Death performs at the Howard Theatre on April 25, 2019. (Photo by Andy Jillson)
The legendary proto-punk rock band Death stopped at the Howard Theatre in DC recently, and I cleared my calendar to catch these revolutionary rockers in action.
proto-punk
Ticket Giveaway: MC50 feat. Brother Wayne Kramer @ 9:30 Club, 9/11/18
MC50 (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
“Yeah, kick out the jams/
I done kicked ’em out!”
Brother Wayne Kramer co-founded the MC5, which released their debut album, Kick Out the Jams, in 1969. With the 50th anniversary of Kick Out the Jams approaching, Wayne gathered some musicians to tour the music of the MC5, and the resulting MC50 supergroup performs at 9:30 Club on Tuesday, Sept. 11. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!
Music Park: Beach Slang @ Black Cat — 3/24/17
James Alex fronts a new Beach Slang at Black Cat on March 24, 2017.
James Alex of Beach Slang found himself in an unexpected situation when he performed at Black Cat last October. He came solo on the heels of the band’s second studio album, A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings, released in September via Polyvinyl.
Don’t Miss: Television @ 9:30 Club, 9/6/16
Television today (Photos by Adi Leite)
Tom Verlaine. Richard Lloyd. Richard Hell. Billy Ficca.
If those names catch your eye, you might recognize the elder statesmen of punk. The proto-punk band Television ignited a scene in New York City at CBGBs, ground zero for a decade of unfiltered yet lustrous music that turned music on its head. Formed in 1973, Television only ever released three albums and wasn’t active in the 1980s at all. But Tom and Billy now carry on the band still with bassist Fred Smith (truly an original as he’s been there since 1975, no?) and guitarist Jimmy Rip (a collaborator of Tom’s dating back to 1981).
Television is coming to perform at the 9:30 Club on Tuesday, Sept. 6 in a show that connoisseurs of excellent music cannot deny. Marquee Moon, released by Television as the band’s debut album in 1977, has been hailed as a peerless triumph over the past 40 years.
Roy Trakin wrote in the SoHo Weekly, “forget everything you’ve heard about Television, forget punk, forget New York, forget CBGB’s … hell, forget rock and roll—this is the real item.”
VH1 ranked it in its list of the 100 Greatest Albums of Rock and Roll. Rolling Stone placed it at #128 on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Uncut magazine called it #2 of 100 Greatest Debut Records. Pitchfork said it’s #3 in the Best Albums of the 1970s.
Watch Television perform “Foxhole” on the Old Grey Whistle Test in May 1978 via YouTube:
By the way, Richard Lloyd, who amicably left the band about 10 years ago, visits Bethesda Blues & Jazz locally to open for Midge Ure on Oct. 4. (Check out details here.)
North Carolina singer-songwriter Chris Stamey opens for Television. Tickets are available online.
Television
w/ Chris Stamey
9:30 Club
Tuesday, Sept. 6
Doors @7pm
$35
All ages
