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Eilen Jewell (Photo courtesy the artist)
American Songwriter describes Eilen Jewell as “one of America’s most intriguing, creative and idiosyncratic voices.” That singular voice springs forth from a woman of more than one mind, and she taps into many of them on 2019’s Gypsy on Signature Sounds.
Eilen hits the road to share her voice with a show at The Hamilton Live on Sunday, May 15.
Brent Cobb (Photo by John Shearer)
The director John Waters once said, “be a stealth bomber for the counterculture.” That quote came to mind as I watched Brent Cobb at City Winery in DC recently. With his smooth, relaxed, easygoing demeanor and delivery, it’s easy to forget just how much range he has, and how much of a rebellious spirit is just underneath the calm exterior. As a performer, Brent is equally capable of sustaining an audience’s attention sitting on a stool, playing a solo acoustic set, fielding requests, as he is with a full band, going into territory that borders on Led Zeppelinesque heavy metal. And even when he’s delivering a mellow song, if you listen closely to the words, you realize that Brent is most definitely stirring the pot.
Brent Cobb (Photo by Andrew Hutto)
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and musician Brent Cobb’s debut gospel album, And Now, Let’s Turn To Page…, is out now via his own label, Ol’ Buddy Records.
Mavis Staples performs at the Lincoln Theatre in DC on Oct. 19, 2021. (Photos by Ari Strauss)
Amy Helm, perhaps, put it best Tuesday evening at the Lincoln Theatre when she said, “How deeply it moves me to stand on this stage before an American treasure” in Mavis Staples. Mavis headlined the evening, which was a fundraiser for JusticeAid.
JusticeAid is an umbrella progressive fundraising organization that raises money to support various grassroots organizations. The concert was a benefit for the Neighborhood Defender Service. The Neighborhood Defender Service is concerned with police violence, particularly against communities of color. In the evening’s opening remarks, we learned that, so far this year, JusticeAid has been able to give $300,000 to NDS and, following the successful concert, they plan to donate another $100,000 to the cause.
For the War and Treaty — the duo of Michael Trotter and Tanya Blount-Trotter — last week’s appearance at Wolf Trap was a homecoming. Tanya is a DC native, and friends and family of both Michael and Tanya appeared throughout the show. Tanya’s eighth grade band teacher played the trombone in their horn section, Michael’s mother came on stage for a song, and Tanya’s brother sang, too.
The War and Treaty has a Motown spirit, a country soul, and a classic rock ‘n’ roll heart. On July 29, their performance was full of high energy and infectious joy, and it got loud. There was plenty of crowd engagement, with Michael getting the crowd to sing and clap along. He formally greeted the audience by saying, “Welcome to the Church of the War and Treaty, formerly known as Wolf Trap.”
The War and Treaty (Photo courtesy Red Light Management)
Since forming in 2014, The War and Treaty have amassed a following as eclectic as their sound itself, a bluesy but joyful fusion of Southern soul, gospel, country, and rock-and-roll.
Known for a live show nearly revival-like in intensity, the husband-and-wife team of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter bring that exhilarating energy to Wolf Trap on Thursday, July 29!
The Ingramettes (Photo courtesy Hearth Music)
The Ingramettes released Take a Look in the Book, a new album, on March 20. It includes a new take on “Grandma’s Hands” by the late Bill Whithers, who passed away days later due to heart complications.
Algiers (Photo by Christian Högstedt)
Post-punk meets gospel? You don’t need faith to believe, my friends, as we have the living proof with Atlanta quartet Algiers! Frontman Franklin James Fisher and company return to their favorite place to perform in DC, the Black Cat, on Thursday, March 12!
You can win a pair of tickets to see the show with Parklife DC.
Christopher Paul Stelling (Photo by Chris Phelps)
Songwriter Christopher Paul Stelling releases Best of Luck, his fifth studio album, in February, but first he’s coming to Rock and Roll Hotel to open Son Little on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Shemekia Copeland (Photo by Mike White)
Shemekia Copeland took command of the stage at the AMP by Strathmore recently as her band played the opening notes of the blues-rock anthem “Ain’t Got Time for Hate.” Co-written by ace songwriters John Hahn and Will Kimbrough (who also produced), the song leads off her latest album, the roots-infused America’s Child.