Local Spotlight

Stars and Bars: Welcome to U Street Music Hall

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The entrance to U Street Music Hall (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

You could learn a lot from DJ Will Eastman. One of the many things: Should you decide on a career change, put your whole heart into it.

That’s what Will did when he opened U Street Music Hall in 2010. You see, he previously worked full-time for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Meanwhile, DJ’ed all around town and beyond at 9:30 Club, Black Cat, and more, and he saw the need for a club wholly dedicated to hot dance nights with big beats.

Enter U Hall, a club for DJs by DJs.

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Stars and Bars: Welcome to the Lincoln Theatre

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The Lincoln Theatre (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

The Lincoln Theatre in DC is a grand old facility first opened in 1922. It was shuttered after the 1968 race riots and reopened in 1994.

It’s owned by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which awarded a contract to IMP, the promotions company that operates 9:30 Club and The Anthem, to book its concert schedule in recent years.

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Around Town: 2020 Wammie Awards Survey

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The MusicianShip Executive Director Jeffrey Tribble speaks at the 2019 Wammie Awards at the Lincoln Theatre. (Photo by Shaughn Cooper)

The Washington Area Music Awards (known as the Wammies) were originally scheduled to be announced in an awards ceremony at the Lincoln Theatre this past weekend. That didn’t happen due to the DC citywide lockdown and the ban on mass gatherings issued by Mayor Muriel Bowser to combat the coronavirus threat several weeks ago.

The MusicianShip, the nonprofit producer of the Wammie Awards, has been working with DC city’s government and health and arts partners to learn more about how it might deliver the 2020 Wammie Awards winners in a remote or virtual format.

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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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Stars and Bars: Welcome to DC9

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DC9 Nightclub (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

When you Google “DC9 Nightclub,” the search engine giant helpfully informs you that “the live music venue” is a “Tri-level hipster hangout with snug basement bar, music stage with dance parties and rooftop deck.”

What that doesn’t fully tell you, however, is that DC9 is perhaps the most chill spot to discover the best rising bands, find the best affordable cocktail to put you in the zone, and altogether check your troubles at the door.

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Stars and Bars: Welcome to the Black Cat

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The Black Cat (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

The Black Cat is regarded as home to DC’s punk music scene. It hosts the likes of Discord bands like Hammered Hulls and traveling skate punk bands like FIDLAR, for sure, but there’s much more to the Black Cat.

With its 700-person capacity, the Black Cat is the touring home to indie rockers of all stripes, whether climbing their way up the charts or legacy bands that have won a consistent and loyal following.

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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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