Live Review: Dead Horses @ DC9 — 12/11/21

Posted on 12/20/2021 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged DC9, Dead Horses, folk, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sarah Vos leads Dead Horses in a performance at DC9 on Dec. 11, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Dead Horses, an enlightening folk outfit from Milwaukee, is the musical vehicle for guitarist and singer-songwriter Sarah Vos and upright bassist Daniel Wolff. And the duo had seen its popularity rising in recent years, especially just before the pandemic — a few months prior to the shutdown saw Dead Horses making appearances in the Northwest with their friend, the great Charlie Parr, to help promote what was back in 2019 his new self-titled release.

Live Review: Buffalo Nichols @ Songbyrd Music House — 11/9/21

Posted on 11/15/2021 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged blues, Buffalo Nichols, Milwaukee, Songbyrd Music House, Wisconsin.

Carl “Buffalo” Nichols performs at Songbyrd Music House in Washington DC on Nov. 9, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

There’s admiration to be had for anyone who sets out to prove a point or to tell an important story with their music.

On a mission that is most certainly catching the ears of astute listeners and those who care about celebrating the history and sounds of traditional music, Buffalo Nichols should be applauded for the progress he’s making and the sound he’s creating. And, making an appearance last week in the nation’s capital at the newly relocated Songbyrd Music House, he showed that he’s emboldened by a workingman’s conviction and possesses a vision for how his songs can make an impact.

Preview: Buffalo Nichols @ Songbyrd Music House, 11/9/21

Posted on 11/05/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged blues, Buffalo Nichols, Milwaukee, Songbyrd Music House, Wisconsin.

Buffalo Nichols (Photo by Merrick Ales)

Buffalo Nichols, Fat Possum’s first blues signing in nearly 20 years, is set to play a *free* headlining show at Songbyrd Music House on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

In the midst of a run supporting Drive-By Truckers, Buffalo celebrates the release of his self-titled debut album, which is out now, with this solo show.

Live Review: Violent Femmes @ The Anthem — 7/30/19

Posted on 08/05/2019 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged folk, Milwaukee, punk, The Anthem, Violent Femmes, Wisconsin.

The Violent Femmes perform at The Anthem on July 30, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

The first time I finally saw the Violent Femmes perform, which was at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2013, the band played its debut full-length album in its entirety. Given that “Blister in the Sun” and “Add It Up” were college-listening staples for me, I figured I would at least check a box and enjoy the show.

Little did I know the Violent Femmes would be so damn good as a live band, using that Coachella appearance to spring into annual summer touring, which this year included another stop at The Anthem recently.

Snapshots: Violent Femmes @ The Anthem — 7/25/18

Posted on 07/31/2018 by Jason Nicholson "Le Mouton Flâneur" in Live Review and tagged folk, Milwaukee, punk, The Anthem, Violent Femmes, Wisconsin.

The Violent Femmes perform at The Anthem on July 25, 2018. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)

Alt-rockers Violent Femmes wrapped a tour with Echo and the Bunnymen on July 25 at The Anthem in a bid for biggest show of the summer dominance! From the looks of things, they succeeded. Judge for yourself with these pictures of the Violent Femmes by Jason Nicholson, who shot the show.

Music Park: Dead Horses @ Songbyrd Music House — 4/14/18

Posted on 04/18/2018 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged Americana, Dead Horses, folk, Milwaukee, Songbyrd Music House.

Dead Horses perform at Songbyrd Music House on April 14, 2018. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Americana is one of those musical labels that can apply to a wide variety of styles (folk, country, rock blues, or gospel) and thus become practically meaningless. However, as a descriptor for Dead Horses’ music, and paired with the band’s origin story, the term takes on a specificity and uniqueness all its own.

Dead Horses — Sarah Vos (vocals/guitar), Daniel Wolff (double bass/vocals), Jamie Gallagher (drums), and Ryan Ogburn (mandolin) — stopped at Songbyrd Music House on Saturday. Touring in support of its third album, My Mother the Moon (released on April 6), a modest but enthusiastic crowd was treated to a lively performance of songs drawing on a wide range of influences that includes folk, bluegrass, gospel, rock, and blues.

Snapshots: GGOOLLDD @ 9:30 Club — 3/6/18

Posted on 03/09/2018 by paivi in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, dreampop, Ggoolldd, Milwaukee, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Margaret Butler fronts Ggoolldd at 9:30 Club on March 6, 2018. (Photo by Paivi)

Synthpop quartet Ggoolldd released Teeth, their latest EP, in December on Roll Call Records, and now they find themselves on the road opening for none other than synthpop legends Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Paivi snapped the band in performance opening OMD at 9:30 Club on Tuesday! (Check out our Parklife DC review of OMD.)

Music Park: Eric Benét @ The Birchmere — 1/17/18

Posted on 01/22/2018 by Robert Smith in Live Review and tagged Eric Benet, Milwaukee, neo-soul, Prince, R&B, soul, The Birchmere.

Eric Benét (Photo courtesy Primary Wave Entertainment)

The Love Song Is Here to Stay: Eric Benét

A standard English dictionary likely defines “singing” as the ability to create musical notes and sounds with the use of the human voice. Meanwhile, the soulful current of barbershops, hair salons and R&B-dedicated forums gladly define “sangin’” as the ability to sing but with mandatory diaphragm use, grit, passion, and pure confidence! R&B veteran Eric Benét provided The Birchmere with a dose of sangin’ on Jan. 17, in the first of two crowded shows, with seated couples and live videos aplenty.

Don’t Miss: Eric Benét @ The Birchmere, 1/17 + 1/18/18

Posted on 01/09/2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Eric Benet, Milwaukee, neo-soul, R&B, soul, The Birchmere.

Eric Benét (Photo courtesy the artist)

Eric Benét released his self-titled eighth studio album in 2016 via Jordan House and BMG. The R&B superstar continued to tour after the album’s release, and he’s making his way to DC for two dates at The Birchmere on Wednesday, Jan. 17, and Thursday, Jan. 18.

Ticket Giveaway: Violent Femmes @ 9:30 Club, 7/9/17

Posted on 06/14/2017 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, folk, free tickets, Milwaukee, punk, ticket giveaway, Violent Femmes.

Violent Femmes (Photo by Ebru Yildiz)

You can all just kiss off into the air/
Behind my back I can see them stare/
They’ll hurt me bad but I won’t mind/
They’ll hurt me bad they do it all the time

Violent Femmes went down in history on the strength of songs like “Kiss Off” from their 1983 self-titled debut album. Last year, the gents demonstrated again their staying power with the release of their ninth studio album, We Can Do Anything, published with PIAS. Violent Femmes have been touring the world, and they arrive in DC again to perform at 9:30 Club on Sunday, July 9. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!