heartland rock

Interview: Broke Royals (New Single: “U + Me + WWIII”)

Posted on by in Interview, Local Spotlight and tagged , , , , .

Broke RoyalsBroke 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.

Continue Reading

Interview: Scott Terry (of Red Wanting Blue)

Posted on by in Interview and tagged , , , , , , .

RedWantingBlue
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.

Continue Reading

Snapshots: The Glorious Sons @ 9:30 Club — 1/24/20

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , .

The Glorious Sons @ 9:30 Club, Washington DC, 01/24/2020
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.

Continue Reading

Live Review: Los Lobos @ City Winery — 12/13/19

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , , .

Los_Lobos_2_photo_credit_Piero_F._Giunti
Los Lobos (Photo by Piero F. Giunti)

Touring behind their new holiday album, Llegó Navidad, Los Lobos played new tunes and old classics — with the band’s two sets covering territory from traditional Latin music to roots rock in a two-night stand at City Winery recently. They ended their show, as is their custom, with the Dead’s “Bertha,” which they introduced with the line “I’m gonna tell you how it’s gonna be,” from Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.”

Continue Reading

Live Review: John Hiatt @ The Birchmere — 11/12/19

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , .

johnhiatt-jimmcguire_1051r-300dpi
John Hiatt (Photo by Jim McGuire)

In a solo acoustic performance, John Hiatt used his substantial charm to engage the sold-out crowd at The Birchmere Tuesday. And, of course, the songs. John played songs that have been covered by Buddy Guy (“Feels Like Rain”), Bonnie Raitt (“Thing Called Love”), and I’m With Her (“Crossing Muddy Waters”).

Continue Reading

Live Review: Broke Royals @ DC9 — 8/16/19

Posted on by in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged , , , , , , .

BrokeRoyal
Broke Royals frontman Philip Basnight performs at DC9, Aug. 16, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)

Broke Royals recently concluded an intensive 10-day tour with a hometown performance at DC9. The DC-based power-pop group, and winners of Parklife DC’s 2018 inaugural Thrushie Award for best local band, put in 12 performances across the Midwest and the Atlantic coast over 10 days, reaching as far as Milwaukee, to promote their new album, Saint Luxury.

Continue Reading