Live Review: Spafford @ 9:30 Club — 2/5/20

Posted on 02/11/2020 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Arizona, funk, jam band, reggae, ska, Spafford.

Spafford performs at 9:30 Club on Feb. 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

One of the many pleasures of blogging for Parklife DC is getting exposed to myriad types of music throughout the DC metro area. Whether it’s experiencing a new local player putting her/ his voice out there in the cacophony of great area performers or seeing established national touring bands with huge loyal followings, the thrill of documenting live music (to my mind, its purest form) is indeed a privilege. For someone like me, with a foot in the past and one stepping into the future, I get to tread a musical path that stretches out in many directions.

Preview: Spafford @ 9:30 Club, 2/5/20

Posted on 01/30/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, Arizona, funk, jam band, reggae, ska, Spafford.

Spafford (Photo courtesy Big Hassle)

Spafford have embarked on a Winter 2020 headline tour, and the jam band performs at 9:30 Club on Wednesday, Feb 5.

Live Review: The Fuss @ 9:30 Club — 12/28/19

Posted on 12/30/2019 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged 9:30 Club, DC, reggae, rocksteady, ska, The Fuss.

The Fuss performs at 9:30 Club on Dec. 28, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

The Fuss already had the party started by the time the reggae band hit “Red Hot Trainwreck” from their latest album at 9:30 Club recently. But the swinging call-and-response tune took their set to another level when the octet opened The Pietasters for the DC ska legend’s annual holiday season hometown show.

Live Review: The Pietasters @ 9:30 Club — 12/28/19

Posted on 12/30/2019 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged 9:30 Club, DC, reggae, ska, Stephen Jackson, The Pietasters.

The Pietasters perform at 9:30 Club on Dec. 28, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Should ever you feel down during the holidays, get yourself to The Pietasters’ annual holiday show at 9:30 Club. Any Pietasters show is a boisterous, singalong good time, but the hometown holiday edition always seems to have a little bit more meaning.

2019 went skanking out the door as frontman Stephen Jackson, with the good looks of Jon Hamm and showmanship that recalled the halcyon days of the Rat Pack, led his merry ska collective through an hour of well-regarded favorites as the last band in a four-band bill at 9:30 Club recently.

Ticket Giveaway: The Pietasters @ 9:30 Club, 12/28/19

Posted on 12/04/2019 by Parklifer in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, DC, free tickets, punk, reggae, ska, The Pietasters, ticket giveaway.

The Pietasters (Photo courtesy the artist)

It’s the Annual Pie Party, and you’re invited! That’s right — ska collective The Pietasters take over 9:30 Club once a year, and this year, Stephen Jackson and company throw a big ol’ party on Saturday, Dec. 28. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.

Snapshots: Reel Big Fish @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 6/25/19

Posted on 07/01/2019 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged California, punk, Reel Big Fish, ska, The Fillmore Silver Spring.

Reel Big Fish frontman Aaron Barrett poses for the camera during a performance at The Fillmore Silver Spring, June 25, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Reel Big Fish played to a packed house recently at The Fillmore Silver Spring. The southern California ska-punk band co-headlined a show with Texas-based Bowling for Soup.

Live Review: The Specials @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 6/10/19

Posted on 06/12/2019 by Jason Nicholson "Le Mouton Flâneur" in Live Review and tagged England, post-punk, reggae, ska, The Fillmore Silver Spring, The Specials.

Lynval Golding fronts The Specials at The Fillmore Silver Spring on June 10, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)

There is a certain pleasure in watching seasoned masters of any genre showcase their chops. And so it was that the masters of ska in The Specials returned to The Fillmore Silver Spring recently, stabilized by three experienced musicians and rejuvenated by a UK #1 hit record.

Live Review: Walk Off the Earth @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 5/29/19

Posted on 05/31/2019 by Chris R. Smyth in Live Review and tagged Canada, folk, reggae, ska, The Fillmore Silver Spring, Walk Off the Earth.

Walk Off the Earth performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring on May 29, 2019. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

Canadian pop quartet Walk Off the Earth recently brought their unique style of musicianship and pop sensibilities to The Fillmore Silver Spring.

Live Review: Eastern Standard Time w/ The Fuss @ Songbyrd Music House — 5/24/19

Posted on 05/31/2019 by paivi in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged DC, Eastern Standard Time, record release party, reggae, rocksteady, ska, Songbyrd Music House, The Fuss.

Eastern Standard Time performs at Songbyrd Music House on May 24, 2019. (Photos by Paivi Salonen; Words by Mickey McCarter)

DC heroes Eastern Standard Time rounded up a lot of friends for a record release show recently at Songbyrd Music House, and the place was positively jumping for a big night of dance tunes.

Preview: Capital Ska & Reggae Review @ Songbyrd Music Cafe, 5/24/19

Posted on 05/20/2019 by Miyun Park in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged Bobby Babylon, Crown Vic's Weird World, DC, DJ Chuck Wren, Eastern Standard Time, reggae, ska, Songbyrd Music House, The Fuss, The Loving Paupers, The Scotch Bonnets.

Bluebeat DC, Jump Up Records, and Songbyrd have teamed up to present the inaugural Capital Ska & Reggae Review, showcasing vintage Jamaican sounds from four incredible DC bands — ska-jazz legends Eastern Standard Time, fresh off their European tour for their hometown record release party for new studio album Time For Change, along with The Fuss, The Scotch Bonnets, and The Loving Paupers, and DJs Chuck Wren, Crown Vic’s Weird World, and Bobby Babylon — at Songbyrd Music Café on Friday, May 24.