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.

Live Review: Letters to Cleo @ Union Stage — 11/19/19

Posted on 11/25/2019 by Mickey McCarter in Live Review and tagged Boston, Letters to Cleo, Massachusetts, power pop, Union Stage.

Kay Hanley fronts Letters to Cleo at Union Stage on Nov. 19, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

At about one-third of their way through their recent return to DC, Letters to Cleo played “I Got Time” from Go!, the band’s third studio album, at Union Stage.

Go!, as it turned out, was released in 1997, which was also the year Letters to Cleo last played in DC for an appearance at 9:30 Club, leading guitarist Greg McKenna to observe, “This song was new the last time we played in Washington.”

Live Review: Santan Dave @ Union Stage — 11/17/19

Posted on 11/22/2019 by AJ Waugh in Live Review and tagged England, hip hop, London, Santan Dave, Union Stage.

Santan Dave performs at Union Stage on Nov. 17, 2019. (Photo by @Waufflez – wauffleznotwaffles.com)

A sold-out Union Stage crowd had nothing but love for Santan Dave’s first-ever performance in DC on his Psychodrama Tour recently. The multi-faceted rapper, producer, pianist, and actor first started making noise in the United States in 2016 when Drake jumped on his song “Wanna Know” after discovering his music on YouTube. Since receiving the Drake bump, Dave has remained a front runner in the UK rap scene with no plans of falling behind.