In what has become one of the defining starts of the summer concert season at The Filene Center at Wolf Trap, The Avett Brothers recently returned to Vienna, Virginia, on an unseasonably chilly evening. That chill, though, didn’t last as Scott and Seth Avett along with Bob Crawford heated things up.
With a stage set up that looked like grandma’s porch, Smino’s Kountry Kousins Tour, took over a sold-out Echostage this past week with a show that made everyone in attendance feel like they were at the family reunion. With support from newcomer Samara Cyn, the Kountry Kousins tour follows Smino’s latest project Maybe in Nirvana from late last year. These two artists — sharing an ability to seamlessly weave back and forth between hip hop and R&B in their music — were truly musical cousins.
I first heard of Smino when I saw him perform with a broken foot on the small stage at Broccoli City Festival way back in 2017. He caught my eye when I noticed that his crutches had their own Air Force Ones but the music is what kept me around for the entire set and he’s maintained a place in my rotation of favorite artists since. I got the chance to cover his Luv Is 4ever Tour that he co-headlined with J.I.D back in 2023 (check out the review) and jumped at the chance to check out his latest set.
Virgil was pacing nervously in the drizzle of a parking lot just off Sean Taylor Road outside Northwest Stadium, muttering something cryptic about brown M&Ms when I found him. Nearby, tailgaters braved the steady rain beneath hastily erected canopies, cooking pork belly on makeshift, beer-can-leveled griddles. Virgil’s muttering broke only to answer a passing fan’s casual shrug: “They’re just a band.”
Virgil and I locked eyes, simultaneously correcting this heinous misconception: “Metallica are the band!”
Despite the cooler weather Saturday evening, the Dave Matthews Band delivered another incredible performance at Merriweather Post Pavilion as their 2025 Summer Tour continues to heat up.
Recently, Matt Berninger, the lead singer and principal lyrists for the Brooklyn via Cincinnati indie rock band The National, released his second solo album, Get Sunk. And he brought his solo tour behind the album to the Lincoln Theatre — with emerging singer-songwriter Ronboy (the stage name of Julia Laws) opening the show and playing keys in his band.
The Lincoln suited Berninger’s vibe perfectly; the music was definitely rock, but an elegant, one might even say debonair, take on it. Berninger is known for brooding lyrics delivered in an often somber baritone, and his solo debut, 2020’s Serpentine Prison, fits that description. Get Sunk is, comparatively, a brighter more optimistic album, fueled by a move with his family to Connecticut after a decade in Los Angeles.
Two decades, six albums, multiple world tours, and a variety of solo projects under their belt, the vital force that is Bloc Party hit the road in celebration of their beloved debut record, Silent Alarm. Kele Okereke and company perform live at The Anthem in DC on Monday, June 2.
The fiercely independent Carsie Blanton recently visited Union Stage on her 2025 tour, performing crowd-pleasing tunes from her recent albums as well as some unreleased songs.
Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the show.
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals launch a 15-date summer tour, starting at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington DC on Friday, May 30.
The tour will see Harper perform fan-favorites from his extensive catalog as well as tracks from his critically acclaimed 2023 album, Wide Open Light (Chrysalis Records).
Metallica to Bring Groundbreaking M72 Stadium Tour to Northwest Stadium
Words by Evan Henry
Photos by Gerald Henry
On May 28, Metallica will storm into Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, bringing their highly anticipated M72 Tour, an ambitious and innovative production that promises a spectacular, immersive experience.
Annie DiRusso recently brought her charm, humor, and considerable talent to the 9:30 Club. Not only that, but her set brought a dedicated fanbase that made sure not a moment of silence occurred throughout the night. After all, it was her biggest headline show to date, so it was bound to be a special one.
