Live Review: The Front Bottoms @ Frederick Fairgrounds — 10/28/20

Posted on 11/02/2020 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Baltimore Soundstage, folk, Frederick Fairgrounds, indie pop, New Jersey, punk, The Front Bottoms.

FrontBottoms1 — ***The Front Bottoms shake and rattle at the Frederick Fairgrounds on Oct. 28, 2020. (Photo by David LaMason)***

As a fan of live music, going from seeing a show at least twice weekly to no shows at all for about eight months has been rough, but it’s nothing compared to what venues and artists have gone through in that time. It’s been a year of live-streaming, fundraisers, and trying to find new ways of keeping the making of music and the creation of these unique communal experiences alive through these difficult times.

One of those ways that have emerged in recent months is the advent of drive-in concerts.

Preview: The Front Bottoms @ Frederick Fairgrounds, 10/28/20

Posted on 10/22/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged folk, Frederick Fairgrounds, New Jersey, punk, The Front Bottoms.

The Front Bottoms (Photo courtesy Baltimore Soundstage)

In August, The Front Bottoms released In Sickness & In Flames, the band’s fifth full-length studio album. Now, guitarist Brian Sella and drummer Mat Uychich are playing socially distanced drive-in shows, with a date at the Frederick Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Oct. 28, presented by Baltimore Soundstage!

Live Review: The Smithereens @ State Theatre — 1/17/20

Posted on 01/21/2020 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged hard rock, New Jersey, power pop, State Theatre, The Smithereens.

The Smithereens perform at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Jan. 17, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

“In sickness and in health.”

Those words are normally reserved for particularly solemn occasions, but those same moments can be joyous, life-affirming and festive… much like a Smithereens concert, come to think of it. Friday night was just one of those instances with the New Jersey-based Smithereens making their 20th appearance at the State Theatre in Falls Church. For many of us battling colds, flu, and various other ailments, The Smithereens energetic, exuberant, and healing music was just the right medicine.

Preview: The Smithereens @ State Theatre, 1/17/20

Posted on 01/09/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Gin Blossoms, hard rock, New Jersey, power pop, Robin Wilson, The Smithereens.

The Smithereens with Robin Wilson (Photo courtesy Lappen Enterprises)

The Smithereens return to the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Friday, Jan. 17, with Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms on lead vocalist!

Live Review: The Bouncing Souls @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 12/18/19

Posted on 12/23/2019 by Andrew Goodwin in Live Review and tagged New Jersey, punk, The Bouncing Souls, The Fillmore Silver Spring.

The Bouncing Souls (Photo by Danny Clinch)

“We live our life in our own way, never really listened to what they say.”

The Bouncing Souls electrified the large crowd at The Fillmore Silver Spring on a recent, blustery night as they swung through the DMV on the tail end of the band’s 30th anniversary tour.

Song of the Day: “Mele Kalikimaka” by Dentist

Posted on 12/17/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Asbury Park, Dentist, garage, holiday party, New Jersey, Song of the Day, surf rock.

Dentist (Photo courtesy the band)

Dentist, our new favorite surf-garage band, recently released a Christmas song, covering “Mele Kalikimaka,” written by Robert Alex Anderson and famously covered by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

Give it a listen below!

Live Review: Bettye LaVette @ Sixth & I — 10/26/19

Posted on 11/06/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Bettye Lavette, blues, New Jersey, R&B, Sixth & I, soul.

Bettye Lavette (Photo courtesy APA)

Five-time Grammy nominee Bettye LaVette got off to a rocky start when she opened for David Bromberg recently at the Historic Sixth & I Synagogue. After her first number, she pleaded for the tech to turn down the echo and reverb. With it its high ceilings — Bettye called the room a cavern — Sixth & I’s sanctuary provides its own echo. As Bettye remarked, with echo on her mic, it sounded a bit too much like “heaven,” and not in a good way.

Live Review: Dentist @ DC9 — 9/29/19

Posted on 10/07/2019 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged DC9, Dentist, New Jersey, power pop, surf rock.

Dentist performs at DC9 on Sept. 29, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

When a band is named “Dentist,” you may well be tempted to make remarks about the members’ teeth as a way to ease into a review. Well, we are going to chat a little about their eyes instead.

New Jersey surf rockers Dentist dropped by DC9 recently to open Brick + Mortar, and these folks have some damn expressive eyes to accompany their truly catchy tunes.

Live Review: Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes @ The Birchmere — 6/15/19

Posted on 06/19/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged blues, heartland rock, New Jersey, soul, Southside Johnny, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, The Birchmere.

Southside Johnny sings (Photo by John Cavanaugh)

One of The Birchmere’s charms is that you can really see the relationships artists have with their fans. Most artists interact with the audience; some have relationships with their fans. When Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes played The Birchmere recently, the rhythm was plenty blue, and the rock had lots of roll, but it was the relationship between the band’s charismatic frontman and the audience that made night special.

Interview: Southside Johnny (@ The Birchmere, 6/15/19)

Posted on 06/12/2019 by Mark Engleson in Interview, Preview and tagged blues, heartland rock, Interview, New Jersey, soul, Southside Johnny, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, The Birchmere.

Southside Johnny (Photo by John Cavanaugh)

John Lyon, aka Southside Johnny, fronts the band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, who play The Birchmere on Saturday, June 15. John chatted with Parklife DC ahead of the show!