Destroyer performs at Black Cat on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock.)
Strange times are best scored with a bizarre and darkly complex soundtrack. We are clearly in such times, and thanks to the Black Cat’s eclectic schedule, including the occasional Canadian band, DC area fans were recently given a healthy dose of avant-garde rock, only a couple days before local venues started canceling shows.
Colin Newman performs with Wire at Union Stage on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Paivi Salonen)
For over 40 years, Wire has been one of the most innovative bands to come out of the United Kingdom, if not the world. Since their 1977 debut, Pink Flag, they’ve shifted their musical style with almost every album. Beginning as a stripped-down, breakneck-paced punk affair, Wire has embraced new textures and sounds, including electronic music.
The band’s recent show at DC’s Union Stage began with a 45-minute DJ set of electronic music, with one notable composition that sounded like a fusion of Ennio Morricone and ambient electronics.
Music gear on DC9’s stage (Photo by Jon)
Prior the declaration of a national emergency on March 13, DC’s IMP concert venues, including 9:30 Club and The Anthem, declared they would voluntarily close down through March 31 as part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
But a clarified order issued by DC’s mayor on Sunday shut both venues indefinitely all the same.
Lankum (Photo courtesy Rough Trade Records)
The droning guitars and eerie pipes of the Irish folk band Lankum have led some to describe their music as apocalyptic. On the evening before the declaration of the coronavirus pandemic as a US national emergency, the band darkly joked, “Thanks a million for taking your lives into your own hands.”
Frontman Ian Lynch added, “We kind of feel like the band on The Titanic.”
Graham Nash performs at The Birchmere on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
With a voice as powerful and pure as ever, Graham Nash gifted a full house at The Birchmere recently with a stunning two-and-a-half-hour performance. Though many of us had seen him perform with CSN (and sometimes Y), to experience a Nash solo performance was a rare privilege.
Heart Bones perform at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Katherine Gaines)
Heart Bones might be the least pretentious band in existence. They hop on stage looking like somebody’s embarrassing parents in their matching khaki shorts, and walk away sweating through their own faces on their T-shirts.
On a recent night at the Metro Gallery, Heart Bones danced to their hearts’ content.
Nap Eyes performs at Black Cat on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)
When Canadian bands make their way into the United States, they oftentimes tour with a posse of fellow Canucks. Such was the case recently at the Black Cat, where Nap Eyes performed as the opening act for a much-anticipated Destroyer show.
The Lil Smokies jam on stage at DC’s legendary 9:30 Club, March 7, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
The Lil Smokies had March 7 circled on their calendar for quite some time. For several months, the progressive bluegrass band from Missoula, Montana, anxiously anticipated stepping onto the stage at DC’s legendary 9:30 Club for the very first time.
IMP reacted to a call from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to cancel all gatherings of 1,000 or more people for the month of March by canceling all concerts at 9:30 Club, The Anthem, and Lincoln Theatre, as well as its bookings at U Street Music Hall, until April 1.
The promoter made the cancellations as part of the city’s efforts to contain the coronavirus.
Raul Malo (foreground) fronts The Mavericks (Photo by David McClister)
(Editor’s note: This show was rescheduled from March 25 due to the coronavirus threat.)
Raul Malo is best known as the frontman of critically acclaimed band The Mavericks, who uniquely fuse classic honky tonk, rockabilly, Tejano, and pop, as well as his own Cuban background. He also released a number of well-received solo albums, mainly during a period of hiatus for the band.
Parklife DC’s Mark Engleson interviewed Raul in advance of his solo date at The Birchmere on Monday, July 13. They talked about his projects, his approach to production and songwriting, his musical background and influences, and the upcoming concert.
