Live Review: Maxo Kream @ Union Stage —4/2/22

Posted on 04/07/2022 by AJ Waugh in Live Review and tagged hip-hop, Houston, Maxo Kream, rap, Texas, Union Stage.

Maxo Kream accepts a birthday cake from Union Stage on April 2, 2022. (Photo by AJ Waugh)

I think I heard the name Maxo Kream around for at least a year before I ever heard his music, but from the first time I heard “Grannies” in 2017, it connected instantly. I downloaded his Punken project and the Houston storyteller has stayed a constant in my rotation ever since; so I had to be there when I saw Maxo’s Big Persona Tour was making its DC stop recently at Union Stage.

Snapshots: Dorian Electra @ 9:30 Club — 2/4/22

Posted on 02/08/2022 by ambienteye in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Dorian Electra, experimental pop, Houston, Texas.

Dorian Electra performs at 9:30 Club on Feb. 4, 2022. (Photo by Katherine Gaines / ambienteye.com)

Dorian Electra hit 9:30 Club recently in a late show to celebrate music from their expanded second album release, and Katherine Gaines got all of the pictures!

Preview: Dorian Electra @ 9:30 Club, 2/4/22

Posted on 01/24/2022 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, Dorian Electra, experimental pop, Houston, Texas.

Dorian Electra (Photo courtesy Orienteer)

Pop music agitator Dorian Electra makes music that is unbound by genre. You can see for yourself when they hit 9:30 Club on Friday, Feb. 4 on their My Agenda Live World Tour!

Live Review: Robert Earl Keen’s “The Road to Christmas” w/ Waylon Payne @ Lincoln Theatre — 12/6/21

Posted on 12/09/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Christmas, country, Houston, Lincoln Theatre, Robert Earl Keen, Texas, Waylon Payne.

Robert Earl Keen (Photo by EMG/Shutterstock)

Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Robert Ear Keen’s annual Christmas tour is highlight of the holiday season. Built around his fan-favorite “Merry Christmas From the Fam-O-Lee,” every year REK and his band design a show around a theme.

Past themes have included “Country Gold” and the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. This year, the theme was “The Road to Christmas.” Each year’s show presents a collection of REK originals and cover songs fitted to theme, and his recent performance at the historic Lincoln Theatre in DC was no different. Costumes were a part of the deal, too; this year, all involved wore white jumpsuits, meant to suggest mechanics. It was truly a collective performance, as REK let his band members sing cover songs of their choice.

Song of the Day: “So We Won’t Forget” by Khruangbin

Posted on 05/19/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged funk, Houston, Khruangbin, psychedelic, Song of the Day, soul, Texas.

Khruangbin (Photo by Tamsin Isaacs)

Khruangbin recently released a new single, “So We Won’t Forget,” a track from their forthcoming album, Mordechai, out June 26 on Dead Oceans, in association with Night Time Stories.

My Favorite Artist: Lucinda Williams

Posted on 03/18/2020 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, appreciation, Houston, Lucinda Williams, My Favorite Artist, singer-songwriter, Texas.

Lucinda Williams (Photo by Danny Clinch)

Editor’s Note: Parklife DC asked its contributors to write essays about their favorite bands. These essays appear in an occasional series, My Favorite Artist, and provide our readers with insights into our bloggers, their motivations, and their approach to covering concerts.

In 1994, Lucinda Williams won her first Grammy Award for Best Country Song for “Passionate Kisses,” a track from her self-titled 1988 turn to Americana. Mary Chapin Carpenter’s cover of the song also won for Best Country Vocal Performance.

While Mary may have taken away the hardware for her performance of the song, Lucinda’s hardcore fans — like me — will always prefer her performance of the song.

Live Review: Sunny Sweeney @ City Winery — 12/15/19

Posted on 12/18/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Brennan Leigh, City Winery, country, holiday party, Houston, Sunny Sweeney, Texas.

Sunny Sweeney (Photo courtesy True Grit Management)

Sunny Sweeney brought her Dysfunctional Family Christmas show to DC recently, with frequent partner Brennen Leigh joining her at City Winery. Accompanied by Sunny’s guitarist Harley, the pair traded off songs and stories, making for a highly entertaining evening.

Live Review: Robert Earl Keen @ Lincoln Theatre — 12/6/19

Posted on 12/09/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Ari Strauss, bluegrass, country, holiday party, Houston, Lincoln Theatre, Robert Earl Keen, Stryker Brothers, Texas.

Robert Earl Keen performs at the Lincoln Theatre on Dec. 6, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

“If you want Christmas music,” Robert Earl Keen told the Lincoln Theater recently, “go to the mall.” REK’s Countdown to Christmas Tour steered clear of holiday music until the encore, when he played the fan-favorite “Merry Christmas from the Family,” an ode to the dysfunction and craziness of the holidays.

Preview: Robert Earl Keen @ Lincoln Theatre, 12/6/19

Posted on 12/02/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, bluegrass, country, Houston, Lincoln Theatre, Robert Earl Keen, Texas.

Robert Earl Keen (Photo by EMG/ Shutterstock)

Robert Earl Keen began 2019 with an induction into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. He leaves it on a Christmas tour, including a stop at the Lincoln Theatre on Friday, Dec. 6!

Live Review: Blue October @ Baltimore Soundstage — 11/14/19

Posted on 11/18/2019 by Corey Paterson in Live Review and tagged Alternative rock, Baltimore Soundstage, Blue October, Houston, Texas.

Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October (Photo by Chris Barber)

I had the pleasure of seeing Blue October for the second time this year recently. Justin Furstenfeld and company made a stop in Baltimore at one of my personal favorite venues — Baltimore Soundstage — as they finished the last few dates of their current tour.