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Chris Kamsch fronts Dingleberry Dynasty at The Fillmore Silver Spring on March 30, 2018. (Photo by Theresa C. Sanchez)
Let’s take an opportunity to revisit one of the more ridiculous nights of rock and roll to take place in the DC Metro area so far this year, featuring local comic band Dingleberry Dynasty!
Steel Panther perform at The Fillmore Silver Spring on March 30, 2018. (Photo by Theresa C. Sanchez)
Steel Panther — the over-the-top glam metal quartet hailing from Los Angeles — have been on their 2018 Sunset Strip Live! tour since February, following their fourth studio album Lower The Bar, which was released March 24, 2017. The bawdy comic rockers blew through the DC Metro area (with hairspray in hand) three weeks ago and played a sold-out show at The Fillmore Silver Spring with Dingleberry Dynasty opening.
Albert Hammond Jr. performs at U Street Music Hall on March 27, 2018. (Photo by Theresa C. Sanchez)
The sentiment in ZZ Top‘s 1983 hit is just as applicable today in 2018 as it was 35 years ago: “‘Cause every girl crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man.”
District ladies (and many a gentleman) know a thing or two about fashion and one fan in particular wasn’t shy about applauding the lead singer’s tailored, red three-piece ensemble. “Mr. Hammond — nice suit!”
Albert Hammond Jr. quickly responded: “In fact, it is!” The audience later learned, after witnessing the musician engage in nearly 40 minutes of of onstage cardio in that recent performance at U Street Music Hall, “Wool does not sweat well.”
Dingleberry Dynasty (Photo courtesy Chris Kamsch)
Hey, Dingleberry Dynasty, Baltimore’s best comedy band, performs tonight at The Fillmore Silver Spring, opening Steel Panther! Read our interview with Chris Kamsch of Dingleberry Dynasty, then buy a ticket to go see them.
Lucius perform at the Lincoln Theatre on March 23, 2018. (Photo by Theresa C. Sanchez)
Music brings people of all walks of life together — even two self-proclaimed “weirdos from different parts of the country” who want to pay it forward.
Fans of the Los Angeles-based fashion savvy quartet Lucius have a whole lot to repay in kind after this last Friday’s sold-out “Nudes Acoustic Tour” at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC. It was the 16th stop on their spring North American tour supporting their third full-length album, Nudes, released on Mom + Pop Music, in collaboration with Electric Lady Studios. While their new project may have only taken a couple days to record, its 10 acoustic tracks (three brand new songs, three covers, and four reworking of previous material) will keep your brain and your boombox occupied much longer.
Grace VanderWaal performs at 9:30 Club on Feb. 7, 2018. (Photo by Theresa C. Sanchez)
Kids say the darnedest things, especially when prompted by a pint-sized pop star.
“Make them say Ring Pops.”
Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene performs at 9:30 Club on Sept. 19, 2017.
Fear. Anxiety. Depression. These psychological stressors are at an all-time high, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affecting an estimated 8.3 million American adults. Sure, meditation and exercise might be tried and true methods to calm an overloaded brain, but the Canadian baroque pop collective Broken Social Scene have an alternative prescription to offer. No, it’s not “more cowbell” — although it wouldn’t be all that surprising given how many musical instruments they utilize on stage. Kevin Drew and crew employ a more engaging and face-to-face method.
Prophets of Rage perform at 9:30 Club on Sept. 14, 2017. (Photo by Paivi)
Eleven minutes and thirty-eight seconds.
That’s how long it took before a member of the rap rock supergroup Prophets of Rage mentioned the President, first numerically (“45” — not four-five, which would be South African slang for male genitalia according to Johannesburg-born comedian and Daily Show host Trevor Noah), and then by last name and the acronym POTUS. Rap legend Chuck D muttered the surname and it was clear that the call to action against and the critiques of the current White House occupant weren’t going to end there.
Rob Grote fronts The Districts at 9:30 Club on Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by Theresa C. Sanchez)
The Districts Refresh Dehydrated Fans with Tall Serving of Rock
“Hydrate yourselves: naturally, mentally, in every way you possibly can. Even, politically […]” said songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Sam Owens at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., on a recent Friday.
Who better to advise on matters of liquid nourishment than the frontman for the New York-based band Sam Evian, who shares part of its moniker with the French brand of premium (see what I did there) mineral water that boasts the tagline “Live Young.” Given the demographic of the audience, he was spot on. Continue Reading
Yukimi Nagano fronts Little Dragon at 9:30 Club on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017. (Photo by Theresa C. Sanchez)
Good things come in small packages.
Standing just barely 5 feet tall, the Swedish singer-songwriter Yukimi Nagano is no exception. Last Tuesday and Wednesday night, Little Dragon fans in attendance at the 9:30 Club were transported to the future, and not just the weekend. Attendees accustomed to rock and roll gigs might also argue the neon kaleidoscope-colored lighting and the mobile-like twinkling backdrop also transformed the space into that of a rave. The soulful, electro pop quartet who formed in 1996 (while still in high school) played back-to-back shows promoting their much-anticipated fifth studio album, Season High. They added an additional performance following the quick sellout of their first night.
