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Lynval Golding fronts The Specials at The Fillmore Silver Spring on June 10, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)
There is a certain pleasure in watching seasoned masters of any genre showcase their chops. And so it was that the masters of ska in The Specials returned to The Fillmore Silver Spring recently, stabilized by three experienced musicians and rejuvenated by a UK #1 hit record.
Walk Off the Earth performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring on May 29, 2019. (Photo by Chris Smyth)
Canadian pop quartet Walk Off the Earth recently brought their unique style of musicianship and pop sensibilities to The Fillmore Silver Spring.
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.
Bluebeat DC, Jump Up Records, and Songbyrd have teamed up to present the inaugural Capital Ska & Reggae Review, showcasing vintage Jamaican sounds from four incredible DC bands — ska-jazz legends Eastern Standard Time, fresh off their European tour for their hometown record release party for new studio album Time For Change, along with The Fuss, The Scotch Bonnets, and The Loving Paupers, and DJs Chuck Wren, Crown Vic’s Weird World, and Bobby Babylon — at Songbyrd Music Café on Friday, May 24.
Santigold performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Brenda Reyes)
Flashback to more than 10 years ago, you could’ve caught me singing “L.E.S Artistes” by Santigold on repeat on my iPod — but that song came to life recently at The Fillmore Silver Spring. Santigold: 10 Years Golder Tour featured the full self-titled debut album for an eager crowd, ready to soak up the nostalgia feels of her album and other songs too.
Santigold (Photo by Craig Wetherby)
In commemoration of the recent 10th anniversary of her self-titled debut album, Santigold will come to The Fillmore Silver Spring on Monday, May 6, on her 10 Years Golder Tour. She’ll perform her debut album in its entirety, along with songs from throughout her career, including off her latest mixtape-style album I Don’t Want: The Gold Fire Sessions.
Steve Jackson (center) and The Pietasters (Photo courtesy the band)
The Pietasters reissued Willis, their 1997 record from Epitaph/Hellcat, on colored vinyl for Record Store Day 2019. Stephen Jackson and the band next perform at Braustomp 3 at DC Brau Brewery on Saturday, Aug. 3. Buy your tickets online now.
Mickey McCarter of Parklife DC recently sat down with Steve over quite a few drinks to chat about the Secret History of The Pietasters. Along with our own Miyun Park and The Pietasters bassist Dave Vermillion, we discussed the ’80s DC music scene that shaped The Pietasters, some of Steve’s greatest memories in The Pietasters, and what comes next for the world’s most hyper ska band. Hilarity ensued.
Jeffrey Tribble Jr., Executive Director of The MusicianShip, addresses the Butterfly Bash in 2017. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
The MusicianShip, a nonprofit dedicated to providing music education to DC youth, sponsored its first Wammie Awards, recently choosing “the best of the best” among DC musicians for recognition to continue the mission of the dissolved Washington Area Music Association.
As editor of Parklife DC, I was a judge and a presenter for the 2019 Wammie Awards at the Lincoln Theatre on March 31, and I’m pleased to provide the full list of winners.
Wild Belle (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Wild Belle, the brother-sister band with Natalie and Elliot Bergman, released Everybody One of a Kind, their third studio album, last week, and the duo performs at the Black Cat on Thursday, April 11. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!
The Pietasters (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Stephen Jackson brings his storied ska collective, The Pietasters, to 9:30 Club for the group’s annual holiday show on Friday, Dec. 28.
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