Interview: Jason Thomson of Vast Robot Armies

Posted on 05/08/2020 by marcshea2 in Interview and tagged Canada, Interview, post-punk, post-rock, rock, Song of the Day, Toronto, Vast Robot Armies.

Vast Robot Armies album cover for Paper Crown Parade (Artwork by Victor Malang)

Vast Robot Armies describe themselves as “three cities, two countries, one band.” John Agee (guitar, bass, and vocals) and Joe Wells (guitar, bass, synth, and backing vocals) hail from Kansas City, Missouri. Jason Thomson (guitars, piano, synths, and vocals) lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The band recently released a new full-length album titled Paper Crown Parade. I caught up with Jason to ask him about standout song “Little Detroit.”

Live Review: Andy Frasco & the UN @ 9:30 Club — 2/13/20

Posted on 02/19/2020 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Andy Frasco, Andy Frasco and The UN, blues, California, Los Angeles, rock.

Andy Frasco jams out on his Hammond B3 organ at 9:30 Club, Feb. 13, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Andy Frasco & the UN was in DC recently to co-headline a show with Big Something.

The show began with some stand-up comedy by Kyle Ayers to warm up the crowd. Kyle would go on to emcee the rest of the evening, which was structured as a battle of the bands in a professional wrestling theme, complete with luchador masks.

Preview: That Big 80’s NYE Party @ Union Stage, 12/31/19

Posted on 12/13/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged DJ Marco, freestyle, new wave, New Years Eve, pop, R&B, rap, rock, That Big 80s NYE Party, That Big 80s Party, Union Stage.

80s band buttons!

Looking for a simple, fun night on the town for New Year’s Eve? Union Stage and DJ Marco have you covered with That Big 80’s NYE Part at Union Stage on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

Live Review: Broke Royals @ DC9 — 8/16/19

Posted on 08/20/2019 by Ari Strauss in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged Broke Royals, DC, DC9, heartland rock, power pop, rock, Virginia.

Broke Royals frontman Philip Basnight performs at DC9, Aug. 16, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)

Broke Royals recently concluded an intensive 10-day tour with a hometown performance at DC9. The DC-based power-pop group, and winners of Parklife DC’s 2018 inaugural Thrushie Award for best local band, put in 12 performances across the Midwest and the Atlantic coast over 10 days, reaching as far as Milwaukee, to promote their new album, Saint Luxury.

Snapshots: Bencoolen @ The Hamilton Live — 8/10/19

Posted on 08/14/2019 by Ari Strauss in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged Bencoolen, blues, DC, funk, rock, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Teddy Scott (left) and Paul Gregg (right) of Bencoolen perform at The Hamilton Live, Aug. 10, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)

DC-based Bencoolen performed an opening set at The Hamilton Live recently, delivering an energized 45-minute set to warm the crowd for the jazz/funk sextet Naughty Professor from New Orleans.

Live Review: The Bacon Brothers @ The Birchmere — 7/19/19

Posted on 07/22/2019 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged country, folk, Kevin Bacon, Nashville, rock, soul, Tennessee, The Bacon Brothers, The Birchmere.

The Bacon Brothers perform at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, July 19, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)

While preparing to cover the first night of a three-night Bacon Brothers residency at The Birchmere, I joked with my friends via a Facebook post that they would all become two degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon, a reference to the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon parlor game which became popular in the 1990s.

Music Park: Lindsey Buckingham @ Warner Theatre — 10/19/18

Posted on 10/23/2018 by Chris R. Smyth in Live Review and tagged California, Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham, rock, Warner Theatre.

Lindsey Buckingham performs at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon, on Oct. 7, 2018. (Photo by Raph_PH)

Upon the stage of the gorgeous Warner Theatre, singer and guitar virtuoso Lindsey Buckingham performed songs spanning a career dating back to the 1970s. Touring in support of his new multi-disc greatest hits record, Solo Anthology: The Best Of Lindsey Buckingham, Lindsey played a two-hour set to a crowd of feverish baby boomers.

Don’t Miss: Lindsey Buckingham @ Warner Theatre, 10/19/18

Posted on 10/12/2018 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged California, Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham, rock, Warner Theatre.

Lindsey Buckingham (Photo courtesy Grandstand Media)

Lindsey Buckingham released Solo Anthology: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham, which includes album, live, and alternate versions of some of Lindsey’s celebrated solo albums, on Oct. 5 via Rhino Records. Lindsey will perform at Warner Theatre on Friday, Oct. 19.

Snapshots: Imagine Dragons @ Jiffy Lube Live — 7/2/18

Posted on 07/06/2018 by jesternate in Live Review and tagged Imagine Dragons, indie rock, Jiffy Lube Live, Las Vegas, Live Nation, rock.

Imagine Dragons performs at Jiffy Lube Live on July 2, 2018. (Photo by Nathan Payne)

Imagine Dragons released a new single, “Next to Me,” via KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records earlier this year, and then embarked on a summer tour celebrating their last album, Evolve, released in 2017. The Evolve Tour landed at Jiffy Lube Live on Monday, July 2, and Nathan Payne snapped some pictures!

Music Park: Torres @ Rock and Roll Hotel — 9/29/17

Posted on 10/03/2017 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged 4AD, Brooklyn, folk, Mackenzie Scott, rock, Rock and Roll Hotel, Sprinter, Three Futures, TORRES.

Torres brings power and truth to the Rock and Roll Hotel on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. (Photo by David LaMason)

Mackenzie Scott is a powerful force. Her confessional lyrics seem magnified by the force of each performance, and on Friday night at the Rock and Roll Hotel it was no different –just as mesmerizing and just as strong as ever.