Parklife DC

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March 2, 2016

Julia Holter performing live at Village Underground on 11/11/2013. (Photo by Zoe Klinck)

With a strong fiddle player at her side, Julia Holter charmed the Rock and Roll Hotel crowd with a mix of experimental pop and folk-like songs.

At one point she whispered to the crowd, “Everything happens here…in DC…that’s important.” Whether this is true or not is debatable, but it did spark the crowd to start a lively round of shouts throughout the concert. The most entertaining being when one guy (and I assume the winner of every Louis C.K. look-alike contest) shouted, “We love you!” And he did. And they did.

Julia played a number of new songs off her latest album, Have You In My Wilderness, which received a great deal of buzz in the press in 2015.

One such new song was, “Feel You”, which she described as the ‘dorkiest song’ on the new record. Yet, I thought it was the strongest effort from the 13-song set she performed.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2JgMniIpRM]

For the style and the sound, often individual songs segued into a cacophony of different vocal sounds and arrangements and pantomimed gestures that flowed around the lyrics, changing the dynamic and the mood from moment to moment. Hence, why some have dubbed her music experimental.

I found this eclectic mixing most interesting in the form of the “Sea Calls Me Home” (which was also the last song of the encore), where the song transitions from an airy pop song to a drumbeat chant of the chorus.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OERixQR-hxY]

The lyrics of the funky “Vasquez” and “Silhouette” syncopated and slithered, while the three member band (drums, guitar and fiddle) kept time and the audience swayed. The Rock and Roll Hotel was mostly full, and it appeared a good number were quite familiar with Julia’s catalog and were having a fine time indeed.

Give the album, Have You In My Wilderness, a listen here.

Julia’s tour continues in Canada and the Midwest through March, then she picks up again in May at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington state (it’s a beautiful setting for music, you should check it out) for the Sasquatch Music Festival, before heading to a couple European cities!

Music Park: Furniteur @ Songbyrd Music House –2/28/16

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March 2, 2016

Brittany Sims, Mike Toohey, and Kevin Bayly of Furniteur at Songbyrd Music House on Feb. 28, 2016. (Photo by Ben Eisendrath /Instagram+Twitter: GrillworksBen)

It is a delightful thing to walk into a room when Furniteur are playing.

The cool chill of their synthesizers and the sultry vocals of their chanteuse leaves a distinct impression upon you. You are ready to forget about your cares and relax with a cocktail or two. And that’s exactly what I did when I walked into Songbyrd Music House to catch Furniteur in a late show on Sunday night.

Brittany Sims, Mike Toohey, and Kevin Bayly (the two men of synth also in the band Brett) make smart music for cocktails at twilight as they inject an old school charm into their music. As for their music, Furniteur released a new EP featuring a cover of Julee Cruise’s “Falling,” the theme to “Twin Peaks” (yes, the David Lynch TV show), in February.

Sports Park: DC United @ CONCACAF Champions League, 3/1/16

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March 1, 2016

The U.S. Doesn’t Produce Champions and Other Soccer Statements

Clubs from Mexico have dominated the CONCACAF Champions League. (Note: CONCACAF stands for the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.)

In fact, no other country has won this 24 soccer club competition since they changed the format in 2008 (to emulate the far more popular and successful European version known as the UEFA Champions League).

This particular competition suffers from a lack of true interest north of Mexico. Few in the U.S. follow and fewer still can be roused enough to cheer their Major League Soccer (MLS) team on to victory.

Eight teams remain in the 2015-2016 edition. Four U.S. clubs vs. four Mexican clubs. The team with the highest aggregate score over two games (home/away) advances to the next round.

Your DC United just happens to be one of the remaining U.S. clubs!

They play the second leg of the Quarterfinals tonight, March 1st, at RFK Stadium against the Mexican side, Club Queretaro. So rouse yourself and get your tickets now!

DC United lost 2-0 on the road to Queretaro last week, so they have their work cut out for them. But you already knew that. Let’s see if the U.S. has what it takes.

CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals: DC United (USA) vs. Club Queretaro (Mexico)
RFK Stadium
Tuesday, March 1
8:00pm
$20-55
All ages

Music Park: Potty Mouth @ DC9 — 2/26/16

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March 1, 2016

Touring guitarist, bassist Ally Einbinder, and vocalist/guitarist Abby Weems (with a peek of drummer Victoria Mandanas) of Potty Mouth perform at DC9 on Feb. 26, 2016. (Photo by Ben Eisendrath /Instagram+Twitter: GrillworksBen)

Girl band trio Potty Mouth have become more focused and crisp, and their music and performance have benefitted, as evidenced by a very full show at DC9 on Friday.

The Massachusetts-based band released a self-titled EP in August, and the ladies are on tour in support of it. In the two years since I saw them last, they lost a permanent member when they decided to focus on the work of their band and keep it growing despite finishing up at their women’s-only college. Vocalist/guitarist Abby Weems, bassist Ally Einbinder, and drummer Victoria Mandanas now tour with a rotating fourth member, and their continued dedication to their craft has born some fruit as the new songs are among their best live.

Sports Park: Capitals Fortnightly Report Card — 2/15-2/28/16

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February 29, 2016

2015-2016 Fortnightly Report Card Archive

Fortnightly Record: 5-2 (10 pts)
Overall: 45-12-4 (94 pts)

Well, in the only game I managed to attend this season (February 24th against the Canadiens), the Capitals decided not to show up until the last ten minutes of the third period. Far too late to overcome a three goal deficit, but at least they kept it entertaining for those that stuck around.

With 21 games remaining, the Caps should have no problem qualifying for the playoffs. The only question is, can they finish the season as division winners, with the #1 seed AND have enough juice to make a run in the playoffs? We hope. We hope.

Alex Ovechkin brings his league leading goal scoring ability (40 goals) to the upcoming three game homestand. He looked flat and uninspired on the 24th, but rebounded for a goal in the game after. With 312 shots on goal so far this season (52 better than the next best), he is definitely getting his chances.

The Caps next play at home on Tuesday, March 1st against Pittsburgh. Then they play Toronto and New York Rangers to close out the homestand.

Get your tickets to the games here.

Results

February 16, 2016: Kings at Capitals – Win (3-1)

February 18, 2016: Capitals at Islanders – Win (3-2 OT)

February 20, 2016: Devils at Capitals – Win (4-3)

February 22, 2016: Coyotes at Capitals – Win (3-2)

February 24, 2016: Canadiens at Capitals – Loss (3-4) (Attended)

February 26, 2016: Wild at Capitals – Win (3-2)

February 28, 2016: Capitals at Blackhawks – Loss (2-3)

February 15-February 28 Fortnightly Report Card: B

Around Town: 88th Academy Awards, 2/28/16

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February 26, 2016

The Martian and star Matt Damon were better than the author anticipated. (Photo courtesy Twentieth Century Fox)

Big movie stars will gather for the 88th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 28, in Los Angeles. In DC, we have a number of Oscar parties to choose from if we want to get in on the glitz.

Last year, I attended the shindig thrown by the Washington Film Institute at Malmaison (3401 Water St. NW, DC) in Georgetown. It’s a fine option if you care more about being seen than seeing what happens at the Oscars. (You cannot. Although the show is running, the room is way too loud and busy for you to actually watch.) This year, I may opt for something far more laidback like the Movie Trivia & Oscars Watch Party at Ventnor Sports Cafe (2411 18th St. NW, DC).

Whatever your speed, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has offered up eight contenders for Best Picture this year, and I’m here to give you my analysis of how those nominations stack up!

Don’t Miss: Joe Satriani @ Lincoln Theatre, 4/2/16

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February 24, 2016

Joe Satriani or Shockwave Supernova? (Photo Credit: MAD Ink PR)

Joe Satriani swoops into Washington, DC on April 2nd, bringing his classic brand of instrumental guitar anthems to the Lincoln Theatre.

Joe’s tour, titled “From Surfing to Shockwave”, is in support of his latest release and 15th full-length album (2015), Shockwave Supernova.

The album and much of his work from 1986 onward, is about listeners being transported to new worlds. Since his songs have no lyrics, those worlds you have to discover for yourself. As the mood strikes you.

The album’s title song, “Shockwave Supernova”, opens the concept album with frenetic urgency, and begins a journey of the titular character (or as Joe describes his alter ego) over 15 bold songs. The video depicts a passage through the cosmos with pulsing sound and light.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dug-YEIvoe8]

“On Peregrine Wings” could be the sweeping score of an epic sword and sorcery film, such as Highlander or Time Bandits. (Or any other strange science fiction movie Sean Connery starred in…)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7ktd7ybyG4]

Although I haven’t kept up with Joe Satriani’s recent releases (he also plays on the band, Chickenfoot), I did play the sheen off of his 1995 self-titled album, Joe Satriani. One of my personal ‘Top 100’ songs of all-time (if such a thing could ever truly exist…), was the 7th song, “Home”. It found its way on many a mixed tape, curated for long road trips.

You don’t want to miss the chance to experience one of the finest guitarists in music (and teacher of many more). Get your tickets here.

Buy and learn more about Shockwave Supernova here.

Joe Satriani
Lincoln Theatre
Saturday, April 2
Doors @ 6:30pm (Show @ 8:00pm)
$55-75
All ages

Don’t Miss: Blanck Mass @ DC9, 3/8/16

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February 24, 2016

Benjamin John Power of Blanck Mass (Photo by Alex De Mora)

Benjamin John Power of Blanck Mass had a busy year last year! Blanck Mass released a full-length album, Dumb Flesh, in May and followed that up with an EP, The Great Confuso, in November.

Blanck Mass originally eyed a U.S. tour in the midst of that but now rescheduled with a stop at DC9 on Tuesday, March 8.

The Great Confuso is 33 minutes of non-stop electronic music with the title track running in three parts over 18 minutes. “The Great Confuso” (Pt. I, II & III) features guest vocals from industrial legend Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV. The other three songs on the EP are remixes from Dumb Flesh, including “Dead Format,” “Detritus,” and “No Lite” by Dalhous, Konx-Om-Pax, and Geneses P-Orridge respectively.

Listen to “The Great Confuso (Pt. I)” by Blanck Mass on Soundcloud:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/227347981″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Resident Advisor hailed Dumb Flesh as “Wagnerian blitzkrieg pop — a flaming meteor, an apocalyptic aftershock, a towering wall of sound.” It sounds to me like something you should hear live!

DC noisepunk trio Br’er open for Blanck Mass. Tickets are available online.

Blanck Mass
w/ Br’er
DC9
Tuesday, March 8
Doors @8:30pm
$15
All ages

Around Town: David Cross @ Warner Theatre — 2/19/16

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February 23, 2016

David Cross tells some jokes at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City, Iowa, on March 31, 2012. (Photo by wdecora)

Actor and comedian David Cross hails from Atlanta. And he returns home to see his family every year, particularly on Thanksgiving.

Inevitably, returning home yields some family quarrels, he confessed. And sometimes insignificant quarrels will escalate.

And it’s during those arguments that you sometimes learn something about family members that forever changes the way you see them, David told his late show audience at the Warner Theatre last Friday.

In an argument over not just the best way to plug in the Roku streaming player but rather the best way to look up how to plug in the Roku streaming player, for example, David learned something important about his mother.

“I found out she simply cannot take a punch,” he told the audience.