knows that there is a) a lot going on and b) not enough coverage to prevent a lot of frustration from missing shows that nobody knew about. Hopefully this thread will become valuable.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 21:19 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I can get everything rolling with a few contributions:
anyone wanting to get into the free improv scene here should sign up with the DC Improv yahoo group, which has listings for a lot of events in the area. They bring in a lot of good artists like Sabeer Mateen, Susie Ibarra and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble.

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.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 21:26 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

At Recessions (18th and L St) on Fridays and Saturdays, sometimes local rappers come and rap over karaoke. I saw it once, and they were really good, considering.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 22:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

cool. keep em coming.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 04:22 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I grew up in DC, but I don't live there anymore. I'm visiting in mid-March with my friend. She wants to see live music. Any suggestions? I was thinking of seeing British Sea Power at the Black Cat, but that's kind of boring. Anything more local to recommend?

― Debito (Debito), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 04:32 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Matter at the Blue Room ended a couple of months ago. In its place there's a rotating cast of weekly Sunday nights. I'm listing them with some of the other less club oriented regular DJ events around town:

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...

― Brian Miller, Wednesday, 11 February 2004 14:55 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

and here's what counds like a good upcoming special event:

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

― Brian Miller, Wednesday, 11 February 2004 14:57 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Wed. 2-11

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...

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

For more DC events there's an improv jazz e-mail list, a few salsa ones, the Take Me Out to the Go-Go website, Dccaribbeanconnections.com, a few dc dancehall only sites, a zydeco/cajun e-mail list and website, and the Taking the Piss djs listed in Brian's post also do a reggae dub and more dj night.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:16 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

this is getting even better...!
are there any TechnoTechno nights out there?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 20:08 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Since the demise of Filler/Matter there aren't any techno techno nights that I know of - house owns DC. You may want to check for special events being put on by the 'DC Skillz' crew. Cubik (nu-Buzz) has been getting in a few techno-oriented DJ's, including Green Velvet a couple months ago, but now that they're compressing their lineups into the main room they haven't been as thematically strong as before.

― Brian Miller, Wednesday, 11 February 2004 21:08 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

DJ Neville Chamberlain

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

― j.lu (j.lu), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 21:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

They were working on a location in the old MetaTrack studios, behind the 7-11 on Rhode Island Ave at 14th St, to be a bar/upstairs small theater. No live music, though, and not to be called Metro. Originally supposed to open in October but it slid Then Cherry Red, who was supposed to be the theater tenant, disbanded. Since then nobody seems to be able to get any answers about what's going on.

― Brian Miller, Wednesday, 11 February 2004 21:28 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

So are Mathew Dear, Michael Mayer, Soundmurder or Dizzee coming to town and/or where could you hear their music?

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

you can get e-mails about DC area events from:

dc-improv-announce-owner@yahoogroups.com

salsanews@aol.com

the blow_up@hotmail.com

bw_zydeco@yahoo.com

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:47 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

We've played plenty of Matthew Dear and Michael Mayer at my night, SALT, and we did a listening party for the Dizzee album last week. Haven't tried to play Soundmurderer, though - got a sort of cease and desist after playing Venetian Snares a couple months ago. We're doing a listening party for the new Telefon Tel Aviv and Neubauten at our next night.

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.

― Brian Miller, Thursday, 12 February 2004 14:49 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

why is the electronic dance scene here so seemingly mediocre? I used to be proud that there were all of these famous artists from the area (deep dish, BT, Saeed and Palash, etc.) but they all seem to only sleep here. i guess i just have different ideals. I like the fact that Danny Tenaglia travels 'round the world and still has a weekly in NYC (or at least used to... i dont know what he is up to now)playing everything from Basic Channel to Salsoul. When was the last time Deep Dish played here?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 12 February 2004 14:59 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Deep Dish is around every once in a while at Nation, but it seems like just another stop on the tour. And I guess they have even less incentive to be around since the end of the Yoshitoshi store. Saeed and Palash pop up from time to time, but not as much as a few years ago. I can understand that maybe it's not seen as the most exciting place to have a weekly or monthly, but you'd think there'd be some more visibility. Thievery Corporation have achieved a similar level of success, and you can't swing a Gucci belt without hitting something they're involved with around town. They enjoy playing to thousands on tour and then to a hundred people in a small room.

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?

― Brian Miller, Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:33 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

im confused... the Bob Mould? I didnt know he was living in DC.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Yes, Bob Mould. He and Richard Morel started a DJ night called Blowoff as a monthly at the Velvet Lounge last year, now it's weekly at the 9:30 Club backbar. It falls somewhere between esoteric electronic lounge and shirtless gay dance party, usually within the same night.

― Brian Miller, Thursday, 12 February 2004 16:20 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Yea, Bob has his own blog and either there or at a separate website he posts his playlists. He used to do his thing at the Velvet Lounge and moved it to the 930 Club. There was a feature article about him in the City Paper and in the Post weekend section. Brian, your choice of music sounds more interesting to me.

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.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:19 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I'm really looking forward to the Black Eyes show coming up, March 26th. The whole last half of March is pretty sharp at the Black Cat, hopefully we'll be able to get some of the acts playing to come DJ afterwards at Saint-Ex.

― Brian Miller, Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:53 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

And I guess they have even less incentive to be around since the end of the Yoshitoshi store.

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.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 12 February 2004 18:55 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

According to their website Q and Not U are laying low and recording a new cd now. Black Eyes are playing the Warehouse Next Door near the new Convention Center Friday February 20th. Solomon Burke and Anthony Hamilton are offering different generation takes on soul that night at the sit down and keep your mouth closed Birchmere.

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.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Friday, 13 February 2004 04:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I like going to out-of-the way places like Chick Hall's Surf Club in Bladensburg (Chick Hall plays awesome honky tonk and surf guitar!) or Lamonts in Pomonkey, MD. Jim Bennett and Lady Mary sing Malaco records style bluesy soul there.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Friday, 13 February 2004 04:42 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Anybody know anything about DC 9, a live music/DJ venue at 1940 9th st nw that looks to be replacing Metro Cafe in the club ecosystem? It's opening tonight, and their website is at www.dcnine.com, but doesn't say anything about who's behind it.

― Brian Miller, Friday, 13 February 2004 22:59 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

For those complaining about lack of real techno in DC -- a freak occurance has Titonton Duvante playing this Thursday at Mantis on Columbia Road. I'm pretty sure there is no cover.

― Michael Minnich, Wednesday, 18 February 2004 23:16 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

fuck how did i miss this post!!! Tombot (another techno techno fan) and I were sitting in a bar two blocks away bitching! damn! Is Mantis generally cool or is it usually the Wallpaper models I see inside (heh not that that is a bad thing I am just too ugly)?

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.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 1 March 2004 18:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I received an e-mail about DC/9 which I think I deleted! It's run by some guy who did a one-off indie-rock dj thing at a sports bar in Chinatown I think. It was called Exit something i think. I'm not sure whether it will cover the same variety of entertainment that Metro Cafe did. My question is isn't the location of DC/9 where a mostly African-American house dance club used to be. Maybe I'm wrong and this isn't a new sign of gentrification--indie-rock replacing house.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Anybody been to the dj nights at Bar Nun? Their ad lists a hiphop/r'n'b night and a "grits n gravy" night. The latter was the subject of a Washington City Paper article many years back.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:43 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I went to Mantis to check out their new basement DJ space this past Friday, and it's very impressive. Holds maybe 100 people, good soundsystem, DJ near the entrance, bar down part of one side and some low sofas in the back past the bar. Dark, a little blue light, and a disco ball. Sort of a mini-Red. They're open Wednesdays - Saturdays, but I can't find a schedule online. It's grabbing the expected upscale house crowd, but they're definitely serious about booking talent.

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.

― Brian Miller, Monday, 1 March 2004 20:06 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

were people dancing? it sounds like a good space if a little small (meaning i would prefer 250 people, not 500). how is the list of EDM events coming? ;-)

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 1 March 2004 23:32 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

There were only a few people dancing, but I left pretty early. The flow of the space is a little screwy, so I can imagine it not working too well when packed. Then again, few places do.

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.

― Brian Miller, Tuesday, 2 March 2004 03:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

ugh. i feel like there needs to be a fucking organization or something. can we negotiate a lease for a K St office for the new headquarters of Futurists Against Crappy Techno?

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

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 03:47 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

WPFW djs and others formed a group that brings avante-jazz and other improv music to town, so Aaron you'll have to put together a group to do the same for techno and other electronic-based sounds!

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 14:24 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

How come the Ottobar in Baltimore books more hiphop than DC clubs?

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

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 15:43 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

One more thing. Last summer the DC govt Commission on the Arts sponsored an event called Fete del la musique in which they had free music all over town. The selection of genres involved wasn't wide enough. I want to try to find out how to widen the selection for this summer.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 15:46 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

get a new Commission? ;-) Steve is the WPFW crew = Transparent productions? I would love to promote again. I did it in college. I need to get to know all the venues around town first though. Its going to take a long time. In about 3 years, start looking for flyers with Kevin Saunderson's name on them.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 17:15 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Transparent Productions is the improv crew. Not all of 'em are WPFW djs though some are--Bobby Hill and Larry Appelbaum, others?...

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...

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 18:53 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I asked excellent local DJ Milo (Filler, Matter) about nights, and he said the DJ at the Mantis basement on Wednesdays plays tech house, but that's about the closest - no BANGIN TECHNO nights.

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.

― Brian Miller, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 20:22 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

milo is nice. i have talked to him a couple of times. that fest sounds fun. why does baltimore seem to have a better scene than DC?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 4 March 2004 04:26 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Baltimore: city in decay + large warehouse/manufacturing base = cheap venues. Cheap venues + art students + laissez faire police/health/fire department = good scene.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 4 March 2004 06:53 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

So is Nation (Buzz people) afraid to book some of those folks coming to Baltimore, and is 5 too small, and is the 930 too booked up with bands to consider those artists (and also unwilling to face police/fire dept. scrutiny)?

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...

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 4 March 2004 16:52 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Nation needs to take in a huge amount of money at the door just to break even for a night, so they don't have a lot of incentive to book artists that won't appeal to their existing crowd. There would have been a better shot there in the Buzz days when they would let a different promoter/collective take over the patio, but now they're really only booking the main room.

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".

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 4 March 2004 18:24 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Ghostly International showcase at Warehouse Next Door, April 1. Not sure who's playing.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Friday, 5 March 2004 00:56 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The indie-rock stores keep dropping one by one. What's left? The below is from an e-mail from Now...

"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."

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:45 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

CD Warehouse in Georgetown (M and 30th), despite its location and hideous clientele, is really outstanding. This weekend I picked up Books' Lemon of Pink, Ghost's Hypnotic Underworld, Arthur Russell's Calling Out of Context, and M83's Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.

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

― paul c (paul c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:42 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

You found those "used" or "new" in Georgetown? The one time I was there I didn't see much in there. Wow, that's quite a haul. I'm actually as guilty as anybody in buying stuff online rather then local stores. The last time I tried to go to Now (in early january), it was closed despite its hours being listed as open.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:35 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

They were new. But not outrageously priced. Between 14.99-18.99 (Ghost - M83).

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!

― paul c (paul c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Hey, I was the one that got Coloma and Ellen Allien in there! I walk by it on my way home from work, so I stop in every couple of days. They're stupendously nice and will go as far as setting up new accounts with distributors to get special orders. I email them a list of upcoming releases I want and they'll have them for me the day they're released. They can be a little slow on imports, but they usually track them down.

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.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:27 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Skipping 4334 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/21032841/heres-how-snoop-came-to-record-with-rare-essence-and-backyard-band

More details on Snoop recording with RE & BYB

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 November 2018 04:07 (seven months ago) Permalink

http://www.teenbeat.net/

AMATEUR ON PLASTIC
Starring Butch Willis
A NEW MOVIE. A NEW FILM.

Butch Willis is a Washington, D.C. rock legend. After sharing an apartment with infamous local music icon Root Boy Slim, Butch was inspired to become a rock'n'roll star himself. This film chronicles his life and career from the '80s all the way through to present day. Co-Starring Jeff Krulik (Heavy Metal Parking Lot), Al Breon ("throat guitarist"), Joe Lee (Joe's Record Paradise) and many more.

PREVIEW SCREENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. on DECEMBER 26th, 2018.
Get your tickets now. Filmmaker Mark Robinson will be there in person, plus Q & A with Rocks and D Flat band members and other co-stars.

― my guitar friend wants his money (morrisp), Thursday, 22 November 2018 04:14 (seven months ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Gonna be out of town and miss the Butch Willis doc. Also just noticed that the Hammered Hulls, Bad Moves gig in the soon to close backroom of Black Cat is sold out. Oh well. Hulls are gonna be at Comet in January. I did see an 8 act old school gospel quartet bill at House of Praise in NE. Those DC & Southern US acts can sing!

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 December 2018 19:14 (six months ago) Permalink

Hammered Hulls, Bad Moves at Black cat next week sold out... Never did get a ticket

― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 December 2018 13:54 (six months ago) Permalink

I need to go see DC acts Sirius & Ms Kim, New Impressionz, Des Demonas, Gauche sometime.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 17 December 2018 17:52 (six months ago) Permalink

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-best-dmv-rap-songs-and-albums-of-2018/2018/12/13/73aadf8e-fd77-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html?utm_term=.aca75f642c65

top 10 albums and top 10 singles .

Rico Nasty had Chris' fave rap album locally

1. YungManny, “Moana" is his top song (from Prince George's County)

― curmudgeon, Monday, 17 December 2018 17:55 (six months ago) Permalink

https://www.hailnorfk.com

― El Tomboto, Saturday, 22 December 2018 23:34 (six months ago) Permalink

https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-md-ci-ottobar-20181105-story.html

1.25 million for Ottobar in Baltimore

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 30 December 2018 02:52 (five months ago) Permalink

i want to see des demonas again in a venue with better sound. i liked them a lot but the show was in a basement so it was super loud.. sometimes reminded me of the fall

― ¯\_(🏈 )_/¯ (daria-g), Sunday, 30 December 2018 03:40 (five months ago) Permalink

I want to see them too. Not seeing any gigs from them listed anywhere. Black Cat schedule looks very quiet this month without the now closed back room. I get that January is quieter as fewer bands tour, but why aren't local rock acts like Des Demonas, Gauche, and others playing ? Or are they just doing house shows I don't know about.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 January 2019 16:34 (five months ago) Permalink

Go-go acts Frank Sirius & Ms. Kim, and the What Band did a special free tribute gig for/to federal government workers who are shutdown , last night at Fast Eddies in Md. It looked packed in photo I saw on Instagram-500 to 1000 people.

Saturday the 12th there’s a southern soul benefit gig at Lamont’s for a guy whose house burned down. Hardway, Jim Bennett, and others will be there.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 9 January 2019 20:01 (five months ago) Permalink

A little birdie told me that Lisa Wh*te is no longer booking Pearl Street Warehouse, and that the folks in charge of the other Wharf venue Union Stage, will be doing so. Union Stage is handled by the Jammin Java folks . Lisa is going to Bethesda place Villians & Saints

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 9 January 2019 20:05 (five months ago) Permalink

3 DC Council members bringing back vague overly harshS ordinance restricting street musicians. No decibel standard seems vague. Also would ban generators, that musicians started using when Metro sealed outdoor outlets near prime locations

― curmudgeon, Friday, 11 January 2019 18:55 (five months ago) Permalink

After an initial flurry of 3 concerts at the 69 million ESA arena in SE, none scheduled for January or February. Just a handful of minor league basketball games

― curmudgeon, Friday, 11 January 2019 18:57 (five months ago) Permalink

Priests w/ new single, plus album coming soon

Brian Baker and Mike Hampton in new punk band Fake Names .

Hammered Hulls sold out gig Saturday at tiny Comet

There’s a big bouncebeat go-go show coming to Echostage in a week

― curmudgeon, Friday, 11 January 2019 19:04 (five months ago) Permalink

Southern soul DC area bands benefit show at Lamont's tonight is postponed to 1-26

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 13 January 2019 01:12 (five months ago) Permalink

7 act Chocolate City Bounce at Echostage 10 pm to 4 am tonight

Backyard Band and What Band ( more old school style but some new) doing multiple sets 10 pm to 4 am at Bliss tonight

Neither event hyped by mainstream web media. Just WKYS . I have em both on my blog calendar too

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 20 January 2019 20:14 (five months ago) Permalink

D. Floyd , sax player, talker, & leader of DC go-go band TeamFamiliar for years & formerly of Rare Essence from 83 to 2001 just announced a few hours ago on Instagram that this will be his last year performing. Wow...

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 29 January 2019 03:22 (four months ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Sam Cooke is long gone but the Highway QC’s, a gospel group he was in, remain and are led by 90-yr old Spencer Taylor Jr who moved them to DC in 1964. They have a new digital single and are still gigging. I interviewed them for the DC Line website

https://thedcline.org/2019/02/14/still-testifying-90-year-old-spencer-taylor-jr-and-the-highway-qcs-gospel-group-stay-busy-live-and-in-the-studio/

― curmudgeon, Friday, 15 February 2019 17:55 (four months ago) Permalink

https://www.washingtonian.com/2019/02/20/remembering-dc-music-legend-skip-groff/

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/13013842/yesterday-and-today-once-more

1997 article

excerpt-- "At one point, I went up there," MacKaye continues, "...and I asked Skip, 'What does this record sound like?' He said, 'Oh, kind of a Velvet Undergroundish sound.' I thanked him and stood there for five minutes trying to figure out if that meant there was a lot of bass guitar in it or something. I'd never heard of the Velvet Underground. Every question I'd ask him, he'd come back with something that would just deepen the mystery of this music world."

Groff's friendship with his customers led to what some consider his legendary status in the eyes of some. "I ended up producing most of the early Dischord records," Groff says. His production credits read like the bumper stickers on a beat-up Chevy Malibu: Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Youth Brigade, Black Market Baby, and Henry Rollins with State of Alert.

"Skip did introduce me to Don Zientara and Inner Ear Studios," MacKaye recollects. "He gave us information on releasing records. He had his own label, called Limp, at the time. Initially we thought we'd put the stuff out on his label, but he really pushed us to go ahead and do our own label."

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 21 February 2019 03:53 (four months ago) Permalink

So Seth Hurwitz is now an actor as a hobby, and thanks to his pal Wizards owner Ted Leonis who is pals with Green Book director, IMP/ 930 owner Seth had a tiny role in that controversial and hated by some movie.

Saw this in W Post

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 26 February 2019 16:17 (four months ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Amanda Mackaye is planning Fort Reno now. Bands have to submit recordings to be considered by the end of March. Nothing can be sent to her digitally (because). She says Fort Reno will be in July (only). Before she was in charge they sometimes had gigs in June and in August as well.

http://www.fortreno.com/

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 20 March 2019 12:56 (three months ago) Permalink

New Wammies music awards- - half full or half empty

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 27 March 2019 16:16 (two months ago) Permalink

*Marvin Gaye birthday tribute with dj'd sounds and more @ Bin 1301 on U st, tonight Tuesday. Jazz dudes also often sit in here (from what I've seen on Instagram; haven't been there yet)

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 2 April 2019 19:58 (two months ago) Permalink

liking samuel prarther's new album. don't know much about him other than what i gleaned from the city paper review

― Heez, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 02:46 (two months ago) Permalink

A who's who of local folks on that go-go and funk influenced jazzy effort. I know of the others but not Prather

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 03:21 (two months ago) Permalink

https://dcist.com/story/19/04/08/shaws-metro-pcs-store-has-been-forced-to-turn-off-its-go-go-music-owner-says/

A resident in luxury condo the Shay complained...

Smh

― curmudgeon, Monday, 8 April 2019 18:12 (two months ago) Permalink

TOB and Mental Attraction band both played at last night’s second night of protest—this time at 14th & U in front of Reeves Bldg. #dontMuteDC is the hashtag of choice. A meeting at the Wilson Bldg today and a press conference Thursday

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 10 April 2019 12:57 (two months ago) Permalink

The gogo is back albeit at a slightly lower volume. Phone Company gave in

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 11 April 2019 14:43 (two months ago) Permalink

https://thedcline.org/2019/04/11/a-revived-wammies-music-awards-program-tries-to-help-dc-musicians-with-mixed-results/

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 11 April 2019 16:35 (two months ago) Permalink

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/21063870/the-scene-report-max-d-model-home-and-jeremy-hyman

Future Times w/ more avante dance & hiphop

― curmudgeon, Friday, 12 April 2019 04:50 (two months ago) Permalink

Slate, Fader, the Root, W. Post all with articles on the go-go don’t mute DC controversy

― curmudgeon, Monday, 15 April 2019 05:09 (two months ago) Permalink

https://wtop.com/dc/2019/04/efforts-to-preserve-live-go-go-recordings-and-honor-its-greats-with-a-museum/

Ron Moten wants to start a DC go-go Museum in Anacostia. Moten is a DC activist respected by some, but who makes others nervous as DC once brought a lawsuit against him finding he had used funds for himself that weren’t supposed to go to his own personal use.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 19 April 2019 16:01 (two months ago) Permalink

https://oag.dc.gov/release/office-attorney-general-announces-settlement

Moten ‘s co-founder of Peace-aholics seems more at fault than Moten

― curmudgeon, Friday, 19 April 2019 19:32 (two months ago) Permalink

The co-founder used the funds for personal use, not Moten

― curmudgeon, Friday, 19 April 2019 19:33 (two months ago) Permalink

RIP Fred Foss, DC jazz sax and flute player who moved here from NYC decades ago. He played locally and with in the past Tito Puente, Hugh Masekela and more

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 April 2019 13:12 (two months ago) Permalink

There was another #dontmutec event at 14th & U in front of Reeves last night with New Impressionz and TCB. One of the groups did a bouncebenat version of "Old Town Road"

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 April 2019 13:13 (two months ago) Permalink

And now another #dontmutedc event Tuesday May 7 with Backyard Band, ABM & DJ Kool from 6 to 9 pm

Also Chuck Brown band will be at Funk Parade Sat. May 11 from 6 to 7 pm at Vermont & U st (between 9 & 10th) by the African-American civil war Memorial

― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 May 2019 22:56 (one month ago) Permalink

I was jammed in tight 20 feet from ABM & BYB and could hear them but not see them, as they were on the sidewalk with no stage. Wow, the singalong to Backyard ‘s version of Adele’s “Hello” was amazing, as there were 3,000 people there.

Alas, the ugly comments on a Popville story and a Washington Post review blame gogo for any trash left anywhere on U Street, for any atv and motorcycles that showed up, for any violence that has occurred in DC this year, and for not being “realistic “ and just accepting that luxury condo dwellers should get priority treatment.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 9 May 2019 03:01 (one month ago) Permalink

Just noticed on FB that Peterbug Day Fest is Saturday 11 to 7 in SE DC w/ EU, William DeVaughn, & old-school DC soul singer Richard Knight who was part of the Knight Brothers way back when (per Wiki)

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2019 17:13 (one month ago) Permalink

Fugazi data & zines exhibit closes after Sunday

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2019 17:14 (one month ago) Permalink

Another #DontMuteDC this time on Memorial Day Monday at Freedom Plaza.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 04:07 (one month ago) Permalink

And another Friday May 24-- #gogo 4 Justice @ United Medical Center In SE #DC 6 to 9 pm w/ TOB, UCB, Sirius Company, Go-go All-Stars Ft. Michelle Blackwell

― curmudgeon, Friday, 24 May 2019 03:50 (one month ago) Permalink

https://thedcline.org/2019/05/27/the-dontmutedc-go-go-protests-arent-done-theyre-expanding/

More about the politics and activism side of things.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2019 16:53 (four weeks ago) Permalink

Saw Des Demonas rock fiercely and loud @ Dew Drop Inn. I like their garage rock Stooges but with Farfisa sound. They played twice locally within last few weeks, but aren't gigging again locally till August. I wonder who guitarist Mark Cisneros will be playing with in the meantime.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 June 2019 16:01 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Nothing to do with present-day DC; but I was interested to learn in this long WaPo article (from the Purple Mountains thread) that David Berman apparently lived at least part of his childhood in Reston, and also spent time with his dad in the District. I (partly) grew up in the Herndon/Reston area, and never heard of a cool rock figure from Reston before.

― get your hand outta my pocket universe (morrisp), Tuesday, 4 June 2019 16:48 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Ah yes, the suburbia of Reston. It does have that town center with summer concerts, although most don’t interest me. They do seem to have a zydeco one every summer which is kinda cool. My son sometimes played baseball out there.

I think I had read Malitz talk about Berman’s Virginia & DC background before this long story ( that I haven’t read yet).

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 June 2019 19:09 (three weeks ago) Permalink

There was go-go outside the African American History & culture Friday night; and another person put together a bouncebeat bill at the Washington Monument Saturday afternoon

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 9 June 2019 15:58 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Go-go for statehood rally w/ bouncebeat go-go bands tonight Tuesday 6 to 9 in front of Reeves bldg at 14th & U.

Unrelated—pop-postpunk rock band Flasher at Comet Wednesday with postpunk by numbers band Lithics.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 June 2019 15:22 (one week ago) Permalink

Flasher cancelled for tonight, and last night’s scheduled go-go for DC statehood event got postponed till Friday

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 14:09 (one week ago) Permalink

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