My buddy Jeff "Heavy metal Parking Lot" Krulik is now researching an earlier era of DC rock bands, late '60s to early '70s. Many of them played the Wheaton Youth Center along with bigger name acts like the Stooges. Jeff will be filming folks reminiscing Saturday March 7th at noon there as part of an event(soon to be a Jeff movie doc) called "Led Zeppelin Was Here." Apparently their 1st DC area gig was there in 1969 I think. There will also be some bands playing and record dealers.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 5 March 2009 19:47 (fifteen years ago) link
i'm also ignoring modern dc hardcore and metal when i'm talking about stuff like this, which is dumb of me.
i'd assumed you were talking about hc, it sums it up pretty well. the good few central venues for this were closed or pushed out like the kaffa house on u street (now an h+r block) and the old wilson center in columbia heights. the warehouse next door by the convention center popped up and brought a bit of a revival, but then their taxes hiked something like 700% and had to close. kids moved to baltimore and beyond.
the palpable absence of dischordto be fair, dischord hasn't really been any sort of leading force in the dmv since at least as far back as the mid 90's - not to disparage them but to say that from then for about another decade or so there was a lot going on, primarily from bands and labels that had nothing to do with dischord yet still had influence on an international scale. they just don't have the benefit of being recognized as among the first of it's kind like dischord has to keep it's name being brought up. the scene around say, magic bullet records was great then.
― fauxmarc, Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:32 (fifteen years ago) link
well as far as hardcore goes, there's still a pretty active house show community kicking around. still, you're totally right when it comes to actual venues. warehouse was a real gem; definitely had the best booking. the dude who did things there (and also at his house, 611 florida) moved over to velvet when it shuttered, but he's since moved to philly.
― pretzel walrus, Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:49 (fifteen years ago) link
dischord is a tough one. it doesn't do nearly anything these days, and hasn't for a while, i agree. it's more notable today as a negative space that nobody's tried to fill in a long time. i mean it's obviously not just my opinion that it was a legitimately *great* label; a few classic records and one of the definitive examples of doing things the right way and succeeding wildly in the process. but i wonder sometimes if its historical influence has frozen things here to the point where people are afraid or unwilling to try to build because they feel the territory's already occupied.
― pretzel walrus, Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:56 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm on a punk show e-mail list that includes some of those house shows, and maybe I'm not keeping up enough, but do some of those bands ever get bigger and play clubs and get written up here or elsewhere? I often feel like I'm completely out-of-touch when I see the bills for some of those shows.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 6 March 2009 14:17 (fifteen years ago) link
i've been out of it for a good while now but when i went to shows you had bands like majority rule, darkest hour, good clean fun, pg. 99, enemy soil... strike anywhere and city of caterpillar although that's reaching out to richmond at that point, all of which get international recognition in punk and hardcore circles although they wouldn't necessarily end up playing clubs per se as that's just not the nature of things.
― fauxmarc, Friday, 6 March 2009 14:46 (fifteen years ago) link
now, i really have no idea
― fauxmarc, Friday, 6 March 2009 14:47 (fifteen years ago) link
synchronicity: found the link to this article on chris burns's myspaceTale of Two CitiesWashington's Inability to Sustain DIY Culture Highlights Baltimore's Greatest Strength
― W i l l, Saturday, 7 March 2009 21:04 (fifteen years ago) link
dischord is a tough one. it doesn't do nearly anything these days
The new Title Tracks single (John Davis / Q and Not U + Georgie James guy) is out on Dischord in less than a month, and it's really great.
― Shannon Whirry & the Bad Brains, Saturday, 7 March 2009 23:33 (fifteen years ago) link
DC rapper x.o.'s realmatic is getting love from City Paper, Washington Post, and dcist.com. I'm still making my mind up about his wordy flow
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 10:39 (fifteen years ago) link
The Surf Club in Bladensburg, now known as the Surf Club Live, is temporarily shut down for the month of March with no other information. Hmmmm. The zydeco bands that play there interest me, but not the same ol' same ol' local roots-rockers.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 12 March 2009 14:01 (fifteen years ago) link
bummed to miss guido schneider tonight, but i have a cold and have to get up early tomorrow. radioslave in two weeks, though!
― W i l l, Thursday, 12 March 2009 15:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Guido Schneider was a snooze the one time I saw him but, yeah, very much looking forward to Radioslave.
― lou, Thursday, 12 March 2009 15:06 (fifteen years ago) link
see you guys next weekend for Pan-Pot & Derek Plaslaiko, yes?
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Thursday, 12 March 2009 15:17 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah, i think so. man, i wish they would stop doing the best stuff on thursdays, though :\ i can't remember if i ever saw derek when i lived in new york, but i liked his recent RA podcast.
on the buzzlife forum the 88 guys are really hustling this forward festival. i like the idea, hope it works out for them as far as media coverage and ticket sales and building community (or whatever other organizational goals they may have).
― W i l l, Thursday, 12 March 2009 16:03 (fifteen years ago) link
Morgan Geist at Comet Ping Pong next Saturday FREE!!!
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Thursday, 12 March 2009 18:23 (fifteen years ago) link
I had heard a rumor about that. Glad it came true.
― lou, Thursday, 12 March 2009 18:28 (fifteen years ago) link
so that weekend is shaping up:
3/19 Thursday:Pan-Pot and Derek Plaslaiko
3/20 Friday:Mochipet live, Jeremy "Ayro" Ellis live @ GalleryHeidi @ Muse
3/21 Saturday:KiloWatts, The Great Mundane, and Aligning Minds live @ BeBarDan Berkson & James What, Pheek live @ GalleryMorgan Geist @ Comet Ping Pong
That is actually more good electronic music bookings in one weekend than DC had in all of 2006.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Thursday, 12 March 2009 18:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Morgan Geist @ Comet Ping Pong
wut, who's started booking edm there?
― fauxmarc, Thursday, 12 March 2009 18:56 (fifteen years ago) link
probably S0lomon S@nchez - he's spun a few nights there.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Thursday, 12 March 2009 19:00 (fifteen years ago) link
My friend has played there once or twice and had a hand in booking Geist. There was one time maybe 2 years ago I saw S0lomon DJ there, but I think it was only recently they started booking shows again (could be wrong about that).
― lou, Thursday, 12 March 2009 19:02 (fifteen years ago) link
cool. seeing the mountain goats at 6th and i that night, maybe we'll make the trek up connecticut to listen to dance music. dance music.
― W i l l, Thursday, 12 March 2009 19:31 (fifteen years ago) link
adding to saturday:
3/21 Saturday:KiloWatts, The Great Mundane, and Aligning Minds live @ BeBarDan Berkson & James What, Pheek live @ GalleryMorgan Geist @ Comet Ping PongMiami Horror & Will Eastman @ 9:30 ClubDJ Harvey @ ESL
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Monday, 16 March 2009 14:55 (fifteen years ago) link
This says there's also a Bruno Pronsato live set on Wednesday.
― lou, Monday, 16 March 2009 15:20 (fifteen years ago) link
what is with the "secret venue" shows lately? Really the only thing that means to me is that the show is at an illegal venue or it's a club that's too shitty to tell people about ahead of time.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Monday, 16 March 2009 15:57 (fifteen years ago) link
adding to Friday:
3/20 Friday:Mochipet live, Jeremy "Ayro" Ellis live @ GalleryHeidi @ MuseArmand Van Helden, Shy FX, John B @ the old DC Tunnel
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Tuesday, 17 March 2009 15:15 (fifteen years ago) link
dc star (ex-tunnel) seems like it might be picking up bringing the old rave-type events back into town, i wish i'd checked it before i left. was really thinking of coming back for avh but with all of the janky stuff he's produced over recent years i wasn't sure i could trust his live sets again.
also on thursdays it seems to have a reggaeton night which was really needed outside of the typical eurotrash venues, although it might be the same vibe.
― fauxmarc, Wednesday, 18 March 2009 17:04 (fifteen years ago) link
holy shit this was great
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Friday, 20 March 2009 07:00 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah? i'm sorry i missed it, it just wasn't in the cards. how was the secret location venue? i'm going to check out pulse on saturday--don't recognize any of the names, though.
desperation, but: anyone have or know of an extra ticket for the mountain goats/john vanderslice on saturday?
― W i l l, Friday, 20 March 2009 11:57 (fifteen years ago) link
The secret location venue worked out really well! It was actually a warehouse sex club. I am not kidding
I really enjoyed Plaslaiko's set, but Pan Pot were really really on. Great to see 200+ people out dancing at 2am on a Thursday night.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Friday, 20 March 2009 15:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Sounds fun. Weeknights are tough for me. Still going to try to make it to Radio Slave though.
I heard Bruno Pronsato was boring. Not really surprised judging from what I've heard by him.
Looking forward to Morgan Geist. Any of you planning on being there?
― lou, Friday, 20 March 2009 15:22 (fifteen years ago) link
me!
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Friday, 20 March 2009 15:24 (fifteen years ago) link
Great! I haven't seen you in forever.
― lou, Friday, 20 March 2009 15:25 (fifteen years ago) link
really glad to hear a good crowd showed. i want those guys to be successful. warehouse sex club = i am not sure exactly what that means. a venue for public sex? legit? or more like a strip club?
― W i l l, Friday, 20 March 2009 16:32 (fifteen years ago) link
It was a little empty in the main room during Plaslaiko's set but between new arrivals and the second room emptying out there was a really good vibe for Pan Pot - incredibly great. The venue is in far southwest - past the baseball stadium - and is basically a private sex club, but a legit operation. There were very amusing and disturbing flyers and notices posted all over.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Friday, 20 March 2009 18:07 (fifteen years ago) link
I have a feeling the Morgan Geist show tomorrow will be jammed. Good!
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Friday, 20 March 2009 18:08 (fifteen years ago) link
i'll be there!
― W i l l, Saturday, 21 March 2009 16:11 (fifteen years ago) link
I don't think anyone's writing about this stuff for the City Paper. Just BYT.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 22 March 2009 13:57 (fifteen years ago) link
I didn't go - was absolutely swamped with work this weekend. Missed some great shows because I had to work on making more places for great shows.
Booka Shade this Wednesday, Radioslave Thursday!
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Monday, 23 March 2009 04:13 (fifteen years ago) link
mountain goats and morgan geist in one night, wow. great stuff from both. i really like comet's back room for dancing, it reminds of the bunker parties at subtonic years ago.
― W i l l, Tuesday, 24 March 2009 00:43 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah, I had a great time all around! Pleasantly surprised with the venue and the crowd.
― lou, Tuesday, 24 March 2009 01:09 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah the crowd was dressier than places i usually go (i don't think i've ever danced west of 14th) but hey everyone danced tons and the vibe was fine.
― W i l l, Tuesday, 24 March 2009 19:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Soon Come Fort Reno:
We are now accepting submissions for the 2009 Season!! Please send your music to:
Fort Reno 2009c/o Amanda Mackaye3819 Beecher Street NWWashington, DC 20007
We welcome cassette, vinyl and cd submissions. Please be sure to include your name, address, phone number and contact email address. Submissions will be accepted from February 23rd to March 27th 2009. Packages received AFTER 3/27 will be put on a reserve list. Please do not send anything certified mail or otherwise require a signature proof of delivery. If you want to know if we got it - please email us.
Along with your music there are some things we'd like to know:
- the names and ages of your band members- how long you have been together- who you are and why you'd like to play fort reno... you can convey that however you feel reflects you/your band
For your information: we generally wait to contact folks until after the deadline, please understand it takes time to listen to everything.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 March 2009 13:54 (fifteen years ago) link
radio slave tonight. i'm wondering what time he'll start spinning. how late does electric cabaret usually go?
― W i l l, Thursday, 26 March 2009 15:56 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm not sure how late they go (last call is at 1:30), but when I went to John Tejada a few weeks ago he was on by midnight, I think. And it's free until midnight w/ RSVP! I'm probably going.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:07 (fifteen years ago) link
My boss just asked me to come in early tomorrow. :( Still going to try to make it though.
― lou, Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:09 (fifteen years ago) link
disco nap!
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:12 (fifteen years ago) link
:)
Yeah, screw it. I'm going.
Looks like they released their April line-up:
1st Floor4.02 | JEREMY CAULFIELD (Dumb Unit - Berlin)4.09 | DAN CURTIN (Metamorphic Recordings, Mobilee, Tuning Spork - Berlin)4.16 | PACO OSUNA ( Mindshake, Plus 8 - Barcelona)4.23 | TBA4.30 | SPIRIT CATCHER (2020Vision, Moodmusic, Silver Network, Freerange - Belgium)
2nd Floor4.02 | QBURNS (Eight-Tracks - Orlando)4.09 | ALL GOOD FUNK ALLIANCE (Funk Weapons - DC)4.16 | MEISTRO & DEEP SANG (Dirty Bombs, Solid Gold Sound - DC)4.23 | GARTH (Grayhound Records - San Francisco)4.30 | TBA
― lou, Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:17 (fifteen years ago) link
not as crucial as the March lineup, but in a three floor club it's really nice to have the ELM folks taking over the second floor.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:39 (fifteen years ago) link
i would be all about the disco nap except i have stuff to do this evening. i rsvped but probably won't decide until i see how i feel later.
i'm going to miss the first three april ones, but tbh the only name i'm familiar with is jeremy caulfield.
― W i l l, Thursday, 26 March 2009 17:29 (fifteen years ago) link