Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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

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...

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/

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."

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

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/

New Wammies music awards- - half full or half empty

*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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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.

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)

Fugazi data & zines exhibit closes after Sunday

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

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

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

More about the politics and activism side of things.

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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

https://thedcline.org/2019/06/28/short-and-sweet-abbreviated-folklife-festival-turns-up-volume-on-go-go-other-dc-music/

I saw a bit of the Royal Pocket Tour legendary gogo percussionists ( with a bass & keyboard in the back) thing at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. It was fun, then we went to AFI to see Punk the Capital. Some great 70s and early 80s footage of DC and bands . I liked it but can nitpick a few things. 1 of the directors was involved with the original Madam’s Organ yippie hippie hangout where DC punk bands played for part of a year. The movie focused on that but barely mentioned, if at all, Wilson Center, Georgetown Hall of Nations, DC Space. I did see on a tv in the hall after some outtakes showing that included Cramps at Hall of Nations.

http://www.fortreno.com/

The Fort Reno series kicks off tonight (weather permitting). Is anyone else planning on going?

Gonna go next Monday and see Hammered Hulls (Alec Mackaye, Mary Timony, Mark Cisneros, & drummer whose name I forgot) as I am on vacation this week

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/bee-boisseau-is-working-on-the-shape-of-jazz-to-come--every-monday-night/2019/07/08/7bddf446-9cd9-11e9-9ed4-c9089972ad5a_story.html?utm_term=.fe7d8b9f8862

Bee Boisseau from Richmond is now in DC and playing electro-jazz Mondays at Bin 1301. On Thursdays they have go-go gone jazz drummer Trae Crudup

https://www.nps.gov/fodu/planyourvisit/summer-theatre.htm

Fort Dupont Park free summer weekend shows start July 20. They have Rare Essence in August plus Stokley of Mint Condition and more

Alona wrote a Choppa Black obit:

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/article/21077532/remembering-choppa-black-19892019

Daniel Bachman + Model Home tonight for free at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. 6-8 pm.:

https://americanart.si.edu/events/luce-unplugged-community-showcase-model-home-and-daniel-bachman-july-12-2019

Bill Orcutt and Bonnie Jones tonight at Rhizome:

http://www.rhizomedc.org/new-events/2019/7/13/concert-bill-orcutt-bonnie-jones

Bill's last set at Rhizome was one of the best solo guitar sets I have ever seen, truly great. I mean Bill isn't for everyone, but if you are into it do not miss a chance to see him live.

Bill's a little too out there in his playing for me, but its cool Rhizome exists for musicians like him. DC area is busy. Mock Identity were having their record release at Comet, DC go-go bands always busy, Baltimore Carnival going on with some DC associated events. I was off at the beach....

Saw the Hammered Hulls, Erotic Thrillers, Anti-Planet gig at Fort Reno . Big crowd to see the Hulls. Back in 1979 I saw Alec Mackaye sing with the Untouchables at Fort Reno before a small crowd. Decades later I saw him with the Hulls -- his tight band with Mary Timony on bass, Mark Cisneros on guitar...

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/07/17/police-break-in-and-theft-from-legendary-recording-studio-near-shirlington/

At least $10,000 worth of gear stolen. Terrible

Since Dischord is putting out a Hammered Hulls single, I see that someone created a separate thread for the band

This sucks.

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/07/17/police-break-in-and-theft-from-legendary-recording-studio-near-shirlington/

I may have mentioned that I worked with Don Z on a record a couple years ago, and it was a great experience. He is a righteous dude and it is a great studio.

Meanwhile keep a lookout in local pawn shops for a $5,000 microphone.

Aww shit man, that is a real bummer about Inner Ear. Glad that the insurance will (likely) cover it though. Saw that Hammered Hulls show, was good. Not a bad show for my first Fort Reno experience.

I wanted to make it out to National Harbor for dc go-go night with the UniverSoul Circus, but did not. Oh well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBM4GtPi7A4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2eTFKfMikC5YEsHCohXhfnT-PXGJzQAKmsaaXNlVNvsCRUff3NFuILXj0

Tommy T featuring Mahmoud Ahmed - ANCHIN አንቺን