I also saw Hardway Connection down at Lamont’s. Nice set of southern soul plus they have a conga player as well now.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 31 January 2023 19:14 (one year ago) link
Posted in Fugazi thread about seeing the live clips doc at AFI Silver
May go on the 19th to AFI silver for shorts on dc music with a thing called Fugazi’s barber ; one on the 60s garage rock band the Hangmen; something on Cynthia Connolly got added
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 February 2023 21:01 (one year ago) link
Went to short doc thing and was wowed by Director Gama films on dc muralist Miss Chelove. The muralist is from Java Indonesia and came to DC young and got into dc punk, & later graffiti, hiphop, club dance , go-go while retaining her home country roots. Her Mom played gamelan music and worked at VOA and was a Renaissance single mom to 4 kids. Sadly this century, her Mom got hit by a drunk driver in DC & killed. Miss Chelove has done a Bill Warrell DC Space tribute mural in Blagden Alley , and more throughout the area.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 22 February 2023 15:31 (one year ago) link
Also enjoyed the other shorts. The barber from the gone since the mid 90s Connecticut Ave location was at the screening with his granddaughter director and others.
Hangmen short was cool and interesting. Ones on Cynthia Connolly and Jim Saah were good too ( maybe even if you are bored with early dc punk or know nothing about it). Jeff also showed punk & tomatoes episodes about DC punks going to see Fear on Saturday Night Live in 1981
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 22 February 2023 15:38 (one year ago) link
Beverly Lindsay-Johnson’s “Fat Boy: the Billy Stewart story “ doc about the DC soul singer is showing for Free tonight at 6:30 at Francis Gregory Library in SE. the director will be there . I saw it on local pbs channel and recommend it
More docs on d school dC . I forget the names of the directors for Black Fire, about the 1970s black owned funk and jazz and proto-go-go label , but you can now see it free online https://www.pbs.org/video/black-fire-wzywcz/
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 22 February 2023 15:44 (one year ago) link
Saturday Feb. 25 --DJ Red Mole on WOWD 94.3 & online @ 9 am hosts a discussion of Black owned DC label from 50s & 60s Shrine Records and Bo Diddley's 60s DC studio with guests Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, Grover Massenburg, Richard Harrington, Sandra Bears (of the Jewels)
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 23 February 2023 06:13 (one year ago) link
I previewed upcoming gigs by Sandra Bears( the Jewels) ; Ohio Players; Monobloco; & Arooj Aftab w/ Iyer, & Ismaily for @wcp Spring Arts Guide https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/592786/2023-spring-arts-guide/
― curmudgeon, Friday, 3 March 2023 16:19 (one year ago) link
DC Punk Archives seeking bands to play rooftop
― curmudgeon, Friday, 3 March 2023 18:53 (one year ago) link
RIP Lou Stovall who made some of the coolest DC protest posters and jazz gig posters in the late 1960s and 1970s some with them Dc based jazz musician artist Lloyd McNeil
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 March 2023 22:12 (one year ago) link
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/595903/austin-gets-a-taste-of-go-go-at-sxsw/
a look back at the go-go showcase @ S x SW
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 23 March 2023 16:44 (one year ago) link
Friday night midnight deadline for lottery to be eligible to buy tickets to new “Atlantis” club next to new 930. Not an exact replica as it will hold more people
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 April 2023 15:43 (one year ago) link
Also not an exact replica as it probably won't smell like Marlboros and pee.
― the importance of being urdu (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 6 April 2023 15:46 (one year ago) link
(And I say that with genuine affection)
― the importance of being urdu (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 6 April 2023 15:47 (one year ago) link
Yep...Those were the days....
on a different subject-DC’s Jamal Gray and Nag Champa are @ the Phillips Museum tonight for their first gig since 2021. I wrote for City Paper about what this jazz-funk-hiphop group has been up to. I spoke with Gray also about his dayjob curating events, his WPFW radio show, his role producing the Black Fire doc about his late Dad ‘s Afrocentric label with Plunky Branch , and other projects he’s working on . Plus being a busy parent.
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/597928/jamal-gray-and-nag-champa-art-ensemble-return-with-new-goals/
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 April 2023 18:44 (one year ago) link
$11 service fee per ticket will be required if one gets selected for $44 lottery ticket at Atlantis next to 930.
Also saw that Seth H is putting his son in charge of Atlantis
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 April 2023 15:46 (one year ago) link
Man does DC need another venue? I trust Hurwitz’ business sense but there seem to be a lot of pop music venues and then some shrinkage lately (Demise of City Winery and Iota, while the State and Howard Theaters seem to have a lot fewer touring groups, etc.)
― "The pudding incident?" (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 10 April 2023 17:34 (one year ago) link
Oh and the Black Cat’s recent downsizing, too. What’s the area competition for the Atlantis (same size venue, etc)?
― "The pudding incident?" (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 10 April 2023 17:36 (one year ago) link
DC9?
― eclectic mayhem (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 10 April 2023 17:46 (one year ago) link
Many of the Atlantis acts are also playing 930 while they’re in town so these are de facto second nights.
― Chris L, Monday, 10 April 2023 17:54 (one year ago) link
Union Stage is busy booking lots of acts at the Howard now — TikTok pop and SoundCloud rap and r’n’b . Songbyrd also is booking those acts plus some rock, Latin, African
The Runaway and , Quarry House and Comet getting obscure punk indie . Rhizome with experimental and improv jazz and some punk
930 will have to compete with all of those
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 April 2023 13:01 (one year ago) link
The Howard did have (the non-Tik Tok and Soundcloud) Dry Cleaning, too. Saw them in January. I think that was booked by Unuon Stage based on the pre-show slides. I feel like Dry Cleaning though would have been the perfect 930 Club act in the past. I dunno man. Most of my taste is th Rhizome end of things.
― "The pudding incident?" (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 11 April 2023 13:26 (one year ago) link
Just djs so far , but for those in Caribbean soca and dancehall, the Black Diamond in Silver Spring has opened and the Crossroads 2 in Wheaton
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 April 2023 13:39 (one year ago) link
May Tamarindo fest of Afro-Latin pop , reggaeton and more scheduled for RFK grounds suddenly canceled with no explanation
https://dcist.com/story/23/02/23/tamarindo-festival-afro-latin-music-rfk-dc-spring-2023/
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 April 2023 18:29 (one year ago) link
My preview of tonight's Jumpin' Jupiter and Oil City Confidential show @ Hank Dietle's. rockabilly and pub rock respectively . https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/598984/jumpin-jupiter-ferry-tales-and-more-best-bets-for-april-13-19/
Tonight's also Arooj Aftab at Strathmore. Big live music night in Rockville
― curmudgeon, Friday, 14 April 2023 12:26 (one year ago) link
Abaad Behram rocked with Oil City Confidential and looked charismatic there and on screen from the 70s last night in Razz film doc at AFI Silver. He and Razz singer Michael Reidy have that something extra onstage.
Alas, Oul City or Abaad’s other band need a creative booker to put them on a bill with younger acts whose audience I think would like them too
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 30 April 2023 18:52 (one year ago) link
I missed Black Eyes gigs and that Fake Names , Hammered Hills, Owners show.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 30 April 2023 19:02 (one year ago) link
Lots and lots of dc rock bands at Pie Shop, Pocket, Quarry house , Runaway, dc 9, rhizome, comet , Petworth porch fest
― curmudgeon, Monday, 1 May 2023 18:57 (one year ago) link
So much happening in area but editor at the Post decided folks would want to read both a Lizzy McAlpine profile in advance by one writer there and a review of the gig several days later by another writer there.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 3 May 2023 17:18 (one year ago) link
Saturday went to so very crowded embassy day for first ever time. Went to South African embassy, wandered grounds of Bolivian one that had a good folk dance squad. Then we headed down to the less crowded Dee Dwyer "Soufeast" photo exhibit party that was at the Phillips @ the Arc on Mississippi Ave Se. Great photos , free veggie and meat pies, and bouncebeat band TOB played in the parking lot while kids drew with chalk or hula hooped. Then we headed up to Hill Center and saw amazing Indonesian gamelan and more singer Peni Candra Rini with a big band in a small room there before a small crowd of 30 or so.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 7 May 2023 14:26 (one year ago) link
I always miss the embassy days!
― Every post of mine is an expression of eternity (Boring, Maryland), Sunday, 7 May 2023 15:43 (one year ago) link
So crowded.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 8 May 2023 04:31 (one year ago) link
June 9 free Dawn Richard show at African American Museum , registration required
https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/nmaahc-live-afrofuturism-concert-dawn-richard
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 9 May 2023 04:55 (one year ago) link
Rhizome is booked through August. Continues to be wait and see when DC will decide to take the property and put some types of housing there
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 10 May 2023 17:25 (one year ago) link
Thanks for the heads up on the dawn richard
― Heez, Wednesday, 10 May 2023 20:11 (one year ago) link
*Birthday Girl on Friday May 12 @ 6 pm @ Carpe Librum popup bookstore , 5221 Wisconsin Ave (Mabel Canty & Bella Mackaye band) Brendan C and Alex M daughters
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 11 May 2023 13:39 (one year ago) link
Oh no , seeing on Facebook that Shawn Vitale ( Gus Sound) has died. He was soundman at dc space, 930 Club, Fort Reno & some work at Hank Dietles. Everyone always seemed to have kind words for him. There’s a Fugazi show in archives where Ian thanks him. I read he grew up in District Heights, Md
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 11 May 2023 17:58 (one year ago) link
Aw, I did not know him personally but I remember him. Peace.
― coolgnoscenti (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 11 May 2023 18:05 (one year ago) link
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/605092/remembering-beloved-sound-engineer-shawn-gus-vitale/
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 17 May 2023 04:35 (eleven months ago) link
a tearjerker tribute re a great guy-- Gus Vitale. Some beautiful quotes in there .
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 17 May 2023 13:25 (eleven months ago) link
Sixty-two years ago, Sandra Bears was a teenager at Roosevelt High School singing in glee club with Margie Clarke, Grace Ruffin, and Carrie Mingo. Bears, Ruffin, and Mingo also sang together at Trinity AME Zion Church on 16th Street NW, while Clarke attended another church. The four high school harmonizers would eventually become known as the Jewels, have their song “Opportunity” reach No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/listings/items/sandra-bears/
My full preview of her today Thursday May 18 lunchtime gig at Montpelier Arts Center Mansion in Laurel on the link
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 18 May 2023 13:23 (eleven months ago) link
That just announced Black Cat 30th anniversary weekend is going to sell out quick tomorrow morning I bet. I wish they could add 2 more nights
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 18 May 2023 23:09 (eleven months ago) link
Yowza. I will miss that but I think I was at maybe a 25th anniversary show. The only act I remember was Tuscadero.
― sane clown posse (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 18 May 2023 23:40 (eleven months ago) link
Update! It was actually a 20th anniversary and it was like 10 years ago and Ted Leo was there too.
― sane clown posse (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 19 May 2023 14:05 (eleven months ago) link
Was out of town so I missed Africa on the Avenue with drummer Trae Crudup (who also plays with Luke Stewart, Mark Cisneros, r'n'b bands ) playing in Cheick Hamale Diabate's band
― curmudgeon, Monday, 22 May 2023 04:35 (eleven months ago) link
Above gig was poorly promoted too alas
last night Sunday May 28 was the soft opening for the Atlantis Club with Trouble Funk playing. Wasn't there but from photos I see on Facebook it has a big balcony level inside so it has a 450 capacity versus smaller 199 capacity original. Also has a rooftop area (with a fake 9/F street sign and wall with pasted flyers)
They're putting up a lifesize statue of Dave Grohl to be dedicated Tuesday May 30 in the morning with the DC Mayor there.
No indication yet that their engineer for 30 years Shawn Gus Vitale will get any plaque or permanent tribute, but IMP tells me there will be a June 14 memorial service for him for friends and family @ the 930
― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 May 2023 14:03 (eleven months ago) link
They placed a Vitale motorcycle outside the Atlantis during Trouble Funk show, and apparently used a piece of another one in their construction of the full size Dave Grohl sculpture (that I think looks and is dumb)
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 05:55 (eleven months ago) link
https://dcist.com/story/23/05/30/dc-mlk-rooftop-concerts-this-summer/
June 4 Sirius Company , June 7 DC punk rooftop show plus DC Doo wop and Mingering Mike exhibit openings
plus more
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 13:33 (eleven months ago) link
2nd annual Afro Latino Fest is today Saturday at Malcolm X Park. Last year was fun. This year Puerto Rican band La Laberinto del Coco at 4:30 should be fun along with rest of lineup that includes Afro Peruvian troupe earlier plus Cimafunk at 6
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 3 June 2023 13:24 (eleven months ago) link
Saturday June 10 -
Southern soul at 2 @ Lamont’s with Ms Jody, Jeff Floyd, Hardway Connection, JRed the Nephew
Seventh Stanine Fest w/ Matt Cohen, Bushmeat Sound, Theftable, DJ PJ Brownlee, Poem-emcees, Brian Harnetty, Timothy Bailey & the Humans, Marcus J. Moore, Devin Ocampo, The Caribbean, Bill Nace, DJ Michael Berstein, Boat Burning, Savak, Zwei Null Zwei 12 to 8:30 @ Rhizome
Sunday June 11-
Memorial Tribute to late DC soul singer Eddie Jones w/ the Young Bucks Band feat. Earl Jones, Patti Hatchett and more guests . Plus dinner at 7. 6pm to 10 pm @ VFW Post 8950, 9800 Good Luck Road., Lanham (202)-702-8049
Saturday June 17- the free day of Home Rule Fest at Walter Reed w/ EU, Brian Jackson, and more for free
Sunday June 18 - 3 pm at Lamont Park - Scream, Bed Maker, La Machetres @ 3 @ Lamont Park (DC punk) (Antonico Tricarico Inner Ear book release part 2 )
― curmudgeon, Friday, 9 June 2023 04:06 (eleven months ago) link