Preview: Vanessa Collier @ The Hamilton Live, 1/22/22

Posted on 01/14/2022 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged blues, funk, soul, The Hamilton Live, The Hamilton, saxophone, Vanessa Collier.

Vanessa Collier (Photo by Bob Liddycoat)

Acclaimed soulful blues singer/saxophonist Vanessa Collier makes her triumphant return to The Hamilton Live in DC on Saturday, Jan. 22.

Snapshots: No BS! Brass Band @ The Hamilton Live — 10/24/21

Posted on 10/28/2021 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged brass band, funk, NO BS! Brass Band, Richmond, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live, Virginia.

No BS! Brass Band performs at The Hamilton Live on Oct. 24, 2021. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Mix a little bit of New Orleans with a generous helping of funk and pop and you have the deliciousness that is No BS! Brass Band, the 11-piece that partied down at DC’s The Hamilton Live one recent evening.

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia (RVA all the way!), No BS! Brass Band was founded by Reggie Pace (trombone) and Lance Koehler (drums) who were students together at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Both were in separate bands and didn’t like some of the “stuff” that was going on, so they got together to form their own band and cut out “the stuff;” hence the name, No BS! Brass Band.

Live Review: Jungle @ The Anthem — 10/4/21

Posted on 10/08/2021 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged England, funk, Jungle, London, neo-soul, R&B, The Anthem.

Jungle perform at The Anthem on Oct. 4, 2021. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

The most remarkable thing about Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland is that they seem like two very approachable and laidback — if more hip than most — guys who would be really cool to chat with over a few pints.

Their breezy demeanor, however, hides the fact that the two Brits are fine tunesmiths who have a keen ear for hooks and beats in their work as electronic duo Jungle. As evidence, Jungle pulled a host of those tunes from their three studio albums at The Anthem recently, spinning the crowded venue into dancefloor mania with their upbeat and funky music.

Preview: Jungle @ The Anthem, 10/4/21

Posted on 10/01/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged electronic, England, funk, Jungle, London, neo-soul, The Anthem.

Jungle (Photo by Filmawi)

Out now on Caiola Records/AWAL, Jungle’s acclaimed new album Loving in Stereo debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Current Electronic Albums chart while also peaking at No. 3 on Independent Albums.

The British electronic funk duo now perform at The Anthem in DC on Monday, Oct. 4.

Preview: Oh He Dead @ 9:30 Club, 9/25/21

Posted on 09/23/2021 by Parklifer in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, DC, funk, Oh He Dead, soul.

Oh He Dead (Photo courtesy 9:30 Club)

DC indie band Oh He Dead “recalls the danceability of Earth Wind and Fire, the pop genius of Prince, and the seductive, soulful groove of Sade,” said Parklife blogger Mark Caicedo in his last review of this funky quintet.

Experience that sound for yourself and catch Oh He Dead live at 9:30 Club on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Snapshots: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue @ Wolf Trap — 8/24/21

Posted on 08/30/2021 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged funk, jazz, New Orleans, Trombone Shorty, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Wolf Trap.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue perform on the Filene Center stage at Wolf Trap, Aug. 24, 2021 (Photo by Ari Strauss).

Multi-instrumentalist Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and his R&B, rock, rap, and funk band, “Orleans Avenue,” delivered a New Orleans-style, “Treme Threauxdown,” to an audience armed with face masks and picnic suppers at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center outdoor concert venue on recently.

Preview: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue AND Michael Franti & Spearhead @ Wolf Trap, 8/24/21

Posted on 08/23/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged funk, jazz, Louisiana, Michael Franti, Michael Franti and Spearhead, New Orleans, Trombone Shorty, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Wolf Trap.

Trombone Shorty (Photo courtesy Blue Note Records)

Experience an evening of good vibes with the funky jazz rhythms of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (“Hurricane Season,” “Tripped Out Slim”) and the high-energy, inspiring music of Michael Franti & Spearhead (“Say Hey (I Love You),” “The Sound of Sunshine”) at Wolf Trap on Tuesday, Aug. 24!

Live Review: Too Free and Exotiq Int’l @ Black Cat — 7/16/21

Posted on 07/26/2021 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged Black Cat, Exotiq Intl, freestyle, funk, Gideon Jaguar, Laura Harris, R&B, Sister Polygon Records, Too Free.

Gideon Jaguar performs with Exotiq Int’l at Black Cat on July 16, 2021. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

In a recent show at Black Cat, Sister Polygon Records flexed its indie dance muscles and revealed how it’s poised to keep our feet moving with the disco and funk of lablelmates Too Free and Exotiq Int’l respectively.

Preview: Too Free and Exotiq Intl @ Black Cat, 7/16/21

Posted on 07/14/2021 by Parklifer in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged Black Cat, DC, electronic, Exotiq Intl, freestyle, funk, Sister Polygon Records, Too Free.

Too Free (Photo by Emily Geller)

DC electronic pop trio Too Free make their first post-pandemic appearance in a show with new Sister Polygon labelmates Exotiq Intl at Black Cat on Friday, July 16.

Join these fresh breakout acts for a carefree evening of tunes that are sure to move your feet!