Amber Rubarth and Joe Purdy (Photo by Devin Whetstone)
Amber Rubarth and Joe Purdy teamed up for the soundtrack to the independent film American Folk, in which they also star! The film and soundtrack are due on Jan. 26, and — even better — Amber and Joe are visiting The Hamilton to play their songs on the American Folk Tour on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Blaenavon (Photo by Scott Witt)
Update on Jan. 5: Blaenavon have dropped off the tour!
From the band: “Ben was hospitalised just prior to Christmas and is convalescing there under doctor’s orders. He is making good progress and should be out in the near future.
“We promise to return to the US soon to make up for it.”
The Wombats are touring on their fourth studio album, and they are bringing along British rock trio Blaenavon to open at 9:30 Club on Monday, Jan. 8. The show has sold out, but get there early to check out Blaenavon.
The Black Cat (Photo by Kevin Harber)
After its New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 31, Black Cat, one of DC’s top indie rock clubs, closed its doors for roughly four weeks for repairs. The Back Cat intends to reopen on Sunday, Jan. 28, for a concert headlined by Destroyer, which features Dan Bejar of The New Pornographers.
I can safely say that all the concerts I attended in 2017 exceeded my expectations, but of course I say that about all live music. I was fortunate to photograph over 80 shows in 2017, from artists both well known to those just starting out. I’m truly inspired watching these talented musicians and their courage in getting up on a stage to lay their souls bare. Or as the L.A. Times’ David Ackert so eloquently put it, “…musicians and singers are willing to give their entire lives to a moment — to that melody, that lyric, that chord, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul.”
The Deftones perform at MGM National Harbor on June 14, 2017. (Photo by Paivi)
As 2017 closed, quite a few new concert venues opened their doors in the DC metropolitan area. So we got to thinking how concert venues are such invaluable friends to concert attendees (and bloggers)! With the close of the year, Parklife DC would like to start a tradition of recognizing great concert venues with our Venue of the Year Award.
We salute The Theater at MGM National Harbor as Parklife DC’s 2017 Venue of the Year for going above and beyond expectations in its first full year operating at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Action Bronson performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Dec. 22, 2017. (Photo by Chris Castillo)
Leading up to Christmas, Parklife DC was in a lot of book stores as our contributors browsed books and multimedia for Christmas gifts. Prominently displayed in many of those bookstores was the tome F*ck, That’s Delicious: An Annotated Guide to Eating Well by Action Bronson and Rachel Wharton.
It was a further demonstration of how Action Bronson, born Arian Asllani, has turned his lust for life into a successful second career. Already well regarded for his rapping, the musician pivoted to food in the past few years, bringing to bear a contagious enthusiasm that makes him at home both on stage and in the kitchen. That enthusiasm was on full display when Action Bronson visited The Fillmore Silver Spring on Dec. 22.
Dirty Dozen Brass Band (Photo by Chris Monaghan)
Formed in 1977 by Benny Jones, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The New Orleans collective is on tour with a stop at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Saturday, Dec. 30
Raheem DeVaughn performs at the Howard Theatre on Dec. 21, 2017. (Photo by Chris Castillo)
R&B sensation Raheem DeVaughn organized a big holiday show at the Howard Theatre on Dec. 21, and Chris Castillo was there to photograph it! The show was all about uniting people, and Raheem was accompanied by the legendary go-go band Backyard Band, Major, Faith Evans, and several other acts!
Camper Van Beethoven (Photo courtesy the artist)
I’ve always considered it the best concert trick ever when you can open for yourself, but that’s exactly what David Lowery has made a living doing in recent years as his band Camper Van Beethoven opens his band Cracker (or vice versa). You can catch Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker at 9:30 Club on Thursday, Jan. 11, and you can pull a concert trick of your own by winning tickets to go with Parklife DC.
Lee Ranaldo kicks off a year of great music at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Jan. 20, 2017. (Photo by David LaMason)
The year 2017 has been full of contradictions. For many, myself included, it was a year filled with uncertainty and frustration, but to a certain degree it also woke people up. And the music that was created was some of the best in years.
