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Live Review: Franc Moody @ 9:30 Club — 9/20/24

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Franc Moody @ 9:30 Club Washington DC 09.21.24 35mm FIlm Photo by Casey Ryan Vock
London-based funk and disco outfit Franc Moody performs at 9:30 Club on Sept. 20, 2024. (35mm film photo by Casey Ryan Vock)

An after-midnight set in the nation’s capital: It’s an extraordinary way for a group from overseas to kick off a USA tour and to make a compelling statement with its music.

Franc Moody is the London-based duo of Ned Franc and Jon Moody, and together they front a funk and disco operation quickly on the rise after forming in the years leading up to the pandemic.

The group has caught the ears of listeners all over the globe, and this month it’s playing a series of dates in major American cities to keep spreading the good word as it continues to work on new material.

Live Review: Magdalena Bay @ 9:30 Club — 9/21/24

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Magdalena Bay
Magdalena Bay performs at 9:30 Club on Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Great pop music tells a story. It sometimes suffices to share a feeling, but storytelling is at the heart of all great songwriting.

This storytelling does not have to be explicit; you can sometimes follow an implied storyline through to its conclusion and absorb its central themes and messages through the music. Magdalena Bay proved masters at this implicit storytelling with a magically light touch in their recent sold-out performance at 9:30 Club.

Snapshots: Old 97s @ 9:30 Club — 9/19/24

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Old 97s
The Old 97s perform at 9:30 Club on Sept. 19, 2024. (Photo by Steve Satzberg)

The Old 97s recently toured their new album, American Primitive, with a show at 9:30 Club, and Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the concert.

Live Review: Mama’s Broke @ New Prospect Theatre (Bellingham, WA) — 9/18/24

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Mama's Broke, Bham, 2024-09-18
Mama's Broke, Bellingham, Washington, Sept. 18, 2024. (Mark Caicedo)

Bellingham’s New Prospect Theatre (NPT) recently hosted Mama’s Broke in a show that took the audience on a musical journey around the world. Opening their fall 2024 tour with a sold-out show in the NPT’s acoustically pristine Lucas Hicks Auditorium, the Halifax, Canada-based duo effortlessly interwove easy banter and stellar musicianship.

Live Review: M. Ward @ Union Stage — 9/17/24

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M. Ward @ Union Stage Washington DC 09.17.24 35mm Film Photo by Casey Ryan Vock
M. Ward performs at Union Stage in Washington D.C. on Sept. 17, 2024. (35mm film photo by Casey Ryan Vock)

A greatest hits compilation today seems far-fetched, but Matt Ward and his songs have more than earned such an observance.

The Southern California native’s been recording music and touring as M. Ward for about 25 years, and in that time he’s become one of the most treasured and influential singer-songwriters of the modern era. Rightly so, his longtime label home Merge Records recently assembled For Beginners: The Best of M. Ward, intended as a starting point for new fans and a worthwhile listen for his longtime followers, too.

Preview: Marky Ramone @ Black Cat, 9/24/24

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Marky Ramone
Marky Ramone (Photo courtesy SiriusXM)

Best known for the 15 years spent drumming for The Ramones, Marky Ramone performed in more than 1,700 shows and more than 15 releases during his tenure with the band.

Marky Ramone keeps the songs and spirit of The Ramones catalog alive, and he performs at the Black Cat in DC on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Live Review: 2024 HFStival @ Nationals Park — 9/21/24

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Bush
Bush performs at HFStival on Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)

Sadly, I moved to the D.C. area in late summer 2004, too late to ever attend the classic HFStival at RFK Stadium. I watched it from afar on MTV over the years, wishing I could be there, but it never happened.

So, I was excited when the announcement came through of the fest’s 2024 return at Nationals Park. Granted, that’s not the first place I’d think of to have a rock festival but I understand that having it in DC proper was probably a priority. On Saturday, I hopped on the Metro and headed down to South Capitol Street to check it out. I had fun! There were great performances throughout the day. I think the unseasonable mid-80s temperature kept lots of people on the concourses while the sun was out so it was hard to gauge how many people were actually there, but it filled in nicely after sunset. I would go again next year if it returns.

Live Review: Vance Joy w/ Tiny Habits and Local Natives @ Merriweather Post Pavilion — 9/21/24

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Vance Joy
Vance Joy celebrates 10 years of Dream Your Life Away at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by David LaMason)

It’s hard to wrap my head around that it’s been 10 years since the release of Dream Your Life Away. Vance Joy’s sophomore album and the one that put him squarely on the map with “Fire and the Flood” and “Georgia” as well as major tours (including being the support for Taylor Swift on the 1989 World Tour).

But here we are, and in celebration, Vance Joy has embarked on a short tour with a stop at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Saturday. 

Live Review: Kehlani w/ Anycia and FLO @ EagleBank Arena — 9/18/24

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Kehlani
Kehlani performs at EagleBank Arena on Sept. 18, 2024. (Photo by Mecie Gold)

Kehlani recently ignited the EagleBank Arena with unforgettable moments that will linger in the hearts of concert-goers.

Live Review: Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band @ The Anthem — 9/17/24

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Ringo Starr
Steve Lukather and Ringo Starr perform at The Anthem on Sept. 17, 2024. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Ringo Starr sings, “Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues/ And you know it don’t come easy,” but it seemed easy indeed for the rock icon in his recent turn with His All Starr Band at The Anthem in DC recently.

The good-natured Ringo served as ringmaster for an adult rock revue that delighted and elevated the packed house as he and his band thumped through his solo hits, selections by The Beatles, and tunes from band members from Toto, Men at Work, and Average White Band. You might well say Ringo led an outstanding show with a little help from his friends.