Bonnie Bloomgarden fronts Death Valley Girls at DC9 on Aug. 21, 2019. (Photos by Katherine Gaines/ ambienteye.com; Words by Mickey McCarter)
The punchy yet perky Death Valley Girls dropped by DC9 recently to meld rock riffs with infectious dance melodies.
Eli Lev performs at the DC Music Rocks Festival on Aug. 17, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
I’ve been following the District of Columbia’s live music scene for several years yet I’ve just barely begun to scratch the surface of the diversity, variety and joy that so many musical artists bring to this region. The same could be said about the third annual DC Rocks Music Festival recently — despite the line-up of a wonderful array of 12 bands and singer-songwriters, there is so much more to discover in our own backyard.
Brittany Howard performs at 9:30 Club on Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)
Brittany Howard, lead singer of the Alabama Shakes, absolutely tore down the house in a solo appearance at the 9:30 Club on Friday evening. Following an excellent opening set by the all-female rock band Thelma and the Sleaze, Brittany took to the stage to a deafening chorus of cheers.
The Wallflowers at Rams Head Live, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)
Towheaded and impressionable, I found Bringing Down the Horse at Sam Goody’s end-of-row display shelf in the Towsontown Mall, its stamplike W and stars drawing my eyes. I pulled a pile of ones out of my pocket, the slowly-earned financial detritus of chores completed and change received, counting out the $16.99 required. Then (and maybe now), spending my money filled me with some worry, concern that my decision would ruin my mood. That, somehow, this thing I’d promised my time wouldn’t be worthy of it.
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews performing on stage at Wolf Trap, Aug. 22, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss / aristrauss.com)
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and his band Orleans Avenue delivered a powerful performance at Wolf Trap recently, capping an evening of music that included sets by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals and R&B artist Jessy Wilson.
Ben Harper performs at Wolf Trap, Aug. 22, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals put on a soulful and nostalgic set recently while performing at Wolf Trap, playing a setlist that included such Ben Harper classics as “Steal My Kisses,” “Burn One Down,” and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”
Jessy Wilson opens at Wolf Trap, Aug. 22, 2019, during a summer tour co-headlined by Ben Harper and Trombone Shorty. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)
R&B artist Jessy Wilson performed at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia, recently as the opening set for a summer amphitheater tour co-headlined by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
John Mayall (Photo by David Gomez)
The Hamilton introduced John Mayall on Thursday evening as “the godfather of British Blues.” In his sixth decade as a professional musician, the 85-year-old Mayall still appears pretty spry, and he remained on his feet for his entire performance. John is just as well-preserved mentally, and he filled the transitions between songs with informative context and droll British wit.
Lightshow (Photo courtesy The Fillmore Silver Spring)
DC rapper Lightshow releases his new mixtape, If These Walls Could Talk 2, today, Friday, Aug. 23! And he’s bringing some friends for a big show at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Friday, Sept. 20.
Parklife DC’s Chris Castillo recently accompanied interviewer PhillinMe to chat about Lightshow’s new music.
Lenny Kravitz in The Bahamas (Photo courtesy Weber Shandwick)
Lenny Kravitz opened his Raise Vibration 2019 US tour at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center on Wednesday night, leading his nearly sold-out audience through a rousing 21+ song set lasting well over two hours.
