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Jonny Grave performs at Jammin’ Java on April 10, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Jonny Grave, the man and his music, defy categorization. Yes, he learned his chops studying blues greats like Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, and R.L. Burnside, but as I sat down to write this piece, I opened up the advance file of his new EP, IMPALA, and something unexpected and wondrous began pouring from the speakers.
Eastern Standard Time performs at Songbyrd Music House on May 24, 2019. (Photos by Paivi Salonen; Words by Mickey McCarter)
DC heroes Eastern Standard Time rounded up a lot of friends for a record release show recently at Songbyrd Music House, and the place was positively jumping for a big night of dance tunes.
Loi Loi performs at Comet Ping Pong on April 6, 2018. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
[Editor’s Note: We’ve learned the Loi Loi album release has been pushed back to 2019! We’ve updated this post accordingly.]
DC’s own hometown synthpop group Loi Loi will celebrate the release of a new single at Union Stage on Saturday, Nov. 10, opening Bright Light Bright Light.
Suicidal Tendencies performs at 9:30 Club on Sept. 8, 2018. (Photos by Paivi; Words by Mickey McCarter)
From the beginning of the show, frontman Mike Muir led his band Suicidal Tendencies through a full frontal assault on the senses of the large crowd at 9:30 Club, and everyone had the time of their lives.
Aaron Lee Tasjan performs at High Water Festival in North Charleston, South Carolina, on April 22, 2017. (Photo by Ryan Johnson)
Celebrating the upcoming release of his new album, Karma for Cheap, this Friday, Aaron Lee Tasjan rocked DC’s Union Stage on Tuesday evening. Backed by a full band — guitarist Brian Wright, bassist Tommy Scifres, and drummer Seth Earnest — Aaron thrilled the audience with new material and old favorites alike.
Suicidal Tendencies (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
California thrashers Suicidal Tendencies have a lot on their plate right now! Mike Muir aka Cyco Miko (as he’s known on his solo albums) and company will release STill Cyco Punk After All These Years on Friday, Sept. 7, and they will play an anniversary show at 9:30 Club on the very next day! On Sept. 8, Suicidal Tendencies will perform their self-titled debut album in full during their show at 9:30 Club.
Aaron Lee Tasjan (Photo courtesy by Curtis Wayne Millard)
Singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan will release Karma for Cheap, his latest studio record, on Aug. 31, via New West Records. On Tuesday, Aug. 28, he will host a record release party at Union Stage!
Bat Fangs (Photo courtesy Don Giovanni Records)
Betsy Wright is the bassist for DC power pop trio Ex Hex. Laura King is drummer for North Carolina garage rockers Flesh Wounds. Together, they are also Bat Fangs! The band releases its debut self-titled album on Friday, Feb. 2 via Don Giovanni Records. One week later, Sasha Lord presents Bat Fangs playing that new album at Comet Ping Pong on Friday, Feb. 9!
Silo Halo (Photo by Adam de Boer and Julie Goett)
Etxe Records, named for the word for “shelter” or “home” in Basque, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2018. To mark the occasion, the label released Etxe Records at 10 Years: A Compilation on Thursday, Jan. 18. Bands from Etxe Records also will perform in a Etxe Records 10th Anniversary Showcase at Capital Fringe (Logan Fringe Arts Space, 1358 Florida Ave. NE, DC) on Saturday, Jan. 20.
To explore the label and its bands in its 10th year, Parklife DC chatted via email with Chris Goett of Silo Halo and Avy Mallik of Near Northeast, the first of whom also is a co-founder of Etxe Records. Near Northeast and Silo Halo will be joined by fellow labelmates The Red Fetish and Teething Veils for the anniversary showcase concert.
Philip Basnight fronts Broke Royals at Union Stage on Dec. 28, 2017. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Time is very important to Broke Royals, the DC Americana-flavored power pop band founded by Philip Basnight and Colin Cross. Their debut single, released in May 2014, was called “About Time,” an ode of encouragement dedicated to taking time to care for yourself.