As the winter rains come to the Pacific Northwest and the days grow dark and chilly, live music in the cozy environs of the New Prospect Theatre becomes essential. Last week, one of those “dark and stormy” Bellingham, Washington nights was warmed considerably when Jeffrey Foucault took the stage.
Magdalena Bay is the synthpop duo of Mica Tenebaum and Matthew Lewin. Their sound draws influence from early/mid-2010s dance-pop artists such as Grimes, Charli XCX, and Carly Rae Jepsen — to name a few. They garnered a niche following on TikTok, becoming known for their surrealist and Y2K aesthetics throughout the releases of their mini mixes and the EP A Little Rhythm and a Wicked Feeling (2020).
Their debut album Mercurial World (2021) was an indie pop hit, ranking at No. 7 for top albums of 2021 on Rate Your Music, which is a badge of honor coming from the music nerds of the internet. Magdalena Bay’s sophomore release Imaginal Disk (2024) was no slump — it confirmed that they’re only going up — and is currently the No. 1 album of 2024 on the site. I missed their sold-out show at the 9:30 Club last year, so I knew I had to see them recently at The Anthem. Magdalena Bay played to 5,000+ people — their biggest headlining show to date — and delivered a hypnotizing 25-song set. Seriously, 25 songs have never flown by so quickly at a concert.
Lynch Mob Thrills Leesburg Crowd on Halloween Night
Words and Photos by Mike Sprouse / OddRocker Photography
There’s something about Halloween night that makes a rock show feel a little more alive than usual, like the air itself’s carrying a low hum of mischief. Leesburg had that kind of charge on Oct. 31, when Lynch Mob rolled into the Tally Ho Theater for a night that felt equal parts nostalgia trip and Halloween-style hard rock revival.
Mostly, this was a gathering of the faithful, the people who still crank their stereos when they hear George Lynch’s unmistakable guitar snarl and know the difference between a real gunslinger and a guy who just fills the space between solos.
It’s been just over five years since Thundercat released a full-length album, but the Los Angeles bass player and singer is back, dropping two new singles just in the last month — as well as currently being on a tour of spot dates across the country. On Oct. 28, soon after performing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last week, Thundercat made his DC stop for a packed crowd at The Anthem and blessed the city with an intimate show with incredible vibes.
On Halloween night, Gov’t Mule turned the Warner Theatre into a southern-fried rock séance — conjuring ghosts of Aerosmith past and the band’s own storied history — for Mule-O-Ween 2025. The two-set performance capped the band’s Back in the Saddle Tour and celebrated 30 years of Gov’t Mule’s evolution from Allman Brothers offshoot to enduring jam-rock institution.
Opening with “Same as It Ever Was,” the quartet immediately asserted their identity: tight, confident, with subtle room for improvisation. The rhythm section of Terence Higgins on drums and Kevin Scott on bass laid a deep foundation, while keyboardist/guitarist Danny Louis added color and texture behind frontman/guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes. The sound felt full yet controlled.
As we went on a trip, GIVĒON at The Anthem in DC was filled with raw emotion and unforgettable moments. From the shadows cast across the stage to the warm amber tones that bathed the room, the atmosphere felt intimate like we were all part of something deeply personal. This concert was such a vibe from start to finish.
Purity Ring turned the 9:30 Club into a phosphorescent dreamscape on Oct. 29, bathing the room in fog, strobes, and the duo’s signature candy-dark synths.
Katherine Gaines was there to photograph the show for this Snapshots photo essay.
It’s definitely been a long time since the classic ’70s, and so having the chance to see a band such as Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) play was a show not to be missed.
Randy Bachman is now the keeper of the BTO flame, which includes his son Tal in the band on vocals and guitar as well as his daughter-in-law Koko Bachman on drums. The son and daughter-in-law help Bachman maintain the classic BTO sound, as well as the other members of the band. It all came alive in fantastic fashion recently at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC.
Lawrence turned Nevermore Hall into a feel-good family room on Oct. 28, stacking musicianship and sibling banter into a tight, 1-hour-50 set that never lost its bounce.
Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the show for this Snapshots photo essay!
As the frontman of Wilco, Jeff Tweedy is one of the most respected figures in indie rock. But his career goes beyond that band: A founding member of the seminal alternative country-rock band Uncle Tupelo, he’s made solo records and an album with one of his sons; produced for artists like Mavis Staples and Rodney Crowell; written two memoirs (Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) and World Within a Song), a book on songwriting (How to Write One Song), and a collection of poetry (Adult Head); and played in the supergroups Golden Smog and Loose Fur (one of their songs, “The Ruling Class,” was included in the encore).
His appearance at the Lincoln Theatre was the first of two nights in DC, with a show the following evening at the 9:30 Club.
