Preview: Morrissey @ The Anthem, 10/15/26
Morrissey returns to Washington, DC, on Thursday, Oct. 15, bringing his Make-Up Is a Lie Tour to The Anthem at The Wharf.
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Live Review: Laura Veirs w/ Karl Blau @ Jammin’ Java — 10/8/26
“I didn’t write songs for four years,” Laura Veirs told the audience during her recent performance at Jammin’ Java. She added, “I thought I might be done.” During that period, she was “busy with other things.” But, eventually, the songs started coming to her again. In August, she released Temple Songs, which she self-produced and play all the parts on, except for sax, which was played by her “new husband, who is hopefully the last husband.”
Live Review: Foster the People @ The Anthem — 10/7/26
In 2011, Foster the People released their debut album, Torches. To my ear, it continued a decade-long trend of very good music reviving ’80s aesthetics. Breakout hit “Pumped Up Kicks” had a neo-psychedelic flair that would have been right at home on the English or Australian charts of the decade. “Helena Beat” and “Call It What You Want” proved frontman Mark Foster and his collaborators had a knack for this strain of psychedelic pop.
I discovered Foster the People at Liberation Dance Party, the weekly Friday night video celebration hosted by DC9. (DC9 honcho Bill Spieler booked them for their first-ever DC show at The Red Palace way back in 2011.) But it took me a bit to see them perform live. I first saw the band at the Sweetlife Festival (the one co-headlined by Lana Del Rey) in 2014. Then I saw them again at All Things Go in 2017. I thought well of both performances, but neither necessarily left a big impression.
Fast-forward to Foster the People’s date on the Good Mourning Sunshine Tour at The Anthem on Oct. 7, and I’m now a believer. Along the way, original members Cubbie Fink and Mark Pontius departed, leaving Foster and longtime keyboardist Isom Innis at the band’s core, supported by a touring lineup. And I was quite pleasantly surprised at how much Foster channeled one of his musical heroes — namely, David Bowie.
Live Review: Charlie Mars and Abe Partridge @ Rams Head On Stage — 10/7/26
In my head, Charlie Mars and Abe Partridge seemed like an unlikely pair to share an evening, and an even more unlikely pair to share a stage and trade songs, but that’s what they did at Rams Head On Stage on Oct. 7. Mars revealed that this was the first time he’d ever asked anyone to share a stage with him, but he and Partridge had been friends for a long time, and he thought it would be a good idea. The two did appear very friendly, even after sharing a lot of time in the car together on this tour.
Live Review: Olivia Rodrigo w/ Wolf Alice @ Capital One Arena — 10/4/26
Superstar Olivia Rodrigo recently brought The Unravelled Tour for two nights to Capital One Arena. She initially made waves in 2021 with the release of “drivers license,” which blew up on TikTok and subsequently around the world. Her debut album, Sour (2021), went six-times platinum, propelled by other smash hits such as “deja vu” and “good 4 u.” She followed up with Guts (2023), proving she was a pop star here to stay. After touring globally for nearly two years, Rodrigo released her highly anticipated third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, in June. Leading up to the tour, Rodrigo hosted SNL, performed a surprise set at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, and curated an all-female festival called Daisy Chain Fields.
Live Review: Logic and G-Eazy @ Merriweather Post Pavilion — 10/4/26
It was a powerful weekend for music in the DC area, with Tom Morello hosting the Power to the People festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion on a Saturday. The venue could have rested on its laurels after such a major event, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, Merriweather followed up on that Sunday with one of the hottest nights of rap music in the area.
G-Eazy and Logic delivered an exciting night of rap, energetic performances, and entertainment for the fans in attendance.
Live Review: Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry w/ Superheaven and Boundaries @ The Anthem — 10/3/26
Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry brought their co-headlining Hive Mind Tour to The Anthem recently, with Superheaven and Boundaries in support. I walked in an elder millennial who was around for the first wave of metalcore and never warmed to it. So I came as a clinician: notebook out, at the mouth of the pit, here to study the ritual.
My history with Knocked Loose is limited, but notable. At the ill-fated Blue Ridge Rock Festival in 2023, I was hungover, lounging on a beanbag couch in the VIP tent, while Knocked Loose jiggled my guts. That was Friday, the day after a supercell thunderstorm chose violence and cut the first day short, and the only day the whole festival worked. Saturday and Sunday were canceled outright. Slipknot headlined that night.
Live Review: Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 10/1/26
The Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy co-headlining tour recently made its second stop at The Fillmore Silver Spring. The tour is a co-headlining match made in heaven — two iconic female guitarists and singer-songwriters who rose to indie prominence in the late 2010s.
Live Review: Sex Pistols Featuring Frank Carter @ 9:30 Club — 9/29/26
The Sex Pistols’ performance at the 9:30 Club was full of memorable moments, but one in particular stood out.
As photographers in the photo pit were taking their last shots and preparing to clear out after the first three songs, I was capturing legendary guitarist Steve Jones on stage left when Jonesy, 71, noticed me. He locked eyes with me for a beat, then promptly turned around and waved his butt at my camera.
It felt like a classic moment of punk attitude, and I couldn’t help but smile for the rest of the night.
Live Review: All Things Go 2026 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion — 9/25-9/27/26
All eyes were on DC’s edition of All Things Go after the New York festival was canceled entirely because of a nor’easter’s torrential rain and powerful winds. Despite facing its own weather challenges, Merriweather Post Pavilion hosted a marvelous weekend of music, with each day taking on a distinct character.
