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Don’t Miss: JEFF the Brotherhood @ Black Cat, 9/26/16

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Jake and Jamin Orrall (Photo courtesy Grandstand Media & Management)

Nashville rock duo JEFF the Brotherhood certainly has a classic rock feel to them. They recently released their 10th studio album, Zone, via Dine Alone Records. The band is touring in support of the album, and they will visit the Black Cat in DC on Monday, Sept. 26.

JEFF the Brotherhood is made up of brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall. The group formed in 2002 while they were in high school, and they have released various singles and collaborations in addition to 10 studio albums and one live album.

Considering how much music these guys have published, it’s somewhat of a surprise that they aren’t more well-known! These psychedelic rockers/noise poppers aren’t afraid to get down in the dirt with some garage rock. Believe it or not, they also occasionally remind me a bit of Black Sabbath.

Check out one of the songs from their 2015 album “Wasted on the Dream” below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVnBaj0Xcbw&w=640&h=360]

Songs from the new album are heavy on distortion and reverb, yet very much mindful of melodic hooks. JEFF the Brotherhood call the album the third installment in a “spiritual trilogy of albums,” including Heavy Days (2009) and We Are the Champions (2011).

In my opinion, $15 is a bargain to see the guys play, and so this should be a great show. I hope to see you there!

Nashville trio Music Band open JEFF the Brotherhood. Tickets are available online.

JEFF the Brotherhood
w/ Music Band
Black Cat
Monday, Sept. 26
Doors @7:30pm
$15
All ages

Around Town: First Beer @ Snallygaster 2016, 9/17/16

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Beer Day 04Beers at Atlas Brew Works (Photo Credit: Mickey McCarter)

The fifth edition of Snallygaster is coming fast to The Yards on Saturday, September 17th. By all accounts, this year looks to be even bigger and better, with 351 beers currently listed and a fine music lineup.

Of those 351 beers, 64 will make their DC debut at Snallygaster. Even more reason to join, be among the first DC denizens to experience the new tastes.

With only three days before the big dance, we highlight a couple of beers we look forward to trying.

Mickey’s Beer of the Day: Atlas Dance of Days, Wheat Ale (Dry-Hopped), ABV 5.7%
Man, it’s hot out there today. What better time than to reach for a refreshing wheat beer. Why, back in the day, I discovered Bell’s Oberon, which became a standby for days like this as it combines two favorite styles: pale ale and wheat. But wait! DC’s own Atlas Brew Works rolled out its Dance of Days this summer, making my new favorite pale wheat. Atlas dry hops Dance of Days, named for a song by ‘80s DC punk band Embrace, with Mosaic and Citra hops. I remember how excited I was to drink my first one at Smoke and Barrel with my friends Christine and Jason early in August. How refreshing to think of drinking it again!

Jeremy’s Beer of the Day: 3 Stars & Charm City Two Headed Unicorn, Barrel-Aged Sour Blond Ale, ABV 6.5%
Let’s stay local. Snallygaster will feature 27 beers from DC breweries, including 3 Stars, Atlas, DC Brau, Bluejacket, District Chophouse, Hellbender and Right Proper. I chose the Two Headed Unicorn even though I have a love/hate relationship with sour beers. I’ve tried a few that I wish I hadn’t, and a few that I absolutely loved. Earlier this year, while at 3 Stars’ tasting room, I tried the Ricky Rosé sour beer and walked away wanting more. So now I’m intrigued by this new sour collaboration beer by 3 Stars and Charm City. Charm City, out of Baltimore, makes mead in bourbon oak casks. This sour blonde ale is barrel-aged with honey, and Snallygaster will mark the first time it’s available in DC. I may have competition just getting a sample.

Make your own beer list.

Get your tickets here.

Snallygaster 2016
The Yards (1300 First Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003)
Saturday, September 17, 2016
1-6pm (VIP 11:30am-6pm)
$35 (VIP $60 SOLD OUT)
21+

Around Town: Wiener 500 Oktoberfest @ Yards Park, 9/24/16

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RT7_8107Wiener dogs racing (Photo Credit: NoZen)

On Tap brings us the 5th annual wiener dog race (Wiener 500) down at Yards Park on September 24th!

Enter your long, little dog in the race or just come down to watch all the action.

The event is free to attend. It’s $25 to enter your pup in the race and the food and drink from local vendors and food trucks will cost. Enter your wiener dog here.

Last year almost 100 dogs raced. This year $500 in cash and prizes can be had for the fastest wieners! All race proceeds go to the Washington Humane Society.

Add in the Oktoberfest celebration, with contests (dress up you dog – even if it’s not a wiener dog) and live music (Lloyd Dobler Effect and DJ Chris Styles), and your Saturday dance card is full.

5th Annual Wiener 500 Oktoberfest Celebration
Yards Park (355 Water St SE)
Saturday, September 24, 2016
1-5pm
Free Admission (pay for food and beverages)
All ages (21+ to drink)

Ticket Giveaway: Princess @ 9:30 Club, 9/25/16

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princess Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum are Princess. (Photo courtesy the band)

In April of this year, a great man left us too soon. Popstar Prince passed away, leaving behind a tremendous legacy of tremendously good music.

While we of course should always mourn his loss, we also should celebrate his work. And that’s the idea behind tribute band Princess. Princess is no ordinary tribute band. It consists of Saturday Night Live’s Maya Rudolph and musician Gretchen Lieberum, best friends since college.

It’s important to note that Princess has been around since at least 2012, when they first appeared nationally on The Tonight Show to perform Darling Nikki on the show. Princess have launched a short tour this month, and that tour stops at the 9:30 Club on Sunday, Sept. 25.

Watch Princess perform “Darling Nikki” on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on YouTube:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BclKB9cJUGo]

Parklife DC is giving away a pair of tickets so that you can celebrate the music of Prince with this loving tribute by Princess! To win, simply leave a comment on this blog, but you know I have to ask: What is your favorite Prince song?

For the rules of this giveaway–

Comments will be closed at 5pm on Thursday and a winner will be randomly selected. The winner will be notified by email. The winner must respond to our email within 24 hours or they will forfeit their tickets and we will pick another winner. We will email you instructions on claiming your ticket. Good luck!

If you don’t enter or win our contest, you also can buy tickets online!

Princess
featuring Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum
9:30 Club
Sunday, Sept. 25
Doors @7pm
$30
All ages

Princess_Flyer

Music Park: Culture Club @ Strathmore Music Center — 9/11/16

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Boy George sings at Strathmore Music Center on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016.

Boy George has embraced a new level of maturity, inspired in part by one of his heroes, funk musician Sly Stone.

Recalling a magazine interview with Sly during a performance by Culture Club on Sunday night, George quoted Sly as saying, “I have many regrets, but none that I can remember right now.”

George discussed personal growth during a show at Strathmore Music Hall in Bethesda, Maryland, in the introduction to new Culture Club song “Different Man,” which will tentatively appear on a new album set for 2017 on Culture Club’s own label, Different Man Music. (There’s a theme for you!) George emphasized that you don’t become a different person like Sly, who may have done some reckless things in his youth, simply by growing older. Wisdom doesn’t simply manifest itself, and people must have the will to change, like Sly — or like George.

“You have to decide to change and become a different man,” George acknowledged. With that, George launches into the soulful song about turning a new leaf. We understand clearly that George is apologizing for his own past behavior, and that he’s here now with his bandmates in Culture Club for the better.

Music Park: SHAED (Opened for Marian Hill) @ 9:30 Club — 9/10/16

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SHAED EPA signed copy of SHAED’s new EP, Just Wanna See (Photo Credit: Jeremy Bailey)

As the members of SHAED walked triumphantly off the stage at the 9:30 Club, the audience exploded with cheer and began to chant mightily, “One more song! One more song!”

SHAED opened (along with VÉRITÉ) for Marian Hill on Saturday, September 10th, part of the early show at the club that night (scheduled before a separate DJ set at 11pm). Opening bands don’t get an encore in that situation, but the crowd was not having it. Finally, with the expectant crowd in full chant mode, Chelsea Lee (lead singer) had to come back on stage to put the nix on our hopes.

Don’t Miss: Sex Stains @ Comet Ping Pong, 9/15/16

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Sex Stains (Photo by Debi Del Grande)

Forty years after the debut record by The Ramones, Sex Stains are here to remind us that women are also a kinetic part of punk rock history. And so welcome the return of Allison Wolfe of riot grrrl bands Bratmobile and Cold Cold Hearts as she takes up lead vocals in new band Sex Stains.

Sex Stains, a Los Angeles-based punk quintet, released its debut self-titled record on Sept. 2 via Don Giovanni Records, and they launched a national tour to promote it! They slide into our ears locally at Comet Ping Pong on Thursday, Sept. 15, courtesy of Sasha Lord Presents.

Inspired by late ‘70s and early ‘80s post-punk, Sex Stains recorded 12 rapid-fire dance tracks rife with discord. Sex Stains previously released the lead single, “Don’t Hate Me ‘Cuz I’m Beautiful,” a brief, perfect punk punch.

Listen to “Don’t Hate Me ‘Cuz I’m Beautiful” by Sex Stains on YouTube:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B77OYk8yPjk]

Formed in 2014, Sex Stains consists of Allison, fellow lead vocalist Mecca Vazie Andrews, drummer David Orlando, guitarist Sharif Dumani, and bassist Pachy Garcia. Turn up to dance to sassy tracks with catchy cadences and buoyant melodies!

DC bands Coup Savage & the Snips and Governess open for Sex Stains. Tickets are available at the door.

Sex Stains
w/ Coup Savage & the Snips, Governess
Comet Ping Pong
Thursday, Sept. 15
Doors @9pm
$12
All ages

Music Park: Echo & the Bunnymen @ 9:30 Club — 9/9/16

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Ian McCulloch sings at the 9:30 Club on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

“Yes!” exclaimed DJ Rick Taylor with his characteristic exuberance. “Echo & the Bunnymen are playing ‘Angels and Devils’ — this is a B-side that I’ve never before seen live!”

And so it was that Ian McCulloch and his band took up the rarely played song, originally the B-side to “Silver” from Ocean Rain, as Rick explained to me, recorded as an homage to the Velvet Underground by Echo & the Bunnymen during their Ocean Rain sessions. (And it was actually included on the 2008 remastered edition of the album.)

Ocean Rain, the fourth studio album by Echo & the Bunnymen in 1984, figured prominently into the set Friday night at the 9:30 Club as an overly crowded house clamored for every little bit of cool they could suck out of Ian, much as he sucked down cigarettes from in front of the drum kit right on stage. (Who, after all, was going to stop him from smoking during the show? He’s Ian Fuckin’ McCulloch.) Ian and his studious compatriot Will Sergeant, who focused intently on his guitar the entire show, obliged the overly sold-out house by generating the coolest damn sound, which wafted into the heads and hearts of their patrons.

Music Park: Dinosaur Jr. @ 9:30 Club — 9/8/16

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Dinosaur Jr Live Concert @ Best Kept Secret Festival Hilvarenbeek by Kmeron-0135
J Mascis performs with Dinosaur Jr. at Best Kept Secret Festival on June 18, 2016. (Photo by Kmeron)

Dinosaur Jr. took the stage in front of a sold-out 9:30 Club on Thursday night. Two hours later, I sat in my car and could hardly hear anything over the ringing in my ears. This is not a bad thing (although I have rethought my stance on wearing ear-plugs) because it was a result of J Mascis’ roaring guitar solos!

J’s Jazzmaster screamed as Emmett Jefferson “Murph” Murphy III (drums) and Lou Barlow (bass) provided a heavy and steady rhythm foundation. I had read about J’s ability on the guitar and seeing it for myself backed up everything I read. It’s no surprise Rolling Stone ranked him 86th on their list of 100 greatest guitarists.

Snapshots: Eskimeaux (and Basement) @ Rock and Roll Hotel — 9/7/16

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Eskimeaux performs at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. (Photo by Kristie Chua)

Gabrielle Smith, better known as Eskimeaux, visited the Rock and Roll Hotel in DC from Brooklyn last week to tour in support of a new EP, Year of the Rabbit (which is out this Friday).

Performing on Sept. 7, Eskimeaux presented songs like “Year of the Rabbit” — the title track of that EP — with air vocals and suprisingly resplendent guitars. The results remind me a bit of Scotland’s Camera Obscura, but Gabrielle sounds more consistently wistful and perhaps a touch more melancholy.