Live Review: Cris Jacobs @ The Hamilton Live — 11/8/19

Posted on 11/11/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Baltimore, Cris Jacobs, Maryland, soul, The Hamilton.

Chris Jacobs performs at Levon Helm Studios on Nov. 10, 2019. (Photo by Andrew Gardecki)

Baltimore’s own Cris Jacobs kicked off his set at The Hamilton Live recently with “Rooster Coop,” and there was indeed “something funky in the barnyard.” “Rooster Coop” perfectly captures the Cris Jacobs Band experience: it’s vaguely Americana, but with deep, funky R&B grooves. Cris is not the only artist to delve into “Americana soul,” as he calls it — Chris Stapleton’s style could be similarly characterized — but Cris also brings a jam band sensibility to the affair.

Interview: Sarah Pinsker — A Storyteller in Song and Novel

Posted on 10/01/2019 by Mark Engleson in Interview, Local Spotlight and tagged Baltimore, Interview, Maryland, Sarah Pinsker.

Sarah Pinsker (Photo by Karen Osborne)

Sarah Pinsker’s Nebula and Sturgeon Award-winning short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, F&SF, Uncanny, and Strange Horizons, as well as numerous other magazines, anthologies, year’s bests, podcasts, and translation markets. She is also a singer/songwriter who has toured nationally behind three albums on various independent labels. Her first literary collection, Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea, was released in early 2019 by Small Beer Press.

A Song For a New Day is her first novel. Mark Engleson interviewed Sarah about the novel, her writing more broadly, her music, and the music industry. For more info about Sarah and her works, visit her website.

Live Review: Lower Dens @ Rituals — 9/1/19

Posted on 09/03/2019 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Baltimore, dreampop, Jana Hunter, Lower Dens, Maryland, Nate Nelson, Rituals, synthpop.

Lower Dens brings the love to Rituals on Sept. 1, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

Although it’s only been four years in between albums and only three years since I saw them perform last, I really missed Lower Dens. They covered the gap recently in a show at Ritual in Baltimore.

Live Review: Charm City Bluegrass Festival @ Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, 4/26-4/27/19

Posted on 05/03/2019 by Matt Ruppert in Live Review and tagged Americana, Baltimore, Beside the Fire, bluegrass, Charm City Bluegrass Festival, Charm City Junction, Deer Tick, folk, Frank Solivan, Hawktail, Jeff Austin, Jeff Austin Band, Jon Stickley Trio, Maybe April, Melody Walker, music festival, Rob Ickes, Seldom Scene, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Bridge, Town Mountain, Trey Hensley, Wicked Sycamore.

Druid Hill Park in the wind after a storm during Charm City Bluegrass Festival. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)

Waking on Friday, the forecast indicated thunderstorms and heavy winds in the neighborhood of 3 to 7 o’clock. The hours passed slowly, work keeping me busy; periodic texts from my wife, little checks of the app, and nervous glances outside the windows of classrooms marked the passage of the clouds, the speed of the winds.

Preview: Charm City Bluegrass Festival @ Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, 4/26-4/27/19

Posted on 04/17/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, Baltimore, bluegrass, Charm City Bluegrass Festival, Deer Tick, folk, Jeff Austin Band, Maryland, music festival, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Bridge.

Charm City Bluegrass Festival (Photo by Brady Cooling Photography)

The award-winning Charm City Bluegrass Festival will take over Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park for a seventh annual celebration of bluegrass, folk, and Americana, headlined by The Bridge, Deer Tick, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Jeff Austin Band, for two days on Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27.

Live Review: Panda Bear @ 9:30 Club — 2/11/19

Posted on 02/18/2019 by Andy Jillson in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Baltimore, bedroom pop, experimental pop, neo-psychedelia, Panda Bear.

Panda Bear performs at 9:30 Club on Feb. 11, 2019. (Photo by Andy Jillson)

Panda Bear hit the road in February this year for a short US tour following the release of his sixth solo album, Buoys. Panda Bear performed as a stoic one-man-band to a sea of fans at DC’s famous 9:30 Club recently.

Live Review: The Seldom Scene @ The 8×10 — 1/24/19

Posted on 01/28/2019 by Matt Ruppert in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged Baltimore, bluegrass, The 8X10, The Seldom Scene.

The Seldom Scene performs at The 8×10 on Jan. 24, 2019. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)

The Seldom Scene is closer to their 50th anniversary (2021) of making music than they are to their 40th, and they maintain relevance in the scene that by many accounts they either buoyed or helped create. They certainly nodded to bluegrass traditions at The 8X10 in Baltimore recently. But like so many musicians that followed them, The Seldom Scene borrowed from other genres such as country, rock, and pop – with ease and a deep familiarity.

Ticket Giveaway: Panda Bear @ 9:30 Club, 2/11/19

Posted on 01/23/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, Baltimore, bedroom pop, free tickets, Maryland, neo-psychedelia, Panda Bear, ticket giveaway.

Panda Bear (Art courtesy Ticketfly)

Noah Lennox will release Buoys, his sixth solo album as Panda Bear, on Feb. 8 via Domino Records. Three days later, Panda Bear performs at 9:30 Club on Monday, Feb. 11. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.

Preview: The Love Boat @ Pearl Street Warehouse, 1/12/19

Posted on 01/08/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Baltimore, cover band, Pearl Street Warehouse, Psycho Killers, The Love Boat, tribute band, yacht rock.

Psycho Killers Tribute Band: Bassist Ryan Porter (kneeling, right) is also a member of The Love Boat (Photo courtesy Psycho Killers)

The Love Boat, a new yacht rock tribute band, will perform its first DC show at Pearl Street Warehouse on Saturday, Jan. 12! This Baltimore-based cover band invites you to come aboard — for something smooth!

Music Park: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong @ Rams Head Live — 11/23/18

Posted on 11/26/2018 by Shantel M Breen in Live Review and tagged Baltimore, funk, jam band, pigeons playing ping pong, Rams Head Live.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong performs at Rams Head Live on Nov. 23, 2018. (Photo by Shantel Breen)

Baltimore’s own Pigeons Playing Ping Pong performed two shows for their hometown fans this past Friday and Saturday at Rams Head Live! It was a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving weekend!