Parklife DC

-

June 7, 2016

Modern English perform at Ottobar on Saturday, June 3, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

When I last saw Modern English three years ago, the band’s appearance struck me as if they were the wise college professors of new wave and post-punk.

And they truly strike quite the air of a band that has seen it all. Vocalist Robbie Grey with his simple black ensemble, sports coat, and shock-white hair certainly looks like he could break out into a philosophy lecture at any time. Bassist Michael Conroy emits a similar sort of stoic wisdom, while guitarist Gary McDowell strikes you as someone who may have lived a more bohemian life and would have some wild tales to share of walks in more artistic and spiritual places.

Don’t Miss: Careless Memories: A New Wave Party @ Dodge City, 7/14/16

By

-

June 6, 2016

Last month, I visited Durham, NC, for the Moogfest 2016 synthesizer festival. Among other things, I caught three nights of synth pioneer Gary Numan as he performed his first three albums.

While in Durham, I also took some time to explore the city. At a comfortable little club room called Arcana, local DJs host a monthly new wave night called “Durham Durham,” imitating the name of top new wave band Duran Duran. (The sign for the new wave club night mimics the cover of Duran Duran’s album “Seven and the Ragged Tiger!”)

Driving back to DC, it struck me: Our fair city no longer has a monthly party dedicated solely to new wave music. We have plenty of retro parties, many of which are very new wave-friendly. But at this time, we were lacking a dedicated monthly party for bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Tears for Fears, New Order, The Human League, ABC, Culture Club, Eurythmics, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Ultravox, Visage, Blondie, Talking Heads, DEVO, Missing Persons, Berlin, Romeo Void, The Cars, and many others.

Around Town: The Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movie Series @ Canal Park (Thursdays)

By

Jeremy Bailey

-

June 6, 2016

2

Canal Park (just needs you)

Movies! DC is alive with the sound of movies! Every neighborhood is picking up the mantle to show free movies and give citizens the chance to picnic communally.

The Capitol Riverfront is putting on their own Outdoor Movie Series at Canal Park this summer. Every Thursday until the end of August.

The first movie was on June 2nd (Ocean’s Eleven).

This Thursday they will screen Inside Out for your Pixar fix.

Looks like some fun movies will be offered, including the new Star Wars (June 30) and Matt Damon’s stint on Mars (August 11).

See the full upcoming schedule:

June 9: Inside Out
June 16: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
June 23: Hitch
June 30: Star Wars The Force Awakens
July 7: Mean Girls
July 14: Jurassic World
July 21: Minions
July 28: Creed
August 4: Pitch Perfect 2
August 11: The Martian
August 18: Skyfall
August 25: Rain Date

The Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movie Series
Canal Park (200 M St SE)
June 2 through August 25 (Thursdays)
7:00pm start arriving (Movie at sundown)
Free Admission
All ages

Adroit Theory @ SAVOR Craft Beer, National Building Museum — 6/3/16

By

-

June 6, 2016

Mark Osborne at SAVOR 2016.

The owners of Adroit Theory Brewing Co. are fond of following their musical inspirations when making beer. And that led to a beer called Black Celebration, which was born of a collaboration with New York-based DJ Dieselboy.

Dieselboy wasn’t really a “beer guy” but he’s a true foodie, having been profiled in several food magazines, explained Adroit Theory owner Mark Osborne during a salon at the SAVOR Craft Beer and Food Experience at the National Building Museum in DC on Friday. Even better, Dieselboy had introduced a cocktail called the Higgins.

“We reached out to him to make a beer that would taste like his cocktail,” Mark said.

The resulting Black Celebration, named after a song by Depeche Mode, is an Imperial porter aged in oak barrels, clocking in at 9.99% ABV. Adroit Theory likes their beers strong, and generally dark. The lowest ABV beer ever made at Adroit Theory is a powerful 7% ABV, and the lowest on tap right now at the brewery’s tasting room is 7.3%, Mark said. A range of 8-10% ABV is typical for Adroit Theory’s beers.

Don’t Miss: CHVRCHES @ Rams Head Live! (Baltimore), 6/12/16

By

-

June 3, 2016

Tickets are available online.

CHVRCHES (Photo by Danny Clinch)

Synthpop trio CHVRCHES are quite popular on the festival circuit lately, and they are indeed heading to the Firefly Festival in Dover, Del., this month. But on the way, they’ve booked some independent shows, including a newly announced concert at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore on Sunday, June 12.

What a fantastic time and place to see CHVRCHES, who released one of the best albums in 2015 with their sophomore effort, Every Open Eye, on Sept. 25 via Glassnote. With their second album, they accomplished the rare feat of making an album better than their excellent debut, The Bones of What You Believe.

Glasgow’s favorite sons and daughter — Iain Cook, Martin Doherty and Lauren Mayberry — recorded both albums in a hometown studio (their own Alucard Studios), and the second time around they found even more gold in the sparkling synthesizers of the gents and the lilting, pleasing voice of the lady.

Check out the results in the official music video for “Clearest Blue” by CHVRCHES on YouTube:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZyzX4c1vIs]

One of the things I love about CHVRCHES is that they write, record, and produce everything themselves. Not to say there isn’t room for collaboration in the future, in my opinion, but I enjoy their focus and purity of vision.

New songs are about getting over heartbreak (“Leave a Trace”) — and making your own way unapologetically (“Bury It,” “Never Ending Circles,” “Playing Dead”) — and moving on to better things (“Down Side of Me,” “Afterglow,” “Clearest Blue” [above!]).

All in all, it’s fantastic synthpop, very much evocative of New Romantic synthpop from the early ’80s and groups like the Eurythmics, Cocteau Twins, and even Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

CHVRCHES
Rams Head Live!
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Show @8pm
$29.50
All ages

Don’t Miss: Chris Cornell @ Hippodrome Theatre (Baltimore), 6/23/16

By

Jeremy Bailey

-

June 3, 2016

Chris Cornell

After experiencing Soundgarden in Seattle in December 1996, and subsequently learning that would be the last time they would tour (they officially disbanded in April 1997), my thought was, “Oh no, this is terrible.” An end of an era, an end to a truly great band.

Luckily for Chris Cornell, music was too much a part of who he is, and thus he continued to record, his first solo album, Euphoria Morning, was born in late 1999, just in time to enjoy before the world ended over Y2K.

After three solo albums (plus a live acoustic album) and multiple tours, a fine 6-year, 3-album stint with Audioslave, and a euphoric revival of Soundgarden in 2010 (I went to the 2010 Lollapalooza in Chicago just to see their glorious comeback!), Chris is once again touring solo with a new album, Higher Truth.

Seeking a higher truth in life is never easy, and truth evolves as we grow and learn. Things become more or less important as experience sharpens us or brings us down. Seeking truth in music specifically, is also not easy. It is a reflection of personal taste, experiences, time and place, associations linked to people or events and much more, that shapes what we seek and enjoy. I felt one such ‘musical truth’ the first time I heard Chris Cornell’s voice, on the blood-pounding “Outshined” (on MTV late at night no less) and later as I snatched up Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger and was hooked. I remember sitting in front of the TV screen (no remote), ready to turn the channel if my Mom walked in. At the time, it seemed like something your parents warned you about.

All that to say, I always look forward to seeing Chris Cornell live, in any formation. Unfortunately, I’ve only seen him seven times (five times with Soundgarden, once with Audioslave and once solo).

And now I’m enjoying Higher Truth, especially songs like “Dead Wishes” and “Before We Disappear”. The 15 songs are slower, introspective ballads that just might help one seek their own truth.

Let’s leave you with the video for “Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart”, a crazy micro western focusing in on your date with the hangman. But which fate is better?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhJ9IwYc5NU]

Put Chris Cornell’s June 23rd show on your calendar immediately. Get tickets today!

Chris Cornell
w/ Fantastic Negrito
Hippodrome Theatre (Baltimore)
Thursday, June 23
8:00pm
$64.50-$107.00
All ages

Music Park: Christine and the Queens @ 9:30 Club — 5/31/16

By

-

June 3, 2016

Héloïse Letissier aka Christine and the Queens performs at the 9:30 Club on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

“I don’t quite fit. It’s like Tetris, and I’m the wrong piece,” said Héloïse Letissier, known by her stage name Christine and the Queens, in her sold-out show at the 9:30 Club on Tuesday.

But that is okay by Christine and the Queens. And in fact, the musician has a mantra, tattooed on her arm: “We accept you.”

Don’t Miss: SUSTO @ Rock and Roll Hotel, 6/9/16

By

-

June 2, 2016

SUSTO (Photo by Wesley Vance)

Although based in South Carolina, alt-country band SUSTO actually has its origins in… Cuba!

In 2013, singer and songwriter Justin Osborne moved to Havana to study anthropology. There, he threw himself into the music scene, absorbing music from locals playing in the Trova style. At the time, Justin also got into the American confessional poetry movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

When he got home, Justin founded SUSTO, combining his inspirations in Cuba with the music of Charleston, SC. He recruited Johnny Delaware (guitar, piano), Marshall Hudson (drums), Jenna Desmond (bass), and Corey Campbell (keyboard and guitar) to join SUSTO.

SUSTO released its self-titled debut album in April 2014, and then a live album in 2015, and now they are gearing up for their second album, to be titled “& I’m Fine Today” and to be released in the near future. SUSTO have launched a tour to showcase some of the new material, and they visit the Rock and Roll Hotel on Thursday, June 9.

Twangville premiered the band’s new video for “Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wine” and you can watch the video, made up of footage from an upcoming documentary on the band, on YouTube:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrsO4yVfIh0]

“Their exceptional melodies come in long, lean, curling lines set against sonic atmosphere that’s rich and bright…keep an eye on these guys,” said the Orlando Weekly. Other critics have compared the band to Wilco!

In DC, SUSTO’s opener will be our own Justin Jones, who also knows a thing or two about alt-country music! Tickets are available online.

SUSTO
w/ Justin Jones
Rock and Roll Hotel
Thursday, June 9
Doors @ 7pm
$14
All ages

Interview: Cyndi Lauper @ Wolf Trap — 6/1/16

By

-

June 2, 2016

Cyndi Lauper and Boy George (Photo courtesy True Colors Fund)

Cyndi Lauper performed in a sold-out show Wednesday at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap, at times fiery and at times sentimental but always irrepressible!

Nominally, she was touring in support of her new album Detour, a collection of country music covers released last month on Sire Records. But the concert sold out in part because it was the last of seven dates where she shared the spotlight with another ‘80s icon, Boy George.

In performance, Cyndi and George sang three songs together — at the end of George’s set, they covered “Bang a Gong” by T. Rex, a favorite of George. And at the end of Cyndi’s set, they performed “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly,” originally by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, and covered on Cyndi’s new album with Vince Gill. Afterward, Cyndi and George joined forces for “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!”