Godmother of Soul Patti LaBelle and Empress of Soul Gladys Knight recently held court with a pairing of showstopping performances at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap. Steve Satzberg was there to photograph these legendary performers.
Small venues can serve as a sanctuary of sorts for well-known musicians who prefer to step off the beaten path to play the most intimate of shows and connect with people in a comfortable setting.
There’s perhaps none in DC better suited to host such a relaxing and comfortable engagement than Rhizome, the community-operated arts space snugged in Takoma.
Rhizome, it turns out, is a favorite stop for Bill MacKay, a prolific guitarist, singer, composer, and writer based in Chicago and a respected member of the Drag City roster.
John Legend recently delivered a heartwarming and unforgettable autobiographical performance at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. I attended the second of three consecutive nights at the stunning outdoor amphitheater, which seats approximately 7,000 people and is nestled in a beautiful wooded setting, for a memorable sold-out show.
Between DC and Baltimore, the DMV boasts a variety of organic music scenes. But it can’t claim its own healthy supply of Souldies.
Another term for Chicano, brown-eyed or Latina soul, this form of rhythm and blues — a style of music that originated decades ago in communities in Texas and Southern California — is however currently thriving in LA and San Diego thanks to bands and record labels devoted to it.
Turned on by the likes of Thee Sinseers and The Altons, two of the acts on Daptone’s Penrose Records roster, waves of new fans are being drawn in and absolutely swept away by the warmth and longing in these sounds.
The Church and The Afghan Whigs soon embark on a co-headlining tour of North America for a series of shows starting on June 18! The two bands visit the Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, June 22, and Parklife suggests you be there at the very least for The Church, who have been in fine form in their recent performances in the DMV.
There used to be a time where the only place to get new music recommendations would be:
This, of course, was before streaming and catered music apps, so there was an element of “Whoa!” to it all back then.
It just happened that the way I ended up with my ears glued to the speakers as British band English Teacher’s debut full-length, This Could Be Texas, was through that old medium, the radio. And like a bolt out of the blue it really did bring back old memories of the unexpected song that changes the trajectory of the day. That song, “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab,” coincidentally was the first song the quartet performed during their recent stop at The Atlantis in front of a packed crowd.
In March, blues rocker Gary Clark Jr. released JPEG Raw, his fourth studio album, via Warner Records! Gary’s on tour, and he performed recently at The Filene Center at Wolf Trap. Mark Raker was there to photograph the show.
Guitarist Dan Bern is having a busy year! In July, he reissued his 2001 album, New American Language, and then in March, he released a new record, Starting Over.
Dan is on a big summer tour, and he recently stopped by The Collective Encore in Columbia, Maryland, with opener Jeffrey Gaines! Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the show.
Shakey Graves recently released a new album, Movie of the Week, via Dualtone Records! And Trampled by Turtles have been touring their 2022 record, Alpenglow, for a spell now.
Now, the two folk-inspired acts team forces for a shared headlining tour, which plays at The Anthem in DC on Thursday, June 27. You can win a pair of tickets to go with Parklife DC!
At the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia, recently, the stage lights dimmed and Accept’s “Balls to the Wall” blasted from the sound rig — and the all-ages crowd of headbangers cheered in anticipation.
From the moment Lita Ford and her band strutted on stage and kicked off the show with the explosive opening number, “Gotta Let Go,” it was clear that this was going to be a night to remember for everyone in the audience.
