Preview: My Kid Brother @ Jammin’ Java, 6/27/20

Posted on 06/25/2020 by Parklifer in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged Alternative rock, Jammin' Java, Leesburg, My Kid Brother, Virginia.

My Kid Brother (Photo courtesy Fearless Records)

My Kid Brother recently signed to Fearless Records and released new music in March — then the coronavirus pandemic struck! So, the band hasn’t had a lot of opportunity to play their new songs live.

But Jammin’ Java comes to the rescue with “A Song & A Slice: A Socially Distanced Outdoor Concert Series,” and My Kid Brother performs there on Saturday, June 27!

The show is free but suggested donations go to support Black Lives Matter DC. What a great opportunity then to hear new tunes from these local indie rockers.

Snapshots: White Ford Bronco w/ Leigh Nash, Vertical Horizon, and Eve 6 @ The Anthem — 12/31/19

Posted on 01/08/2020 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged '90s, Alternative rock, cover band, DC, Eve 6, Leigh Nash, Sixpence None the Richer, The Anthem, Vertical Horizon, White Ford Bronco.

White Ford Bronco rocks DC with a New Year’s Eve performance at The Anthem, Dec. 31, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

White Ford Bronco, DC’s beloved all-’90s cover band, rocked in the new year at The Anthem recently where they played before a crowd of over 3,600 people, the biggest show yet in the band’s 11-year history.

Live Review: Blue October @ Baltimore Soundstage — 11/14/19

Posted on 11/18/2019 by Corey Paterson in Live Review and tagged Alternative rock, Baltimore Soundstage, Blue October, Houston, Texas.

Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October (Photo by Chris Barber)

I had the pleasure of seeing Blue October for the second time this year recently. Justin Furstenfeld and company made a stop in Baltimore at one of my personal favorite venues — Baltimore Soundstage — as they finished the last few dates of their current tour.

Ticket Giveaway: Mumiy Troll @ 9:30 Club, 11/3/19

Posted on 10/23/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, Alternative rock, free tickets, Mumiy Troll, Russia, ticket giveaway.

Mumiy Troll (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)

Looking for some good news from Russia? You’ve got it in the form of Mumiy Troll, the Russian alternative rock collective who’ve broken barriers in their homeland and around the world. Mumiy Troll performs at 9:30 Club on Sunday, Nov. 3, and you can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.

Snapshots: John Mayer @ Capital One Arena — 7/23/19

Posted on 07/29/2019 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged Alternative rock, blues, Capital One Arena, John Mayer, Montana, pop, soul.

John Mayer performs at Capital One Arena, July 23, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter and guitarist John Mayer brought his much anticipated Summer Tour 2019 to DC recently, playing to a packed crowd in Chinatown’s Capital One Arena.

Music Park: White Ford Bronco @ 9:30 Club — 2/9/18

Posted on 02/13/2018 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged '90s, 9:30 Club, Alternative rock, cover band, White Ford Bronco.

Gretchen Gustafson fronts White Ford Bronco at 9:30 Club on Feb. 9, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

White Ford Bronco, DC’s popular ‘90s cover band celebrates its 10th anniversary this spring! The band delivers high-energy performances to sell-out crowds throughout the DC area on a regular basis, and the band’s most recent performance at 9:30 Club on Friday was no exception.

Music Park: Dilly Dally @ Echostage — 11/9/16

Posted on 11/10/2016 by Jeremy Bailey in Live Review and tagged Alternative rock, Canada, Dilly Dally, Echostage, Grouplove, Muna.

Dilly Dally at Rough Trade on January 6, 2016 (Photo Credit: Paul Hudson)

Dilly Dally, a Canadian rock band from Toronto, opened the Grouplove show at Echostage to a rather somber post-election faction.

Everyone looked like they just found out their dog died…indeed if I had counted all the times someone voiced their displeasure from the bands (Muna was also opening) or from the audience, I’d have no time to watch the show!

So, as a much needed distraction, we were gifted live music. Lots of music.

Music Park: TORRES @ 9:30 Club — 11/6/16

Posted on 11/08/2016 by Jeremy Bailey in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Alternative rock, indie rock, Mackenzie Scott, Sprinter, TORRES.

TORRES (Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill)

As the green and purple lights flickered in and out, casting an enigmatic glow upon the stage, Mackenzie Scott pleaded, ‘Come out wherever you are.’ in the thoughtful and sorrowful song “Helen”.

Known as TORRES, Mackenzie warmed up the 9:30 Club crowd on November 6th spilling in for the first night of Tegan and Sara’s two shows. Indeed, just to get in for doors open the line extended down the block and around the corner. Something I’ve rarely seen at the 9:30 Club.

Don’t Miss: TORRES (Opening for Tegan and Sara) @ 9:30 Club, 11/6 & 11/7/16

Posted on 11/04/2016 by Jeremy Bailey in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Alternative rock, indie rock, TORRES.

TORRES (Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill)

Both Tegan and Sara shows at the 9:30 Club (November 6th and 7th) are sold out, as you may have noticed.

If you don’t have a ticket yet (what?), be resourceful! But if you do already have your ticket, you’ll want to get there early to catch TORRES (aka Mackenzie Scott) as she once again visits DC, this time as the opener for both shows.

TORRES came through DC last January and I caught her performance as she pulled double duty as the opener of both Garbage shows in October 2015. Read that review here.

Her most recent album, last year’s Sprinter, includes the self-titled single and “Strange Hellos”, which glides slowly before jumping to a full-throttle growl of emotion and sound. A theme you will become familiar with.

Remember, get there early!

TORRES (Opening for Tegan and Sara)
9:30 Club
Sunday, November 6 and Monday, November 7, 2016
Doors 7pm
$36 (Sold Out)
All ages

Don’t Miss: Dilly Dally (Opening for Grouplove) @ Echostage, 11/9/16

Posted on 10/28/2016 by Jeremy Bailey in Live Review and tagged Alternative rock, Canada, Dilly Dally, Echostage, Grouplove, Toronto.

Dilly Dally at Rough Trade on January 6, 2016 (Photo Credit: Paul Hudson)

If you’re planning on hitting the Grouplove show on Wednesday, November 9th at Echostage, make a point to get there early and catch the opener, Dilly Dally.

Even if you don’t currently have designs on the Grouplove show, still give Dilly Dally a listen and see if that 1-2 punch doesn’t change your mind!

Dilly Dally’s latest EP is titled fkkt, a remix of many of their songs from their debut album, Sore.

These alternative rock Canadians (from Toronto) haven’t been around long, they released Sore in 2015 but band members Katie Monks and Liz Ball were first connected in high school. Some have likened their sound to Sonic Youth or Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but either way it’s loud and growly, yet manages to include a pop-like sound, as evidenced by “Desire”.