Local Spotlight

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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Preview: Vosh @ Le Poisson Rouge, 1/24/20

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Vosh09 Vosh performs at Union Stage in DC on Nov. 21, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Going to see Peter Murphy for his David Bowie tribute show at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City on Friday, Jan. 24? Arrive early to see dark synthpop artist Vosh, who hails from Baltimore.

Who is Vosh?

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Preview: Sweethearts of Americana @ Pearl Street Warehouse, 1/23/20

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Karen Jonas (Photo by Amber Renee)

Three rockin’ lady songwriters — Karen Jonas, Lauren Calve, and Melissa E. Wright (of Mink’s Miracle Medicine) — take over Pearl Street Warehouse on Thursday, Jan. 23, in an show appropriately titled Sweethearts of Americana.

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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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Live Review: Time Is Fire @ Pie Shop — 1/3/20

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TimeIsFire32 Time Is Fire performs at Pie Shop on Jan. 3, 2020. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Have you ever seen a performance so unexpected that you were immediately inspired to share what you saw with anyone who will listen? I felt that way about DC psych rockers Time Is Fire when first I saw them at Black Cat several years ago. The arresting quintet was unlike any local band ever I imagined: Fronted by an Iranian singer, the gents burst with lively fire and joyful life.

Time Is Fire appeared at Pie Shop recently, and I had the opportunity to catch them again on an energetic bill, where three bands drew a big crowd to the buzzy upstairs music hall within Dangerously Delicious Pies.

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Live Review: Park Snakes @ Pie Shop — 1/3/20

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Park Snakes rock Pie Shop on Jan. 3, 2020. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Ever wonder what it might have been like to catch the ascension New York post-punk bands in the early to mid ’80s? Well, wonder no more. Get yourself to a show by DC’s own Park Snakes to experience the thrill of what it must have been like to see breakout bands performing at places like CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City.

The trio reminded DC of its bonafides at Pie Shop recently in a robust show that kept the crowded room dancing.

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