The Wood Brothers (Photo by Alysse Gafkjen)
On Jan. 24, The Wood Brothers release Kingdom in My Mind, the band’s seventh studio album, via via Honey Jar/Thirty Tigers. The gents then play at Rams Head Live on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
J. Roddy Walston and Palm Palm rock a sold-out Ottobar on Jan. 19, 2020. (Photo by David LaMason)
In October of last year, J. Roddy Walston and the Business, posted through social media that “after 14 years, four albums and 889 shows of being creatively betrothed solely to each other, now feels like the time to explore other possibilities…” After sold-out sets in Baltimore and Richmond, J. Roddy Walston and the Business and their raucous brand of Southern rock and Stones-inspired music was on an indefinite hiatus.
But the story doesn’t end there.
David Lowery fronts Camper Van Beethoven at 9:30 Club on Jan. 18, 2020 (Photo by David LaMason)
As I was listening to Camper Van Beethoven at the 9:30 Club recently, I was reminded of the title of a Spotify playlist of ’80s alternative rock: Left of the Dial. To the crowd’s delight, the band opened with their delightfully odd cult hit “Take the Skinheads Bowling,” from their 1985 debut LP, Telephone Free Landslide Victory.
YACHT performs at Songbyrd Music House on Jan. 15, 2020. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Editor: We have updated this post with more photos of YACHT performing at Rough Trade NYC on Jan. 18, 2020!
Inspired in part by an application called the Verbasizer offered by David Bowie in the ’90s, synthpop trio YACHT wrote an album in collaboration with an AI program last year.
YACHT performed the appealing results in its entirety at Songbyrd Music House recently, offering the 10 new wave tracks of Chain Tripping live in reverse order of the record. And interestingly, the songs sounded like something that could have sprung directly from a Bowie collaboration with Brian Eno in the ’70s.
Vosh performs at Union Stage in DC on Nov. 21, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Going to see Peter Murphy for his David Bowie tribute show at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City on Friday, Jan. 24? Arrive early to see dark synthpop artist Vosh, who hails from Baltimore.
Who is Vosh?
The Smithereens perform at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Jan. 17, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
“In sickness and in health.”
Those words are normally reserved for particularly solemn occasions, but those same moments can be joyous, life-affirming and festive… much like a Smithereens concert, come to think of it. Friday night was just one of those instances with the New Jersey-based Smithereens making their 20th appearance at the State Theatre in Falls Church. For many of us battling colds, flu, and various other ailments, The Smithereens energetic, exuberant, and healing music was just the right medicine.
The Devil Makes Three (Photo courtesy DMK Publicity)
The Devil Makes Three, whose latest album Chains Are Broken (New West Records) debuted in the Top 10 Bluegrass Charts and has spurred a successful two-year U.S. and international tour, are showing no signs of slowing down. The Americana triumvirate has embarked on a US winter tour that includes a show at Rams Head Live on Thursday, Jan. 23.
Damien Jurado and Nick Thune perform at The Miracle Theatre on Jan. 16, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)
Critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Damien Jurado recently took part in a somewhat unusual performance at The Miracle Theater recently. He split the bill with comedian Nick Thune in an evening titled “Sad Music/Sad Comedy.”
MC Taylor fronts Hiss Golden Messenger at 9:30 Club on Jan. 15, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)
Anyone entering the 9:30 Club would have known immediately they weren’t attending any ordinary show. After all, you weren’t really passing into the familiar concrete space of the popular club at the end of the U Street Corridor. Rather, you were stepping foot into some sort of old-time fortune-teller’s boutique, a sacred space for sorcerers or sorceresses, or maybe some secret place of worship.
But, for what, those unfamiliar with Hiss Golden Messenger were probably unsure.
Grace Potter (Photo by Pamela Neal)
Grace Potter recently released Daylight, her fourth studio album, and she’s coming to DC to perform new songs at The Anthem on Saturday, Jan. 25!
