The Violent Femmes perform at The Anthem on July 25, 2018. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)
Alt-rockers Violent Femmes wrapped a tour with Echo and the Bunnymen on July 25 at The Anthem in a bid for biggest show of the summer dominance! From the looks of things, they succeeded. Judge for yourself with these pictures of the Violent Femmes by Jason Nicholson, who shot the show.
The Shondes (Photo courtesy Team Clermont)
Vocalist Louisa Solomon and violinist Elijah Oberman formed punk rock band The Shondes in Brooklyn more than a decade ago to put their political activism into song. And you would be right if you might imagine that a feminist band known for their incendiary lyrics might find fresh cause in the current political climate! The Shondes come roaring back onto stage at Black Cat on Aug. 9, and you can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.
Diplo (Photo by Shane Lopeges)
Moonrise Festival is the region’s biggest electronic music festival, and this year it’s bringing along artists like Diplo, DJ Snake, Kaskade, Vince Staples, and more! Make plans to go to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Aug. 11-12!
Hayes Carll (Photo courtesy High Road Touring)
Hayes Carll plans to release a new album in 2019. Meanwhile, the straight-talkin’ Texan has been on tour, and he visits City Winery in DC on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Zac Brown fronts the Zac Brown Band at Nationals Park on July 27, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Despite the threat of severe weather and flash floods in the region, the long-awaited Zac Brown Band concert at Nationals Park went off without a hitch on Friday when the band’s Down the Rabbit Hole Live Tour paid a visit to the nation’s capital.
Sylvan Esso dazzles a packed The Anthem on July 26, 2018. (Photo by David LaMason)
There’s a magic that Amelia Meath (vocals) and Nick Sanborn (producer/sound engineer) create. It’s an infectious feeling generated by Amelia’s compelling voice and energetic dance moves — itself buoyed by the soundscapes formed and molded by Nick’s panel of sounds. Over the past two LPs (2014’s self-titled Sylvan Esso and last year’s What Now), the North Carolina-based Sylvan Esso created beat-soaked tunes that stick in your head. But it’s their live show that’s a force to behold.
On Thursday night at The Anthem, the duo pulled no punches.
Fantastic Negrito performs at Sixth and I Synagogue on July 25, 2018. (Photo by Will Colbert)
There’s only one Fantastic Negrito — and he was at DC’s Sixth & I recently. The historic synagogue isn’t the typical blues venue, but the Grammy Award-winning musician isn’t your typical bluesman. Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, better known by his current musical incarnation Fantastic Negrito, is the embodiment of new blues.
Ian McCulloch fronts Echo & the Bunnymen at The Anthem on July 25, 2018. (Photos by Jason Nicholson and words by Mickey McCarter)
Toward the end of a welcome appearance by Echo & the Bunnymen, Ian McCulloch’s microphone appeared to go out during “The Killing Moon” on Wednesday — nominally the worst possible calamity ever, made more glaring in that the rest of the show had been picture perfect.
But the very giddy audience didn’t miss a beat, and the crowd started singing the song when Ian went momentarily silent: “He will wait until/You give yourself to himmmmmm!” A briefly confounded look gave way to a smile with the affirmation that Ian and the audience were very happy to see each other indeed.
Shelby Lynne performs at The Birchmere on July 25, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Part way through her set Wednesday at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Shelby Lynne, brought up the topic of her hair.
Sons of Bill (Photo by Anna Webber)
Americana brothers Sons of Bill are literally sons of Bill — Bill Wilson, a professor at the University of Virginia. Sam, Abe, and James Wilson, who hail from nearby Charlottesville, Virginia, released their first album, A Far Cry from Freedom, in 2006 and their most recent, Oh God Ma’am, on June 29 via Loose Music.
The brothers, along with bandmates bassist Seth Green and drummer Todd Wellons, will perform at Union Stage on Friday, Aug. 3.
