Saint Etienne (Photo courtesy Heavenly Recordings)
Saint Etienne released their latest album Home Counties on June 2 via Heavenly Recordings, and the English synthpop trio will launch a US tour in Boston on Sept. 24, arriving in DC several days later to perform at U Street Music Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
Howard Jones performs at The Hamilton in DC on Sept. 3, 2016.
“Do you feel scared? I do, but I won’t stop and falter.”
So, sang Howard Jones in his smashing 1985 hit “Things Can Only Get Better,” which in my opinion perfectly framed Howard’s ethos. The Englishman is unflappably upbeat and optimistic, and he makes fantastically irresistible music still today.
Amelia Meath sings with Sylvan Esso at All Things Go Fall Classic in DC on Oct. 8, 2016.
The music of Durham, North Carolina duo Sylvan Esso was introduced to me last year by my friend and Spotify buddy Jenny, in the form of a YouTube video for their song “Hey Mami.” Straightaway, I admired singer Amelia Meath’s energy and extro-expressiveness, both on display in a sold-out show at 9:30 Club on Saturday.
Roosevelt (Photo by Brian Vu)
Roosevelt, born Marius Lauber, burst out of Germany with his self-titled debut album last year via Greco-Roman. Roosevelt is on a tour of the United States, and he dances into U Street Music Hall this Saturday, June 3.
Amanda Palmer (Photo by Kyle Cassidy)
The Wave Gotik Treffen 2017 (roughly “Wave-Gothic-Meeting), a legendary urban festival, occurs on June 2-5 in Leipzig, Germany, this year. As of today, the festival has confirmed 227 bands performing in several concert halls around the city.
Void Vision performs at DC9 on May 11, 2017.
Charivari, according to Wikipedia, is “a folk custom in which the community gives a noisy, discordant mock serenade, frequently with pounding on pots and pans.” “Shari Vari” is also an electronic song from 1982 by A Number of Names, later covered by Detroit synth duo Adult.
Most importantly, Shari Vari is the nom du guerre of a Philadelphia musician who tours as Void Vision, and Void Vision opened for Adult. (somehow completing a circle) at DC9 on Thursday, May 11, in a synth show destined to please electronic enthusiasts of all stripes. Void Vision certainly wasn’t “a noisy, discordant mock serenade,” however! Certainly, just the opposite — deep, affecting, and melodic. (Hey, check out our review of Adult. while you’re here.)
Depeche Mode (Photo by Anton Corbijn)
Depeche Mode have launched the Global Spirit Tour in support of their new album, Spirit, published March 17 via Columbia Records. The iconic band are touring Europe currently, with their next stop in Athens, Greece, on May 17, and they are due to arrive in North America in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 23.
Depeche Mode will hit DC for a show at Verizon Center on Thursday, Sept. 7, and some tickets are still available. If that weren’t exciting enough, they are bringing along psych rock quartet Warpaint to open.
