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Don’t Miss: Donald Cumming (Opening for Brandon Flowers) @ Echostage, 7/29/15

Mickey McCarter
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Don’t Miss: Donald Cumming (Opening for Brandon Flowers) @ Echostage, 7/29/15

donaldcumming
Donald Cumming, Out Calls Only (Photo courtesy Tell All Your Friends PR)

When I last saw Donald Cumming, he was on tour with his former band, The Virgins. And the band was opening for The Killers at Merriweather Post Pavilion in August 2013.

Now Brandon Flowers, frontman of The Killers, is coming around to Echostage on Wednesday, July 29 in a tour to support his solo efforts, and he’s bringing newly solo Donald around with him. Donald released his first solo album, Out Calls Only, in June on Razor & Tie subsidiary Washington Square.

As a solo artist, Donald’s voice and his guitar remain distinctive. And his songs still sound to me like they carry hallmarks of early Elvis Costello. (And I still think of The Cars when I hear Donald play for some reason!) But on Out Calls Only, Donald certainly sounds more lovelorn, and perhaps more grown up?

Donald recently released a video for his latest single, “Game of the Heart,” a jaunty song that suggests “Somebody wins everybody else loses” in the struggle of love.

Watch the video for “Game of the Heart” on YouTube:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN_vAZnjpHk&w=640&h=360]

I had the pleasure of interviewing Donald in 2013 when I was blogging for We Love DC, and he said his meeting with The Killers and then Brandon came about quite unintentionally.

All the same, it’s good to have one of New York City’s finest guitar players in town, so get to Echostage early on Wednesday and catch Donald in his DC solo debut.

Donald Cumming
(Opening for Brandon Flowers)
Echostage
Wednesday, July 29
Doors @7pm
$43.45
All ages

Sports Park: Navigating the DC Social Sports Scene – Metro Sports Leagues

Jeremy Bailey
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Sports Park: Navigating the DC Social Sports Scene – Metro Sports Leagues

Soccer Ball

 

Social sports are a big deal in DC. From soccer to softball to volleyball to bocce and everything in between, there are many leagues and sports available.

How do you determine which league to join? The sport you like and where you’re willing to play will impact your decision. Let’s look at three leagues you should try out.

Part 1: Metro Sports Leagues

I’ve played volleyball (both outdoor and indoor) with Metro Sports Leagues since 2012 and have found the league to be fun and worthwhile. The volleyball teams tend to be cheaper than other leagues and you play seven matches per season, which is more than some leagues.

The locations of the different sports are all across the city, so you should be able to find something that is convenient for you.

 

Jeff Schrumm, of Metro Sports Leagues, chats with ParkLife DC:

ParkLife: How and when did your league come about?
Jeff: Metro Sports Leagues started in 2001 when a company doing the same thing went out of business. It started real small but has since grown into a pretty large organization of 500+ teams a year with multiple sports, divisions and locations.

ParkLife: Why should someone choose your league over other social sports leagues?
Jeff: We take pride in the fact that we have been established for 14 years. This isn’t by luck. We work very hard at running organized leagues. We first focus on the sports being played and use the best facilities with the best umpires/referees.

ParkLife: What sports/activities do you offer?
Jeff: Volleyball, soccer, softball and now lawyers league basketball.

ParkLife: What is your most popular sport/activity?
Jeff: Soccer is very popular in Metro Sports Leagues. We offer Coed, Men’s and Women’s leagues. Soccer runs every day/evening but Friday.

ParkLife: What sport/activity that you offer are you most proud of and why?
Jeff: We are proud of all of our sports. As a league we are proud of the numerous relationships that form from players meeting each other through Metro Sports Leagues.

 

Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3.

Music Park: KATIEE @ Black Cat — 7/23/15

Mickey McCarter
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Music Park: KATIEE @ Black Cat — 7/23/15

KATIEE1
KATIEE (Photo by Sabine Rogers)

With a low and smoky voice, Katie Eastburn likes to let her inner cinephile run wild when composing songs with her latest band, KATIEE, a smart electronic quartet from Brooklyn.

In performance backstage at the Black Cat on Thursday night, Katie described their song “Sudden Fear,” for example, as inspired by the 1952 movie of the same title starring Joan Crawford.

KATIEE certainly have a sound appropriate for a modern reflection on such film noir, combining Katie’s sometimes hushed voice with unhurried percussion and ambient synths. Jim McHugh, Jeff Tobias and Jason Robira fill in the atmospheric sounds of assorted synths, saxophone, guitar and drums along with Katie, who plays a synthesizer herself.

Resulting tunes like “Bad and the Beautiful” are crisp and sometimes a little eerie. “Bad and the Beautiful” of course takes its title from another classic movie starring Lana Turner and Kirk Douglas.

The artful video for “Bad and the Beautiful” reflects the feeling of listening to KATIEE’s songs, and it also underscores Katie’s keen experience and continued interest in choreography.

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Don’t Miss: NE-HI @ DC9, 8/16/15

Mickey McCarter
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Don’t Miss: NE-HI @ DC9, 8/16/15

NE-HI
NE-HI (Photo by Xavier Juarez)

Chicago quartet NE-HI have planned a tour of more than a dozen dates throughout August, bringing their jangle pop to DC9 on Sunday, August 16.

The band consists of guitarist/lead singers Alex Otake and Jason Balla, bassist James Weir, and drummer Mikey Wells, and they recently released a new single, “Drag.”

Listen to “Drag” by NE-HI on Soundcloud:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/213551901″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

The new single follows a self-titled album from March 2014 released by Chicago’s Manic Static. Of that record, the Chicago Tribune said, “The quartet’s guitar-driven indie rock hits that magic spot — evoking nostalgia and familiarity while sounding excited and young, melding disparate eras (surf licks, ’80’s college rock) into something whole.”

Listen to the self-titled album NE-Hi on Bandcamp:

[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1722612064 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Initially, the four musicians pooled their talents to score a film for a friend but then stuck together, citing college rock such as R.E.M. as an influence. But now they are flying free and rolling across the country to DC9.

Tickets are available online and at the door. Local indie rockers StereoRiots open for NE-HI.

NE-HI
w/ StereoRiots
DC9
Sunday, August 16
Doors @8:30pm
$10
All ages

Don’t Miss: Laura Marling @ 9:30 Club, 7/31/15

Jeremy Bailey
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Don’t Miss: Laura Marling @ 9:30 Club, 7/31/15

Laura Marling18810_Final_RT2Photo courtesy of PRESS HERE

In support of her new album, Short Movie, Laura Marling comes to the 9:30 Club this Friday, July 31st. Short Movie is her fifth full length album, and has been described as ‘bolder and looser’ than her previous work. The album is an introspective work, brought about by time spent reading (poetry), hiking (near the Joshua Tree) and reflecting, which led to songs about salvation, peace, and humanity.

Rolling Stone said “Marling is the most compelling singer-songwriter of the U.K. roots-revival scene, with a voice that conjures young Joni Mitchell.”

Marling is from Eversley, England and won the 2011 Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. After three of her previous albums were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, and having received critical acclaim for her last album, Once I Was An Eagle, she brings a new sound and a new attitude.

Let’s join her this Friday!

Tickets are available here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQA2Z9oDmgM] “I Feel Your Love”

Laura Marling
w/ Marika Hackman and Johnny Flynn
9:30 Club
Friday, July 31
Doors @ 8:00pm
$30
All ages

Music Park: Memory Tapes @ Carpark Sweet Sixteen Basketball Picture Disc, 7/24/15

Mickey McCarter
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Music Park: Memory Tapes @ Carpark Sweet Sixteen Basketball Picture Disc, 7/24/15

memoryTapesWide
Dayve Hawk of Memory Tapes (Photo courtesy Carpark Records)

Carpark Records released its limited edition 12″ picture disc in honor of its 16th anniversary today!

Among the featured bands on the Carpark Sweet Sixteen Basketball Picture Disc is Memory Tapes, which performs at DC9 on Sunday, July 26. Memory Tapes shared their contribution to the 16th anniversary pictures disc — “Go Play Outside” — premiering it on Tiny Mix Tapes.

Tiny Mix Tapes called the song “an incredibly warm slice of mandarin computer-juice, with a distinct flavor of summer sloth and citrus.”

Listen to “Go Play Outside” by Memory Tapes on Soundcloud:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/209389097″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Memory Tapes’ Dayve Hawk said of the contributed track, “It’s been a rough year, and Carpark have always been very supportive, so I was happy to contribute to their anniversary compilation. At the time, I was looking after my youngest daughter and after making off with the mic she ended up singing on the track.”

The disc costs $16, and all proceeds go to the Little Kids Rock charity. You can order the disc now through Carpark Records.

The track list follows:

Side A
1. Young Magic – NETS
2. Montag – Drop A Dime
3. Safety Scissors – Orange Roughy
4. Jayson Gerycz – Dribble Dribble
5. Young Magic – All Net (Celebration Dance)
6. TEEN – Dylan and Chong Playing Basketball
7. Thomas J Duke – Manute Bol
8. Jake Mandell – 2008
9. Signer – Roll, Pick, and Roll Again
10. Skylar Spence – Turnover
11. Sadie Dupuis – Theme from Babadook
12. Montag – Basket Case
13. Ear Pwr – I Would Rather Be Shopping
14. Jason Urick – Double Dribble
15. Memory Tapes – Go Play Outside
16. Lowt Ide – Your Turn

Side B
17. Skylar Spence – Practice
18. Dan Deacon – 1 Wand from the 9 Piles
19. So Takahashi – Dribble Commander
20. Jimmy Whispers – Mugsy Bogus
21. Chandos – Traveling
22. GRMLN – Buzzer Beat
23. Toro Y Moi – Space Jam
24. Greg Davis – Paxson
25. Ear Pwr – Beyond the Arc
26. Dog Bite – Hoops
27. Adventure – Ewww
28. Speedy Ortiz – Basketball (Demo)

Buy the disc, and go see Memory Tapes at DC9 on Sunday.

Memory Tapes
w/ Computer Magic and School Dance
DC9
Sunday, July 26
Doors @8:30pm
$10-12
All ages

Food Park: Healthy Breakfast Series w/ Ezekiel Emanual @ Masseria, 7/25-26, 8/1-2

Mickey McCarter
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Food Park: Healthy Breakfast Series w/ Ezekiel Emanual @ Masseria, 7/25-26, 8/1-2

Zeke Emanuel at Union Market 4 by Travis Vaughn
Zeke Emanuel tests the menu for this weekend’s breakfast series at Union Market’s new Masseria restaurant. (Photo by Travis Vaughn)

One of the most anticipated new DC restaurants, Masseria (1340 4th St. NE, DC), will be teaming up with a renowned healthcare pundit for a healthy breakfast series over the next couple of weekends.

Ezekiel “Zeke” Emanuel, healthcare pundit, will run the breakfast series on Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26, and Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the 42-seat Masseria, the first standalone restaurant in orbit of Union Market, by Nicholas Stefanelli.

As guest chef, Zeke will produce breakfasts built around his goal of “wholesome living.” His menu will consist of nutritious foods appealing to both health food advocates and political wonks, reflecting his values in healthy and affordable eating as detailed in his books “Healthcare, Guaranteed” and “The Ends of Human Life.”

A percentage of the proceeds from the breakfast series will benefit Martha’s Table, DC Central Kitchen and the Good Food Awards. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis by emailing reservations@masseria-dc.com.

Zeke Emanuel at Union Market by Travis Vaughn
EDENS Director of Culinary Strategy Richie Brandenburg and Zeke Emanuel. (Photo by Travis Vaughn)

Don’t Miss: Cosmicide (Opening for Interpol) @ Echostage, 7/28/15

Mickey McCarter
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0

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6h4wjaOWb4]

Brandon Curtis, formerly of Secret Machines, is making music again with his latest band Cosmicide. As Brandon has been a touring keyboardist with Interpol, he’s coming to Echostage on July 28 to open for the New York post-punk outfit.

A few weeks ago, Cosmicide introduced a video for a new song, “A New Disaster,” on Noisey, giving us a taste of things to come. You can watch the video for “A New Disaster” on YouTube above.

Although Cosmicide has not yet released a full-length album, the band published a single, “Talos’ Corpse,” in 2014. Brandon took some time off from Cosmicide after the death of his brother Benjamin, who worked alongside him in Secret Machines, and while touring with Interpol.

Listen to “Talos’ Corpse” on Soundcloud:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/117793173″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Working with London’s Duly Noted Records, Cosmicide may offer more sparkling neo-psychedelic pop in the near future! Meanwhile, Cosmicide open for Interpol on Tuesday, July 28, at Echostage as Interpol wind down their tour in support of fifth album, El Pintor.

Tickets are available online.

Cosmicide
Opening for Interpol
Echostage
Tuesday, July 28
Doors @7pm
$48.60
All ages

Food Park: Alex McCoy @ Food Network Star — 7/19/15 (S. 11, Ep. 7)

Mickey McCarter
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Food Park: Alex McCoy @ Food Network Star — 7/19/15 (S. 11, Ep. 7)

Just One Row of Food Trucks
A row of food trucks at the 2012 DC Curbside Cookoff (Photo by Alex Levine)

Hot Slap Tacos!

If you’ve been watching Food Network Star this season, you have encountered the phenomenon sparked by the team of Chefs Alex McCoy and Dom Tesoriero. In the last episode Sunday, the two paired together for a food truck challenge, and things got heated! But more on Hot Slap Tacos in a minute.

First, let’s recap the beginning of the episode. Food Network Star, Season 11, has featured Chef Alex from DC, and we’ve been cheering him on to win the competition. The last episode (#7) on Sunday, July 19, featured a challenge where contestants operated food trucks.

Prior to that, the six remaining contestants engaged in a smaller challenge, where Food Network Star host Bobby Flay directed the chefs to make a version of their favorite brunch, but to make it portable. The winner of this mini-challenge would get an advantage in the bigger challenge — a typical scenario in Food Network Star.

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Music Park: Sharkmuffin @ Above the Bayou — 7/20/15

Mickey McCarter
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Music Park: Sharkmuffin @ Above the Bayou — 7/20/15

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Tarra Thiessen and Natalie Kirch of Sharkmuffin (Photo courtesy Girlie Action)

Along the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Ave. NW, several restaurants and bars catering to the local George Washington University crowd dot the street. On the north side, a New Orleans-themed place called the Bayou offers food and live music.

But to the left of the Bayou, you can open a door and walk into a residential building that seems a bit out of place for the upscale surroundings. It’s not exactly a tenement, and it’s not that you would feel unsafe there at all, but it’s odd.

I strode into the creaky building Monday night, walking past young adults eating edamame and drinking PBR along several flights of steps in order to climb to the top of the building for a visit to Above the Bayou, an apartment that has become a firm part of the DC DIY scene hosting “house concerts.” That night, the bill included DC bands Rom and Cool People and New York City bands Lost Boy ? and Sharkmuffin. I came specifically to see Sharkmuffin, a girl punk-inspired duo with some great surf guitar.

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