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Maura Kennedy and Pete Kennedy of The Kennedys (Photo by Hub Wilson)
Arlington native Pete Kennedy and his wife and musical partner Maura played an early set at Jammin’ Java on Saturday evening. The duo, known and beloved as The Kennedys, were every bit of charming and talented as you could imagine.
The Flesh Eaters, including Bill Bateman (The Blasters), Chris D. (frontman), John Doe (X), Dave Alvin, Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), and DJ Bonebrake (X) (Photo by Frank Lee Drennen)
The classic lineup of The Flesh Eaters — consisting of John Doe, DJ Bonebrake, Dave Alvin, Bill Bateman, Steve Berlin, and Chris D — has reunited and published a new album, I Used to Be Pretty, released in January via Yep Roc Records. And The Flesh Eaters are touring with a show at Union Stage on Saturday, March 16. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.
The Dead Tongues perform at Jammin Java on Feb. 17, 2019. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)
I walked around Jammin Java on Sunday, its brick walls reflecting the stagelights, crowd slowly filling in. My wife asked if I wanted a beer; we went to the bar, where a gaggle of musicians ordered drinks, special opener Molly Sarlé holding a bouquet of white and yellow flowers. Ryan Gustafson, also known by his stage name The Dead Tongues, walked away last, but not before I could say, “I’m really looking forward to the show.” He stopped, turned, looked me in the eyes, telling me “Thanks so much,” with a hand on my shoulder.
Valerie June performs at Eco Festival Cabaret Vert in France on Aug. 25, 2013. (Photo by Clement Caron)
On a cold Saturday evening, singer-songwriter Valerie June took the stage with a tiny banjo before a sold-out crowd at the District’s Historic Sixth & I Synagogue. Informing the crowd the that this banjo was “the baby,” Valerie played “Somebody to Love” to kick off an evening of soulful roots.
Cracker rocks the 9:30 Club on Jan. 19, 2019 (Photo by David LaMason
On a cold, wet Saturday night, David Lowery brought some sunshine to the 9:30 Club in the forms of both Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker.
The Revivalists perform at The Anthem on Jan. 11, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
New Orleans rockers The Revivalists kicked off their Take Good Care Tour on Friday at The Anthem. The 12-week tour supports their new album, Take Good Care, which was released last year via Loma Vista Recordings.
Caitlin Canty performs at Jammin’ Java on Jan. 11, 2019. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)
As a musical descriptor, “Americana” has lost its meaning, its context, slowly bastardized by the easy metamorphosis of a sound into something bigger, like a mouse birthing all other mammals over time.
The same is true of the descriptor “roots”, which is a catchall for anything predisposed towards a folky sound with tones inspired by the more-distant past. Without context, they are nearly meaningless terms. These genres were giving their proper context in a powerful show by Caitlin Canty at Jammin’ Java on Friday.
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