Home Blog Page 580

Live Review: Midge Ure @ Bethesda Blues & Jazz — 3/8/15

Midge Ure
Midge Ure performs a solo acoustic show at Iridium in New York City on Feb. 27, 2015.

When Midge Ure reunited with the other three members of Ultravox in 2008, the band embarked on discussions to tour. To determine the reunion tour setlist, the four band members each voted their preference from a list of potential songs, and those songs that received four votes would definitely be part of the set.

As it turns out only four of those potential songs received four votes. One of those songs, the archly lush and mournful “Lament” also landed on Midge Ure’s solo setlist Sunday night at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club in Bethesda, Md., in the last stop of a tour in support of his 2014 album Fragile.

Although Ultravox attempted to go about its business in as democratic a fashion as possible, Midge faced no such considerations on this tour. He remarkably undertook the U.S. portion of the Fragile tour completely on his own — without any roadies, management or other tour support. He traveled without any support whatsoever, bringing only a single guitar onto stage to powerfully perform more than 20 songs to audiences like that of the supper club, which nearly managed to sell out all of its dining tables to the eloquent Scot.

Sports Park: Capitals Weekly Report Card — 3/2-3/8/15

0

Caps Report Card

Weekly Record: 2-1 (4 pts)

Overall: 36-21-10 (82 pts)
+10 pt advantage for playoff spot

The Capitals have 15 games left and a healthy lead for a playoff berth. But they continue to play at a mediocre level.

Until Saturday night when they exploded for six goals, including another for Alex Ovechkin (44). Granted it was against the lowly Sabres, but any win at this point in the season is key.

Will they be good enough to win a playoff series? Let’s get there first.

 

Results

March 2, 2015: Capitals at Blue Jackets – WIN (5-3)

March 5, 2015: Wild at Capitals – LOSS (1-2)

March 7, 2015: Sabres at Capitals – WIN (6-1)

 

March 2-March 8 Weekly Report Card: B

Report Card Archive

 

Around Town: Best of DC Reader’s Poll @ Washington City Paper (Through 3/23/15)

properburger

The Proper Burger from Duke’s Grocery

In an unusually competitive year, the Washington City Paper has extended voting in seven of its categories for its Best of DC Readers’ Poll. The special extended voting on the poll’s highly popular categories will extend through 11:59pm on Monday, March 23.

Said the City Paper, “These seven categories were so competitive, we’re giving you extra time to decide the winners.

The finalists for each category were the top vote-getters in this year’s poll. Vote for your favorite.”

The seven categories and their semi-finalists are below. I’ve included some light commentary to reveal my votes. I’m not suggesting that it should sway your vote, but don’t let it stop you if you’re looking for suggestions!

Don’t Miss: DC United’s Season Opener @ RFK Stadium, 3/7/15

1

a fan is born
Time for a new ball and a new season

The beauty of the beautiful game (soccer, as if you didn’t know), is no matter the conditions, you can still play.

Snow, sleet, rain and mud, freezing cold, even sun, it is all good when it comes to kicking the ball around the pitch. As a kid, I played in all these conditions. Snow is the most fun, because it makes the game even harder.

So don’t let DC’s winter get you down, you can catch DC United’s season opener against the Montreal Impact this Saturday, March 7, at 3pm at RFK Stadium.

The weather should even be nice (comparatively), up to the mid-forties. Wear your scarves.

DC United enters the 2015 campaign with something to prove. They excelled in 2014 during the regular season, finishing with the third most points (59), but then fizzled badly versus the New York Red Bulls in the playoffs. Brutal.

Major League Soccer made a few changes for this season, expanding the league to 20 teams. Most notably they contracted Chivas USA (gone!) and added two new teams, Orlando City FC and New York City FC.

Get your tickets and get on the United bandwagon now.

 

DC United MLS Season Opener vs. Montreal Impact
RFK Stadium
March 7, 2015
3pm
$35 and up

Music Park: Gang of Four @ 9:30 Club — 3/3/15

GO4-2014-Colour
John Sterry, Andy Gill and Thomas McNeice of Gang of Four (Photo by Leo Cackett)

When Andy Gill, guitarist and cofounder of the seminal post-punk band Gang of Four, was very young, he wanted to be a drummer, he said in a chat with Annie Clark of St. Vincent recently for the Talkhouse podcast.

“I do think of things in grooves and rhythms and pulses, and I very much think in those terms. I don’t really think in terms of grandiose melodic constructions,” Gill said when discussing his approach to playing guitar.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/194182377″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

In performance, Gill uses his guitar much like he uses his voice: He’s direct and sparing when communicating with it. At the 9:30 Club Tuesday night, Gill brought the latest incarnation of Gang of Four on tour to play the very new album What Happens Next, and in so doing demonstrated the power in his approach to songcraft.

First, it has to be said, this is a different incarnation of Gang of Four, in which Gill is the only original member remaining. Vocalist John “Gaoler” Sterry has taken over for Jon King — and as a result it’s a different show. But Gill gave the band’s songs a remarkable level of consistency, which the audience warmly embraced. The two-thirds full room approached the new lineup cautiously but applauded very enthusiastically by the end of the performance.

Around Town: Flywheel Sports to Open @ Dupont Circle in March

0

kara_liotta copy

An indoor bicycling gym is set to take over the space once occupied by the former Visions Cinema (1907 Florida Avenue NW, DC), which closed way back in 2004.

The bicycling studio in question is the rapidly expanding Flywheel Sports, which is opening its first DC studio and 33rd U.S. location overall with the Dupont Circle-area location later this month.

“We are excited to open our largest studio yet in the heart of our nation’s capital,” said Flywheel co-founder Ruth Zukerman in a statement. “Given that Washington, DC, is one of America’s healthiest cities, we understand the need to provide the most effective, results-driven workout — a product that we consistently deliver every single day.”

At the former Visions site, Flywheel will open its largest gym to date with more than 60 high-tech bikes. The studio will feature the TorqBoard, a proprietary performance-tracking technology that provides riders with information such as their resistance (Torq), speed (RPM) and power throughout each class. After working out, riders also can find data including calories burned, average speed and total miles on their performance pages at http://www.flywheelshports.com and on the Flywheel iPhone app.

“Flywheel’s advanced technology is one of the many unique elements that have positioned the brand at the forefront of the indoor cycling industry,” said Ed Kinnaly, Flywheel CEO, in a statement. “We are thrilled to add something new and innovative to the DC fitness scene.”

The company also will offer FlyBarre, its complementary total body sculpting class, in a “theatre-style studio.”

FlyBarre consists of “small, intense interval exercises choreographed to contemporary and inspiring music,” said the company. The exercises are designed to “reshape the body for strong, lean and elongated muscles.” Class exercises target arms, abs, thighs and butts.

Founded in Manhattan’s Flatiron district in February 2010, Flywheel Sports has expanded nationally to include locations in the New York tri-state area, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, South Florida and more.

For class times and more information, visit http://www.flywheelsports.com.

Sports Park: Capitals Weekly Report Card – 2/23-3/1/15

0

Caps Report Card

Weekly Record: 1-2 (2 pts)

Overall: 34-20-10 (78 pts)
+9 pt advantage for playoff spot

Nooooo! The Caps headed into last Sunday’s game on a 3-game losing streak. After a 4-game winning streak, this is the worst time to lose their cool.

But in fine form on Sunday, the Caps raked the Maple Leafs, 4-0, to get back on track.

Alex Ovechkin had two more goals, and continues to lead the league (41).

This week the Caps play a couple bad teams, including Buffalo, so it’s the perfect time to start another winning streak.

 

Results

February 25, 2015: Penguins at Capitals – LOSS (3-4)

February 27, 2015: Capitals at Hurricanes – LOSS (0-3)

March 1, 2015: Maple Leafs at Capitals – WIN (4-0)

 

Feb. 23-Mar. 1 Weekly Report Card: C-

 

Report Card Archive

Don’t Miss: Sweetlife Festival @ Merriweather Post Pavilion, 5/30-5/31/15

kendrick
Kendrick Lamar performs at the Sweetlife Festival in 2013 (Photo courtesy Sweetgreen)

The Sweetlife Festival will expand to two days for the first time in its six-year history on May 30-31, announced organizers Sweetgreen Tuesday.

Sweetgreen, a DC-based chain of salad restaurants, will host the Sweetlife Festival again at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., with an expanded lineup across two stages.

Performers this year include Kendrick Lamar, Calvin Harris, The Weeknd, Pixies, Charli XCX, Billy Idol, Phantogram, Marina & The Diamonds, San Fermin and others. The festival also promised a “handful of local DC-area artists.”

Tickets go on sale to the public at 10am on Friday, March 6, through Ticketfly. But presales are available for those who use the Sweetgreen rewards app on Wednesday, March 4, and those who follow the salad company on Instagram on Thursday, March 5.

The festival also offers “the best in food and experiences,” according to the organizers with art installations, play areas, and partner chefs like Erik Bruner-Yang, José Andrés and Nick Wiseman. Sweetgreen will publish full details on the food and experience offerings later this spring.

The Sweetlife Festival is produced in partnership with I.M.P., which books concerts at Merriweather Post Pavilion and the 9:30 Club, of course. For more information on the festival, visit, http://www.sweetlifefestival.com.

Tickets will be available online or at the box office of the 9:30 Club.

Sweetlife Festival
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia, Md.
Saturday, May 30-Sunday, May 31
Show @12pm both days
$175 (General)-$350 (VIP)
All ages

sweetlife

Music Park: Carpark Records 16th Anniversary @ DC9, 3/7/15

jimmywhispers
Jimmy Whispers is among the acts playing at DC9 on March 7 in an anniversary show for Carpark Records

Carpark Records, based in DC and Brooklyn, is celebrating its 16th anniversary this month with a special series of concerts, including one at DC9 on Saturday, March 7.

The first show actually will take place with nine artists at Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right on Friday, March 6. The DC show will feature five bands, including Lexie Mountain Boys, Greys, Chandos, Adventure and Jimmy Whispers. The final anniversary show will be held on March 19 at Saw Dive in Austin, Texas, as part of SXSW.

Carpark Records made a trailer to announce the anniversary shows, but it may give you a bit of a headache to watch it:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltikhiOxQu0]

The first 50 guests at each of the anniversary shows will receive a free Carpark Records anniversary T-shirt by American Giant.

tees

The folks at Carpark Records love basketball, and they are excited that they can make “Sweet 16” references to their 16th anniversary. So in addition to the concerts, Carpark Records will mark its anniversary with a Sweet 16 basketball-themed picture disc to be released on May 26.