Music Park: Rainer Maria @ Rock and Roll Hotel — 9/28/17

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October 2, 2017

Rainer Maria brings magic to the Rock & Roll Hotel on Sept. 28, 2017. (Photo by David LaMason)

Some shows are good, some shows are great, and some have the power to simply lift spirits. Rainer Maria brought what can only be described as a feeling of homecoming on Thursday at the Rock & Roll Hotel (even though the band originally formed in Madison, Wisconsin, and reformed together in New York after years of living in various corners of the globe).

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Music Park: Saint Etienne @ U Street Music Hall — 9/27/17

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Mickey McCarter

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October 2, 2017

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Saint Etienne perform at U Street Music Hall on Sept. 27, 2017.

The lovely Sarah Cracknell took to the very crowded stage at U Street Music Hall to coo gentle reproaches and remembrances to a respectfully full house last week, rekindling our romance with the sublime UK synthpop trio Saint Etienne.

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Music Park: Yelle @ U Street Music Hall — 9/26/17

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Mickey McCarter

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October 2, 2017

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Julie Budet of Yelle performs at U Street Music Hall on Sept. 26, 2017.

Yelle, the winning and winsome French electropop group, reminded DC of the irresistibility of their music in a sold-out show at U Street Music Hall last week.

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Music Park: Wire @ Black Cat — 9/25/17

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Mickey McCarter

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September 29, 2017

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Colin Newman performs with Wire at Les Guess Who Festival in Utrecht on Nov. 22, 2014. (Photo by Rene Passet)

Crisp waves of psychedelic guitar washed over the audience as Colin Newman, guitarist and vocalist for legendary English band Wire, peered out from under a ballcap. In his soothing accent, Colin sings the cryptic words of “Silver/Wire,” which could perhaps be about making choices for moving ahead (silver) or being weighted down by your past (lead) maybe.

Whichever interpretation, Wire is a band that certainly continues to move ahead *while also* embracing its significant past. And the small but intensely loyal crowd at Black Cat on Monday night wanted it all — silver and lead.

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Snapshots: Watermelon Park Festival @ Watermelon Park (Berryville, VA) — 9/21-9/24/17

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Chester Simpson

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September 29, 2017

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Keller Williams performs at Watermelon Park Festival. (Photo by Chester Simpson)

The 14th Annual Watermelon Park Fest, located in Berryville, Virginia, was held on the banks of the Shenandoah River on Sept. 21-24.

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Around Town: Snallygaster 2017 @ The Yards — 9/23/17

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Mickey McCarter

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September 29, 2017

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The team from RaR Brewing presented four beers at Snallygaster 2017. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Thousands of beer enthusiasts poured into The Yards in DC for Snallygaster 2017 to enjoy more than 350 beers and a stageful of bands under a very hot sun on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Here are some pictures and observations on the Snallygaster 2017.

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Don’t Miss: Zola Jesus @ U Street Music Hall, 9/30/17

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Mickey McCarter

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September 28, 2017

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Zola Jesus (Photo by Jesse Draxler)

Zola Jesus (aka Nika Roza Danilova) released a new album Okovi on Sept. 8 via Sacred Bones. She brings her heavy and dark new songs to performance at U Street Music Hall on Saturday, Sept. 30.

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Don’t Miss: Tee Grizzley @ The Fillmore Silver Spring, 10/26/17

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Mickey McCarter

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September 28, 2017

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Tee Grizzley (Photo courtesy 300 Entertainment)

Detroit rapper Tee Grizzly (born Terry Sanchez Wallace) recently dropped a new track called “Beef,” featuring Meek Mill. Tee will kick off his first-ever headlining tour on Oct. 4 in Seattle, and he will perform locally at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Thursday, Oct. 26.

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Music Park: Drab Majesty @ Songbyrd Music House — 9/22/17

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Mickey McCarter

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September 27, 2017

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Drab Majesty perform at Songbyrd Music House on Sept. 22, 2017. (Photo by Paivi)

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone, one of my favorite music and cultural commentators, described New Order as “goth-disco kingpins” in his review of a New York City performance in 2016.

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