![Interview: Howard Jones (on Retro Futura Tour @ Pier Six Pavilion [Baltimore, Md.], 7/30/17)](https://i0.wp.com/parklifedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/35867793222_b418225ff9_z.jpg?fit=639%2C414&ssl=1 "Interview: Howard Jones (on Retro Futura Tour @ Pier Six Pavilion [Baltimore, Md.], 7/30/17)")
Howard Jones (Photo by David Conn)
“Do you feel scared? I do, but I won’t stop and falter.”
So, sang Howard Jones in his smashing 1985 hit “Things Can Only Get Better,” which in my opinion perfectly framed Howard’s ethos. The Englishman is unflappably upbeat and optimistic, and he makes fantastically irresistible music still today.
Amelia Meath sings with Sylvan Esso at All Things Go Fall Classic in DC on Oct. 8, 2016.
The music of Durham, North Carolina duo Sylvan Esso was introduced to me last year by my friend and Spotify buddy Jenny, in the form of a YouTube video for their song “Hey Mami.” Straightaway, I admired singer Amelia Meath’s energy and extro-expressiveness, both on display in a sold-out show at 9:30 Club on Saturday.
Roosevelt (Photo by Brian Vu)
Roosevelt, born Marius Lauber, burst out of Germany with his self-titled debut album last year via Greco-Roman. Roosevelt is on a tour of the United States, and he dances into U Street Music Hall this Saturday, June 3.
Helium (Photo by James Smolka)
Mary Timony, DC’s top guitar ace, first became an indie rock darling in the ‘90s with her Boston-based band Helium, which dabbled in well-written noise pop. Twenty years after the band’s second and last album, Matador Records last month reissued Helium’s records and a new compilation — Ends with And, a collection of singles and other tracks.
To mark the occasion, Mary herself is hitting the road to celebrate the music of Helium in a short tour beginning with a date at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Tuesday, June 6. You still have a chance to buy tickets!
Mario Cuomo fronts The Orwells at Black Cat on May 27, 2017.
At 23-years old, Mario Cuomo is a veritable rockstar as lead singer of The Orwells, the Illinois garage punk band that recently published its third full-length album.
Lupe Fiasco (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Lupe Fiasco, born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, released his sixth studio album, Drogas Light, in February via 1st and 15th Productions — and he stops at 9:30 Club on Friday, June 2 while on tour to promote it!
The Avalanches (Photo courtesy EMI Music)
Australian neo-psych duo the Avalanches seemed to disappear for a long, long time prior to releasing their celebrated second album, Wildflower, in 2016 via Modular Recordings.
Despite the long delay, the new album by the Avalanches is a critical hit, and the gents are touring in the wake of it with a show at 9:30 Club on Monday, June 5. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.
Mac DeMarco performs at 9:30 Club on May 24, 2017.
Mac DeMarco is beloved by many, many young fans. I learned this firsthand last week when Mac dropped by DC for two sold-out nights at 9:30 Club — where screaming admirers couldn’t get enough of his cheerful everyman composure and laidback songs.
Zola Jesus performs at Motorco Music Hall in Durham, North Carolina, during Moogfest 2017 on May 19.
Touring sporadically in recent months, Nika Roza Danilova, better known as Zola Jesus, dropped by Moogfest 2017 recently to perform a haunting set at Motorco Music Hall in Durham, North Carolina. Intense and introspective as ever, Zola Jesus performed some new songs in the outdoor venue as she weaved her body into her music.
Amanda Palmer (Photo by Kyle Cassidy)
The Wave Gotik Treffen 2017 (roughly “Wave Gothic Meeting”), a legendary urban festival, occurs on June 2-5 in Leipzig, Germany, this year. As of today, the festival has confirmed 227 bands performing in several concert halls around the city.