DC’s top blog for live concert reviews
Karen Jonas one the 2021 Wammie Award for Best Country/Americana Artist/Group. (Photo by Jim Williams)
The MusicianShip recognized winners of the 2021 Washington Area Music Awards, or Wammies in a virtual awards ceremony on Sunday.
Parklife DC salutes the 2021 Wammie Award winners!
St. Vincent (Photo by Zackery Michael)
Daddy’s Home, the sixth album from Annie Clark a/k/a St. Vincent, is the latest facet of an ever-evolving artist regarded by many as the most consistently innovative and intriguing presence in modern music. Daddy’s Home is out May 14, 2021 on Loma Vista Recordings.
St. Vincent’s synthesis of this era reaches us in the form of “Pay Your Way In Pain,” a slinky slab of sweaty funk—punctuated by a few examples of Clark’s ability to shred vocal cords rivaling her shredding on her signature Ernie Ball Music Man guitar.
Chromeo (Art courtesy Sacks & Co.)
Chromeo debut their surreal video for “Clorox Wipe,” directed by Patrick Jean. The track is taken from their Quarantine Casanova EP, five tracks written and recorded under lockdown and released earlier this year.
100% of net proceeds from EP digital downloads, physical sales, and merch have been donated, with $20,000 to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp COVID-19 Relief Fund plus an additional $30,000 match donation from Clorox.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong performs at Showtime at the Drive-In in Frederick on Oct. 15, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock.)
While the memories of live music as we once knew it slip more distant into our collective memories, it’s likely that no one will forget their first experience watching a drive-in style pandemic performance.
Originating in Europe and cropping up shortly thereafter throughout the United States, drive-in concerts have already become, for some, a norm in times of required or suggested social distancing. And thanks to the work of All Good Presents and Baltimore Soundstage, music fans in the DMV this fall are being offered a somewhat unexpected harvest of live music by way of the Showtime at the Drive-In series being held at the Frederick County Fairgrounds.
Alan Scott (Photo courtesy Sacks & Co.)
In the wake of social unrest and long-overdue increased awareness of institutionalized racism surrounding the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, DC songwriter and recording artist Alan Scott’s viral 2016 single and video “You Only See Me When I’m Gone” — written originally to address issues of race and police brutality following the tragic death of Eric Garner — was recently re-released.
Torrey B. (Photo courtesy the artist)
Singer-songwriter Torrey B. performs at Jammin’ Java on Thursday, July 16. The soulful DMV singer-songwriter appears as part of the Jammin’ Java’s series, “A Song & A Slice: A Socially Distanced Outdoor Concert Series,” in a show to benefit Black Lives Matter DMV.
Oh He Dead performs at Jammin’ Java on July 3, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
More than once it’s been said that, despite our differences, music’s greatest gift is its ability to break down barriers, bring people together, and unite us in common cause. In this age of pandemic lockdowns, economic uncertainty, and just plain fear of the future, that those in need, particularly struggling local musicians, would work to support causes larger than themselves, is a beautiful testament to the power of song.
Oh He Dead recently performed for a packed, but socially distanced, crowd as part of Jammin’ Java’s “A Song & A Slice: A Socially Distanced Outdoor Concert Series.”
Oh He Dead performs in Bethesda, Maryland, on Jan. 25, 2020 (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Jammin’ Java’s Summerfest continues this Friday, July 3, with Oh He Dead. Originally founded as a duo in 2014 by Andy Valenti and CJ Johnson, the band now consists of five players: CJ on vocals and Andy on rhythm guitar with Alex Salser (lead guitar), John Daise (bass), and Adam Ashforth (drums). A healthy mix of classic R&B, funk, and folk, the Washington Post calls Oh He Dead’s music an “infectious and soulful sound.”
The show is currently sold out, but read on to see what you can expect if you’re going!
The Brothers Macklovitch (Photo by Tim Saccenti)
Grammy-nominated siblings A-Trak and Dave 1 finally release music together. As The Brothers Macklovitch, the turntable icon and Chromeo frontman meld funky influences from their formative days (Jamiroquai, Brand New Heavies, Masters At Work) with crisp production and soulful hooks, aided by rising R&B star Leven Kali on debut Fool’s Gold single “Give Love to Get Some.”
Khruangbin (Photo by Tamsin Isaacs)
Khruangbin recently released a new single, “So We Won’t Forget,” a track from their forthcoming album, Mordechai, out June 26 on Dead Oceans, in association with Night Time Stories.
Angel K
AJ Waugh
ambienteye
Ari Strauss
Andy Jillson
Brenda Reyes
Chester Simpson
chriscastilloweb
Chris R. Smyth
Casey Vock
Daniel Webb
David LaMason
EDMit it
Shantel M Breen
isaiahhattix
Jason Nicholson "Le Mouton Flâneur"
jesternate
julesontheroadphotos
jwillview
kristiechua
marcshea2
Mark Caicedo
Mark Engleson
Mathew Harkins
Corey Paterson
mdxpc
Mickey McCarter
Miyun Park
Neal Keller
Parklifer
Kyle Gustafson
paivi
Rebecca
regardingtess
Robert Smith
shedrickpelt
theeternalname
Matt Ruppert
Will Colbert
Andrew Goodwin
wefoughtthebigone