Snapshots: Buddy Guy w/ Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Judith Hill @ Wolf Trap — 6/21/25
Blues legend Buddy Guy recently dropped by The Filene Center at Wolf Trap for a great show. Steve Satzberg was there to take some pictures!
Snapshots: Softcult w/ She’s Green @ Black Cat — 6/18/25
I’ve been a fan of the band Softcult for a little while now. They’ve got this dreamy, grungy sound. It’s almost like Lush meets Failure. So when I saw that they were playing Black Cat, I jumped on the opportunity to cover the show. Black Cat is always a great place to see a show. It’s intimate, so you get a chance to get up close and personal with the bands.
Snapshots: Erykah Badu @ Wolf Trap — 6/14/25
Neo-soul songstress Erykah Badu recently preformed live at Wolf Trap. Chris Castillo was there to photograph the show!
Live Review: Warped Tour DC 2025 feat. All Time Low, Avril Lavigne, Pennywise @ RFK Stadium Grounds — 6/14-6/15/25
Against the ruined husk of RFK Stadium, more than 90 bands performed in celebration of the Warped Tour’s 30th anniversary on a rainy June weekend.
Live Review: Blacktop Mojo @ Tally Ho Theater — 6/21/25
The Devil Had the Night Off, So Blacktop Mojo Took Over
Words and photos by Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography
I don’t even know where to start without sounding like I’m trying to sell you a bootleg T-shirt out of the back of a Camaro.
Blacktop Mojo brought the roof down at Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia, on Saturday night — and it wasn’t even a fair fight. The crowd didn’t stand a chance. From the first wail of “Wicked Woman” to the gutsy roar of “Dream On” (yep, that one), it felt like the place was dipped in kerosene and the whole band walked in holding matches.
But let’s rewind the tape a little.
Live Review: Kelsey Waldon w/ Olivia Ellen Lloyd @ Pearl Street Warehouse — 6/19/25
Even as the country mainstream has veered ever closer to pop and arena rock, singer-songwriters like Kelsey Waldon carry the torch for its traditions. The late John Prine saw the raw talent native of the incredibly named Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky — as celebrated in the autobiographical “Kentucky, 1988” — signing her to his Oh Boy label and taking her on the road as his opening act. Like Prine, Waldon’s songs have an elegant economy, telling the stories of everyday people and their struggles in the heart of America. (Though Prine grew up in the Chicago area, his parents came from coal mining country in Kentucky.)
In her recent appearance at the Pearl Street Warehouse,Kelsey and her band tore it up at the with a set of hard-hitting hocky-tonkers that would’ve made George, Waylon, or Dwight proud.
Live Review: Mannequin Pussy w/ Deux Visages @ 9:30 Club — 6/18/25
Ranting, chanting, and releasing their signature-loud primal scream set the stage for an explosive set by Mannequin Pussy at 9:30 Club! The band recently played non-stop punk, pop. and pure rock and roll to a sold-out crowd for a second night in a row for a date on their I Got Heaven Tour.
Live Review: Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band @ Wolf Trap — 6/17/25
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band recently rolled into The Filene Center at Wolf Trap on a weekday, and the joint was packed like it was a Saturday. People came early. And I don’t mean “caught the last half of the opener” early — I mean tailgating-with-folding-chairs-at-4:30pm early. Parking lot beers, lawn chairs half buried in the muddy grass, coolers full of “summer water,” couples slow-dancing to Spotify Beatles playlists from a Bluetooth speaker duct-taped to a stroller. It felt like a gathering of the faithful. Or maybe a class reunion where everyone brought the best version of their younger self out of retirement for one night.
Live Review: Nicki Bluhm w/ Brian K & The Parkway @ Jammin’ Java — 6/17/25
Though it’s long been home to country music, Nashville has, more recently, attracted musicians in a wider variety of genres and become central to the popular music industry. Nicki Bluhm, a Northern California native who moved to Music City six years ago, is as influenced by soul, blues, and R&B as she is by country. A fine vocalist in addition to her songwriting chops, she’s worked in the jam band scene with the Infamous Stringdusters and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead.
In her recent appearance at Jammin Java, accompanied by Cam Neal and Kai Welch, Bluhm previewed songs, many of which she was playing in public for the first time, from the album she is releasing later this year.
Live Review: The Kills @ Baltimore Soundstage – 6/15/25
The Kills have been going strong for nearly 25 years, a milestone for any band. Watching the duo of vocalist Alison Mosshart and guitarist Jamie Hince recently at the Baltimore Soundstage, though, it felt like the years have only honed that frenetic sound to a point.
The band has been touring with Queens of the Stone Age but opened up a select few headlining dates across the USA, including Charm City. And I’m glad they did as they brought a healthy dose of garage rock with them.
