Preview: Sloan @ Union Stage, 2/22/20

Posted on 02/18/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Canada, power pop, Sloan, Toronto, Union Stage.

Sloan (Photo by Corbin Smith)

Late last year, Sloan released a deluxe edition of Navy Blues, their seminal 1998 album, and they are now on a tour to play the album in full. Sloan sails the tour to Union Stage on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Live Review: Fruition @ Union Stage — 2/6/20

Posted on 02/12/2020 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Fruition, Oregon, Portland, Union Stage.

Fruition performs live (Photo courtesy Partisan Arts)

For 13 years, Portland band Fruition has been playing Americana that looks back to great bands of the ’60s and ’70s while being wholly contemporary. Influenced by the Beatles and Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Fruition splits its lead vocals amongst Jay Cobb, Kellen Asebroek, and Mimi Naja, and they feature fantastic three-part harmonies. Their remarkable chemistry was on display at Union Stage in DC recently.

Interview: Kellen Asebroek of Fruition (@ Union Stage, 2/6/20)

Posted on 01/29/2020 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Fruition, Interview, Oregon, Portland, roots, Union Stage.

Fruition (Photo courtesy IPVR)

Fruition is a Portland, Oregon-based roots rock/Americana quintet whose style incorporates folk, bluegrass, and soul. Formed in 2008, they’ve released three LPs, most recently Watching It All Fall Apart. Their latest releases are a pair of EPs, Wild as the Night and Broken at the Break of Day, which will be released together one one vinyl disc. Fruition plays DC’s Union Stage on Thursday, Feb. 6.

In anticipation of that show, Parklife DC’s Mark Engleson recently interviewed Kellen Asebroek who plays guitar and piano and is one of the band’s three vocalists. Kellen and Mark discussed the band’s latest pair of EPs, their style and influences, and the band’s current tour.

Live Review: David Wax Museum @ Union Stage — 12/29/19

Posted on 01/06/2020 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged Americana, David Wax Musuem, folk, roots, Union Stage.

David Wax Museum performs at Union Stage on Dec. 29, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

I’ve yet to read a concert review that begins with the line: “It was a dark and stormy night…” but it would be apropos of this one. Despite the chilly rain falling on Sunday night, the hardy souls that made their way to Union Stage were rewarded with a light, lovely and warm performance by David Wax Museum.

Preview: The Almost @ Union Stage, 1/10/20

Posted on 12/30/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Aaron Gillespie, emo, Florida, post-grunge, post-hardcore, The Almost, Union Stage.

The Almost (Photo courtesy Fearless Records)

The Almost, the brainchild of Underoath drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie, released Fear Caller on Fearless Records in October after a six-year break. The band performs at Union Stage on Friday, Jan. 10.

Preview: David Wax Museum @ Union Stage, 12/29/19

Posted on 12/24/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, David Wax Museum, folk, roots, Union Stage.

David Wax Museum (Photo courtesy Missing Piece Group)

David Wax Museum released Line of Light, the band’s seventh studio album, in August via Nine Mile Records. David Wax and Suz Slezak begin a winter tour this week, and they arrive at Union Stage on Sunday, Dec. 29.

Preview: That Big 80’s NYE Party @ Union Stage, 12/31/19

Posted on 12/13/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged DJ Marco, freestyle, new wave, New Years Eve, pop, R&B, rap, rock, That Big 80s NYE Party, That Big 80s Party, Union Stage.

80s band buttons!

Looking for a simple, fun night on the town for New Year’s Eve? Union Stage and DJ Marco have you covered with That Big 80’s NYE Part at Union Stage on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

Poll: What Is the Best Music Venue in DC?

Posted on 12/03/2019 by Mickey McCarter in Around Town and tagged 9:30 Club, Black Cat, City Winery, DC9, Pie Shop, Songbyrd Music House, The Birchmere, The Fillmore Silver Spring, Thrushie Awards, Union Stage.

Welcome to the 2019 Thrushie Awards!

Parklife DC will name the DC best concert hall of the year with your input. Vote for the best music venue in the DC metro area now through Dec. 12.

Live Review: Clan of Xymox @ Union Stage — 11/21/19

Posted on 11/26/2019 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Clan of Xymox, dark wave, synthpop, The Netherlands, Union Stage, Xymox.

Ronny Moorings fronts Clan of Xymox at Union Stage on Nov. 21, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

I’m going to say it right out of the gate — Clan of Xymox deserve to be a much bigger act than they are.

As seen at DC’s Union Stage recently, frontman Ronny Moorings and company walk a straight line through buoyant synthpop — a bit more dark and distracted than their contemporaries in New Order and a bit less complicated than The Cure.

Live Review: Rose Riot @ Union Stage — 11/19/19

Posted on 11/25/2019 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged Cathy DiToro, DC, pop-punk, Rose Riot, Union Stage.

Rose Riot performs at Union Stage on Nov. 19, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Should ever you found yourself in DC listening to a local cover band that isn’t White Ford Bronco, odds are that you’ve been struck by the blonde lightning bolt that is Cathy DiToro. The vocalist and guitarist appears regularly in ’80s coverband The Legwarmers, ’00s coverband So Fetch, and ska partyband Party Like It’s.

In addition to raising money to support women in music as chief of Project HERA, Cathy has been honing some original tunes as a solo artist for a while. So, it’s only natural that she would assemble a band to play more originals. Rose Riot, that very band, started playing around DC in November, and the quartet opened Letters to Cleo at Union Stage recently.