Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

So is the Folklife Festival now some small thing? Not too long ago it was a huge deal, now it feels a little rinky-dink, like your local shopping mall’s Chinese New Year or Oktoberfest.

Between the National Park Service restricting space, Smithsonian budget cuts, the pandemic, it is not what it once was in prestige or coverage.

They had to take funding from human rights violators UAE this year plus corporate donations from Ford and United Airlines

addressed issues here in City Paper link to various events. Plus they didn't gt the word out publicity wise and its a cloudy night and some white folks might be scared

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/560922/a-cats-movie-party-rone-and-more-best-bets-for-june-23-29/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYxsRcPT7Aw

Frederick Douglass Bridge shut down due to protest activity

Was helping elderly Mom out in burbs most of the weekend so didn’t make it by the SC or to the Folklife Fest. I know some who did. I Doomscrolled and later watched some of the Puerto Rican plena Saturday night event on the mall on YouTube later. Most of the evening programs are there.

Mark Cisneros is out on tour in Europe with the Bellrays. Playing bass I think. He's a multi-instrumentalist.

His significant other, Baby Alcatraz is doing her Friday Save Your Soul lst Friday of the month soul vinyl dj thing at Lithuanian Hall in Baltimore . Some 1st Friday I would like to try that. Although I usually prefer to just see old-school r'n'b musicians themselves rather than go to clubs and hear the records.

if you're looking for hyattsville music you should check for events at "the spot." jerry busher and some other bands played there last friday

Thanks

Fort reno shows now posted.

Also there’s an MLK library punk archive show Wednesday July 13 w/ Cinema Hearts and Continuals

x-post - are bands at the Spot in Hyattsville only announced on the South Hyattsville Co-op Facebook page ?

saw Busher's band POA in Mt Pleasant once. Dub punk with bassist Dug Birdzell from Beefeater and vocalist Shawn Brown

No idea. I only hear by word of mouth but the hyattsville wire Twitter should cover it

thanks

Oh yeah, Hyattsville Wire is good for some coverage of rock and blues events in that area, but not so good for Latin, African, and African-American

Curious about Tunnel, vocaist Natasha Janfaza (from Taciturn) band with Brendan Canty on drums, former Flasher bassist D Saperstein, and and dc bands producer musician Owen Wuerker. Album is out on Friday. They played The Crown in Baltimore last night and are Comet on Friday.

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/564189/moechella-organizers-applied-for-a-trademark-coachellas-lawyers-want-to-block-it/

plus Moe World Order show at Fillmore tonight cancelled

Fort Reno concerts start tonight. Also Janel Leppin is at Rhizome with her Volcanic Ash , avante-jazzy-rock-folky group, and David Cole is leading a band at Westminster church blues Mondays 6 to 9

Fort Dupont's 50th year starts Saturday with a big go-go bill-Be'la Dona , Sirius Company, Soul Searchers , DJ Rico @ 7 @ Fort Dupont Park

While the days of Fort Dupont having a budget to book national old school soul and jazz acts seems to be gone, at least they're booking some good locals. August acts not yet announced

Fort Dupont go-go triple bill was alright -- good not great. Tonight my wife and I went to the rain-cursed Fort Reno. Spring Silver played and Weird Babies did most of their set and then the rain came. So no Bad Moves whom I want to see.

Seeing on Facebook that I am not the only one annoyed at how the Musicianship have now handled the Funk Parade since being given it by Listen Local DC. No more parade and their fest on Saturday had 1 go-go band , and one Annapolis brass band, but no DC brass bands - no Crush Funk, no Dupont Brass, no Experience Brass Band . Just a bunch of obscure local rap and r'n'b musicians

Went to the final Fort Reno of the summer. The Owners had an ok casual punk sound . Vocals sometimes worked and not other times.

Ted Leo did a melodramatic Blondie cover - Union City Blues plus Ramones "Bonzo goes to Bitburg"

x-post- the guy who booked the obscure local r'n'b and rap musicians is defending Funk Parade and Musicianship.

Momentarily forgot the name of other band at Fort Reno that had a more shoegaze dreampop sound.

A little while back saw Spring Silver at Fort Reno and liked them live more than I did the album.

Saturday August 20 is Chuck Brown Day at Chuck Brown Park w/ Rare Essence, Doug e Fresh, Chuck Brown Band, Uncalled 4 Band and more. Also August 20 at rfk parking lot is world reggae day with Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Tiwa Savage and more.

local sounds

https://aramsinnreich.wixsite.com/outofourshells

https://districtfray.com/articles/making-sound-waves-august-2022-dc/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms8hHKEv4WI

Cinema Hearts - "Your Ideal" produced by Bartees Strange & he added guitar. Lyrics by Caroline Weinroth
Music by Caroline Weinroth and Erich Weinroth

Hey curmudgeon, just to follow up - I saw Don Z. on Tuesday (he came to my open mic at Ballston Local) and I asked him about the big console. I think he said it's at Atomic in Beltsville. But he's happily recording at home. We even got to jam together a little. We played "Overkill."

Oh nice.

Friday August 26

DC Black Broadway presents: The Stage Play Grease with a Side of Mumbo Sauce @ Bethesda Blues (through the 28th) (go-go musicians acting in this adaptation)

Moe World Order w/ TCB, TOB, Reaction & Yaddiya & guests @ Howard Theatre

* A Tribute to Jazz in DC, a prelude to the DC Jazz Festival , w/ DC jazz vocalist Ayo & the Bohemian Caverns Orchestra @ 7:30pm. @ All Souls Unitarian Church honoring DC legends such as Shirley Horn, Blanche Calloway, Ruth Brown, Charlie Byrd, and Duke Ellington. Orchestra arrangements created by Elijah Jamal Balbed, Free but registration required @ a tribute to jazz in dc . com

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/572678/bossa-bistro-celebrates-20-years-of-global-music/

My article for City Paper Fall Arts preview on 20 years of Bossa Bistro in Adams Morgan

“Coltun is adamant that he is not offering contrived “world music” for Anglos or others to gawk at. “These are communities, and if you’re an outsider, you need to introduce yourself, become a part of it, and show your appreciation,” he says”

I also spoke with musicians Cheick Hamala Diabate, Alfredo Mojica, and Dior Ashley Brown who all play there every month

http://stevekiviat.blogspot.com/2022/09/dc-baltimore-dmv-global-music-and-more.html

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/572430/2022-fall-arts-guide/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2022/09/09/fall-pop-concerts-in-washington-dc/

Chr*s Richards fall picks include Rosalia tonight at Anthem

Lawrence Bradford Hand dance instructor and Joe Bussard 78 record collector RIP

Never did get a Pavement @ Warner theatre ticket for tonight and resale ones are pricey. Great locally based Ethiopian singer Munit Mesfin is at little Mr Henry's tonight . I have family responsibilities tonight and won't be at any gigs

Howard U homecoming Yardfest friday at 12 noon. Homecoming step show at Burr gym at night

Blues Alley had a fire in area between 2nd floor ceiling and roof. Plus some damage from all the water and smoke

Sad news — DC soul and gospel singer Eddie Jones has died. He mainly sang covers but had a gorgeous voice and was a friendly great guy. I saw him with band the Young Bucks, with the Legendary Orioles, and also saw he and his siblings sing in their church a few times.

Joe Lee of Joe’s Record Paradise recorded an album of Eddie and the Young Bucks and for some reason it never got released. His voice can be heard on a Legendary Orioles album. I saw the Young Bucks at a number of DC area clubs - Faces , Gwen’s Majestic, the Chateau and more . In recent years they just played once a year at blues Monday night at Westminster Church Sw. Eddie also did some multi act soul tribute events at Bethesda Blues and Birchmere . RIP

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/12/02/eddie-jones-singer-guitarist-dc-soul-dead/

https://dcist.com/story/22/12/02/carter-barron-amphitheatre-rock-creek-park-renovation-alliance/

Carter Barron architectural design to be done by spring or summer 2023 they say and rebuild to be done by 2026 if they raise 20 million! Place was shut down in 2017 due to structural issues

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/582427/prince-georges-pride-is-the-anthem-pg-county-deserves/

“Prince George’s Pride”...Alona for WCP talks to Shorty Corleone, Brian Yeldell, Lil Chris , Malik Dope & others who participated in this song

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/583679/problems-at-city-winery-went-beyond-the-neighborhood/

Earlier articles seemed to just feature Dorf of City Winery blaming "the neighborhood" and violence. In his interview with me , he awkwardly defended himself re racism and then proceeded to blame "potentially violent homeless" people. City Winery in Ivy City issues are complicated. I asked DC BLM & Empower DC for thoughts also. I found that Dorf never spoke to homeless shelter director or DC DHS that works w/ shelters. His staff spoke only "several" times w/ office of DC government Nightlife director.

I also spoke with Empower DC and BLM DC and the local ANC who had different takes on the situation. Plus I quoted a tweet about how the Chills would have done better at Black Cat and that City Winery did a poor marketing job

Wow Dorf sounds like a real asshole.

Never puts the word “person” after homeless

“Attacked by some homeless”

“Potentially violent homeless”

Fuuuuuuck you

Never puts the word “person” after homeless

“Attacked by some homeless”

“Potentially violent homeless”

Fuuuuuuck you

Thanks.

Updated article with Douglas developer comment. DC government agencies promised me responses that have not come.

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/585210/eddie-jones-gave-d-c-a-musical-history-lesson/

My long co/write obit of DC soul and gospel singer Eddie Jones

The late Eddie Jones' sister and family still need financial assistance to pay for the funeral related expenses they incurred

https://www.gofundme.com/f/celebrating-the-life-of-eddie-jones

Not sure if this will be mostly stuff already on YouTube but: https://silver.afi.com/Browsing/Movies/Details/f-0100003805