Live Review: DRUM TAO @ Strathmore Music Center — 2/7/20

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February 11, 2020

DRUM TAO performs at Strathmore Music Center on Feb. 7, 2020. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)

The drum, a percussion tool sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands, is one of the most recognizable and established instruments in any tribal community. You might say the drum is the heartbeat of the tribe. Those who wield it and those hypnotized by its depth are led to reach into their souls and find peace and harmony in the lowest of its tones.

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Live Review: Hawktail @ Songbyrd Music House — 2/7/20

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Mark Engleson

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February 11, 2020

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Hawktail (Photo by Jody March)

String band music is often equated, at least in contemporary America, with bluegrass, but this is far from the whole story. Bluegrass only emerged in the 1930s (at the earliest), while string music is much, much older. The term “old-time” is used to describe music with even deeper roots in the 19th century (and sometimes even further back in history). It is old-time music, with its connection to the more distant past and world folk music, that the instrumental quartet Hawktail plays.

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Live Review: Midge Ure @ City Winery — 2/5/20

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Mickey McCarter

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February 11, 2020

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Midge Ure performs at City Winery DC on Feb. 5, 2020. (Photo by Nalinee Darmrong)

Midge Ure, the gregarious former frontman of Ultravox, answered questions and performed tunes from his solo career, Visage, Ultravox, and even the Rich Kids, in a recent evening of story and song at City Winery in Washington, DC.

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Live Review: Spafford @ 9:30 Club — 2/5/20

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Mark Caicedo

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February 11, 2020

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Spafford performs at 9:30 Club on Feb. 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

One of the many pleasures of blogging for Parklife DC is getting exposed to myriad types of music throughout the DC metro area. Whether it’s experiencing a new local player putting her/ his voice out there in the cacophony of great area performers or seeing established national touring bands with huge loyal followings, the thrill of documenting live music (to my mind, its purest form) is indeed a privilege. For someone like me, with a foot in the past and one stepping into the future, I get to tread a musical path that stretches out in many directions.

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Preview: YBN Cordae @ The Fillmore Silver Spring, 2/14/20

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Parklifer

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February 10, 2020

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YBN Cordae (Photo by Jimmy Fontaine)

Shortly after being nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song, YBN Cordae hit the road for his second headlining The Lost Boy Tour. The young rapper performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Friday, Feb. 14.

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Preview: Lower Dens @ Songbyrd Music House, 2/14/20

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Parklifer

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February 10, 2020

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Lower Dens (Photo by Torso)

Lower Dens released their newest creation — The Competition — on Ribbon Music, at the end of last year. The Baltimore dream poppers perform at Songbyrd Music House on Friday, Feb. 14.

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Live Review: Calexico and Iron & Wine @ The Anthem — 2/7/20

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Matt Ruppert

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February 10, 2020

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Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) at The Anthem, Feb. 7, 2020. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)

Some nights are better than other nights.

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Live Review: The Dustbowl Revival @ 9:30 Club — 2/7/20

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Ari Strauss

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February 10, 2020

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The Dustbowl Revival frontman Z. Lupetin performs at 9:30 Club, Feb. 7, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

LA-based roots band The Dustbowl Revival in town to promote its new album, Is It You, Is It Me, hit the stage at 9:30 Club on Feb. 7 with a bit of trepidation.

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Live Review: Erin Rae @ Songbyrd Music House — 2/4/20

By

Casey Vock

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February 10, 2020

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Erin Rae performs at Songbyrd Music House on Feb. 4, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Some musicians are taken off guard playing downstairs for the first time at Songbyrd Music House, a narrow room with low ceilings and a small stage dubbed the “Byrd Cage,” kind of like the old tavern venue in your college town.

But on Feb. 4, Erin Rae took the stage as a confident, beaming guitarslinger with a bright smile and a charisma that magnetized the audience’s attention while she carefully double-checked the tuning on her instrument.

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