Everyone knows the hit song “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls. But even a passing listen to the band’s catalog reveals a wealth of amazing tunes, any one of which could become an instant earworm.
A Flock of Seagulls, still fronted by original vocalist Mike Score, performs at The Atlantis on Tuesday, April 15, and it’s a show not to be missed if you love stylish, moody synthesizers.
History repeats.
The Dead Kennedys were the last band I saw live (and reviewed!) prior to the city (nay, the world) coming to a grinding halt in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus epidemic. As I once again grabbed my tickets from the 9:30 Club’s box office window, I reflected on what has changed, and what hasn’t, in the five years between Dead Kennedys shows. I have slightly less hair on the crown of my head, and more wrinkles lining my face — but, there’s still the same giant orange turd running the White House. So it goes…
Looking around the main room, it struck me that the mean age of the population tonight here on V St NW’s beloved club must be in the mid- to late-50s, though that probably would have trended higher without the obvious outliers: a gaggle or two of teenaged sons and daughters dragged along, I assume reluctantly, to the show.
Renowned saxophonist Boney James recently visited the Strathmore Music Center on his A Celebration of Smooth Jazz 2025 Tour, bringing his signature blend of smooth jazz, R&B, and contemporary sounds to the DMV.
Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the show!
Max Weinberg — the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band — recently took his touring show to The Barns at Wolf Trap! Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the show.
British jazz musician Nubya Garcia released Odyssey, her second studio album, last year and she’s hit the road for some USA tourdates. She recently performed live at The Birchmere, and Chris Castillo was there to photograph the show.
I was lucky enough to see Portishead once, at one of their most famous gigs. It’s a concert I think about often and am lucky enough to be able to relive any time I put the recording on. So, of course, I was beyond excited when the news that Beth Gibbons, the haunting voice behind the iconic trip-hop sound, was touring the States behind her debut solo album, Lives Outgrown, and that she would perform at The Anthem.
For 35-plus years, Tara Nevins and Jeb Puryear have been making music together. But as founding members of Donna The Buffalo, they’ve done more than just perform on stage — they’ve built an expansive and engaged community that celebrates different music styles and traditions.
While Donna The Buffalo has amassed a following of its own over the years — a devoted pack called “The Herd” — the band’s been remarkably influential as the team behind the successful Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival, which will celebrate its 33rd go in 2025.
The band members have helped foster a scene that extends from their homebase of Trumansburg, New York, to like-minded music festivals all over the world. And Donna The Buffalo itself has headlined many a gathering over the course of time, recording almost a dozen studio albums along the way.
You may ask, “Who the fuck is Johnny Blue Skies?” Well, friends, he is Mr. Sturgill Simpson! And Johnny Blue Skies is his nom de guerre for Passage Du Desir, Sturgill’s 2024 studio album. The Who the Fuck Is Johnny Blue Skies Tour reaches Merriweather Post Pavilion on Saturday, May 24.
You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!
Lollapalooza 2019: I stood in Grant Park Chicago waiting to see Bishop Briggs — my second-to-last set of an action-packed day. I was a fan of the singles “River” and “Wild Horses,” so I knew her set was not one to be missed. She was full of energy, sporting a pink track suit and a freshly shaved head, and she belted out notes effortlessly while sprinting around the stage. It was one of the most memorable sets I experienced at Lollapalooza that year, and have been following her ever since.
Neville Keighley, better known as Belouis Some, recorded three potent new wave albums from 1985-1993, creating memorable dancefloor classics like “Imagination” and “Some People.” He also recorded the hit song “Round, Round” for the Pretty in Pink soundtrack!
Belouis Some last toured the United States in 1988, but the British singer-songwriter hits the roads in America once again starting at City Winery Philadelphia on April 8, opening dates for Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel throughout the month. He then returns for more tourdates with Lost ’80s Live for a lot of shows in July and August!
Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter chatted with Belouis Some about recording albums in the USA, some stories behind songs like “Imagination” and “Round, Round,” and his touring plans!
