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Generally when a band comes back to town touring behind the same album, it’s because they’re playing a bigger venue after winning over more fans. CHVRCHES did things a bit different earlier this week, with a very sold-out three night run at the 9:30 Club for the latter part of their Screen Violence tour. It was the band’s first appearance at the club since way back in 2014.
KT Tunstall performs at Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Va., Dec. 18, 2021. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
Attending KT Tunstall’s recent performance at Tally Ho Theater in historic Leesburg — a genuine treat, indeed — was the culmination of my three-year quest to photograph the artist in a live performance. The show was magnificent; well worth the three years I waited to see it.
Lauren Mayberry fronts CHVRCHES at The Anthem in DC on Nov. 30, 2021. (Photos by Katherine Gaines (ambienteye.com); Words by Mickey McCarter)
“My social skills are gone,” quipped Lauren Mayberry. “I stayed inside for two years, staring at a wall. Now, I’m talking to you guys, and this is normal.”
Well, those guys were ecstatic that the CHVRCHES frontwoman was indeed talking to them, singing to them, and emoting like never before at a show bursting with energy at The Anthem DC recently. Maybe, however, it takes two years of lockdown experiences might result in a brilliant, memorable show like those on this tour, which has sent CHVRCHES around the world in support of their very good fourth album, Screen Violence.
CHVRCHES (Photo courtesy Grandstand Media)
Synthpop trio CHVRCHES have took their impressive stage production on the road in support of their recently released, critically acclaimed album Screen Violence. The Scots play at The Anthem in DC on Tuesday, Nov. 30.
Midge Ure performs at City Winery DC on Nov. 2, 2021. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Brimming with bonhomie, Midge Ure reflected upon the 2012 reunion of powerhouse quartet Ultravox and the resulting album Brilliant during his recent performance at City Winery DC.
Midge recalled reconnecting with his old bandmates for a series of performances, and the surprise offer of a record deal that was offered promptly to them.
Midge Ure (Photo courtesy Erika Tooker)
Midge Ure, the legendary voice of new romantic outfit Ultravox, returns to the United States for a fresh solo tour this month. Taking time off his successful livestream series, Midge presents “Un-Zoomed And Face To Face” at City Winery DC on Tuesday, Nov. 2!
And speaking of Zoom, Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter recently chatted with Midge via Zoom to get details on the tour and all of Midge’s other current creative endeavors.
CHVRCHES (Photo by Sebastian Mlynarski and Kevin J Thomson)
CHVRCHES have released their long awaited new single “He Said She Said,” available to stream and download via Glassnote Records. Recorded almost entirely remotely on two different sides of the Atlantic, the song arrives three years on from CHVRCHES’ acclaimed third album Love Is Dead.
Helen Marnie (Photo courtesy the artist)
Glasgow-based electro rockers Union of Knives self released “A Tall Tale,” their first of two collaborations featuring Ladytron’s lead vocalist Helen Marnie.
The trio is composed of Chris Gordon, Ant Thomaz (Dope Sick Fly), and drummer Pete Kelly, who returned from a decade on tour with The Kills and Ladytron, and brought Marnie into the fold. These songs will appear on their forthcoming album Endless from the Start, which will be released this spring.
Midge Ure (Photo courtesy Erika Tooker)
The brilliantly talented Midge Ure inaugurated his Backstage Lockdown Club — a series of live performances, presentations, and chat — via his Patreon site over the last few months. The gregarious singer-songwriter takes requests, performs acoustically, shares tales, greets guests, and more several times a month for a very reasonable subscription fee! In a time of very few concerts due to the pandemic, Midge has thrown us a live music lifeline, and it’s an absolute pleasure to be greeted in song or story by his distinctive Scottish vocal.
During the concert series, Midge performs songs from his solo back catalogue as well as covers and selections from his other bands, including of course Ultravox, the influential New Romantic band he fronted from 1979-1988 (and again circa 2008-2013). Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter caught up with Midge via Skype to chat about Backstage Lockdown Club, the 40th anniversary of Ultravox’s breakthrough album Vienna, and more.
We Were Promised Jetpacks performs at Baltimore Soundstage on Feb. 8, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)
We Were Promised Jetpacks, an indie rock band from Edinburgh, Scotland, recently visited the Charm City for a performance at Baltimore Soundstage as part of their current tour through the United States, and Parklife DC was on hand to capture images and take in the show. Continue Reading