“I’m a radical motherfucker,” Steve Earle recently told the audience at The Birchmere, referring to his well-known socialist beliefs. “But we’ve lost the ability to talk to each other.”
For democracy to work, he said, we have to be able to have conversations with people we don’t agree with from the start.
It is with heavy hearts that KIX announced their retirement from performing live.
“After much thought we have decided to call it a career,” KIX lead singer Steve Whiteman said. “It was obviously not an easy decision to make, but the right one at this time in our lives for our families and the band.”
KIX’s final performance ever is set for Sunday, Sept. 17, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. KIX: Walkin’ Away, The Final Show will see the original band members Steve Whiteman, Brian Forsythe, Ronnie Younkins, Jimmy Chalfant, and longtime bassist Mark Schenker take the stage for the very last time.
Stabbing Westward released their latest album, Chasing Ghosts, in 2022, marking the influential industrial rock band’s first new LP in more than 20 years.
The industrial pioneers have been on the road, and they perform at Baltimore Soundstage on Friday, Sept. 8.
Duran Duran has begun the second leg of a 26-date North American arena tour, with both Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC joining them as special guests across the entire run.
Produced by Live Nation, THE FUTURE PAST TOUR arrives at Capital One Arena in DC on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
English singer/songwriter Beth Orton’s latest album Weather Alive (Partisan Records) was one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2022, landing on numerous year-end “best of 2022” lists including NPR, Pitchfork, and The New York Times — the latter of which praised Orton for her “modal vocal phrases and marveling [stories].”
Beth Orton performs at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, on Monday, Sept. 11.
Maryland’s Jonathan Sloane Brings Versatility and Passion to the American Roots Music Scene
Jonathan Sloane is a remarkable and incredibly versatile guitarist, songwriter, and performer who brings an impressive range of skills to the American music scene. Based in the Washington DC Metro area, Sloane’s sound intricately blends genres like blues, Americana, soul, and rock into a unique and captivating musical experience.
The Jonathan Sloane Trio next performs at Rams Head on Stage (opening Jamie McLean) on Saturday, August 26, and Hank Dietle’s Tavern on Thursday, August 31.
Writing about jam bands can be challenging. Bands like the Warren Haynes-fronted Gov’t Mule often play a set that consists of less songs, but the songs are longer, filled with extensive instrumental sections and improvisation. As a writer, it’s much easier to write about lyrics, because, well, they’re words, and my reviews are made up of words. It’s hard to write about the music, to convey sound with wholly inadequate words. Stage banter also helps me flesh out these things, and these jam bands tend to be minimal with that, often moving directly into one tune for another.
The musical prowess of Gov’t Mule, and especially Warren Haynes’s guitar, is considerable. A native of North Carolina, he became a widely sought after sideman in the ’80s. At the end of the ’80s, Greg Allman recruited him as part of the Allman Brothers Band twin guitar attack. Gov’t Mule started as a side project for Haynes in the 90s, a power trio he would play with when we wasn’t on tour or recording with the Allmans.
For 90 minutes at Wolf Trap recently, John Fogerty played nothing but hits, the majority of them from the few short years when Creedence Clearwater Revival was at the top of the music world. It’s the most excited I’ve ever seen the audience at Wolf Trap: People love John Fogerty. I’m hesitant to get on my feet during shows (bum foot), but even I was moved to get up out of my seat and celebrate the music of a genuine American icon.
Fogerty’s energetic performance was a big part of what had me on my feet. At 78 years old, John looks to be in tremendous shape, and he moved across the stage during the songs. It’s hard to really engage a crowd the size of the one at Wolf Trap, but Fogerty is a matter and he had us eating out of the palm of his hand.
Indie pop musician Cat Janice is no stranger to DC music halls — the hard-charging singer-songwriter after all won the WAMMY Award for Best Rock Artist in 2019! But she’s taking her career to the next level and recently released her official debut album.
Cat headlined a record release party for that album, Modern Medicine, at Songbyrd Music House not long ago, and Ari Strauss was there to photograph Cat and her openers, Cathy DiToro and Massie.
The rock band Cracker, which recently played at The Hamilton Live, has a strong connection to our area. In 1990, seminal alt-rock band Camper Van Beethoven disbanded. Frontman David Lowery (a native of San Antonio, Texas) relocated to Richmond, California, where he started the new project. At The Hamilton Live, they paid it back, bringing along Baltimore’s Joey Harkum to open the show.
