New York City

Live Review: Jon Spencer and The Hitmakers @ Black Cat — 1/12/19

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JonSpencerHM1Jon Spencer tears it up at the Black Cat on Jan. 12, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

Although Jon Spencer has been involved in a host of bands since the early ’80s, 2018 saw his first LP released under his own name.  The album, Spencer Sings the Hits!, is packed with what makes Jon Spencer amazing — the garage punk, B-movie aesthetic, and rockabilly swagger he has perfected over 30 years of making music with bands like the DC-born Pussy Galore, Boss Hog, and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

Jon brought all of that and more to the Black Cat on Saturday.Continue Reading

Interview: Car Astor — A Rising Star

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Car Astor (Photo courtesy Reybee Inc.)

Car Astor, a very talented young electropop musician from New York City, visited DC recently. While she was here, Car sat down for a chat with Parklife DC at Union Station prior to a photo shoot for another outlet. In our interview, we dug into the future of the memorable singer-songwriter, formerly known as SEE. (This interview was edited for length and flow.)

For more information on Car Astor, visit her website.

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Live Review: Too Many Zooz @ 9:30 Club — 12/22/18

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Too Many Zooz amaze the crowd at the 9:30 Club on Dec. 23, 2018. (Photo by David LaMason)

The New York City-based trio Too Many Zooz refer to their own music as “brass house,” which can be a bit hard to describe. Incorporating elements of up tempo ska, house, dub, and jazz, David “King of Sludge” Parks (drums/percussion), Leo Pellegrino (baritone sax), and Matt “Doe” Muirhead (trumpet/keys) have gone from busking the busy New York subway to playing alongside Beyoncé and the Dixie Chicks at the 50th Annual CMA Awards in 2016.

And the trio took their brass house sound to 9:30 Club on Saturday.

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Live Review: Judy Collins @ The Birchmere — 12/18/18

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New Ross - John F Kennedy Anniversary
Judy Collins sings at the 50th Anniversary of the visit of John F. Kennedy to New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland, on June 22, 2013. (Photo by Sean Rowe)

At 38, I’m not typical of the audience here at The Birchmere on a Tuesday night for a Judy Collins concert; the friend I’ve brought to the show is a bit closer at 52. As Judy said, said “I’ve been doing this for 59 years.” “You’re looking at the American Idol of 1957,” she joked.

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