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David Lowery fronts Camper Van Beethoven at 9:30 Club on Jan. 18, 2020 (Photo by David LaMason)
As I was listening to Camper Van Beethoven at the 9:30 Club recently, I was reminded of the title of a Spotify playlist of ’80s alternative rock: Left of the Dial. To the crowd’s delight, the band opened with their delightfully odd cult hit “Take the Skinheads Bowling,” from their 1985 debut LP, Telephone Free Landslide Victory.
Temples (Photo by Matt Clarke)
English psychedelic rock band Temples released Hot Motion, the band’s third studio album, in September. Temples appears in support of the record at U Street Music Hall on Monday, Jan. 20.
Cracker’s David Lowery and Johnny Hickman (Photo by Bradford Jones)
Why front one band when you can front two? That’s surely the philosophy of David Lowery — guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and mathematician — who heads both Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. As is David’s habit in the past several years, he’s bringing both bands to 9:30 Club for a double bill on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Time Is Fire performs at Pie Shop on Jan. 3, 2020. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Have you ever seen a performance so unexpected that you were immediately inspired to share what you saw with anyone who will listen? I felt that way about DC psych rockers Time Is Fire when first I saw them at Black Cat several years ago. The arresting quintet was unlike any local band ever I imagined: Fronted by an Iranian singer, the gents burst with lively fire and joyful life.
Time Is Fire appeared at Pie Shop recently, and I had the opportunity to catch them again on an energetic bill, where three bands drew a big crowd to the buzzy upstairs music hall within Dangerously Delicious Pies.
Devendra Banhart performs at the 9:30 Club on Dec 7, 2019. (Photo by Brenda Reyes)
Pants, elevators, and Devendra Banhart were the main themes of the night at the 9:30 Club recently. The American-Venezuelan songwriter filled the venue with heartfelt songs and one-liners to the crowd.
Devendra Banhart (Photo by Lauren Dukoff)
Devendra Banhart released Ma, his latest studio album, in September on Nonesuch Records. The Venezuelan singer-songwriter arrives with his emotionally intimate new music for a performance at 9:30 Club on Saturday, Dec. 7.
People’s Blues of Richmond performs at Pearl Street Warehouse on Nov. 15, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
With their unique and face-melting blend of rock, punk, psychobilly, and psychedelia, People’s Blues of Richmond blew into Pearl Street Warehouse on a chilly recent night and proceeded to burn the place down. Known affectionately to their fans as PBR, this power trio hails from Richmond, Virginia. Described as Jimi Hendrix meets MC5, their website calls the music “psychedelic blues rock.” To the packed Pearl Street Warehouse crowd, descriptions didn’t matter; PBR simply rocked.
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