Strutman Lane, the genre-blurring musical collective from the outskirts of DC, headlined a homegrown band showcase at the 9:30 Club on Saturday night, delivering a dazzling set of funk, pop, and soul to a packed house. Sharing the bill were the bluesy, hard-rocking Rock Creek Kings and rising singer-songwriter Brooklyn Kohl, making her debut at the storied venue.
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Opening the night, Brooklyn Kohl cast a spell over the crowd with a warm, intimate set that felt more like a living room session than a first-time performance on one of the city’s most iconic stages. Drawing from her roots in pop, R&B, and jazz, Brooklyn performed original tracks like “Worth the Wait” and “Heaven,” showcasing her smooth vocals and sharp lyrical storytelling. Best known for her work as a songwriter for others, she stepped fully into her own artistry here — confident, poised, and captivating. The audience responded in kind, meeting her quiet moments with hushed attention and erupting into heartfelt applause as each song came to a close.
The mood shifted as Rock Creek Kings took the stage next, unleashing a surge of classic rock swagger fused with bluesy intensity. Their set was a masterclass in live dynamics, featuring soaring vocals, gritty guitar work, and explosive sax solos. Anchored by the band’s latest single “Sometimes I,” which built from a slow-burn intro into a fist-pumping, crowd-wide singalong, their performance was nothing short of electrifying. The band’s synergy and stage presence proved why they’re known for delivering reliably high-octane shows.
Check out Strutman Lane performing “Restless Nights” on YouTube:
By the time Strutman Lane took the stage around 9:30 PM, the energy in the room was palpable. The eight-piece outfit wasted no time diving into their signature blend of brassy, bass-driven funk and sultry soul. Guitarists and vocalists Adam Landa and Coby Siegel commanded the front of the stage alongside powerhouse vocalist Ashley Huber, while Chris Lawrence on sax and Alec Aldred on trumpet gave the band its bold, unmistakable brass flavor. Jack Gruber’s silky keys, Evan Williamson’s grooving bass lines, and Henry Godfrey’s tight percussion filled out a rhythm section that kept the dancefloor moving from the first downbeat to the final encore.
Fans had been buzzing about this show since Strutman Lane wrapped up a string of sold-out East Coast dates earlier this year — and their 9:30 Club headline set more than delivered. Their originals pulsed with confidence, charm, and showmanship — and their live reinvention of Taylor Swift’s “Lavender Haze” — the opening track on their self-titled EP — was a revelation, replacing Swift’s dreamy synth-pop with brassy funk grooves that had the crowd rethinking how covers should be done.
Stream Strutman Lane’s self-title EP on Spotify:
The band closed the night with a thunderous encore, leaving the crowd sweaty, smiling, and shouting for more.
Visit Strutman Lane online for more music!
Enjoy some photos of Strutman Lane, Brooklyn Kohl, and Rock Creek Kings performing at 9:30 Club on July 19, 2025. All images are copyrighted and courtesy of Ari Strauss.
Strutman Lane
Brooklyn Kohl
Rock Creek Kings
