Full of their signature personality and style, Sparks recently spotlighted a new album — titled MAD! (their 26th studio album) — in a buoyant show at the Lincoln Theatre.
It’s a catchy effort full of the Sparks brand of wry humor and their knack for wordplay. It’s also full of worthy songs, continuing a decade long hot streak for the world’s first, and arguably greatest, synthpop duo.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre recently turned the 9:30 Club into a slow-motion cyclone, building long, looping grooves that rewarded patience and volume.
Nalinee Darmrong was there to capture the action in pictures!
Toronto punk heroes PUP released their pummeling and cathartic fifth LP, Who Will Look After The Dogs?, earlier this year via Little Dipper/ Rise Records, and now they are on a co-headline tour with their long-time buddy and collaborator Jeff Rosenstock!
Rilo Kiley at The Anthem: A Reunion That Felt Like Coming Home
Word and photos by Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography
Walking into The Anthem on a gray September night, you could feel the buzz before you even saw the crowd. It wasn’t the usual low murmur of people waiting for doors — it was louder, almost impatient, like a collective whisper of “I can’t believe this is actually happening.” Rilo Kiley, the band that taught a whole generation that indie rock could be both vulnerable and biting, finally standing together onstage again in Washington, DC.
In heartfelt remarks in a recent performance at The Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida, Howard Jones recalled how his mother accompanied him on tour and helped to sell merchandise. His mother and father become known figures among the tour faithful in the heyday of Howard’s pop chart success, and fans often gathered at shows early in part to see them!
Howard shared the remembrance while introducing the song “Look Mama” from his seminal album Dream into Action, which he is touring as a 40th anniversary celebration across the United States throughout September. Although “Look Mama” wasn’t about his own mother (she was crestfallen to think the lyrics might have been a pointed criticism of her parenting), Howard nonetheless dedicated the rarely performed hit single to her memory at The Mahaffey Theater.
I had the best Britpop weekend ever last weekend, starting with Pulp’s triumphant return to the District of Columbia a mere 27 years after their last performance. If that wasn’t enough I flew out to LA first thing on Sunday to see Oasis for my fourth show on their Live 25 tour, this time at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (it was fucking mega).
As such, I am jet lagged and a bit fried, so I will once again lean on the crutch of random thoughts fashioned as bullet points.
SE SO NEON recently transformed the 9:30 Club into a vivid soundscape, drawing heavily from their latest album NOW while reaching back through their catalog to keep the set unpredictable and dynamic.
Micaela Cerball was there to photograph the show.
Dummy — the Los Angeles band comprised of Alex Ewell, Emma Maatman, Nathan O’Dell, and Joe Trainor — released a new album, Free Energy, in 2024 via Trouble In Mind Records. They allowed that up this year with a remix album, Bubbelibrium DLC!
Now, Dummy play live at Songbyrd Music House on Sunday, Sept. 14.
Trying to describe a Swans concert to someone who has never seen the band is like trying to describe some place you’ve never been to someone who speaks a different language. That’s what happened to me when security at the Howard Theater asked me to prepare them for what was in store.
“I’ve only seen them once before”, I warned, “so I can only speak to that experience.” They nodded their understanding.
Garage released a new album, Let All That We Imagine Be Light via BMG, in May. The famed alt-rock quartet have hit the road in what frontwoman Shirley Manson is saying is likely their last significant US headlining tour ever!
In DC, Garbage perform at The Anthem on Wednesday, Sept. 17, with openers Starcrawler — an appropriate match!
