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Chelsea Lee of SHAED performs at U Street Music Hall on March 2, 2019. (Photo by Brenda Reyes)
Recently at U Street Music Hall, SHAED (pronounced shade) took the stage to a packed crowd. It was a hometown show, and so it is always nice to come home and play with your closest friends and family. Interestingly enough, the first time I saw SHAED was not in DC but all the way in Chicago at Mamby on the Beach in 2017. So, I was glad to see them closer to home.
Cristal Ramirez of The Aces performs at Union Stage on Feb. 26, 2019. (Photo by Brenda Reyes)
Since the first time I caught The Aces at All Things Go last year, I’ve become a huge fan. Katie Henderson, McKenna Petty, and Alisa and Cristal Ramirez took to Union Stage to an uproar of their fans cheering and excited for their sold-out show recently.
Beirut performs at The Anthem on Feb. 14, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)
Beirut, the musical creation of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Zach Condon, had some humble beginnings — a truly bedroom project where he used to live in Sante Fe, New Mexico. But that project has, for the past several years, become an amazing musical force, pulling influences from Italian westerns to European folk music. But the one thing that ties it all together is the unique voice of Zach himself, which we heard clearly at The Anthem recently.
Dance to Interpol at Liberation Dance Party (Photo courtesy Matador Records)
Going to Interpol at The Anthem or Metric at The Fillmore Silver Spring? Keep the party going after either show with Liberation Dance Party, the video event that introduced the music of both bands to the DMV! Dance the night away at DC9 on Friday, Feb. 15, with no cover!
Of Montreal thrills a packed Ottobar on Oct. 24, 2018. (Photo by David LaMason)
Of Montreal, the band fronted by the charismatic and wildly creative Kevin Barnes, has been going strong through various permutations for more than 20 years. The Athens, Georgia-born band has released 15 full length albums (not including EPs and singles) — during that time, they’ve experimented with styles (straight ahead pop à la Beatles to country tinged Americana to dance).
Although the songwriting is brilliant and the songs tough to get out of your head, the band’s live show (and by “show” I mean it in the most literal sense) has come to be Of Montreal’s signature, and that show arrived at Ottobar on Oct. 24.
Carly Rae Jepsen performs at All Things Go Fall Classic on Oct. 7, 2018. (Photo by Brenda Reyes)
Day two of the All Things Go Fall Classic flowed with the same energy from the night before. The line-up was still dominated by women on Sunday, Oct. 7, leading to Carly Rae Jepsen closing out the day. But before Carly’s set, there were plenty of sets to be discovered throughout the day.
Belly (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
In May, Boston jangle poppers Belly released Dove, their first new album in more than 20 years! Belly will perform at 9:30 Club on Saturday, Sept. 29, and you can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.
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