DC’s top blog for live concert reviews
OAR (Photo courtesy the artist)
LAW Records, in conjunction with The Nowell Family Foundation, are due to release a very special compilation, The House That Bradley Built, on Sept. 4. The new compilation features never-before-released acoustic covers from the catalogue of Bradley Nowell’s band Sublime performed by 20+ bands.
From that compilation, today’s Song of the Day is Rockville roots rockers OAR’s cover of “Badfish,” which hails from Sublime’s first album, 40oz. to Freedom (1992).
Lauren Calve (Photo by Shane Gardner)
DC Americana and blues artist Lauren Calve releases Wildfire, her new EP, on June 23. She recently released the first single from the album — a song called “Better Angels.” As Lauren has said, she took inspiration for the song from Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address, which prompted her to reflect on the courage of people today dealing with modern challenges like COVID-19.
And, of course, as everyone has been in a pandemic lockdown, Lauren has been a regular performer in livestream concerts, spreading the word about her new music and finding creative outlets where she can. Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter recently caught up with Lauren to ask her about getting music out during the lockdown, her approach to unique arrangements in her music, and her spiritual connections to the places that gave birth to roots and Americana.
Cowboy Mouth (Photo by Darren Fazio)
Alt rockers Cowboy Mouth perform appear on YouTube on Friday, June 5, for a livestream concert featuring tracks off the band’s new EP Open Wide and classic Cowboy Mouth songs.
Eric Hall (left) and Scott Terry (right) of Red Wanting Blue perform on stage at Gypsy Sally’s, May 4, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Back in December of 2017, Eric Hall and Scott Terry from Red Wanting Blue went out on a two-week experimental tour with close friends, Tim Warren and Eric Donnelly from The Alternate Routes. They called the combined group ARWB and played small venues, crafting the show town to town, singing each other’s songs and sharing stories from their many years of friendship and travel.
Red Wanting Blue will steam the concert film in four parts over four days via YouTube from Wednesday, March 25, through Saturday, March 28.
The Districts perform at 9:30 Club on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock.)
Sometimes an album comes to life when a band needs it most, and the tour to support it is how the group actually reaps the spiritual, and financial, benefits of their work.
The Districts’ latest release — You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere — is said to have almost never happened: the band had nearly exhausted itself after an intense few years on the road and seemed to be searching for direction when founder and head singer Rob Grote isolated himself and put pen to pad to nurture the words that would comprise the newest LP.
The Revivalists perform at The Anthem on Feb. 29, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)
The Revivalists, an eight-piece outfit from New Orleans, recently sold out The Anthem in as part of the band’s ambitious Into the Stars Tour, and Parklife was there to take it in.
The Districts (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Philadelphia’s The Districts hit 9:30 Club on Tuesday, March 10, in support of You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere, their new album available on March 13 via Fat Possum.
The Dustbowl Revival frontman Z. Lupetin performs at 9:30 Club, Feb. 7, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
LA-based roots band The Dustbowl Revival in town to promote its new album, Is It You, Is It Me, hit the stage at 9:30 Club on Feb. 7 with a bit of trepidation.
The Dustbowl Revival (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
The Dustbowl Revival, the acclaimed California roots ensemble, released Is It You, It It Me, a new studio album, today via Thirty Tigers! The band plays at 9:30 Club on Friday, Feb. 7, one week after the album’s release
Fruition (Photo courtesy IPVR)
Fruition is a Portland, Oregon-based roots rock/Americana quintet whose style incorporates folk, bluegrass, and soul. Formed in 2008, they’ve released three LPs, most recently Watching It All Fall Apart. Their latest releases are a pair of EPs, Wild as the Night and Broken at the Break of Day, which will be released together one one vinyl disc. Fruition plays DC’s Union Stage on Thursday, Feb. 6.
In anticipation of that show, Parklife DC’s Mark Engleson recently interviewed Kellen Asebroek who plays guitar and piano and is one of the band’s three vocalists. Kellen and Mark discussed the band’s latest pair of EPs, their style and influences, and the band’s current tour.
