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Todd Fink fronts The Faint at 9:30 Club on Aug. 3, 2019. (Photos by Paivi Salonen; Words by Mickey McCarter)
The Faint have a great new album — the dark wavers’ seventh studio effort — released earlier this year via Saddle Creek. And they reminded 9:30 Club of what they do best in a show there recently: Delight and mystify us with glistening synths and thoughtful moods.
Justin Trawick, The Circus Life podcast host and lead singer of Justin Trawick and the Common Good, performs at 9:30 Club, July 27, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss/ aristrauss.com)
“Life’s a circus and this is The Circus Life.”
Frequent listeners to the Circus Life podcast recognize that phrase because it’s how host Justin Trawick begins each episode of the podcast which is recorded live in remote locations in and around the nation’s capital. The interview-based podcast features conversations between Justin and influential and interesting individuals in music and culture.
Acid Mothers Temple (Photo courtesy Space Agency)
Washington DC and Japan have a long and colorful history of cultural exchange.
In 1912, Tokyo mayor Yukio Ozaki gifted DC with Japanese cherry trees. Since then, several cultural exchange programs and initiatives have been institutionalized. This solidifying friendship is commemorated yearly via the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Japanese bands have also been performing in the US capital, with some of the country’s best bands performing here. From Japanese rock and heavy metal to the more contemporary Japanese pop or J-pop, Washington DC has bore witness to the changing trends and patterns of Japan’s eclectic music industry. Here are four of the best Japanese bands that already graced the city’s venues.
Dan Boeckner fronts Operators at the Mercury Lounge in New York City on April 5, 2017. (Photo by nevbrown)
Dan Boeckner is a compelling frontman. The high-spirited crooner danced and weaved his way through an excellent show by his band Operators at U Street Music Hall recently, doing it all as he sang, strummed, and synthed his way through 14 gorgeous songs.
Holy Ghost! (Photo by Harry McNally)
Today, Holy Ghost! release Work, the band’s third studio album, via West End Records. The New York City synthpop duo perform at U Street Music Hall on Saturday, June 29.
The Chromatics perform at 9:30 Club on May 22, 2019. (Photos by Katherine Gaines/ AmbientEye.com; Words by Mickey McCarter)
A long anticipated album may hang over the Chromatics but the band’s performance of well-loved previous material still came like a rush of fresh air at their recent performance at 9:30 Club.
Chromatics (Photo courtesy Motormouth Media)
Italo disco stalwarts Chromatics will perform at 9:30 Club on Wednesday, May 22, for a stop on their Double Exposure Tour. Double Exposure marks the band’s first live performances in five years!
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