Author: David LaMason

Live Review: Sebadoh @ Metro Gallery — 6/19/19

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Sebadoh10 Sebadoh plays a sold-out Metro Gallery on June 19, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

Back when I was in college, a friend and I drove down to the beach (about a three or four hour drive) at night straight to the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland; found a good spot; and proceeded to play (among other things) a stirring rendition of Sebadoh’s “Punch in the Nose” complete with clarinet solo and out of tune acoustic guitar.  It was fun, sloppy, and exciting — much like the music that Sebadoh has been creating — off and on– for the last 30 years. 

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Live Review: The Lemonheads @ 9:30 Club — 6/13/19

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The Lemonheads rock out at the 9:30 Club on June 13, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

Evan Dando, the creative force and songwriter behind The Lemonheads, has written some brilliant songs. In fact, they are some of the most hook-laden creations ever put to vinyl from the late ’80’s to mid-90’s. And in 2003 his solo album, Baby I’m Bored, has one of my favorite songs, “Hard Drive,” that’s even more moving when you see him perform the song alone with only a guitar being the only accompaniment. He would do exactly that at a recent show at 9:30 Club.

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Live Review: Glen Hansard @ Lincoln Theatre — 6/3/19

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GlenH27 Glen Hansard performs at the Lincoln Theatre on June 3, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

When I listen to Glen Hansard’s music — especially songs from the new album, This Wild Willing — I can picture a man who has two feet planted firmly in the past but is stretching out across this temporal divide to grasp the future. His music often straddles the line separating old folk tradition and modern tones and feeling.

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Live Review: Kevin Morby @ 9:30 Club — 6/1/19

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KMorby5 Kevin Morby rocks the 9:30 Club on June 1, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

Over the past few years Kevin Morby has grown exponentially both as a performer and as a songwriter. From his time in the Babies and Woods to his critically acclaimed solo records, Kevin creates music that is at once familiar and at the same time new. He continued to do so at the 9:30 Club recently.

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Live Review: L7 @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 5/28/19

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L7 tears it up at The Fillmore Silver Spring on May 28, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

Okay, so I’m figuring most people reading this know about L7, the Los Angeles-based band that started back in 1985 fusing hard rocking riffs and growling vocals.  But juuuust in case, let me fill you in a bit following their awesome show at The Fillmore Silver Spring recently.

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Live Review: My Brightest Diamond @ Rock and Roll Hotel — 5/16/19

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MyBrightestDiamond2My Brightest Diamond dances the night away at the Rock and Roll Hotel on May 16, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

My Brightest Diamond, the creative vehicle for artist Shara Nova, has constantly evolved over the past decade. The evolution continued at Rock and Roll Hotel recently.

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Live Review: Fontaines D.C. @ Rock and Roll Hotel — 5/11/19

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FontainesRNR12 Fontaines D.C. is a force at the Rock and Roll Hotel on May 11, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

Fontaines D.C., the Dublin-based (the D.C. in the name reflects Dublin City) band melds poetry and punk — a sense of immediacy with hooks that are hard to shake. Grian Chatten, frontman of the group, sang/spoke in what can feel like a conversation and a call to arms in the same breath at the Rock and Roll Hotel recently. 

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