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“You and I travel to the beat of a different drum,” the opening line of the Michael Nesmith-penned “Different Drum” goes. And so can be said for Evan Dando, the creative force behind The Lemonheads. From the punk leanings of The Lemonheads’ Hate Your Friends to the pop masterpieces on It’s a Shame About Ray and Car Button Cloth, Dando’s musical trajectory has never been beholden to anything other than Dando himself.
Dave Grohl speaks at the Lincoln Theater during his The Storyteller – Live! appearance on Oct. 7, 2021. (Photo by Deanna Escobar, Sugar Shot Media)
No one better epitomizes the coming-of-age decade that was the 1990s in America music than Dave Grohl.
With his long black hair, innocent expression and his flailing arms, Grohl came to be known by the MTV generation as the reserved but hyper-talented drummer of the now legendary grunge band Nirvana, introduced to the mainstream in earnest by way of the video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in September of 1992.
He’s now 52 years old, with a well-earned tinge of grey, and has achieved more in his career and lifetime than 100 musicians might in aggregate. Dave, who grew up in and around Alexandria, recently embarked on a mission to share his life in a way perhaps unaccustomed to most of his fans.
Local H (Photo by Julia Simone Paul)
Alt-rock pillars Local H share their latest single, “8:46,” following its performance and video debut at their two-night sold out drive-in concerts in Illinois last month. The intense instrumental piece is a wordless tribute to George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Chute (Photo courtesy the band)
Rockville-based rock quartet Chute play DC9 on Thursday, Jan. 16, in a show to celebrate the release of the band’s new EP, Perfect Designs.
Mudhoney blew the doors off the Baltimore Soundstage on Oct. 18, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)
Thirty years is a long time for anything, but for being in a band it can be a lifetime. That often means beating the odds and then some. But that’s just how long Mudhoney has been making some of the best garage rock ever put to plastic. The band took some of that great music to the stage at Baltimore Soundstage on Friday.
Mudhoney (Photo by Emily Rieman)
Storied Seattle alt rockers Mudhoney recently released Morning in America, an EP of seven songs that were recorded during the sessions for the band’s 2018 album, Digital Garbage. Mudhoney performs at Baltimore Soundstage on Friday, Oct. 18!
Alice in Chains performs at Jiffy Lube Live on July 31, 2019. (Photo by Andy Jillson)
Alice in Chains stopped in Bristow, Virginia, recently to perform several AIC classics. The band are currently on a North American summer tour with fellow hard-rockers Korn, and I was able to see them perform at Jiffy Lube Live! Of course, I brought my camera along, and I was allowed to photograph Alice in Chains from the soundboard for the first three songs.
The Lemonheads rock out at the 9:30 Club on June 13, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)
Evan Dando, the creative force and songwriter behind The Lemonheads, has written some brilliant songs. In fact, they are some of the most hook-laden creations ever put to vinyl from the late ’80’s to mid-90’s. And in 2003 his solo album, Baby I’m Bored, has one of my favorite songs, “Hard Drive,” that’s even more moving when you see him perform the song alone with only a guitar being the only accompaniment. He would do exactly that at a recent show at 9:30 Club.
Okay, so I’m figuring most people reading this know about L7, the Los Angeles-based band that started back in 1985 fusing hard rocking riffs and growling vocals. But juuuust in case, let me fill you in a bit following their awesome show at The Fillmore Silver Spring recently.
The Lemonheads (Photo by Michel van Collenburg)
The Lemonheads recently released Varshons 2, an album of covers, via Fire Records. Evan Dando and company perform at 9:30 Club on Thursday, June 13, and you can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.