DC’s top blog for live concert reviews
Railroad Earth (Photo courtesy 7S Management)
New Jersey progressive bluegrass band Railroad Earth comes to 9:30 Club for a two-night stand on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23. See the gents on the night of your choice or buy a discount ticket package for both nights!
The Smithereens perform at State Theatre on Jan. 18, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Much has been written about the redemptive power of rock and roll; its ability to transport us to another place and time or to a cherished memory — as well as its power of community and the way a widely disparate audience can revel in a shared moment of unparalleled spontaneous joy. Those moments repeated themselves over and over at the State Theatre recently when The Smithereens featuring Robin Wilson dropped into town for their 19th performance at the historic Falls Church music venue.
The Smithereens for the State Theatre show, left to right: Jim Babjak (guitar), Robin Wilson (lead vocals), Dennis Diken (drums), and Mark Mesaros (bass) (Photo courtesy Lappen Enterprises)
Power pop aficionados think of the ’70s and ’80s as the genre’s heyday — an era that included performers like Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, years that saw the emergence of bands like Big Star and Cheap Trick, and a time that culminated with the Gin Blossoms and Matthew Sweet.
For many music lovers (myself included), The Smithereens captured all the salient characteristics of a classic power pop band: the jangly ringing Byrds-like guitars, the Beach Boys’ high harmonies, the Beatles melodic lyricism… and perhaps the crunching heaviness of Black Sabbath? But The Smithereens added an East-Coast, Jersey Shore roots-rock sensibility.
Mark Caicedo of Parklife DC recently chatted with Jim Babjak, guitarist of The Smithereens, in anticipation of the band’s show at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Jan. 18.
Screaming Females perform at Ottobar on Oct. 25, 2018. (Photo by Rashad Polk)
Screaming Females returned to perform at Ottobar on Thursday for the first time since Un-Fest 2015. The New Brunswick, New Jersey, trio are far from strangers to Baltimore, playing in Charm City regularly since 2007.
Pete Yorn performs at the Howard Theatre on Sept. 26, 2018. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
From the moment he walked out into the darkened stage and the lights slowly came up, Pete Yorn had the audience in the palm of his hand. With just a guitar, harmonica, his distinctive voice, and two dozen songs, Pete delivered a satisfying and heartfelt show at the Howard Theatre recently.
Pete Yorn (Photo courtesy WME)
Recently, Pete Yorn collaborated with actress Scarlett Johansson for an EP, Apart. The indie rocker will present those songs and others in a show at the Howard Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
Nicole Atkins (Photo courtesy Girlie Action)
Nicole Atkins released Goodnight Rhonda Lee, her fourth full-length album, via Single Lock Records last year. She’s been touring a lot, and next she comes to Wolf Trap on Saturday, Aug. 18, to open The Avett Brothers. The show is sold out, but arrive early to catch Nicole if you’re going!
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