Parklife DC

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rclldxzn6Wo]”Take Me With You”

Matt Pond PA, fronted by Matt Pond from Pennsylvania, took the Rock and Roll Hotel crowd on a refreshingly honest musical journey last Wednesday, 10/14/15.

With a catalog of music spanning 17 years (their first album came out in 1998), they played 16 or so songs for the semi-full venue.

That there were many long-time fans in attendance was apparent when you turned in every direction to spot the many people singing along to their older songs.

In addition to the lead singer, Matt Pond, the band consists of his “best friend”, Chris Hansen, and other recurring members, including a bearded cellist. The band did enjoy beards, as three of the five members sported one. This speaks more to the expectation of a more folk or country sound, but the reality is there were elements of many musical genres, from guitar rock, chamber pop, post-punk and the aforementioned folk and country.

The band is currently touring for their 10th full-length album, The State of Gold, released in June. Their setlist was certainly supportive of the new material, as they played at least five songs from The State of Gold.

Many of the songs deal with loss, yet with a sense of exploring new challenges and hope on the horizon. With “Take Me With You”, the refrain “when we run away, let’s really run” leads to “It feels good to be gone.”

Music Park: Jessie’s Girl @ Howard Theatre — 10/16/15

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October 19, 2015

1

“Jessie is a band/
Yeah, I know it’s been a good 80s cover band.”

Usually closely held by denizens of New York City, Jessie’s Girl brought its brightly lit guitar solos to the Howard Theatre on Friday night to an ardent audience happy to dance their hearts out.

The seven-person ensemble rocks out with a wide variety of tunes from the ’80s, ranging from artists like Prince, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, A-ha, Loverboy, and more. Friday, they bound onto the stage with intro music borrowed from “The Final Countdown” by Europe and then proceeded to dive headlong into kinetic tributes to musicians who defined a decade.

Early in the show, the band jumps into “Working for the Weekend” by Loverboy, encouraging the crowd to hop around the room, hands raised in celebration. Singers Jenna O’Gara and Mark Rinzel trade off vocal duties for the song, pumping up the shamelessly lyrical fun of the song’s mission statement: Take a few days off to party!

Music Park: Lane 8 @ U Street Music Hall — 10/15/15

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October 19, 2015

Lane 8 performs at the Spring Awakening Music Festival in Chicago on June 13, 2015 (Photo by Mary)

Deep house musician Lane 8 captivated a sold-out show at U Street Music Hall on Thursday night with his own house compositions and mixes of similar earworms from artists delivering complementary stately beats.

Lane 8 (born Daniel Goldstein) is an American ex-pat living in Germany with an affection for unhurried rhythms. He kicked off a DJ set shortly after midnight with his own “Undercover” featuring Matthew Dear. The sparkling synths of the song couples well with the hushed bluesy voice of Matthew Dear, who serves as vocalist for the number. The number drifts above the crowd in soothing, pleasing pulses.

The audience at U Street Music Hall fell into formation, facing Lane 8 from the DJ booth to the stage behind them, and several young dancers took the stage to express their approval with mannered, if occasionally frenetic, dancing.

Don’t Miss: Dave Davies of The Kinks @ Howard Theatre, 10/20/15

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October 16, 2015

Tickets are available online.

Dave Davies of The Kinks (Photo courtesy of the artist)

Dave Davies, the legendary lead guitarist and vocalist of The Kinks, has been a busy man lately. He released a solo album in 2013 (I Will Be Me) and another in 2014 (Rippin’ Up Time), and he toured in support of them all the while holding a lens to his past work, which defined guitars for a generation.

On his recent albums, Dave’s voice is distinctly recognizable, and while his guitar may play at a slower pace on occasion, his riffs are still unmistakably those of the man who formed the trendsetting ’60s band with his brother Ray. You very much hear the sound of “The British Invasion” in his songs today.

Watch a video, filmed by Dave’s son Martin, for “Through My Window” from Dave’s latest solo album on YouTube:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZCapXOGDms]

Dave is bringing it all — his solo material and his remarkable songs from The Kinks — to a performance at the Howard Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 20. It’s a rare DC opportunity to see a UK guitar legend in an intimate setting. A look at Dave’s recent US setlists suggest he’s been stacking his concerts heavily with songs by The Kinks, including “I’m Not Like Everybody Else,” “Where Have All the Good Times Gone,” “All Day and All of the Night,” and “You Really Got Me.”

Watch Dave play a bit of “You Really Got Me” live in a promo video for the 50th anniverary of The Kinks in 2014 on YouTube (from an upcoming documentary, Dave Davies Rock ‘n Roll Journey):

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH9RaB0VmS4]

Dave Davies of The Kinks
w/ Edward Rogers
Howard Theatre
Tuesday, Oct. 20
Show @730pm
$39.40-$65
All ages

Don’t Miss: Back to the 80s Show w/ Jessie’s Girl and Rob Base @ Howard Theatre, 10/16/15

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October 15, 2015

Jenna O’Gara of Jessie’s Girl killing it at the Canal Room in New York City (Photo by Manish Gosalia)

If there’s one thing my old friends know about me, it’s that I like an ’80s dance party. (Check out my Parklife DC list of 80s parties if you want some evidence!)

And that’s one reason why I absolutely must check out a performance by New York City’s biggest ’80s cover band, Jessie’s Girl, who are visiting DC to perform at the Howard Theatre in a late show tomorrow night, Friday, Oct. 16.

And they are bringing along with them Rob Base, the hip hop artist perhaps best known for the ’80s hit “It Takes Two” with the late DJ E-Z Rock. In concert with Jessie’s Girl, Rob Base has performed his signature songs “It Takes Two” and “Joy & Pain” (…are like sunshine and rain)!

Watch Jessie’s Girl get a little new wave with their cover of “Take on Me” by A-ha on YouTube:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0vktzLKAP0]

And lest you make the mistake of thinking that Jessie’s Girl are heavy on flash and light on talent, watch this charming acoustic studio cover of “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB-cHlJxk2k]

Tickets are available online. This is a great opportunity for all of us to see this fun cover band in our own backyard. See you there for a totally awesome time!

Back to the 80s
Jessie’s Girl
Special Performance by Rob Base
Howard Theatre
Friday, Oct. 16
Show @10pm
$20
21+

Don’t Miss: GEMS (Opening for Autre Ne Veut) @ U Street Music Hall, 10/23/15

By

Jeremy Bailey

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October 15, 2015

GEMS

GEMS brings their ethereal, dream-pop sound to the U Street Music Hall on Friday, October 23rd. They open for Autre Ne Veut.

Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher comprise GEMS. Currently based in LA, they are originally from DC.

Now they return to DC with their first full-length album, Kill the One You Love, set to be released on October 30th via Carpark Records. They previously released an EP, Medusa, in 2013.

Having had a chance to preview the album before its release date, it is easy to predict their upcoming show will be one to remember.

Their first single, “Living as a Ghost”, premiered via NPR, who said, “GEMS is that special group for me, a former hometown band about to be discovered by everyone else.”

“Living as a Ghost”
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/218621253″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”125″ iframe=”true” /]

Other songs currently available, “Soak” and “w/o u”, show off the dramatic, hopeful lyrics and melodies that define GEMS.

“Soak”
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/223829831″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”125″ iframe=”true” /]

GEMS has been compared to other bands like Beach House, the xx, Sleigh Bells and Purity Ring, but Stereogum says, they have planted “a flag in distinct territory of their own, a winsome mishmash of ‘90s pop/alt-rock/R&B sounds.”

Tickets are available here.

Pre-order the album, Kill the Ones You Love, via iTunes and Carpark Records.

GEMS (Opening for Autre Ne Veut)
w/ Mazed
U Street Music Hall
Friday, October 23
Doors @ 7:00pm
$15
All ages

“w/o u”
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Don’t Miss: Ben Folds w/ The National Symphony Orchestra @ The Kennedy Center, 12/4/15

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October 15, 2015

Tickets are available online.

Ben Folds (center) and the yMusic Ensemble (Photo courtesy Big Hassle)

Ben Folds has led an interesting musical career that defies stereotypes. Certainly, in the 20 years since he first collaborated with the Ben Folds Five, he’s become associated with chamber pop. And he continues to make interesting new strides in that area with his latest album, So There, released last month via New West Records.

For So There, Ben teamed up with the yMusic Ensemble, a classical music outfit in New York City, to produce a pop album built on a classical music foundation.

Watch Ben Folds and yMusic perform the title track to “So There” on CBS This Morning on Sept. 26, 2015:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Z-bdMz6ps]

The new album also offers Ben’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in three movements. And that particular part of the album is apparently the basis for a unique concert performance as part of Ben’s current tour, as he is set to appear at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Dec. 4, with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Ben premiered the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in performance in March 2014 with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra to great acclaim.

Watch Ben Folds perform the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 2, 2014:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok3ms-yWgfQ]

Ben is know for being an innovative composer and performer, and he’s certain to bring a few surprises to his DC show at the Kennedy Center. So don’t miss out on this intriguing concert opportunity! Tickets went on sale to the public a few weeks ago, and they are going fast.

Ben Folds
w/ The National Symphony Orchestra
The Kennedy Center
Friday, Dec. 4
Show @9pm
$39
All ages

Around Town: REI Thingamajig @ Wunder Garten, 10/17/15

By

Jeremy Bailey

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October 14, 2015

The REI Community Space at Wunder Garten

This Saturday REI is hosting a community gear swap! Bring your used outdoor gear and buy/sell/barter/trade with other outdoor enthusiasts. Check out the details.

It will be held at the Wunder Garten beer garden in NoMa from 12-5pm, with live music, produced by Living Classrooms (they are behind the Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival). $2 of your $7 entrance fee goes to support Living Classrooms.

Music Lineup:
Hollertown (12pm)
Big Chimey (1:45pm)
Jonny Grave (3:30pm)

REI Thingamajig (Used Gear Swap and Beergarden Bluegrass)
REI Community Space at Wunder Garten (NoMa)
October 17, 2015
12:00-5:00pm
$7 entrance fee
All ages

Music Park: Electric Six @ Black Cat — 10/11/15

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October 14, 2015

Electric Six with Dick Valentine (left) (Photo by Frank Nash)

Much of the appeal of the Electric Six comes from the band’s desire to have fun and to make you dance by any music necessary.

And that sense of fun was on full display Sunday night at the Black Cat, where frontman Dick Valentine (born Tyler Spencer) and company absolutely packed the backstage beyond capacity. To be fair, the band originally were slated to play on the larger mainstage, but were moved backstage for some reason as the DC federal holiday weekend approached.

“The Electric Six were demoted!” Dick proclaimed early in the set. “Write to the Speaker of the House, whoever that may be, and have us remoted!”

I personally have never been in a more crowded show backstage, so I fully embrace Dick’s sentiment. At the end of the day, however, the Electric Six brought everything it had to bear in a genre-bending stampede of music that went from funk to punk to metal and even to country. It was a double-barrel shotgun blast of raucous dance music.

At a midpoint in the concert, Dick declared that it was time to break out the dance music, although 99 percent of the show consisted of dance music, as evidenced by an audience that was actively bopping and hopping. The declaration came as an intro to a medley of the band’s songs “Improper Dancing” and “(Who the Hell Just) Call My Phone,” one song from the band’s popular debut album Fire and another from their 2014 album Human Zoo.