Jaimee Harris (Photo courtesy the artist)
If you’ve never been to a house concert, I’ll explain the concept: They’re hosted in a private home. Unlike at a venue, the host doesn’t take a cut of the cover. All of the proceeds go to the artist. House concerts are ideally intimate and wondrous experiences, and such was the case with a show by Austin singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris just outside DC metro on Saturday.
Phantogram performs at Pearl Street Warehouse on Sept. 6, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Dreampop duo Phantogram presented a free intimate show at Pearl Street Warehouse on Friday, in advance of a later big production at The Anthem, to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
At first, Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter seemed as if they might be motivated to raise awareness of the issue due to the suicide of Mark Linkous, former frontman of Virginia band Sparklehorse. But their connection to the issue turned out to be much deeper than I imagined.
Gretchen Peters (Photo by Gina Binkley)
When Gretchen Peters’ “Independence Day” came out, there were radio stations that wouldn’t play it because of its controversial subject matter: domestic violence. While the song takes place on July 4, it’s not about July 4.
Jenny Lewis (Photo courtesy Ground Control Touring)
F. Scott Fitzgerald is frequently taken out of context by people who quote him as having written that “there are no second acts in American lives.” He actually wrote, “I once thought that there were no second acts in American lives, but there was certainly to be a second act to New York’s boom days.” Like America’s greatest city, there is a second act to Jenny Lewis’s boom days. The former child and teen actress, now in her early 40s, has become an amazingly gifted songwriter and a spectacular live performer. Her dynamism was on full display at The Anthem Thursday night.
Morrissey sings at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sept. 5, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)
Steven Patrick Morrissey is an entertainer, and a really good one at that. Morrissey launched a North American Tour recently in support of a new album of covers, titled California Son, at Merriweather Post Pavilion, and he presented a straightforward but rousing show that rewarded fans with rarely performed songs and his glorious baritone.
STS9 (Photo courtesy the band)
For the first time ever, STS9 brings their acoustic Axe the Cables show to DC metro! The instrumental psychedelic funk band performs for three nights at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28, dedicating the first evening of the residency to Axe the Cables. All three nights are available at one special price.
Black Pumas (Photo by Greg Giannukos)
Austin duo Black Pumas released their self-titled debut on ATO Records in June. Busker-turned-frontman Eric Burton and Grammy-winning guitarist/ producer Adrian Quesada continue their journey from local phenomenon to full touring force with a stop at U Street Music Hall on Thursday, Sept. 12.
Paul Banks fronts Interpol at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sept. 5, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)
Interpol released a new album last year — Marauder, the band’s sixth studio record — and an EP, A Fine Mess, recently in the spring, but you wouldn’t have known that catching Paul Banks and company in action opening for Morrissey at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Thursday.
The well-dressed post-punks turned back the clock and unleashed a short set of very good Interpol classics that had the exact effect of amping the big crowd up for Moz.
Peter Frampton (Photo by Austin Lord)
“Breaking All the Rules,” “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” “Do You Feel Like We Do” — classic rock hits. And one man is responsible for them — Frampton. Peter Frampton.
The guitar legend is traveling on his final tour with a stop at The Anthem on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Fontaines D.C. (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Fontaines D.C. is a band with a name that sounds like it could come from Washington, DC. Rather, these impressive post-punk lads hail from Dublin, Ireland, and they make a return appearance in DC on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at U Street Music Hall.
