Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/08/24/scott-van-pelt-sportscenter-dc/

ESPN new theme by Troublefunk at request of Scott Van Pelt

More tv news: Malik Dope drummer isn’t in quarterfinals on America’s Got Talent tonight

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/joe-englerts-quirky-bars-revitalized-dc-nightlife--and-a-neighborhood-too/2020/08/25/8ec918cc-e60e-11ea-97e0-94d2e46e759b_story.html

This obituary at least acknowledges what was there in various neighborhoods in addition to focusing on what Joe Englert brought in

X-post - Oops autocorrect. Malik Dope WAS on America’s Got Talent quarterfinals on NBC last night. I once did a best of Dc piece on him shortly after he cut back his stints out on Gallery Place

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/article/21143323/city-lights-dive-into-model-homes-deep-discography-or-watch-black-journal-online

Experimental duo Model Homes have released 18 plus efforts since 2018. Often sped up or edited rap vocals with noisy synth

There’s a bouncebeat go-go thing on the national mall today with TCB & 2 others , around 3 pm

https://www.admoday.com/history-culture/

Music panel at 2 Sunday plus history of “Admo” activism on another one & a Latino activism one too

Crush Funk Brass playing

https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/admas-sons-of-ethiopia?fbclid=IwAR0hS_x4YAs9D_JSPjkPNJyj5O5fxU8Yaks4-SJhzzxR_4g1YFn25gRSCHI

Admas and DC Ethiopian music

Dc go-go bands have been doing gigs in indoor Va clubs that are supposedly complying with Covid rules, as well as outdoors gigs in far from dc exurbs in Md & Va. Birchmere & state theatre have had rock bands. A Latin dance club in Tyson’s appears to be open. I am not going to any of these . Doesn’t feel safe to me

Black Cat club 27th anniversary gig is on Youtube on September 18 w/ Algiers, Ted Leo, Mike Watt, and David Combs

Rare Essence anniversary gig also online Saturday the 19th plus the debut of new single with guest Snoop Dogg

Apparently the new movie Residue on Netflix directed by M Gerima, son of director Haile Gerima who owns Sankofa Books in DC, has a Moechella scene amongst the DC gentrification.

Speaking of sorta, Yaddiya is doing a voters registration outdoor gig with TOB tonight downtown

I wish I had gone to DC jazz guitarist Bill Harris' club , The Pigfoot, which was on Rhode Island Ave NE in the early to mid 80s. Guitarists Danny Gatton and Joel Harrison both learned a bit from him. He was also in rnb band the Clovers. This 1987 picnic he held looks like it was great also: Among those scheduled to perform, in besides Harris, are Charlie Byrd, Shirley Horn, Nap Turner, Milton Smith, Archie Edwards, Harmonica Phil Wiggins, Charlie Sayles, Bo Diddley Jr. and former Ellingtonian Jimmy McPhail.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1987/09/06/pigfoot-picnics-and-all-that-jazz/a1642978-3b58-49f3-9e13-0d43ea8b13db/

Yaddiya keeps doing go-go protests with TOB and /or CCB playing on the back of a flatbed truck. CCB did a 7 am one as close as they could get to Mitch Mcconnell's house.

RIP U Street Music Hall.

https://dcist.com/story/20/10/05/u-street-music-hall-closing-permanently-covid19/

Saw that bad news. Neither the Mayor nor City Council want to dip into DC’s rainy day fund to provide pandemic relief, so everyone has to wait for federal relief that may never come.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/10/05/u-street-music-hall-closes/

specific details here in this article :

For the last few months, the club has sold T-shirts to raise money to pay employees, and hosted live-streamed DJ sets that asked viewers to tip DJs or make donations to an employee relief fund. (“The live streams were great,” Eastman says. “They did not pay for themselves.”) The club received a Paycheck Protection Program loan, but the scattershot approach couldn’t replace revenue from events, and rent went unpaid for several months. Meanwhile, Eastman has been involved in what he describes as a long-running legal battle over the terms of the club’s lease. In the end, the combination was fatal. “The senseless litigation with our landlord, along with [covid-19], were the cause of us vacating the space,” Eastman says. “We had four years left on our lease. If it wasn’t for covid, we would have been there for at least four more years.”

In 2010 B*ian took some of us into UHall to check it out

Oops I mean “I Died” took us there.

In other news:

Merawi Gerima , @Gerima_Gang the Director of acclaimed film Residue ( & son of Director/ store owner Haile G) will be talking go- go and DC and politics and movies w/ Moechella go-go activist @Yaddiya on Washington Informer’s Bridge TV at 12 noon today

Check out this official trailer for Fat Boy: The Billy Stewart Story.

See the documentary, brought to you in part by the HumantiesDC DC DOCS grant, when it premieres on @whuttv this Saturday, October 24 at 9pm. pic.twitter.com/xFStIEOHfY

— HumanitiesDC (@HumanitiesDC) October 22, 2020

Documentary on late DC soul singer Billy Stewart premieres Saturday night 9 pm online and on WHUT Howard U public tv

Making my way through the DC rap, electro, R’n’b, punk, & experimental acts that I haven’t heard before on this Chris Richards zine list that got posted in UK magazine/ site The Wire. https://t.co/m69afQEXfe

— Steve Kiviat (@SteveKiviat) October 21, 2020

Chris Richards dave dc rap, electro, metal, hardcore, R’n’b, experimental

Or you can listen to new artsy pop Beauty Pill single

Profoundly stoked @thewiremagazine asked me to contribute to the charts page of their latest issue

My “DEBUSSY RINGTONE 15” chart = quartimes wildstyles coming out of the DMV (of course)

Do something nice for yourself and subscribe to the Wire today! https://t.co/A76El4i1Ok pic.twitter.com/per1AnHgX1

— Chris _ _ Richards (@Chris__Richards) October 13, 2020