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Don’t Miss: Switchfoot (Opening for Needtobreathe) @ Wolf Trap, 8/11/15

Jeremy Bailey
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Don’t Miss: Switchfoot (Opening for Needtobreathe) @ Wolf Trap, 8/11/15

Switchfoot
Switchfoot (Photo courtesy of BB Gun Press)

Switchfoot, eponymous surfers, comes to the Filene Center at Wolf Trap on Tuesday, August 11.

They are among three bands opening for NEEDTOBREATHE. The other openers are Colony House and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.

Switchfoot, hailing from San Diego, achieved fame with their 2003 single “Meant to Live”. Largely marketed as a Christian rock band early in their career, they have released nine full-length albums to date. Their most recent is 2014’s album, Fading West.

Formed in 1996, Switchfoot’s name comes from the act of a surfer switching their feet to change directions.

Their other major hit, “Dare You to Move”, was featured in the film, A Walk to Remember.

Jon Foreman (lead vocals) also has a solo project coming out this year, called The Wonderlands. It consists of four EPs, titled Sunlight, Shadows, Darkness and Dawn respectively and each released throughout the year. Sunlight and Shadows have already been released and are available for purchase.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXcrEVFZOXs]”Meant to Live”

Tickets are still available! Get yours here.

Switchfoot (opening for NEEDTOBREATHE)
w/ Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and Colony House
Filene Center at Wolf Trap
Tuesday, August 11
Gates @ 7:00pm
$25-45
All ages

Music Park: Parklife DC Guide to ’80s Parties, August 2015

Mickey McCarter
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DeLorean DMC

Earlier this year, DC9 kindly hosted me for Synchronicity: A New Wave Party, where I celebrated 30 years since the commercial peak of new wave music.

Well, you wouldn’t know it had been so long judging from the number of parties celebrating the 1980s in DC this month! Almost all of these parties are ongoing affairs, enabling you to get your monthly fix of what some call ‘80s music every month.

Fire up the DeLorean and jump back to the future with me at all of the good parties below.

Party: Poseurs’ 32nd Anniversary Video Dance Party Reunion

The Scene: Back in the actual ‘80s, the place to be for great new music and to soak up the new wave subculture was the club Poseurs (formerly at 3405 M St. NW, DC) in Georgetown. Sadly, it’s long closed, but principals involved with the club and many of its loyal club hoppers have instituted an annual reunion party. This year that party takes place at DC9 (1940 9th St. NW, DC) on Saturday with DJ Mohawk Adam and special guests Michael Scruggs, Wayne Skate Deavers and Michael Olsen.

Although technically a reunion night, the party is open to the public. All you need is a ticket! And what better way to spend an ‘80s party than to rub shoulders with a dedicated crew who have tales to share of partying with Robert Smith of The Cure or Peter Hook of New Order in their club back in the day? Expect to hear songs from The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, New Order, Billy Idol and more, more, more.

Your next chance to go: Saturday, August. 15, at 9pm. The Poseurs Anniversary Dance Party tentatively happens annually. Tickets cost $12, online or at the door.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ycl_ayPHU0]

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Don’t Miss: Ride @ 9:30 Club, 9/17/15

Mickey McCarter
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Don’t Miss: Ride @ 9:30 Club, 9/17/15

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Ride (Photo by Piper Ferguson)

Legendary shoegazers Ride reunited and performed a homecoming show at the 02 Academy in London back in April — their first show in almost 20 years!

They followed that up with a few US dates, including stops at the Coachella Music Festival, but now they are returning in force for a proper tour, showcasing material from their beloved four studio albums.

“More than a decade later, the bristling wall of sound was just as brooding, rumbling and heavy as we had remembered,” Rolling Stone said of Ride’s initial shows.

The gents kick off the next leg of their reunion tour at the 9:30 Club on Thursday, Sept. 17, then continue on a string of US dates over the next several weeks.

Watch Ride perform “Leave Them All Behind” at The Warfield in San Francisco on April 13, 2015:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1ZhN54tg-M]

Surely, this was the best possible outcome from the dissolution of Oasis follow-up band Beady Eye. With Oasis and Beady Eye on hold, guitarist Andy Bell was free to reunite with Ride bandmates Mark Gardener, Laurence “Loz” Colbert, and Steve Queralt, reminding fans of what made shoegaze so unique when it blossomed in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

This is a unique opportunity to see a seminal band perform its signature tunes in a first-class show. Tickets are available online!

Ride
9:30 Club
Thursday, Sept. 17
Doors @7pm
$35
All ages

Music Park: Grand Opening @ Soundcheck, 8/12/15

Mickey McCarter
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Music Park: Grand Opening @ Soundcheck, 8/12/15

DANCEFLOOR
A rendering of the dancefloor at Soundcheck (Art courtesy of MoKi Media)

A new intimate nightclub will open on K Street, courtesy of the owners of Echostage, on Wednesday, August 12.

Soundcheck (1420 K St. NW, DC) will open with a DJ set by Kennedy Jones as part of a weekly event Bass Nation from promoters Steez Promo.

While the large Echostage covers more than 30,000 square feet, the boutique Soundcheck will encompass only 4,400 square feet. The Soundcheck concept is a homage to ‘80s and ‘90s club spaces fondly remembered by Echostage and Soundcheck Managing Partner Antonis Karagounis, who reflected on that time in an interview with Fritz Hahn of the Washington Post on August 4.

“With Soundcheck, we’re interested in tapping into the atmosphere of early DC nightlife while still delivering what makes Echostage so popular: quality sound, outstanding artists, and an unparalleled sensory experience,” Karagounis said in a press release.

Soundcheck will house a German-imported d&b audiotechnik Y-series sound system, state-of-the-art music technology. The acoustics mimic those of a recording studio in a nightclub setting with the installation of 4,000 square feet of cork hardwood floors and 4-inch-thick soundproof foam in its walls and ceiling. The venue will have two bars, 14 tables and a dance floor as well as six LED TVs and three LED video projectors. Two walls will be floor-to-ceiling LED screens. The room has roughly 85 lighting fixtures, which will support a nightly laser light show, and two jumbo disco balls.

Club-goers can reserve private tables for bottle service or get more ambitious and reserve the private “purple room,” which has a dedicated private bar. In addition to hosting club nights, Soundcheck will be available for corporate events as well.

In addition to Bass Nation Wednesdays, Soundcheck will host Glow Thursdays to focus on EDM. A regular feature called Afterglow, which hosts techno artists, will occur on Sundays.

“Soundcheck will be the perfect complement to Echostage,” said Soundcheck Partner Pete Kalamoutsos in a press release. “In addition to booking the superstars, we’ll be able to take more risks by welcoming up-and-coming talent during our new Afterglow party on Sundays. We want to be a part of their growth as artists.”

For more information, visit http://www.soundcheckdc.com. VIP 2-2
A rendering of a VIP area in Soundcheck (Art courtesy of MoKi Media)

Around Town: REI Classes @ Wunder Garten

Jeremy Bailey
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Around Town: REI Classes @ Wunder Garten

REI Classes at Wunder Garten

As you’ve no doubt heard many times before, REI is building a flagship store at the former Uline Arena in NoMa. That remains exciting news.

Less exciting is, the store is not set to open until the Fall of 2016. Well, drat.

Fear not, because REI has been partnering with the Wunder Garten beer garden to offer up classes on a range of topics.

For the remainder of August, REI will host (mostly) free classes at the REI Community Space at Wunder Garten (NoMa).

The topics are as diverse as your interests. From running to bike repairs to backpacking to yoga to camping, they basically run the gamut on outdoor activities. They even have a Pub Trivia night scheduled for August 20th.

The REI Community Space is mere steps away from the beer garden itself, so you can grab a pint, pick up something from the daily food truck option and enjoy the class.

I have attended one class (Backpacking in the Appalachians on August 5th), which was informative, with lots of practical tips. I found it helpful as it sparked ideas on what gear I needed and what tasks were needed when planning your own backpacking trip. Thumbs up.

 

Have a look at the offerings for the rest of August and sign-up!

REI Classes
REI Community Space at Wunder Garten Beer Garden
Select August Dates
Evenings (Times vary)
Free (mostly)
All ages

Music Park: Watch Ex Hex @ Pitchfork Music Festival — 7/18/15

Mickey McCarter
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Music Park: Watch Ex Hex @ Pitchfork Music Festival — 7/18/15

Ex Hex
Mary Timony and Betsy Wright jam at NOS Primavera Sound on June 6, 2015. (Photo by Ana Viotti)

Ex Hex, DC’s top power pop trio, performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago on Saturday, July 18. They next perform in DC at the Landmark Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26.

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Music Park: Laura Marling @ 9:30 Club — 7/31/15

Jeremy Bailey
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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7eRrTKmYO0]

From When Brave Bird Saved – “Take the Night Off” (at 1:05)

“I’m a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah.”

Laura Marling ended a captivating evening at the 9:30 Club last Friday, July 31st, with a cover of Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work”. Based on a few blank faces nearby, it seemed just possible some of the younger crowd weren’t as familiar with the song (which I happen to love, too bad for them). But they soon warmed to it once the refrain kicked in and Marling’s voice took on new intensity.

Marling, a British folk singer-songwriter, started off her show with long, flowing renditions of “Take the Night Off” and “I Was an Eagle”. Afterwards she promised that would be the last of the 10-minute songs, yet no one would have minded if she continued.

The guitar she opened with lit up like Christmas ornament, as it reflected light from many angles. She relied heavily on a steady rotation of guitars, to match the song and the mood.

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Grapevine: Capital Cheers @ Food Network — 8/5/15

Mickey McCarter
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Grapevine: Capital Cheers @ Food Network — 8/5/15

IMG_4563

Several DC area bar owners alerted us to the fact that the Food Network recently toured some DC bars and picked out a dozen recommended for visiting.

You can read the full feature, Capital Cheers: The Best Bars in Washington, DC, as a slideshow on the Food Network website.

To peak your interest, Food Network blogger Laura Hayes visited the following establishments and offers light commentary on them:

Cocktail Bar: 2 Birds 1 Stone (1800 14th St. NW, DC)
Brewpub: Bluejacket (300 Tingey St. SE, DC)
Speakeasy: Dram & Grain (2007 18th St. NW, DC)
Date Night: Iron Gate (1734 N St. NW, DC)
No-Frills Bar: Tune Inn (331 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC)
DC Haunt: Off the Record (The Hay-Adams, 800 16th St. NW, DC)
Sherry Bar: Mockingbird Hill (1843 7th St. NW, DC)
Beach Bar: Pop’s SeaBar (1817 Columbia Rd. NW, DC)
Wine Bar: Flight Wine Bar (777 6th St. NW, DC)
Beer Garden: Dacha Beer Garden (1600 7th St. NW, DC)
Brewery: 3 Stars Brewing Co. (6400 Chillum Pl. NW, DC)
Distillery: One Eight Distilling (1135 Okie St. NE, DC)

We at Parklife DC have visited them all personally except for the Flight Wine Bar and One Eight Distilling. Perhaps it’s time to change that before the summer is over?

Food Park: Alex McCoy @ Food Network Star — 8/2/15 (S. 11, Ep. 9)

Mickey McCarter
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Food Park: Alex McCoy @ Food Network Star — 8/2/15 (S. 11, Ep. 9)

Alex-SummerLive
Chef Alex McCoy prepares ramen on the latest Food Network Star. (Photo courtesy Food Network)

Well, live television was the death of our hero.

DC Chef Alex McCoy was competing in this season of Food Network Star, and he did reasonably well, but he finally was eliminated from the competition in the ninth episode! So close!

Let’s recap.

At the beginning of the episode, contestants were given a small challenge and then later they competed in a bigger challenge — a typical setup for Food Network Star.

This week, both challenges revolved around participating in a live television segment. In the first, the remaining four contestants prepared a dish and appeared individually in two-minute segments with blogger and model Catherine McCord. Each contestant had 30 minutes to prepare a meal to fit a theme. Alex received the theme of preparing a one pot meal “for a hot date.”

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Don’t Miss: Technophobia (Opening for Citadel) @ Black Cat, 8/9/15

Mickey McCarter
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Don’t Miss: Technophobia (Opening for Citadel) @ Black Cat, 8/9/15

technophobiaband
Katie Petix and Steve EP of Technophobia (Photo courtesy Technophobia)

Our friends Steve EP and Katie Petix have jettisoned their past catalog for a new-look Technophobia, which is set to perform backstage at the Black Cat on Sunday.

The experimental electronic duo already made their local reintroduction opening for Laibach at the Black Cat in May. In the interim, I caught them with their compatriots Pleasure Curses (opening for Ki:Theory) at DC9 in June.

Technophobia affixes Steve to his keyboards and Katie on vocals, at times sampling various dialogue or sounds and at times soaring high into alt-dance rhythms that invite you to get your dark groove on.

The new songs from Technophobia seem to focus on emptiness or nothingness. And they demonstrate an affinity for Jean-Paul Sartre’s play “No Exit,” as lifted from a film version, in their sampling of dialogue.

In “Negative Space,” Steve inserts lines from lesbian Inez: “You can’t throttle thoughts with hands.” The sparkling synths that follow belie the lyrics sung by Katie of places in between other places, where lies nothingness.

Watch Technophobia perform “Negative Space” at the Black Cat on May 11, 2015, in a fan-made video:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipp4lnu4a70]

Another song “Fall to Nothing” lifts dialogue from Garcin of “No Exit” for its intro: “I’d never have believed it. You remember all we were told about the fire and brimstone, the torture-chambers, the burning marl? –Old wives’ tales! There’s no need for red-hot pokers. Hell is other people!”

This of course sets the stage for Katie to sing of a moment transfixed in time when a powerful loss occurred. The song is chilling but buoyed by layered synthpop.

Technophobia open for DC doom metal band Citadel backstage at the Black Cat on Sunday. Tickets are available online and at the door.

Technophobia
Opening for Citadel
Sunday, August 9
Doors @7:30pm
$10
All ages

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