DC’s top blog for live concert reviews
Red Wanting Blue frontman Scott Terry performing at The Hamilton Live, Sept. 17, 2021. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Red Wanting Blue, the heartland rock band from Columbus, OH, kicked off its “25 and Still Alive,” tour on September 17th with a stop at DC’s Hamilton Live. Parklife DC’s Ari Strauss had an opportunity to interview RWB lead singer, Scott Terry prior to the tour opener.
Read Ari’s interview with Red Wanting Blue lead singer, Scott Terry HERE.
Ratboys perform at the new location of Songbyrd Music House on Sept. 14, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)
Not often does a double bill work to evenly showcase the best of two bands, but on occasion, there can be a symbiotic relationship between two touring musical acts that is so wholesome that each can get the most out of valuable, even if in some ways taxing, time on the road.
It does appear as though the current tour co-headlined by Ratboys and Wild Pink is so far a success, the local evidence being a highly enjoyable show put on Sept. 14 by this pair of bands at the newly launched Songbyrd Music House on Penn Street NE, near Union Market.
Joe Pug (Photo by Vivian Wang)
Singer-songwriter Joe Pug recently announced a new album, The Diving Sun, which brings together lost gems from his various studio sessions with producers Duane Lundy (Jim James, Ben Sollee) and Kenneth Pattengale (The Milk Carton Kids, Joy Williams) along with new songs recorded in quarantine.
To accompany the announcement, Joe shared the album’s romping summer romance lead track, “Crescent Bridge.”
Broke Royals (Photo courtesy the band)
Broke Royals is rewriting doubts. Turning negative self-talk into positive affirmations. Hokey as it sounds, the band was willing to try anything after the world, and their income stream, came to a grinding halt this year.
On “Goldbrick Champion,” the band is exalting its weaknesses to the tune of an ’80s-inspired slacker anthem. Propelled by a drum machine and an infectious bass groove, the DC band is spinning their insecurities into pop-rock gold.
Broke Royals (Photo courtesy the band)
DC heartland rockers Broke Royals release a new single, “U + Me + WWIII,” on Friday, Sept. 4. The song focuses on anxiety-related insomnia largely stemming from the political and social unrest facing the world today.
This track sprang from Broke Royals’ Alone, Together series where the band creates a new song every week. Season 1 of Alone, Together, a livestream chat and music series, wrapped on July 31 after 10 episodes and 10 accompanying new songs. Broke Royals launches Season 2 of Alone, Together on Sept. 18.
Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter chatted with Philip Basnight and Colin Cross of Broke Royals in advance of the new single and upcoming livestream series for an inside look at the band’s creative process. And of course, Parklife DC readers named Broke Royals as the Best DC Band of 2018 in our inaugural Thrushie Awards, so you know the gents started out strong, and they are only getting better.
Scott Terry, frontman for Red Wanting Blue, on stage at Gypsy Sally’s, May 4, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Scott Terry is a road warrior. Red Wanting Blue, the Columbus, Ohio-based band he founded in 1996 while a student at Ohio University, has spent the better part of two-plus decades on what seems like a perpetual tour.
Comprised of Eric Hall on lead guitar, Dean Anshutz on drums and percussion, Greg Rahm on keys and guitar, Mark McCullough on bass, and Scott on lead vocals and ukulele, Red Wanting Blue regularly plays 200 or more live shows a year.
With no touring scheduled due to the national coronavirus emergency, Scott chatted with Parklife DC’s Ari Strauss from Brooklyn about his thoughts and activities during the lockdown.
The Killers (Photo by Olivia Bee)
The Killers return with their fastest No. 1 at Alternative Radio with hit single “Caution” via Island Records. “Caution” is from the band’s upcoming sixth studio album, Imploding the Mirage, scheduled for release on May 29.
Broke Royals (Photo courtesy the band)
Broke Royals continue their creative streak with a release of a new single, “Love & Tatters,” from their 2019 album Saint Luxury. The DC heartland rockers perform at Pie Shop on Saturday, Feb. 22.
The Glorious Sons perform at 9:30 Club on Jan. 24, 2020. (Photo by Paivi Salonen)
Not long ago, The Glorious Sons, the groundbreaking Canadian rockers, rolled through 9:30 Club to open The Struts for a very wild show! On Friday, The Glorious Sons made a triumphant return to 9:30 Club as the headliner, and Paivi Salonen got all of the pix.
The Glorious Sons (Photo courtesy the band)
JUNO Award-winning rockers The Glorious Sons play 9:30 Club on their highly anticipated A War on Everything North American Tour on Friday, Jan. 24!
Parklife DC 