Interview

Interview: Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull (@ MGM National Harbor, 3/11/19)

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Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull (Photo by Travis Latam)

Famed progressive rock band Jethro Tull released This Was, their first studio album, in 1968, and founder Ian Anderson last year began a series of concerts to commemorate the band’s 50th anniversary. The Jethro Tull 50th Anniversary show arrives at MGM National Harbor on Monday, March 11. We’re looking forward to hearing early favorites like “Aqualung,” “Thick as a Brick,” and “A Song for Jeffrey,” among others.

Parklife DC had the distinct honor of chatting with Ian about what to expect during the Jethro Tull show, how his personal experiences with the flute have evolved, and what it’s like to be a witness to key historical events and even a catalyst for cultural change.

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Interview: Kristie DiLascio of Loi Loi (@ Comet Ping Pong, 3/16/19)

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Loi Loi (Photo by Jen Meller)Kristie Di Lascio of Loi Loi (Photo by Jen Meller)

DC synthpop band Loi Loi is a local favorite here at Parklife DC, and we are excited that frontwoman Kristie Di Lascio is releasing Me Dystopia, the first full-length album by Loi Loi, via Blight Records — today, Feb. 15!

In honor of the occasion, Parklife DC chatted with Kristie about how she made the record, what it means to her, and what’s next for Loi Loi. After you read our interview with Kristie, buy Me Dystopia on Bandcamp and grab a ticket for the record release show at Comet Ping Pong on Saturday, March 16.

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Interview: Car Astor — A Rising Star

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Car Astor (Photo courtesy Reybee Inc.)

Car Astor, a very talented young electropop musician from New York City, visited DC recently. While she was here, Car sat down for a chat with Parklife DC at Union Station prior to a photo shoot for another outlet. In our interview, we dug into the future of the memorable singer-songwriter, formerly known as SEE. (This interview was edited for length and flow.)

For more information on Car Astor, visit her website.

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Interview: Jim Babjak of The Smithereens (@ State Theater, 1/18/19 )

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The Smithereens for the State Theatre show, left to right: Jim Babjak (guitar), Robin Wilson (lead vocals), Dennis Diken (drums), and Mark Mesaros (bass) (Photo courtesy Lappen Enterprises)

Power pop aficionados think of the ’70s and ’80s as the genre’s heyday — an era that included performers like Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, years that saw the emergence of bands like Big Star and Cheap Trick, and a time that culminated with the Gin Blossoms and Matthew Sweet.

For many music lovers (myself included), The Smithereens captured all the salient characteristics of a classic power pop band: the jangly ringing Byrds-like guitars, the Beach Boys’ high harmonies, the Beatles melodic lyricism… and perhaps the crunching heaviness of Black Sabbath? But The Smithereens added an East-Coast, Jersey Shore roots-rock sensibility.

Mark Caicedo of Parklife DC recently chatted with Jim Babjak, guitarist of The Smithereens, in anticipation of the band’s show at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Jan. 18.

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Interview: Jason Bonham (@ The Fillmore Silver Spring, 11/25/18)

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Jason Bonham (Photo courtesy Lappen Enterprises)

Any music lover will tell you, rhythm is an essential ingredient of a song. Any musician will also tell you that percussion was the first musical instrument. Ancient peoples discovered that banging on things would create patterns and melodies one could move to and feel deep inside. Since those first humans struck a piece of bark or a stretched animal skin, the tympani, the gong, the dulcimer, and the piano, among other percussion instruments, have become central to orchestras, jazz combos, pop groups, and marching bands.

When it comes to drummers, one of the greatest modern drummers ever to play was surely John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. Recently, ParklifeDC had the pleasure of speaking with drummer Jason Bonham, John’s son, in anticipation of Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening appearance at The Fillmore Silver Spring this Sunday, Nov. 25.

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Interview: Shinedown @ Out of the Darkness Community Walk — 10/20/18

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Brent Smith and Zach Myers participate in the Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Oct. 20, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

On a picture perfect autumn day, beneath a partly sunny sky, over 3,000 people showed up to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to express emotions of love, support, and hope. On Saturday afternoon, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention held their Out of the Darkness Community Walk in the Nation’s Capital. Saturday’s walk is just one of hundreds that take place all across the country this year to help bring awareness and raise money, to work towards changing the culture’s approach to mental health.

This year, Brent Smith and Zach Myers, the lead singer and lead guitarist of Shinedown, participated in the walk.

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