Mitski amazes a sold-out Rams Head Live on April 19, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)
Sometimes the process of making art involves balancing the spectacle and the personal. How much do you reveal and how much do you allow yourself to retain?
Phosphorescent performs at Baltimore Soundstage on April 18, 2019. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)
As I stood outside the door of Baltimore Soundstage recently, Matthew Houck and Jo Schornikow strolled past us and their touring bus, children and a nanny beside them. Simple smiles sparked, little laughs swelled; they meandered away, or maybe to a different entrance, barely a glance behind them.
Theirs is an easy grace now, and like all graces, tenuous but suffused with contentment. It looked like happiness.
Steve Kilbey fronts The Church at The Birchmere on April 18, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)
Steve Kilbey paused and invited the audience to imagine flipping over a record. Of course, he told The Birchmere, you would have to walk over to it, gently lift it from the turntable, wipe the static away, turn the record over, wipe that pesky static some more, and carefully place your vinyl just so.
In this case, the reward is “Spark,” the first song on Side 2 of Starfish, the hit album by The Church, which Steve has fronted for nearly 40 years. And so, Steve, guitarist Peter Koppes, and the rest of The Church performed Starfish in its entirety for an appreciative sold-out room at The Birchmere recently.
Kim Richey (Photo courtesy Yep Roc Records)
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Kim Richey travelled the world even before she launched her music career. That journey led her to Jammin’ Java recently.
The Dip performs live. (Photo by Abi Kalkur)
Seattle-based soul group The Dip took DC’s Union Stage back to the ’60s recently with their passionate and authentic performance that left the audience wanting more.
Yannis Phillippakis (of Foals) performs at the 9:30 Club on April 16, 2019. ( Photo by Brenda Reyes)
Foals were a sight to behold over two nights at 9:30 Club recently. On the first sold-out night, the stage was set-up meticulously yet casually for the show. A lion tapestry and plants bordered the stage and the band’s instruments sat in the middle. Foals came prepared to show DC how to have a good time.
Ministry performs at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 15, 2019. (Photo by Andy Jillson)
Ministry found themselves in Brooklyn recently to celebrate the Chicago-based independent record store/label Wax Trax! Records — and to celebrate the release of the documentary film about the store/label, Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records.
Dream Theater performs at Warner Theatre on April 15, 2019. (Photo by Paivi Salonen)
Progressive music titans Dream Theater released Distance Over Time, the band’s 14th studio album, recently. But when the band arrived at Warner Theatre last week, the gents were there to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking record, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. Paivi Salonen was there to shoot the show.
Eliot Seppa and friends entertain dinner guests at Marvin on April 15, 2019.
Marvin (2007 14th St. NW, DC), long favored for one of most DC’s relaxing decks, a sophisticated ambiance, and creative cocktails, has grown to add free live music to its appeal.
HEALTH (Photo by Faith Crawford)
“Twitchy” and “groundbreaking,” LA-based noise rockers HEALTH bring their “moody violence over trap beats” to Rock and Roll Hotel on Sunday, April 28, in support of their new album, VOL4::Slaves of Fear.
