Author: Mark Caicedo

Livestream Preview: Karen Jonas @ Pearl Street Warehouse, 4/2/20

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Karen Jonas performs at Pearl Street Warehouse on Jan. 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

“Physical distancing” is the new phrase to replace “social distancing.” In the music world that certainly makes sense because although artists and their fans may be physically separated from one another, live streaming has, in some ways, decreased the social distance between us.

Karen Jonas and Tim Bray (along with two Seths) will perform via livestream on Thursday, April 2, as part of Pearl Street Warehouse’s response to keeping live music “live” in this era of physical distancing.

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Livestream Preview: Eli Lev and Megan Leigh @ Facebook Live, 3/24 + 3/29/20

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Eli Lev performs at 9:30 Club on Aug. 17, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

“Missing live music? So are we! That’s why we’re about to embark on our own ‘Virtual Tour’.”

So said local recording and touring artist Eli Lev recently on his Twitter feed. He and musical partner Megan Leigh will broadcast two livestreams via Facebook Live this Tuesday, March 24, and Sunday, March 29.

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Live Review: Graham Nash @ The Birchmere — 3/10/20

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GNash18 Graham Nash performs at The Birchmere on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

With a voice as powerful and pure as ever, Graham Nash gifted a full house at The Birchmere recently with a stunning two-and-a-half-hour performance. Though many of us had seen him perform with CSN (and sometimes Y), to experience a Nash solo performance was a rare privilege.

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Live Review: Spafford @ 9:30 Club — 2/5/20

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Spafford performs at 9:30 Club on Feb. 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

One of the many pleasures of blogging for Parklife DC is getting exposed to myriad types of music throughout the DC metro area. Whether it’s experiencing a new local player putting her/ his voice out there in the cacophony of great area performers or seeing established national touring bands with huge loyal followings, the thrill of documenting live music (to my mind, its purest form) is indeed a privilege. For someone like me, with a foot in the past and one stepping into the future, I get to tread a musical path that stretches out in many directions.

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Live Review: Sweethearts of Americana @ Pearl Street Warehouse – 1/23/20

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SoA26 Three area musicians united as Sweethearts of Americana at Pearl Street Warehouse on Jan. 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

The term “Americana” conjures an earthy, roots type of music. Unfortunately, many find that label too uniform, limiting, and quite frankly, meaningless. That’s how overused the term has become.

If anything, this first show of the “Sweethearts of Americana” three-stop tour, demonstrated the diversity of the genre. Mink’s Miracle Medicine, Lauren Calve, and Karen Jonas recently each brought a distinctive flair and unique musical approach to Pearl Street Warehouse that defied Americana’s catch-all meaning.

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Live Review: The Smithereens @ State Theatre — 1/17/20

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The Smithereens perform at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Jan. 17, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

“In sickness and in health.”

Those words are normally reserved for particularly solemn occasions, but those same moments can be joyous, life-affirming and festive… much like a Smithereens concert, come to think of it. Friday night was just one of those instances with the New Jersey-based Smithereens making their 20th appearance at the State Theatre in Falls Church. For many of us battling colds, flu, and various other ailments, The Smithereens energetic, exuberant, and healing music was just the right medicine.

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Live Review: Near Northeast @ Comet Pizza Ping Pong — 1/9/20

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Near Northeast performs at Comet Ping Pong on Jan. 9, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Watching and hearing Near Northeast’s evolution has been a wonderful musical journey. Since 2016, when I first became acquainted with this DC-based quartet, I’ve become a devoted fan of their extraordinarily crafted music.

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