Jon King is about to turn 70 years old, but he remains as sharp, acerbic, and sage as ever. The Gang of Four frontman was a spitfire in a recent sold-out show at 9:30 Club, where he struck like lightning for two sets of songs celebrating his storied English post-punk band on a farewell tour.
Alison Moyet, one of the most remarkable pop vocalists of the last several decades, is touring again in support of a new album, Key, and she recently played an outstanding show at The Fillmore Silver Spring. Moyet is selling out shows all over the globe at this time, and catching this tour is a must for her fans.
Virgil and I stood nervously at the fresh mound of earth. In his hands glowed one of those damned light-up magic swords he’d impulsively bought at last week’s bazaar in Baltimore. Before us lay the alleged final resting place of Rivethead — once a towering figure of industrial and electro music fandom, now apparently deceased from cultural neglect. With hesitant reverence, Virgil thrust the sword into the earth. Lightning erupted, and Rivethead jerked upright through the dirt, blinking at us through bleary eyes. Rivethead’s awakening was unexpected this soon in the ritual and startled us so badly that we bolted into the night with our magic sword in tow. “I just wanted to wake up Rivethead and bring them to see The Birthday Massacre!” yelled Virgil as we fled for the cemetery gates.
Everybody Needs a Hero (2024) is the sophomore album from Irish singer-songwriter Orla Gartland. This album feels like it “saved” me to an extent — definitely in my Top 5 albums from last year — I felt a connection to this album I hadn’t felt in a long time. I had the pleasure of catching Gartland in November last year at a sold-out Atlantis show (9:30’s little sibling). I was thrilled to see her come back through North America so soon, especially recently back in DC for a proper show at 9:30 Club.
In his almost 75 years, Alejandro Escovedo has lived an incredible life that has taken him all over to the country and allowed him to be a part of some of the most important scenes in the development of contemporary music. Over 50 years of making music, he’s jumped from genre to genre: punk to alt-country to glam-rock, and, for more than 30 years, he’s been a celebrated singer-songwriter. In his recent solo at The Hamilton Live, Escovedo went deep on an intimate night of songs and stories.
Though he was a longtime resident of the nation’s capital, Bartees Strange is clearly more of a Baltimore guy.
Recently relocated to the Charm City and fresh off the release of his third studio album, Strange packed Ottobar the night of April 25, showing his newest songs to be some of his very best and dazzling a crowd that included some of his close friends from across the DMV.
Performing tracks from Horror, which dropped on Valentine’s Day, he looked at home on a stage that has over the years featured a mind-blowing list of artists.
Recording both as Parliament and Funkadelic, George Clinton revolutionized R&B during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk by adding influences from several late-’60s acid heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Sly Stone. The Parliament/Funkadelic machine ruled black music during the ’70s, capturing over 40 R&B hit singles (including three number ones) and recording three platinum albums.
Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton make an exciting return to 9:30 Club for a performance on Wednesday, May 14!
The Chameleons last performed in the DC-area in August, and Parklife DC Editor Mickey McCarter then chatted with the band’s frontman Mark Burgess, now also known as Vox. In the past several months, The Chameleons have released a new EP, shared more details about their forthcoming LP, and embarked on another tour. For The Darker Skies Tour, The Chameleons, a classic English post-punk band formed in the ’80s, share a bill with American dark wave duo Twin Tribes, founded in Texas in 2017. The tour visits The Fillmore Silver Spring on Sunday, May 4.
Mickey recently chatted with Vox once again to get the latest on the new tour and upcoming music.
We arrived as pilgrims, drawn to Baltimore Soundstage by whispers of the unyielding guardians who wield the fabled Magic Sword. Virgil and I made peace with a fellow devotee who exclaimed that he had been on pilgrimage ever since a past initiation with Mega Ran alongside MC Chris a decade prior. The devotee had brought along new pilgrims who, though novices, sensed the night’s potential magic and awaited their blessings. At the entrance, more pilgrims arrived in elaborate ceremonial garb, exchanging knowing glances — for tonight was a convergence.
This week, Devo hits the road to continue their anniversary tour, Celebrating 50 Years of De-Evolution. The new wave icons perform live at The Anthem on Saturday, May 3!
