Neko Case performs at the Lincoln Theatre in DC on Jan. 26, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)
Fans love fire-haired songstress Neko Case for being a quirky character. Between “This Tornado Loves You” and “Halls of Sarah,” a truly unusual conversation took place between Neko and her background singers at the sold-out Lincoln Theatre in DC on Saturday.
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles perform at Jammin’ Java on Jan. 25, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Sarah Borges’ third appearance in the DC Metro area in as many months is a clear indication of her thriving (some might say, rabid) fanbase in the region. Recently, Sarah tore through two one-hour sets consisting of tunes from throughout her career in a packed house at Jammin’ Java.
Upstate performs at Union Stage on Jan. 25, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Upstate, the dynamic sextet from upstate New York (see what they did there…), performed at The Wharf’s Union Stage recently, serving up the opening act for The Lil Smokies. I met Upstate this past summer when they performed at Appaloosa Festival, where I was working as a photographer. Their infectious personalities caught my attention, and their unique sound, which blends folk, R&B, jazz, and gospel with killer vocal harmonies, blew me away.
Guster performs at 9:30 Club on Jan. 25, 2019. (Photo by Paivi)
Guster breezed into the 9:30 Club in the follow of their latest album to make us forget “hard times” for two nights. Paivi Salonen was there for some cool pictures.
Windhand performs at U Street Music Hall on Jan. 24, 2019. (Photo by Rashad Polk)
Kicking off an East coast tour, Windhand electrified U Street Music Hall recently. The four-piece comprised of Dorthia Cottrell on vocals, Garrett Morris on guitar, Ryan Wolfe on drums, and Parker Chandler holding down the bass put on a full-blown rock and roll show.
Greensky Bluegrass (Photo courtesy the band)
Earlier this month, Greensky Bluegrass released All for Money, the band’s seventh studio album, and the group is rolling into town this week for two shows at The Anthem on Friday, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2.
Daley and JMSN (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Gareth Daley is best known by the name Daley, and Christian Berishaj is better known by his stagename JMSN (pronounced “Jameson”). The two alternative R&B singer-songwriters have teamed for a tour, and Daley and JMSN perform at 9:30 Club together on Friday, Feb. 1.
The Wu-Tang Clan performs at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia on Jan. 25, 2019. (Photo by Andy Jillson)
The Wu-Tang Clan began a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the group’s debut album last year, and they continued with a double barrel blast of shows at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia on Jan. 24 and 25. I was there for the second night to capture a lot of images of the legendary rappers as they continued their salute to Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
Steep Canyon Rangers perform at Merlefest on April 28, 2016. (Photo by CP Thornton)
The Steep Canyon Rangers nodded to DC’s strong bluegrass history in a lively concert that showcased their unusual configuration and a few pleasant surprises at The Hamilton Live on Friday.
The Seldom Scene performs at The 8×10 on Jan. 24, 2019. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)
The Seldom Scene is closer to their 50th anniversary (2021) of making music than they are to their 40th, and they maintain relevance in the scene that by many accounts they either buoyed or helped create. They certainly nodded to bluegrass traditions at The 8X10 in Baltimore recently. But like so many musicians that followed them, The Seldom Scene borrowed from other genres such as country, rock, and pop – with ease and a deep familiarity.
