Livestream Preview: Toto @ Dice, 11/21/20

Posted on 11/16/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged California, Dice, jazz, livestream, Los Angeles, progressive rock, soul, TOTO.

Toto (Photo courtesy SKH Music)

Steve Lukather (aka Luke) and Joseph Williams are lifelong friends since they were kids, and bandmates sharing a deep colorful history that has thrived professionally on a global basis over the past decades. Today, the duo has announced the formation of a new band, with world class players. They will continue to tour as Toto, and are in motion to bring their Dogz of Oz tour worldwide as the pair looks forwards.

The new Toto lineup performs in a livestream via Dice.fm on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Live Review: Fellowcraft @ DC9 — 10/27/20

Posted on 11/02/2020 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged DC, DC9, Fellowcraft, hard rock, progressive rock.

Jon Ryan MacDonald fronts Fellowcraft at DC9 on Oct. 27, 2020. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Like four links in a chain, the members of Fellowcraft relaxed and rolled to the rhythm in a performance at DC9 recently. The four guys hadn’t performed for an audience in more than seven months, but they instantly drew tight as they rocked through 12 big tunes for a successful livestream.

Livestream Preview: Fellowcraft @ DC9, 10/27/20

Posted on 10/26/2020 by Parklifer in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged DC, DC9, Fellowcraft, livestream, progressive rock.

Fellowcraft (Photo courtesy Eventbrite)

Fellowcraft are a four-man band who mix a healthy does of blues and R&B into their indie prog rock. Jon Ryan MacDonald (guitar and vocals), Brandon Williams (bass and vocals), Pablo Anton-Diaz (lead guitar and vocals), and Zach Martin together create an unstoppable rock and roll machine that carry you back to the days of classic rock albeit full of their own original twists.

Performing live from the stage at DC9 on Tuesday, Oct. 27, Fellowcraft livestreams the show for you to watch at home!

Song of the Day: “Run to Me” by Steve Lukather w/ Ringo Starr and Joseph Williams

Posted on 08/25/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged California, hard rock, Los Angeles, progressive rock, Ringo Starr, Song of the Day, Steve Lukather, TOTO.

Steve “Luke” Lukather (Photo by Rob Shanahan)

Steve Lukather and Mascot Records have announced the release of a newly recorded composition titled “Run to Me,” and an accompanying video. The song is heavily influenced by the artist’s fond connection to music from the late ’60s.

Song of the Day: “Easter in Quarantine” by Umphrey’s McGee

Posted on 04/10/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Indiana, jam band, progressive rock, Song of the Day, Umphrey's McGee.

Umphrey’s McGee (Photo courtesy IVPR)

Not unlike the rest of the country and the world, improv-rock gurus Umphrey’s McGee have found themselves with an empty-for-now itinerary and, in isolation, the strange daily balance of making sense of it all and making use of the extra time. Today, UM released “Easter in Quarantine.”

Interview: Fellowcraft (@ The Pocket, 1/10/20)

Posted on 01/03/2020 by Mickey McCarter in Interview, Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged 7DrumCity, blues, DC, Fellowcraft, Interview, progressive rock, The Pocket.

Fellowcraft rehearses in The Pocket at 7DrumCity not too long ago. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Hard-rockin’ DC blues band Fellowcraft tells Parklife DC that they are transforming into a prog-rock outfit. Whatever the case, we like what we hear! Last year, the band made a transition in its sound with a new lineup, now consisting of Jon Ryan MacDonald (guitar, vocals), Brandon Williams (bass, vocals), Pablo Antón (guitar, vocals), and Zach Martin (drums). This year, the band plans a fourth full-length album, following Get Up Young Phoenix (2016), Fellowcraft (2016) and Three (2018).

The peculiar power of Fellowcraft lies in the camaraderie of the band’s four members. These guys love playing together and hanging out together. And they have the rare gift of making you feel like you’re part of the gang when you’re in the audience. That’s the special defining quality of Fellowcraft.

Parklife DC Editor Mickey McCarter met Fellowcraft at 7DrumCity recently to chat about the band’s future prior to a show at The Pocket at 7DrumCity on Friday, Jan. 10. Fellowcraft also perform at Pie Shop on Friday, Feb. 7.

Best of the Year: Top 10 Moments of 2019 by Mark C.

Posted on 12/12/2019 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Anoushka Shankar, Best 0f 2019, Best of 2019, best of the year, Beth Cannon, City Winery, Cuba, Elizabeth II, folk, God Is an Astronaut, Jon Anderson, Lincoln Theatre, Lucinda Williams, Maggie Rogers, Mandolin Orange, Martin Barre, post-rock, progressive rock, Rock and Roll Hotel, Sixth & I, The Birchmere, The Mountain Goats.

Martin Barre performs at The Birchmere, April 22, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Editor’s Note: This year, we asked our bloggers to name their Top 10 shows of 2019 or choose their Top 10 photos of the year. We will run them over the course of mid-December as our Best of the Year posts.

How am I going to do this?! Pick 10 favorites shots, moments, concerts, etc., from a year that was packed with them. Of course, the year had its fill of frustrations and challenges, as well, but those quickly fade from memory to be replaced by the realization that I am, indeed, very fortunate to combine two loves of my life, music and photography, into something I can share.

These moments, documented in the following images, all taught me something… about photography, about the power of music, and, ultimately, about myself; what I value, what moves me, and what’s important.

Live Review: Tool @ Capitol One Arena — 11/25/19

Posted on 11/27/2019 by Chris R. Smyth in Live Review and tagged Capital One Arena, Maynard James Keenan, metal, post-metal, progressive metal, progressive rock, Tool.

Tool performs at Capital One Arena on Nov. 25, 2019. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

For the band’s final performance of 2019, prog-metal icons Tool brought the Fear Inoculum Tour to Capitol One Arena recently. Known for putting on one of the best concert performances across all genres of music, Maynard James Keenan and company did not disappoint. A light- and laser-filled spectacle, a Tool show is a two-hour long sensory overload.

Preview: Tool @ Capital One Arena, 11/25/19

Posted on 11/19/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged California, Capital One Arena, Los Angeles, Maynard James Keenan, metal, post-metal, progressive metal, progressive rock, Tool.

Tool (Photo by Travis Shinn)

Not long ago, frontman Maynard James Keenan reunited his progressive metal bandmates in Tool for a fifth album, titled Fear Inoculum, and now the quartet are conquering stadiums across the country. Tool performs at Capital One Arena in DC on Monday, Nov. 25.

Live Review: Rick Wakeman @ The Birchmere — 9/25/19

Posted on 10/04/2019 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged ambient, classical, England, London, piano, progressive rock, Rick Wakeman, The Birchmere, Yes.

Rick Wakeman performs at The Birchmere on Sept. 25, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Old Rock Star tour featured a man who is anything but. Rather, we got a wonderfully intimate, hilarious, and jaw-dropping performance from the former Strawbs, on-again off-again YES, and unparalleled session keyboardist recently at The Birchmere. Not a grumpy soul in the room, least of all Mr. Wakeman himself.