Jeff Beck performs at Wolf Trap on Aug. 20, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Several years back, Rolling Stone Magazine published its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (once for Yardbirds and once on his own) Jeff Beck is No. 5 on that list. He played at Wolf Trap recently, and seeing him live is another item crossed off my bucket list.
Ed Roland of Collective Soul entertains the crowd at MECU Pavilion. (Photos by Shantel Breen)
The Rock & Roll Express Tour rolled through Baltimore on Tuesday! This tour featured headliners 3 Doors Down with Collective Soul — and together they rocked the MECU Pavilion on a rather stormy evening.
John Hiatt performs at The Birchmere on Aug. 21, 2018. (Photo by Glenn Cook)
Singer-songwriter John Hiatt has often spoken of his affection for The Birchmere. On Monday, the first of a two-night engagement, he said, “This is almost like home.”
Playing to a sold-out house on his 66th birthday, John was clearly energized and having a great time, launching into his songs with a wide smile across his face. His mood was infectious, and the crowd was uplifted by his joyful presence as well as his beautiful music.
Aurelio Voltaire performs at Union Stage on Aug. 19, 2018. (Photo by Paivi)
Goth Renaissance man Aurelio Voltaire released Heart-Shaped World, his 11th studio album, in 2017 via Projekt Records. He dropped by Union Stage to play some new music on Aug. 19, and Paivi got some pictures!
Pebble to Pearl performs at 9:30 Club during the DC Music Rocks Festival on Aug. 18, 2018. (Photo by Paivi)
DC Music Rocks, a syndicated FM radio show and podcast dedicated to local music, hosted its second annual music festival at 9:30 Club recently, and a diverse lineup of bands performed, including Kid Brother, Pebble to Pearl, Fellowcraft, Maryjo Mattea, Justin Shapiro, and Allthebestkids. Paivi photographed the bands in action for Parklife DC.
Town Mountain (Photo by Sandlin Gaither)
Appaloosa Festival returns as DC’s top roots music festival on Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Skyline Ranch Resort in Front Royal, Virginia. Festival hosts Scythian, your favorite DC Celtic rockers, present a strong lineup, including Gaelic Storm, Mandolin Orange, Six-String Soldiers, Aoife Soctt (Irish folk artist of the year), and Town Mountain, the talented string band from Asheville, North Carolina.
Parklife DC recently caught up with Town Mountain banjo player Jesse Langlais via email to get the latest news about the band and to find out more about their upcoming sixth studio album, New Freedom Blues, due for release on Oct. 5.
Mura Masa performs at 9:30 Club on Aug. 17, 2018. (Photo by Brenda Reyes)
Alex Crosson: musician and producer better known as Mura Masa, played a sold-out show at the 9:30 Club, last week, and it was pure energy all around. Showcasing music from his self-titled album and other singles, Mura Masa and special guest Fliss played like no other.
Cake performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Aug. 18, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Eight months ago, when I started covering live music for Parklife DC, I pitched my editor for the opportunity to cover Cake when they came to town in August. I was new and wondered if that request would come to fruition — perhaps, perhaps, perhaps… And it did! In one of the odder concert pairings of the summer, Cake appeared at Merriweather Post Pavilion recently with Ben Folds and special guest Tall Heights — and I was there to cover it.
Shinedown performs at Jiffy Lube Live on Aug. 19, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)
The concert started with a giant explosion, but it would be far from the only startling moment of the night. On a co-headlining tour with Godsmack, Shinedown put forth everything one would hope from an arena ready rock band at Jiffy Lube Live on Sunday — extreme energy, pyrotechnics and lasers, eardrum-blasting musicianship, and soaring vocals that touch everyone from the front of the pit to the back of the lawn.
Dan Tyminksi (Photo courtesy Triple 8 Management)
Last fall, Dan Tyminski, who often goes by simply his last name, released Southern Gothic via Mercury Records Nashville. He’s on tour now, and he performs at Pearl Street Warehouse on Friday, Aug. 31.
