Parklife DC

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September 13, 2016

Boy George sings at Strathmore Music Center on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016.

Boy George has embraced a new level of maturity, inspired in part by one of his heroes, funk musician Sly Stone.

Recalling a magazine interview with Sly during a performance by Culture Club on Sunday night, George quoted Sly as saying, “I have many regrets, but none that I can remember right now.”

George discussed personal growth during a show at Strathmore Music Hall in Bethesda, Maryland, in the introduction to new Culture Club song “Different Man,” which will tentatively appear on a new album set for 2017 on Culture Club’s own label, Different Man Music. (There’s a theme for you!) George emphasized that you don’t become a different person like Sly, who may have done some reckless things in his youth, simply by growing older. Wisdom doesn’t simply manifest itself, and people must have the will to change, like Sly — or like George.

“You have to decide to change and become a different man,” George acknowledged. With that, George launches into the soulful song about turning a new leaf. We understand clearly that George is apologizing for his own past behavior, and that he’s here now with his bandmates in Culture Club for the better.

Music Park: SHAED (Opened for Marian Hill) @ 9:30 Club — 9/10/16

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Parklifer

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September 13, 2016

A signed copy of SHAED’s new EP, Just Wanna See (Photo Credit: Jeremy Bailey)

As the members of SHAED walked triumphantly off the stage at the 9:30 Club, the audience exploded with cheer and began to chant mightily, “One more song! One more song!”

SHAED opened (along with VÉRITÉ) for Marian Hill on Saturday, September 10th, part of the early show at the club that night (scheduled before a separate DJ set at 11pm). Opening bands don’t get an encore in that situation, but the crowd was not having it. Finally, with the expectant crowd in full chant mode, Chelsea Lee (lead singer) had to come back on stage to put the nix on our hopes.

Don’t Miss: Sex Stains @ Comet Ping Pong, 9/15/16

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September 13, 2016

Sex Stains (Photo by Debi Del Grande)

Forty years after the debut record by The Ramones, Sex Stains are here to remind us that women are also a kinetic part of punk rock history. And so welcome the return of Allison Wolfe of riot grrrl bands Bratmobile and Cold Cold Hearts as she takes up lead vocals in new band Sex Stains.

Sex Stains, a Los Angeles-based punk quintet, released its debut self-titled record on Sept. 2 via Don Giovanni Records, and they launched a national tour to promote it! They slide into our ears locally at Comet Ping Pong on Thursday, Sept. 15, courtesy of Sasha Lord Presents.

Inspired by late ‘70s and early ‘80s post-punk, Sex Stains recorded 12 rapid-fire dance tracks rife with discord. Sex Stains previously released the lead single, “Don’t Hate Me ‘Cuz I’m Beautiful,” a brief, perfect punk punch.

Listen to “Don’t Hate Me ‘Cuz I’m Beautiful” by Sex Stains on YouTube:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B77OYk8yPjk]

Formed in 2014, Sex Stains consists of Allison, fellow lead vocalist Mecca Vazie Andrews, drummer David Orlando, guitarist Sharif Dumani, and bassist Pachy Garcia. Turn up to dance to sassy tracks with catchy cadences and buoyant melodies!

DC bands Coup Savage & the Snips and Governess open for Sex Stains. Tickets are available at the door.

Sex Stains
w/ Coup Savage & the Snips, Governess
Comet Ping Pong
Thursday, Sept. 15
Doors @9pm
$12
All ages

Music Park: Echo & the Bunnymen @ 9:30 Club — 9/9/16

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September 12, 2016

Ian McCulloch sings at the 9:30 Club on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

“Yes!” exclaimed DJ Rick Taylor with his characteristic exuberance. “Echo & the Bunnymen are playing ‘Angels and Devils’ — this is a B-side that I’ve never before seen live!”

And so it was that Ian McCulloch and his band took up the rarely played song, originally the B-side to “Silver” from Ocean Rain, as Rick explained to me, recorded as an homage to the Velvet Underground by Echo & the Bunnymen during their Ocean Rain sessions. (And it was actually included on the 2008 remastered edition of the album.)

Ocean Rain, the fourth studio album by Echo & the Bunnymen in 1984, figured prominently into the set Friday night at the 9:30 Club as an overly crowded house clamored for every little bit of cool they could suck out of Ian, much as he sucked down cigarettes from in front of the drum kit right on stage. (Who, after all, was going to stop him from smoking during the show? He’s Ian Fuckin’ McCulloch.) Ian and his studious compatriot Will Sergeant, who focused intently on his guitar the entire show, obliged the overly sold-out house by generating the coolest damn sound, which wafted into the heads and hearts of their patrons.

Music Park: Dinosaur Jr. @ 9:30 Club — 9/8/16

By

Corey Paterson

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September 12, 2016

J Mascis performs with Dinosaur Jr. at Best Kept Secret Festival on June 18, 2016. (Photo by Kmeron)

Dinosaur Jr. took the stage in front of a sold-out 9:30 Club on Thursday night. Two hours later, I sat in my car and could hardly hear anything over the ringing in my ears. This is not a bad thing (although I have rethought my stance on wearing ear-plugs) because it was a result of J Mascis’ roaring guitar solos!

J’s Jazzmaster screamed as Emmett Jefferson “Murph” Murphy III (drums) and Lou Barlow (bass) provided a heavy and steady rhythm foundation. I had read about J’s ability on the guitar and seeing it for myself backed up everything I read. It’s no surprise Rolling Stone ranked him 86th on their list of 100 greatest guitarists.

Snapshots: Eskimeaux (and Basement) @ Rock and Roll Hotel — 9/7/16

By

kristiechua

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September 12, 2016

Eskimeaux performs at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016. (Photo by Kristie Chua)

Gabrielle Smith, better known as Eskimeaux, visited the Rock and Roll Hotel in DC from Brooklyn last week to tour in support of a new EP, Year of the Rabbit (which is out this Friday).

Performing on Sept. 7, Eskimeaux presented songs like “Year of the Rabbit” — the title track of that EP — with air vocals and suprisingly resplendent guitars. The results remind me a bit of Scotland’s Camera Obscura, but Gabrielle sounds more consistently wistful and perhaps a touch more melancholy.

Interview: Stephen Salisbury of GROVES (@ Strathmore Music Center, 9/11/16)

By

regardingtess

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September 11, 2016

Groves (Photo by Chris Sullivan)

Three musicians. Two tracks. One relentless engineer.

A chance encounter is sometimes the only thing standing between center stage and obscurity. For an alt-rock trio hailing from the tiny town of Groves, Texas (population 16,144) attempting to make it big in the City of Angels, Courtney Ballard was that celestial savior -– if of course you believe in that sort of thing.

Groves does. In fact, they told Live Nation TV earlier this month in a tour diary that “taking that meeting was one of the best decisions they’ve made yet” in their career. That encounter has led to a tour with Culture Club that ends tonight at Strathmore Music Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Music Park: Sleigh Bells @ U Street Music Hall — 9/7/16

By

Jeremy Bailey

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September 9, 2016

Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells (Photo Credit: Molly Dauphin)

“It’s so loud, I can’t hear myself think!” boomed Alexis Krauss, lead singer of Sleigh Bells, during their sold out show at the U Street Music Hall on 9/7/16.

Sleigh Bells are back in full force. Their upcoming fourth album, Jessica Rabbit, releases in November. Yet, they only played three new songs, including “Hyper Dark”, which Alexis asked the crowd if they could practice playing for the first time live. Sure! “Hyper Dark” is a departure from the usual frenetic, fuzzy, distorted anthems they typically play. It leisurely builds to a chorus, “So, you like trouble, I think we have a problem”, where Alexis’ voice slowly and confidently burns over synth-laden beats. Played live, it’s hard not to love (and to stay still to). Thanks for practicing on us.

Music Park: Howard Jones @ The Hamilton Live — 9/3/16

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September 9, 2016

Howard Jones performs at The Hamilton Live on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016.

I didn’t see my first concert until I was an undergraduate at the University of Delaware in 1992, and that concert was a performance by Howard Jones! It was a busy time for Howard, who released a new album that year. As college kids, we were still consuming his last album, Cross That Line, which introduced two quintessential songs in Howard’s catalog — “The Prisoner” and “Everlasting Love,” both US top 40 hits.

So of course I was thrilled that Howard Jones performed both songs when he stopped at The Hamilton Live on Saturday, Sept. 3, continuing a mini-tour on the heels of wrapping up his summer travels with the Barenaked Ladies.