Russell Hitchcock fronts Air Supply at The Birchmere on Aug. 6, 2021. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Multi-platinum romantic rockers Air Supply delighted a sold-out crowd at The Birchmere recently, enchanting an audience at a much smaller venue than the core duo of Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell have become accustomed to playing.
The gentlemen swashbucklers responded well to the intimate setting, dialing up the charm and churning out the hits as men and women alike sang along, laughing and crying, all the while transfixed by the veteran performers.
Peter Frampton performs at The Anthem on Sept. 11, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Reliving one’s youth isn’t always a good idea, but sometimes the past can return in the sweetest way, transporting us to a cherished place and time. I was reminded of my years in high school when Frampton Comes Alive! was all over the radio, car stereo players, and weekend parties, as I watched Mr. Frampton perform at The Anthem recently, nearly 6,000 of us singing in unison, “Do you feel like we do!”
“Breaking All the Rules,” “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” “Do You Feel Like We Do” — classic rock hits. And one man is responsible for them — Frampton. Peter Frampton.
The ’60s and ’70s might be well behind us, but the music that those decades produced is very much alive and well. Some of the best rock bands of the era are not only still creating music, but they’re also touring and putting on incredible shows. If you have the chance, here are the classic rock bands you should check out this year.
AJ Haynes leads the Seratones in a performance at SXSW 2016 on March 18, 2016. (Photo by Paul Hudson)
The Seratones, led by singer AJ Haynes, rocked DC9 nightclub Thursday, taking me back to what it may have been like if I were going to concerts in the ‘60s or ‘70s!
If I had to describe the sound of The Seratones, I would say it’s a mix of punk, blues, and rock. I can’t really think of a band to compare them to, but they have a classic rock sound. I might even go as far as to say that AJ’s vocals are comparable to Janis Joplin. The Seratones are made up of AJ (vocals), Jesse Gabriel (drums), Connor Davis (guitar) and Adam Davis (bass). They are currently on tour promoting their debut album “Get Gone,” released on Fat Possum records this past May.
David Jonathan DiSarro sings at Ram’s Head on Stage in Annapolis, Md., on August 23, 2016.
Rock trio Cardiac recently were sitting around with the Bangles, discussing music they loved, and an idea took root.
“Susanna [Hoffs] suggested that we cover The Rolling Stones,” vocalist David Jonathon DiSarro told his audience at Ram’s Head On Stage in Annapolis Tuesday. “So here’s our cover of ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash.'”
Joined by the Bangles’ touring bassist, Cardiac ripped through a fun cover version of the famous blues number, delighting the sold-out room with the familiar tune while also giving some insight into the band’s own inner workings. Opening for the Bangles on the girl group’s tour, Cardiac continued to hold the attention of the room with classic rock and roll delivered by David’s heartfelt voice. He’s capably complemented by soaring guitar by Jarod Woznik and rolling drums from Don Bish.
Dave Davies is a weathered soul, but one who has been through the storm to soak up the rays of sunshine that emerge afterward.
And the positively sunny Dave played host to a very full house at the Howard Theatre on Tuesday night, when he charmed the crowd with some solo material but largely with some top selections from the vast catalog of his trendsetting band The Kinks.
Some 50 years ago, Dave and his brother Ray began a rock journey that inspired thousands of musicians and spawned even more imitators. But all of that seemed far behind the man with the guitar Tuesday, who repeatedly called for the spotlight to be shined upon his dinner-crowd audience so that they too shared the limelight as they sang along to their favorite songs by The Kinks.
Several years ago, English rockers The Zombies came to DC to play at The Howard Theatre as part of an annual tour the band now undertakes.
Their last show here, on August 9, 2012, was a smashing success. Writing for the blog We Love DC at the time, I observed, “Best known for orchestral arrangements of their classic rock songs, The Zombies played stripped down versions of their own classics, pleasing the audience of roughly 250 or more who came out to see them for a seated show at The Howard. The audience was positively pleased for folks who looked like they had been waiting for the opportunity to see the veteran rockers for some time. They were pleased enough to deliver a standing ovation after ‘Hold Your Head Up’ [originally by Argent] in particular.”
Now organist and vocalist Rod Argent along with lead vocalist Colin Blunstone are coming back to DC to perform at the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 8 with their bandmates guitarist Tom Toomey, Jim Rodford, and Steve Rodford.
At the Lincoln, The Zombies will perform their seminal 1968 album Odessey and Oracle in its entirety! –something they never have done in the United States prior to this tour.
Watch The Zombies perform “Time of the Season,” one of the long-enduring hits from that album, at Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop in Austin, Texas, during SXSW 2013 on March 16, 2013:
