Preview: Chris Knight @ City Winery, 8/25/22

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, Chris Knight, City Winery, country rock, Kentucky.

Chris Knight (Photo courtesy Michael J. Media Group)

Acclaimed Americana Singer-Songwriter Chris Knight Performs in Concert
By Mario Tarradell

After 23 years as a recording artist, singer-songwriter Chris Knight remains boldly empowered to make music that always delivers the unflinching truth. In fact, the man raised in Slaughters, Kentucky uses a simple, direct barometer to regularly check his muse: “If I can’t believe myself, I won’t sing the song.”

That brutally honest, no-frills philosophy fits his Americana-fueled, backwoods-grown merger of folk, country, and rock. It’s been at the backbone of nine studio albums, beginning with 1998’s acclaimed self-titled debut and traveling through scorchers such as the one-two punch of 2001’s A Pretty Good Guy and 2003’s The Jealous Kind, two demo-styled discs (2007’s The Trailer Tapes and 2009’s Trailer II), and the recent, electric guitar-fortified opus, 2019’s Almost Daylight.

Knight will hit the sonic highlights of his career in concert Thursday, Aug. 25, at 8pm (doors @ 6pm) at City Winery, 1350 Okie Street in Washington, DC. Tickets are $25-$38; all ages are welcome. Click here for tickets.

Live Review: Sam Bush Band @ Stages Music Arts — 7/18/21

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged bluegrass, Kentucky, Sam Bush, Stages Music Arts.

Sam Bush performs at Stages Music Arts on July 18, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Though many musicians are admittedly brushing off rust as live performances return to order, you’d be hard-pressed to find any flaws in the skillset of the world’s most talented bluegrass musicians, a group as passionate about their craft as you’ll encounter.

One of the most critically acclaimed and seasoned bluegrass trendsetters, Sam Bush made his way to Cockeysville this past weekend for an early Sunday evening performance at Stages Music Arts, a venue that has hosted an impressive list of highly regarded musicians in just a short time.

Preview: Sturgill Simpson w/ Tyler Childers @ The Anthem, 3/15 + 3/16/20

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged country, Kentucky, outlaw country, Sturgill Simpson, The Anthem.

Sturgill Simpson (Photo courtesy Elektra Records)

Sturgill Simpson released Sound & Fury, his fourth studio album, through Elektra Records in 2019. The album was accompanied by an original Netflix anime film that he wrote and produced with Japanese director Junpei Mizusaki.

Now, Sturgill is on his Good Look’n Tour with Tyler Childers, and the show stops at The Anthem for two nights on Sunday, March 15, and Monday, March 16. The first night is sold out but limited tickets remain for the second show!

Live Review: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy @ Lincoln Theatre — 3/7/20

Posted on March 9, 2020 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Bonnie Prince Billy, country, Drag City Records, folk, Kentucky, Lincoln Theatre, Will Oldham.

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy with Emmett Kelly perform at the Lincoln Theatre on March 7, 2020. (Photo by David LaMason)

When I think of Will Oldham, whether it’s by his stage name, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, or the number of other names he’s recorded under (Palace Brothers, Palace Music), I think of a musical force that I’ve known for years but always seems to be around. What’s distinct about Will’s music is in the poetry of his words; the pastoral tones of his music; and that distinctive voice that sounds much older than its owner.

Interview: Will Oldham aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy (@ Lincoln Theatre, 3/7/20)

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Mickey McCarter in Preview and tagged Bonnie Prince Billy, Interview, Jonathan Richman, Kentucky, Lincoln Theatre, Will Oldham.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy (Photo courtesy The Billions Corporation)

Will Oldham, aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy, released I Made a Place, his latest studio album, last November via Drag City. He made the album with his wife while they were artists in residence in Hawaii, and the results are engrossing but also amazingly tranquil.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy performs with Jonathan Richman at the Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, March 7. Prior to the show, Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter chatted with Will about making the record and touring with Jonathan.

Live Review: Cage the Elephant @ The Anthem — 12/3/19

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Kyle Gustafson in Live Review and tagged blues, Cage the Elephant, garage, Kentucky, The Anthem.

Cage the Elephant performs at The Anthem on Dec. 3, 2019. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)

It’s been a good year for Cage the Elephant fans in DC. The band has been through town twice this year, playing Merriweather over the summer with Beck and Spoon and also headlining the recent DC101 holiday shindig at The Anthem. Add in October 2018 performance at the new Entertainment and Sport Arena, and that’s three shows in just over a year. Not too shabby.

Live Review: Chris Knight @ City Winery — 11/22/19

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Chris Knight, City Winery, Kentucky, singer-songwriter.

Chris Knight (Photo courtesy Thirty Tigers)

Slaughters, Kentucky native Chris Knight makes gritty, powerful country music. Eschewing the country pop of the Nashville machine, he records sparsely produced albums that draw the listener’s attention to his compelling lyrics. Live, he performs solo and acoustic, delivering the lyrics with fittingly gruff vocals, as he did at City Winery DC recently.

Preview: Chris Knight @ City Winery, 11/22/19

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, Chris Knight, City Winery, Kentucky, singer-songwriter.

Chris Knight (Photo by Ray Kennedy)

Esteemed singer-songwriter Chris Knight performs at City Winery on Friday, Nov. 22, in support of his most recent record Almost Daylight, which was released in October via Thirty Tigers. His ninth album to date, and his first new music in seven years, Almost Daylight delivers some of the most powerful and unexpected songs of his career.

Live Review: Kelsey Waldon @ Songbyrd Music House — 10/8/19

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged alt-country, Americana, Kelsey Waldon, Kentucky, Songbyrd Music House.

Kelsey Waldon (Photo courtesy IPVR)

Kelsey Waldon combined deep mountain vocals with a twangy Outlaw country sound (Kelsey played acoustic guitar, and her band included electric guitar, pedal steel, bass, and drums) when she headlined at the Songbyrd Music House recently.

Live Review: Ian Noe @ Songbyrd Music House — 10/5/19

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, folk, Ian Noe, Kentucky, Songbyrd Music House.

Ian Noe (Photo by Kyler Clark)

Singer-songwriter Ian Noe displayed his authentic Kentuckian bonafides as well as a shrewd sense of the greater world in a fantastic set at the Songbyrd Music House recently.