Live Review: Franz Ferdinand @ 9:30 Club — 8/10/22

Posted on August 15, 2022 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Franz Ferdinand, Glasgow, new wave, post-punk, Scotland.

Alex Kapranos fronts Franz Ferdinand at 9:30 Club on Aug. 10, 2022. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

In a show otherwise as smooth as silk at 9:30 Club, Scots new wavers Franz Ferdinand’s recent concert saw a lone tumultuous moment during the fourth song of the set, “Evil Eye” (which hails from their 2013 album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action).

One troublemaker several rows back from the stage apparently started throwing punches, and Franz frontman Alex Kapranos stopped the show dead to check out the perpetrator’s *wrong* thoughts and wrong action! The house lights came up slightly, and Alex scoffed at the guilty party.

“Really? A fight!” Alex exclaimed. “We’re here for a good time. This is no place to fight.” With the assistance of the lights, 9:30 Club bouncers identified the troublemaker and escorted him out of the venue.

Snapshots: Fleet Foxes @ Merriweather Post Pavilion — 8/9/22

Posted on August 15, 2022 by Kyle Gustafson in Live Review and tagged chamber pop, Fleet Foxes, folk, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Seattle, Washington.

***Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)***

Like many of those in attendance, I spent a good bit of time reveling in the lush soundscapes of Fleet Foxes’ 2020 album, Shore, during the pandemic. The band’s tour recently brought them to Merriweather Post Pavilion and proved a great showcase for the album. The set opened with the album’s first three songs and featured seven of the songs overall.

Live Review: Kehlani @ The Anthem — 8/7/22

Posted on August 15, 2022 by AJ Waugh in Live Review and tagged California, Kehlani, neo-soul, Oakland, R&B, soul, The Anthem.

***Kehlani performs for a sold-out crowd at the Anthem on Aug. 7, 2022. (Photo by AJ Waugh)***

Kehlani’s Blue Water Road Trip Tour stopped through a jam-packed Anthem recently along with the DMV’s own Rico Nasty in support of her latest album Blue Water Road. The super high-energy performance from Rico immediately turned the crowd up, as they went crazy for hit records like “RAGE”, “OHFR?” and “Poppin” setting the bar before Kehlani even hit the stage.

The lights fell dark and screams filled the room as Kehlani took the stage along with her dancers and band.

Live Review: Summer Spirit Festival @ Merriweather Post Pavilion — 8/7/22

Posted on August 12, 2022 by Will Colbert in Live Review and tagged Anthony Hamilton, Erykah Badu, go-go, hip hop, J. Brown, Junkyard Band, Marsha Ambrosius, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Method Man, music festival, R&B, Redman, soul, Summer Spirit Festival.

***Erykah Badu performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Aug. 7, 2022. (Photo by Will Colbert)***

August in the DMV is synonymous with sweltering humidity, but if you’re a fan of soul, R&B, Go-Go, and ‘90s hip hop, it also yields the Summer Spirit Festival.

This year’s recent daylong concert event at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, featured Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton, Method Man and Redman, Marsha Ambrosius, Junkyard Band, and J. Brown.

Live Review: Beach Bunny @ 9:30 Club — 8/8/22

Posted on August 10, 2022 by Parklifer in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Beach Bunny, bedroom pop, Brooke Landers, Chicago, Illinois, power pop.

Beach Bunny performs at 9:30 Club on Aug. 8, 2022. (Words and Photos by Brooke Landers)

The four-piece soft pop rock of Beach Bunny played out an unassuming, yet unwaveringly charming set to a crowd of bobbing heads and swaying bodies recently at 9:30 Club.

Live Review: Lyle Lovett and Chris Isaak @ Wolf Trap — 8/6/22

Posted on August 9, 2022 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Chris Isaak, country, country rock, Lyle Lovett, Marc Shea, Rowland Salley, singer-songwriter, Wolf Trap.

Chris Isaak performs at Wolf Trap on Aug. 6, 2022. (Photos by Marc Shea)

I didn’t have any any idea of the Easter egg that Chris Isaak was going to include in his recent 90-minute set at the Wolf Trap, when he and Lyle Lovett appeared as co-headliners.

Playing bass for Chris was Rowland Salley, who wrote “Killing The Blues,” a song that has been covered by John Prine and Allison Krauss and Robert Plant, to name just a few. The audience got to watch Salley perform his song, after which Chris said some lovely words about seeing a song performed by the writer.

Snapshots: The Driver Era w/ Summer Salt and Almost Monday @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 8/5/22

Posted on August 9, 2022 by Parklifer in Live Review and tagged Almost Monday, Brooke Landers, California, funk, R&B, Summer Salt, The Driver Era, The Fillmore Silver Spring.

The Driver Era performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Aug. 5, 2022. (Photos by Brooke Landers)

Brothers Rocky and Ross Lynch, who form the musical duo The Driver Era, performed at The Fillmore Silver Spring recently! They brought along openers Summer Salt and Almost Monday, and Brooke Landers was there to photograph the concert.

These are Brooke’s first photos for Parklife, and we think they really take you to the show!

Live Review: Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives @ The Birchmere — 8/4/22

Posted on August 9, 2022 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, bluegrass, country, Marty Stuart, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Nashville, Rashad Polk, Tennessee, The Birchmere.

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives (Photo by Alysse Gafkjen)

Gathered around a single mic at The Birchmere recently, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives played an all-acoustic cover of Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down A Dream.” Kenny Vaughan, a winner of the Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year, played acoustic guitar. Harry Stinson was on snare drum, and Chris Scruggs, grandson of bluegrass scion Earl Scruggs, was on upright bass.

The cover encapsulated a lot of what this band does: They honor country traditions, but their sonic palette extends well into rock & roll.

Live Review: Pink Sweat$ @ Pier Six Pavilion — 8/3/22

Posted on August 8, 2022 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pier Six Pavilion, Pink Sweats, R&B, soul.

***Pink Sweat$ cool downs the heat at Pier Six Pavilion on Aug. 3, 2022. (Photo by David LaMason)***

It’s such a cool feeling to come to a show and find something new, something you didn’t expect to find. And opening for Alicia Keys at Baltimore’s Pier Six Pavilion recently, David Bowden, known by the stage name Pink Sweats, brought the perfect balance of charm and soul.

Live Review: Scarface @ Howard Theatre — 8/3/22

Posted on August 8, 2022 by AJ Waugh in Live Review and tagged hip hop, Houston, Howard Theatre, Scarface, Texas.

***Scarface performs at his farewell DC show at Howard Theatre on Aug. 3, 2022. (Photo by AJ Waugh)***

Houston hip-hop legend Scarface’s Alive and Well Farewell Tour made its DC stop last week at a sold-out Howard Theatre to tear down the venue one last time. Performing along side his band Formaldehyde Funk, the night was a celebration of Scarface’s 34-year-long career as well as his appreciation for more time. After some recent serious health scares the 51-year-old rapper announced this would be his final tour, although he’s announced retirement in the past.