DC’s top blog for live concert reviews
David Wax Museum performs at Union Stage on 12.30.2018 (Photo by Matt Ruppert)
David Wax Museum brought the band’s border-crossing, world-spiced Mexo-Americana party to the Union Stage in DC with barely 24 hours left in the year. The core (and married) duo of David Wax and Suz Slezak took to the stage with percussionist/ trumpeter Danilo Henriquez and bassist Ben Kogan, warming the audience on this December night, smiles beaming like spring flowers around the whole club, stage to bar.
Ruban Nielson from Unknown Mortal Orchestra performs at 9:30 Club on April 27, 2018. (All photos by Brenda Reyes)
Editor’s Note: This year, we asked our bloggers to name their Top 10 shows of 2018 or choose their Top 10 photos of the year. We will run them over the course of mid-December as our Best of the Year posts.
The year 2018 brought me great experiences. As my first year of photoblogging comes to an end, I had the great pleasure of attending some amazing shows in DC. I want to give a huge thanks to Parklife DC for entrusting me and giving me that opportunity. I will forever be eternally grateful! Here are my Top 10 concerts of 2018.
Sarah Shook fronts The Disarmers at Pearl Street Warehouse on Sept. 12, 2018. Mark Caicedo chose a picture from this show (but not this one) as one of his Top 10 of 2018. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Editor’s Note: This year, we asked our bloggers to name their Top 10 shows of 2018 or choose their Top 10 photos of the year. We will run them over the course of mid-December as our Best of the Year posts.
Women have long been major influences in music history, going back to the jazz greats like Nina Simone Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald; through country legends Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly; pop icons like Bette Midler, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper; and the rock and blues greats Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Deborah Harry and Chrissie Hynde.
Today, while female musicians like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Pink, and Adele continue to break boundaries, local and regional bands feature women whose talent, drive and influence is just as powerful as the superstars.
My Top 10 concert photos of the year salute 2018 as the Year of Women.
Lydia Night fronts The Regrettes at Union Stage on Dec. 6, 2018. (Photo by Christopher Smyth)
A recording of Abba’s “Dancing Queen” brought the crowd to sing-a-long status just as The Regrettes took control of Union Stage recently.
Jesse Wells fronts Welles at Union Stage on Dec. 6, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)
Named after lead singer Jesse Wells, Welles combines a mix of rock genres — classic, hard, and southern — into a musical style that brings a timelessness to their songs. Welles bundled that mix into part of Alt Nation’s Advanced Placement Tour at Union Stage recently.
The Julian Lage Trio performs at Union Stage on Nov. 28, 2018. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Julian Lage bounded onstage wearing a huge grin that never left his face the entire evening in his recent appearance at Union Stage. And for good reason — his trio thrilled on many levels: technically, musically, and emotionally. Along with his two companions, Jorge Roeder on standup bass and Kenny Wollesen on drums, Julian’s set hit all the right notes, flowing like one long beautiful song, and it kept us all smiling along with him.
A wood thrush! (Photo by Trish Gussler)
Parklife DC will honor DC bands and venues with our inaugural awards program, named for our new mascot, DC’s own state bird — the Wood Thrush. Our Thrushie Awards are inspired by our mission to review live music concerts.
Brenda Reyes
Chester Simpson
chriscastilloweb
Chris R. Smyth
Daniel Webb
Ari Strauss
David LaMason
EDMit it
Shantel M Breen
isaiahhattix
jasonnicholsonphoto
jesternate
julesontheroadphotos
kristiechua
Mark Caicedo
Mark Engleson
Mathew Harkins
Corey Paterson
mdxpc
Mickey McCarter
Miyun Park
Neal Keller
Parklifer
Kyle Gustafson
paivi
Rebecca
regardingtess
Robert Smith
Matt Ruppert
Will Colbert
wefoughtthebigone