Xeno Oaklander (Photo courtesy the artist)
Xeno and Oaklander, the minimal electronic duo from Brooklyn, are teaming up with DC’s own dark pop outfit Technophobia in a benefit for House of Ruth at Black Cat on Saturday, Aug. 19, to help survivors of domestic abuse and homelessness.
William Control performs at Vans Warped Tour in Columbia, Maryland on July 16, 2017. (Photo by Paivi)
William Control, also known as William Francis of Aiden, is an electronic music project from Seattle. The dark wave rocker has been releasing a series of EPs, most recently Revelations: The Red EP in July via his own Control Records, and he has been on tour with VANS Warped Tour this summer. Paivi caught William Control for some pictures of his performance at Merriweather Post Pavilion on July 16.
Yelle (Photo by Alexandra Kingo)
Julie Budet and Jean-François Perrier (aka GrandMarnier) are better known as French dance pop duo Yelle, and they are returning to the United States with the Yelle Club Party Tour and a date at U Street Music Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Sixth June performs at Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig, Germany, on June 2, 2017.
One of the great things about the annual Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig, Germany, is the opportunity to chase down your favorite dark pop bands. Take for example Sixth June, the synthpop duo from Berlin, formed in 2007 by Laslo Antal and Lidija Andonov. Parklife DC photographer Paivi visited Wave Gotik Treffen on June 2-5 and caught the dark wavers in concert.
Gary Numan (Photo courtesy the artist)
Gary Numan will release his 21st studio album Savage via BMG on Aug. 11, and in support of it he has launched a tour that includes a stop at 9:30 Club on Saturday, Dec. 9.
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 (Photo by David Conn)
“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.
