David Shaw of The Revivalists shares a moment with a fan at Wolf Trap on Aug. 19, 2018. (Photo by Will Colbert)
Every Sunday, around sunset, my emotional slide into a pre-work week slump begins, but not this past weekend. This Sunday, I took a trip to the Filene Center at Wolf Trap to catch The Revivalists. The 8-piece band from New Orleans provided a heavy dose of high-energy alt-rock that was the perfect cure for the Sunday blues.
Godsmack performs at Jiffy Lube Live on Aug. 19, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)
The deep drumming that opens the title track and first song on the new album, When Legends Rise, immediately fills you with the sense of impending doom, as many Godsmack songs tend to do. This made for the perfect opening song for Godsmack’s performance at Jiffy Lube Live on Sunday. A quick transition into a heavy guitar riff, and 15 seconds into the night, there is no doubt that Godsmack has put forth another powerful, rib-crushing album.
Mac DeMarco (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Mac DeMarco released This Old Dog, his third studio album, in 2017 via Captured Tracks, and he’s pretty much been on the road ever since. He’s playing one of his biggest shows yet at The Anthem on Wednesday, Sept. 5, and you can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.
Kentucky Avenue performs at The Birchmere on July 25, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Americana duo Kentucky Avenue perform as part of The 9 Songwriter Series at Rock and Roll Hotel on Friday, Aug. 24. Learn a little bit about the band, see some pix of a previous performance, and make plans to see them!
The Blasters perform at Hill Country Live in DC on Aug. 18, 2018. (Photo by Ben Eisendrath/Instagram+Twitter: Insomnigraphic/GrillworksBen)
Somewhere in a timeless haven, gents in jeans and jackets pump out stirring rock ’n’ roll, the sort of which forms the sturdy backbone of “American music.” And there in the crux of it, the feisty rockabilly quartet called The Blasters will forever sit, feeding the insatiable appetite for ageless, irresistible tunes that practically demand that you dance along.
The Blasters served up that music in a satisfying show at Hill Country Live on Saturday, and Ben Eisendrath photographed the band and their opener Lara Hope & the Ark Tones.
Needtobreathe (Photo by Nolan Feldpausch)
Carolina natives NEEDTOBREATHE have a solid 10+ years creating and performing music, and their great songwriting and musical ability was on full display Friday. The band set off on a tour that stopped at The Anthem, and their six studio albums and years of performing were evident in the polished performance they delivered.
Trombone Shorty performs at Wolf Trap on Aug. 17, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
The City of New Orleans celebrates its 300th Anniversary in 2018. To celebrate his hometown’s tricentennial, its rich cultural heritage, and its unique flavor of music, Trombone Shorty handpicked an all-star line-up of Crescent City musicians to tour the nation as Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown. The revue brought the spirit and the sound of New Orleans to Wolf Trap on Friday.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs at Wolf Trap on Aug. 17, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band played a high-energy, get-out-of-your-seat and dance-inspiring set Friday at Wolf Trap. The band is one-fourth of the Trombone Shorty Voodoo Threauxdown tour along with Trombone Shorty, Galactic, and New Breed Jazz Band.
Shonen Knife (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Shonen Knife play at the Black Cat on Monday, Sept. 3! You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.
Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal (Photo courtesy Taj Mahal)
Keb’ Mo’ recently won his fourth Grammy Award for TajMo, his collaborative album with the legendary Taj Mahal, receiving honors for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Keb’ Mo’ will perform his award-winning songs at The Birchmere on Saturday, Aug. 25.
