Wayne “The Train” Hancock live (Photo courtesy the artist)
If Hank Williams were alive today, he’d be 94 years old. It’s unlikely he’d still be making music, and, even if he were, he probably wouldn’t sound very much like the young Hank Williams. On Wednesday evening, the closest you could get to a vintage Hank Williams show was seeing Wayne “The Train” Hancock perform his style of traditional country at DC’s City Winery.
Chris Isaak performs at The Birchmere on Aug. 27, 2018. (Photo by Chester Simpson)
Chris Isaak’s fans are in love with him, and he loved them right back at The Birchmere on Monday!
The Blasters perform at Hill Country Live in DC on Aug. 18, 2018. (Photo by Ben Eisendrath/Instagram+Twitter: Insomnigraphic/GrillworksBen)
Somewhere in a timeless haven, gents in jeans and jackets pump out stirring rock ’n’ roll, the sort of which forms the sturdy backbone of “American music.” And there in the crux of it, the feisty rockabilly quartet called The Blasters will forever sit, feeding the insatiable appetite for ageless, irresistible tunes that practically demand that you dance along.
The Blasters served up that music in a satisfying show at Hill Country Live on Saturday, and Ben Eisendrath photographed the band and their opener Lara Hope & the Ark Tones.
The Blasters (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Known for their bend of rockabilly, punk, R&B, and blues, The Blasters took their place in musical history with their first four albums from 1980-85. Led by vocalist Phil Alvin, the gents returned in 2012 for a new album, Fun on Saturday Night. They are touring still as original members Bill Bateman (drums) and John Bazz (bass), as well as longtime bandmate Keith Wyatt (guitar), join Phil for a show at Hill Country Live on Saturday, Aug. 18.
Chris Knight (Photo courtesy Michael J. Media)
Kelly Willis has a new rockabilly-flavored album, Back Being Blue, released in May via Premium Records/Thirty Tigers. Chris Knight last released Little Victories via Drifter’s Church in 2012. The two team up for a double-blast of Americana at The Birchmere on Friday, June. 8.
Berit Ulseth fronts The Claudettes at Hill Country Live on May 17, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
The energetic performance of The Claudettes at Hill Country Live on Thursday defied the heavy hearts of its members as drummer Danny Yost lay home in Chicago, recuperating after suffering a stroke one week prior. Stepping into Danny’s seat behind the drums was Michael Caskey, who co-founded The Claudettes in 2011 with pianist Johnny Iguana but departed in 2016 due to other commitments.
The Claudettes (Photo by Donna Drapeau)
The Claudettes released Dance Scandal at the Gymnasium!, the band’s third full-length for Yellow Dog Records and first to feature their touring lineup of piano, drums, bass guitar, and three singers, on March 23. The Claudettes visit Hill Country Live for a *free* record release show on Thursday, May 17!
