Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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This is a thread where all DC residents past and present can post information about the music scene in the city and any interesting or important upcoming events. Anyone who has lived here knows that there is a) a lot going on and b) not enough coverage to prevent a lot of frustration from missing shows that nobody knew about. Hopefully this thread will become valuable.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I can get everything rolling with a few contributions:
anyone wanting to get into the free improv scene here should sign up with the DC Improv yahoo group, which has listings for a lot of events in the area. They bring in a lot of good artists like Sabeer Mateen, Susie Ibarra and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble.

The only electronic night i have ever been to is called Matter and it is held at the Blue Room on 18th street. I am not sure if it still exists, as i havent seen it listed for a while. The Djs played a lot of techno, including all the requisite hip german stuff, but whenever i went, there were 20 people there, and everything was being played at lounge volumes. it was a bit sad really, though the bar has a good beer selection.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

At Recessions (18th and L St) on Fridays and Saturdays, sometimes local rappers come and rap over karaoke. I saw it once, and they were really good, considering.

Chris H. (chrisherbert), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 22:10 (twenty-two years ago)

cool. keep em coming.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I grew up in DC, but I don't live there anymore. I'm visiting in mid-March with my friend. She wants to see live music. Any suggestions? I was thinking of seeing British Sea Power at the Black Cat, but that's kind of boring. Anything more local to recommend?

Debito (Debito), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 04:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Matter at the Blue Room ended a couple of months ago. In its place there's a rotating cast of weekly Sunday nights. I'm listing them with some of the other less club oriented regular DJ events around town:

SALT (listed first, because it's my night, dammit)
synthfunk, indiepop, dancehall, grime, electropunk, hip hop, industrial, hits
DJ's Sad and Lonely
1st Wednesday monthly
Cafe Saint-Ex

<>
indiedisco and beyond
DJ Will Eastman
generally 3rd Saturday monthly
the Black Cat

Confusion
disco, new wave, funk, postpunk, hiphop
DJ's Serpico, William Alberque, Cullen Stalin, Sad
generally 4th Saturday monthly
the Black Cat

Yellow Fever
reggae, groove, soul, hip-hop, dub
DJ's Yellow Fever
Tuesdays biweekly
Cafe Saint-Ex

Spilt Milk
rock, disco, funk, mod, punk, soul
Tuesdays biweekly
Red

Blowoff
indie house?
DJ's Bob Mould and Richard Morel
Saturdays
9:30 Club

Taking the Piss
jingle-jangle indie pop & psychedelic
occasional Fridays
Marx Cafe

We Fought the Big One
UK post punk, shoegaze, guitar pop, indie dance
DJ's Brandon Grover and Rick Taylor
1st Friday monthly
Marx Cafe

The Wag
60's garage soul & trash
DJ Mark Zimin
1st Saturday monthly
the Black Cat

The Mousetrap
brit pop, indie
DJ Mark Zimin
generally 2nd Saturday monthly
the Black Cat

Cold
coldwave, darkwave
2nd Sunday monthly
the Blue Room

Atmosphere
post punk, UK indie, dream pop
3rd Sunday monthly
the Blue Room

The Melting Pot
everything, 1964-1980
DJ Neville Chamberlain
Thursday biweekly
Cafe Saint-Ex

UH-HUH!
rock and roll
DJ Johnny
Sundays
Cafe Saint-Ex

Groove
soul, mod, garage
DJ Beat Neat-O
Thursdays biweekly
Cafe Saint-Ex

I'll work on a whole separate list of the club/hip hop/EDM events...

Brian Miller, Wednesday, 11 February 2004 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

and here's what counds like a good upcoming special event:

24 Hour Access: 24 Hour Psycho

February 28, 2004 at 5:30 p.m.
A first for the Hirshhorn---the Museum will open the Douglas Gordon exhibition for twenty-four consecutive hours. 24 Hour Psycho (1993), the artist's video installation that stretches the Hitchcock classic into a twenty-four-hour experience, is the inspiration for this all-night happening. Launch the leap year with this unique, drop-in event, which will also include music, gallery discussions, and a "Meet the Artist" interview with Douglas Gordon conducted by Hirshhorn Director of Art and Programs and Chief Curator Kerry Brougher on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Ring Auditorium. "24 Hour Access: 24 Hour Psycho" is made possible through the generosity of Aaron and Barbara Levine.

http://hirshhorn.si.edu

The following music (presented by Signal 66) will be played:
5:30 ˆ 7:00pm DJ Sandwich Man
7:00 ˆ 8:00pm Band Chessie
8:00 ˆ 8:30pm DJ Debut
8:30 ˆ 9:15pm Band The Hipnotix
9:15 ˆ 9:45pm DJ Beat Neat-o of Groove
9:45 ˆ 10:30pm Band Rose
10:30 ˆ 11:00pm DJ Neville Chamberlain
11:00 ˆ 11:45pm Band The Phobes
11:45 ˆ 12:15am DJ Neville Chamberlain
12:15 ˆ 1:00am Band Sounds of Kaleidoscope
1:00 ˆ 1:30am DJ Happy Family
1:30 ˆ 2:15am Band Sons of Disobedience
2:15 ˆ 2:45am DJ Neville Chamberlain (tentative)
2:45 ˆ 3:30am Band Gully Jimson

Brian Miller, Wednesday, 11 February 2004 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Wed. 2-11

Habib Koite from Mali at the National Geographic Grosvenor
Hall--Habib's got a nice live cd out--He trys to meld styles from
different parts of Mali, and while he's not a big fave of mine he's
definately not bad

Bobby Sanabria & Quarteto Ache at the K. Ctr. Eisenhower Theater--A
wonderful percussionist, bandleader, and sideman (not to mention a
college professor) who is very charismatic and entertaining with his band

Los Hombres Calientes from New Orleans at the Clarice Smith Center-An
interesting bunch from New Orleans who blend that city's jazz with
flavors from throughout the Caribbean. I believe WPFW's Jim Byers is
hosting and leading a chat with them as well.

Muzsikas at the Freer-Hungarian vocal combo
________________________________________________________________

Sat. 2-14

Sanchez and Richie Stephens at the Crossroads-Jamaican lovers rock for
Valentines Day
_________________________________________________
Sun. 2-15

Haj Youness, Casablanca, Moroccan oud player and the Voice of Wisdom
Orchestra at 2 p.m. at the Smithsonian S. Dillon Ripley Center
Lecture Hall

La India and Sonora Caruseles at the Washington Hilton, 1919
Connecticut Ave. NW salsa
__________________________________
Tues. 2-17

Peru Negro at the Kenn. Ctr- Excellent Afro-Peruvian veteran combo--if
you like Eva Aylon or Susanna Baca this outfit's blend of soaring
melodies, strumming, and funky drumming (on instruments including
wooden boxes and donkey jawbones) will be up your alley
__________________________________
Other cool stuff:2-11-Super Furry Animals
from Wales at 930;2-12( & 2-13) jazz singer Jane Monheit at the
Birchmere; 2-13-Atmosphere at 930;2-14 Black Dice at Ottobar;Jazz
singer Dee Dee Bridgewater at K. Ctr.;Carmaig De Forest at Roots Cafe;

To get on my DC African/Latin/World whatever events ocassional e-mail thing, contact me at ritmika@hotmail.com The above comes from that...

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

For more DC events there's an improv jazz e-mail list, a few salsa ones, the Take Me Out to the Go-Go website, Dccaribbeanconnections.com, a few dc dancehall only sites, a zydeco/cajun e-mail list and website, and the Taking the Piss djs listed in Brian's post also do a reggae dub and more dj night.

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

this is getting even better...!
are there any TechnoTechno nights out there?

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Since the demise of Filler/Matter there aren't any techno techno nights that I know of - house owns DC. You may want to check for special events being put on by the 'DC Skillz' crew. Cubik (nu-Buzz) has been getting in a few techno-oriented DJ's, including Green Velvet a couple months ago, but now that they're compressing their lineups into the main room they haven't been as thematically strong as before.

Brian Miller, Wednesday, 11 February 2004 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

DJ Neville Chamberlain

Which reminds me...any news regarding a new location for the Metro Cafe?

j.lu (j.lu), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

They were working on a location in the old MetaTrack studios, behind the 7-11 on Rhode Island Ave at 14th St, to be a bar/upstairs small theater. No live music, though, and not to be called Metro. Originally supposed to open in October but it slid Then Cherry Red, who was supposed to be the theater tenant, disbanded. Since then nobody seems to be able to get any answers about what's going on.

Brian Miller, Wednesday, 11 February 2004 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

So are Mathew Dear, Michael Mayer, Soundmurder or Dizzee coming to town and/or where could you hear their music?

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:39 (twenty-two years ago)


you can get e-mails about DC area events from:

dc-improv-announce-owner@yahoogroups.com

salsanews@aol.com

the blow_up@hotmail.com

bw_zydeco@yahoo.com

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 12 February 2004 05:47 (twenty-two years ago)

We've played plenty of Matthew Dear and Michael Mayer at my night, SALT, and we did a listening party for the Dizzee album last week. Haven't tried to play Soundmurderer, though - got a sort of cease and desist after playing Venetian Snares a couple months ago. We're doing a listening party for the new Telefon Tel Aviv and Neubauten at our next night.

Dizzee's supposedly coming back for a bigger tour in the summer, but I'm not sure if he'll hit DC or not. I don't know of anything regarding Dear or Mayer, but if they came I imagine it would be at 5ive, unless it was a one-off somewhere else.


Brian Miller, Thursday, 12 February 2004 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

why is the electronic dance scene here so seemingly mediocre? I used to be proud that there were all of these famous artists from the area (deep dish, BT, Saeed and Palash, etc.) but they all seem to only sleep here. i guess i just have different ideals. I like the fact that Danny Tenaglia travels 'round the world and still has a weekly in NYC (or at least used to... i dont know what he is up to now)playing everything from Basic Channel to Salsoul. When was the last time Deep Dish played here?

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 12 February 2004 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Deep Dish is around every once in a while at Nation, but it seems like just another stop on the tour. And I guess they have even less incentive to be around since the end of the Yoshitoshi store. Saeed and Palash pop up from time to time, but not as much as a few years ago. I can understand that maybe it's not seen as the most exciting place to have a weekly or monthly, but you'd think there'd be some more visibility. Thievery Corporation have achieved a similar level of success, and you can't swing a Gucci belt without hitting something they're involved with around town. They enjoy playing to thousands on tour and then to a hundred people in a small room.

What's odd it that it seems to be only the EDM scene that really tries to escape the city - the most successful go-go and indie artists are, if anything, too tied to DC.

Is it odd that the most interesting and boosterish electronic dance DJ in DC over the last year has been Bob Mould?

Brian Miller, Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

im confused... the Bob Mould? I didnt know he was living in DC.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 12 February 2004 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, Bob Mould. He and Richard Morel started a DJ night called Blowoff as a monthly at the Velvet Lounge last year, now it's weekly at the 9:30 Club backbar. It falls somewhere between esoteric electronic lounge and shirtless gay dance party, usually within the same night.

Brian Miller, Thursday, 12 February 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Yea, Bob has his own blog and either there or at a separate website he posts his playlists. He used to do his thing at the Velvet Lounge and moved it to the 930 Club. There was a feature article about him in the City Paper and in the Post weekend section. Brian, your choice of music sounds more interesting to me.

The DC go-go artists have seemingly given up on being national and international acts (go-go hasn't crossed over) although Chuck Brown gets flown to Japan periodically to play.

Dischord indie rockers are always playing worldwide but such gigs just never get much local press here. Q and Not U are also booked to play that big fest coming up in California over the summer(Coachatella or something). Black Eyes toured Europe awhile back.

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm really looking forward to the Black Eyes show coming up, March 26th. The whole last half of March is pretty sharp at the Black Cat, hopefully we'll be able to get some of the acts playing to come DJ afterwards at Saint-Ex.

Brian Miller, Thursday, 12 February 2004 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

And I guess they have even less incentive to be around since the end of the Yoshitoshi store.

Why did they locate it in Georgetown? You can only make so much money from selling prog to white hats from GW. Better to be on U st with a big deep house section. They never seemed to have their shit together anyways. They cheated me out of $40 once but totally inadvertantly. I had my revenge during their clearance sale I guess.

As for Q and not U, I tried to see their last show at the Black Cat and ended up waiting in line for an hour by myself. As I was waiting, the show sold out. That is all. They need to play here more often.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 12 February 2004 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

According to their website Q and Not U are laying low and recording a new cd now. Black Eyes are playing the Warehouse Next Door near the new Convention Center Friday February 20th. Solomon Burke and Anthony Hamilton are offering different generation takes on soul that night at the sit down and keep your mouth closed Birchmere.

I always wanted to check out the Grits & Gravy dj night at Bar Nun... Years ago I saw DC rappers Opus Okuben playing with a live band at the now defunct Metro Cafe. Wow, they were great. Now they just mostly play Europe, sometimes with Ny jazz guy Steve Coleman. They were at Black Cat around New Years Eve but I missed them.

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Friday, 13 February 2004 04:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I like going to out-of-the way places like Chick Hall's Surf Club in Bladensburg (Chick Hall plays awesome honky tonk and surf guitar!) or Lamonts in Pomonkey, MD. Jim Bennett and Lady Mary sing Malaco records style bluesy soul there.

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Friday, 13 February 2004 04:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Anybody know anything about DC 9, a live music/DJ venue at 1940 9th st nw that looks to be replacing Metro Cafe in the club ecosystem? It's opening tonight, and their website is at www.dcnine.com, but doesn't say anything about who's behind it.

Brian Miller, Friday, 13 February 2004 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

For those complaining about lack of real techno in DC -- a freak occurance has Titonton Duvante playing this Thursday at Mantis on Columbia Road. I'm pretty sure there is no cover.

Michael Minnich, Wednesday, 18 February 2004 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck how did i miss this post!!! Tombot (another techno techno fan) and I were sitting in a bar two blocks away bitching! damn! Is Mantis generally cool or is it usually the Wallpaper models I see inside (heh not that that is a bad thing I am just too ugly)?

anyways, wednesday night P Brotzmann is playing with Hamid Drake and William Parker. Its at Twins on U st (btw 13th and 14th?) at 8pm.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 1 March 2004 18:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I received an e-mail about DC/9 which I think I deleted! It's run by some guy who did a one-off indie-rock dj thing at a sports bar in Chinatown I think. It was called Exit something i think. I'm not sure whether it will cover the same variety of entertainment that Metro Cafe did. My question is isn't the location of DC/9 where a mostly African-American house dance club used to be. Maybe I'm wrong and this isn't a new sign of gentrification--indie-rock replacing house.

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Anybody been to the dj nights at Bar Nun? Their ad lists a hiphop/r'n'b night and a "grits n gravy" night. The latter was the subject of a Washington City Paper article many years back.

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I went to Mantis to check out their new basement DJ space this past Friday, and it's very impressive. Holds maybe 100 people, good soundsystem, DJ near the entrance, bar down part of one side and some low sofas in the back past the bar. Dark, a little blue light, and a disco ball. Sort of a mini-Red. They're open Wednesdays - Saturdays, but I can't find a schedule online. It's grabbing the expected upscale house crowd, but they're definitely serious about booking talent.

DC 9 is in the original Asylum space, I'm not sure what it was between then and now. Half the music I've heard played there has been great indie/hip hop/disco, the other half has been too much midrange compressed guitar and singers that sound like they're in beer commercials. Which is a better hit rate than most places, but the DJs seriously can't mix or sequence their tracks.

Brian Miller, Monday, 1 March 2004 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

were people dancing? it sounds like a good space if a little small (meaning i would prefer 250 people, not 500). how is the list of EDM events coming? ;-)

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 1 March 2004 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

There were only a few people dancing, but I left pretty early. The flow of the space is a little screwy, so I can imagine it not working too well when packed. Then again, few places do.

List of EDM events is not so good. Seems like no place is doing well with regular nights and lineups are changing like crazy. And Cubik is filling the main room at Nation with the level of talent that would have played the front room at Buzz.

Brian Miller, Tuesday, 2 March 2004 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

ugh. i feel like there needs to be a fucking organization or something. can we negotiate a lease for a K St office for the new headquarters of Futurists Against Crappy Techno?

how long have you been in DC? what is the reason for the instability?

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

WPFW djs and others formed a group that brings avante-jazz and other improv music to town, so Aaron you'll have to put together a group to do the same for techno and other electronic-based sounds!

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

How come the Ottobar in Baltimore books more hiphop than DC clubs?

Is the below show which is at the Ottobar coming to DC?

Thursday March 25th
DEFINITIVE JUX PRESENTS:
Murs
The Perceptionists
(Feat. Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, DJ Fakts One)
RJD2, C Rayz Walz
Hangar 18, SA Smash and more
Doorsat 8pm/ Show at 9pm- ALL AGES

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

One more thing. Last summer the DC govt Commission on the Arts sponsored an event called Fete del la musique in which they had free music all over town. The selection of genres involved wasn't wide enough. I want to try to find out how to widen the selection for this summer.

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

get a new Commission? ;-) Steve is the WPFW crew = Transparent productions? I would love to promote again. I did it in college. I need to get to know all the venues around town first though. Its going to take a long time. In about 3 years, start looking for flyers with Kevin Saunderson's name on them.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Transparent Productions is the improv crew. Not all of 'em are WPFW djs though some are--Bobby Hill and Larry Appelbaum, others?...

3 years! I want stuff NOW ;)

I've been complaining to friends for 2 or so years that I wish someone would book all of the Afropop and Latin acts that play for free in Central Park in NY each summer, in DC... So I'll have to form my own group to do this...

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I asked excellent local DJ Milo (Filler, Matter) about nights, and he said the DJ at the Mantis basement on Wednesdays plays tech house, but that's about the closest - no BANGIN TECHNO nights.

There's the once.twice festival coming up in Baltimore next month-

April 15th - 17th, 2004
Baltimore's 4th Annual
once.twice:festival of sound and video art feat.
AKUFEN . DIMBIMAN . AGF . CHRISTOPHER WILLITS .
DABRYE . SUE COSTABILE . MATTHEW DEAR .
GHISLAIN POIRIER. NAUTICAL ALMANAC.JIMMY EDGAR
MYLENA BERGERON . CAROLINE HAYEUR .
SCOTT PAGANO + more TBA

once.twice also runs the occasional Treatment night at Sonar, the last one in November featured Magda and Sammy Dee.

Brian Miller, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

milo is nice. i have talked to him a couple of times. that fest sounds fun. why does baltimore seem to have a better scene than DC?

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 4 March 2004 04:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Baltimore: city in decay + large warehouse/manufacturing base = cheap venues. Cheap venues + art students + laissez faire police/health/fire department = good scene.

Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 4 March 2004 06:53 (twenty-two years ago)

So is Nation (Buzz people) afraid to book some of those folks coming to Baltimore, and is 5 too small, and is the 930 too booked up with bands to consider those artists (and also unwilling to face police/fire dept. scrutiny)?

On a different note, any musicians (d.j.'s?) who wanna perform for free outdoors or maybe at Carter Barron or other locations during the June 18-21st 2nd annual Fete de la Musique DC should call 202-724-5614 or e-mail jose.dominguez@dc.gov . There will also be meetings at the DC Arts Commission, 410 8th St. NW , 5th Fl. on Mon. 3-15 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 and on Thurs. 3-18 from noon to 1.

I'm trying to encourage them to expand the musical horizons of this event...

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 4 March 2004 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Nation needs to take in a huge amount of money at the door just to break even for a night, so they don't have a lot of incentive to book artists that won't appeal to their existing crowd. There would have been a better shot there in the Buzz days when they would let a different promoter/collective take over the patio, but now they're really only booking the main room.

Five is a great venue, nearly perfect, but the different promoters that do nights there only really book house, d+b, and reggae. There was the electroclash/breaks night there, too, but that's over and has turned into a retro night.

9:30 Club, as you mentioned, is a live music venue. They'll have the occasional DJ, but it always comes off as a bit out of place.

It costs a lot of money to run a club in DC due to the scarcity of suitable spaces. In a town with 8-foot ceilings in 95% of all buildings, there’s going to be a lot of competition for the remaining few with large open spaces. Permitting, safety codes, and accessibility standards are pretty tightly enforced, which means you have to sink a lot of money into a space before you can do anything with it. This goes for bars, dance clubs, live music clubs, and pretty much everything. And don't even get me started on ANC's and "voluntary agreements".

Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 4 March 2004 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Ghostly International showcase at Warehouse Next Door, April 1. Not sure who's playing.

Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Friday, 5 March 2004 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

The indie-rock stores keep dropping one by one. What's left? The below is from an e-mail from Now...

"After over 4 years in business, the owners of Now! Music and Fashion
have decided to close permanently, so we can move on and pursue
other opportunities. We've had a blast talking to you about music,
putting on instore performances, and participating in the local
community. But the best thing about running a record store has been
the opportunity to meet you. Many thanks to our loyal customers and
friends we've made along the way.

We will be having a going-out-of-business sale beginning this
weekend. All clothing and music (except consignments and bargain bin
stuff) will be on sale for 30% off the regular price."

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:45 (twenty-two years ago)

CD Warehouse in Georgetown (M and 30th), despite its location and hideous clientele, is really outstanding. This weekend I picked up Books' Lemon of Pink, Ghost's Hypnotic Underworld, Arthur Russell's Calling Out of Context, and M83's Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.

So I don't think DC's gone utterly down the pan. Close, but not gone yet.

paul c (paul c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

You found those "used" or "new" in Georgetown? The one time I was there I didn't see much in there. Wow, that's quite a haul. I'm actually as guilty as anybody in buying stuff online rather then local stores. The last time I tried to go to Now (in early january), it was closed despite its hours being listed as open.

Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

They were new. But not outrageously priced. Between 14.99-18.99 (Ghost - M83).

They're also stocking the Ellen Allien album and remixes, Coloma's Finery. I think I even saw that Damon Album demo double 10" there, too!

paul c (paul c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, I was the one that got Coloma and Ellen Allien in there! I walk by it on my way home from work, so I stop in every couple of days. They're stupendously nice and will go as far as setting up new accounts with distributors to get special orders. I email them a list of upcoming releases I want and they'll have them for me the day they're released. They can be a little slow on imports, but they usually track them down.

Melody on Conn. Ave. is very underrated - I always thought they were better than DCCD for keeping up with current releases and pointing customers in the right direction. Good international and classical sections, too.

Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Curmudgeon, thank you for your service in following and documenting so many less-well-known aspects of local culture.

At the same time I chuckle a little at the idea of someone seeking out a hip new underground dance club where they heard there's interesting obscure dance music. They navigate down some barely lit stairs in an alley and they go in and it's... contra, or Appalachian clogging. Buncha hipsters in gingham bonnets.

calmer chameleon (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 30 January 2026 18:06 (two months ago)

You're welcome. That mostly just happens out at Glen Echo, but yea would be funny if it happened elsewhere. When my wife and I went to 2 DC hand dancing events last year in SE DC (Black dc version of swing dancing done to soul music) we were the only white folks there. DC Latin and African dance music events get huge crowds without needing or caring about white hipsters showing up, the same with go-go. But they don't list their events on Resident Advisor where the cool techno kids do.

curmudgeon, Friday, 30 January 2026 18:42 (two months ago)

Seconding the thanks, curmudgeon, for your effort to make honkies like me aware of the vast swath of music that gets ignored by the mainstream.

Gentler Death Squads Please (Boring, Maryland), Friday, 30 January 2026 21:03 (two months ago)

The Steve k blogspot February concert calendar is now posted. It has 2 tribute to Phillip Glass events with pianists at the Phillips art museum, a Fela book event, some random other book and movie events I decided to include even though they're not exactly music-focused, plus the standard go-go, Ethiopian, Rhizome weird stuff etc.

I didn't include some IMP events by 20-something acts at 930 and Atlantis that are sold out and didn't look worth investigating too much (may regret that at some point).

curmudgeon, Sunday, 1 February 2026 23:41 (two months ago)

thanks!

Gentler Death Squads Please (Boring, Maryland), Sunday, 1 February 2026 23:48 (two months ago)

also, Trump is closing the Kennedy Center apparently lol

Gentler Death Squads Please (Boring, Maryland), Sunday, 1 February 2026 23:48 (two months ago)

Yes, just saw that. Starting on July 4th for 2 years of Trumpian construction! NSO and others will have to find new places to do events, and Kennedy Center Union employees may sadly be screwed.

curmudgeon, Monday, 2 February 2026 00:45 (two months ago)

Welp. Sad, as a certain person might say.

I am not a KenCen insider but in a previous life I did some work for Roger Stevens. He'd owned the Empire State Building and produced Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In addition to the Kennedy Center he was big in the Stevenson campaign, the DNC, the NEA, and National Book Awards. By the time I knew him his mind was not exactly there, but still.

A lot of the OG KC bigwigs, ancient megadonors, longtime ushers, etc. have died and I suspect that's for the best. I would not want them to see this.

calmer chameleon (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 2 February 2026 01:29 (two months ago)

whither Shear Madness

but seriously I was dismayed when just a few days ago Noseda said the NSO isn’t leaving the KC. Looks like the choice has been made for them! I was not going to renew my subscription next season to the NSO but now I may if they make the break permanent.

Gentler Death Squads Please (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 2 February 2026 01:32 (two months ago)

Jeff Bezos and his right wing Brit publisher and managing editor of the Washington Post laid off 1/3 of their staff today including pop music critic Chris Richards, virtually the whole sports department, writers based overseas, and more. They claim they need to do this to help the Post break even and become more financially successful, but it is not clear to me how ruining your product and reducing reasons for people to subscribe or keep their subscriptions will help the Post. Also, Bezos via Amazon is still spending millions on the Melania movie, and he spent countless millions on his wedding this past summer in Venice.

curmudgeon, Thursday, 5 February 2026 00:44 (two months ago)

Bezos also laid off arts editor Jon Fischer (who was once my editor at Washington City Paper where he was also a great writer )

curmudgeon, Thursday, 5 February 2026 02:35 (two months ago)

And the classical music critic Michael Andor Brodeur also got laid off.

curmudgeon, Thursday, 5 February 2026 03:14 (two months ago)

jesus

Gentler Death Squads Please (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 5 February 2026 03:20 (two months ago)

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/arts/smithsonian-folklife-festival-great-american-state-fair.html?unlocked_article_code=1.KVA.ut2R.OKrAu38Ib7ym&smid=nytcore-ios-share

Damn. The planned one month special Smithsonian Folklife Fest this summer is off. Now just a Trump fest . Smithsonian will do a few things in buildings and around the US but nothing on national mall. Grrrr

curmudgeon, Saturday, 7 February 2026 21:29 (two months ago)

the folfklife fest seems like it has been on life support for a while anyway.

Gentler Death Squads Please (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 7 February 2026 21:58 (two months ago)

lol “900 square foot beaux arts pavilions”

maybe I’m dumb and don’t understand the great man’s organizational genius but don’t events like this take years to plan, just logistically?

Gentler Death Squads Please (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 7 February 2026 22:04 (two months ago)

X-post - yes the Folklife Fest has been on life support for a number of years ( due to a lack of funding and to National Park Service restrictions on how much of the national mall could be used) but they were promised more money this year to go big for a month on the national mall, and now that has been taken away .

curmudgeon, Monday, 9 February 2026 05:33 (two months ago)

If you really want to ruin a city's cultural life and civic institutions you need to be thorough.

Ordinarily I wouldn't credit a toddler with much focus or follow-through but the track record speaks for itself.

Ruint: the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, the Post, the White House, the Institute of Peace, PBS, Congress, the Folklife Festival, the Supreme Court, and public service as a noble calling.

Next up: Memorial Bridge, the airports, Amtrak.

Please nobody tell him about Wolf Trap, the Zoo, or Ben's Chili Bowl.

calmer chameleon (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 9 February 2026 13:30 (two months ago)

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/779769/ekko-astral-jael-holzman-peace-order-miri-tyler-threats/

Uh oh

curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 February 2026 04:55 (one month ago)

https://wtop.com/music/2019/02/record-store-owner-early-dc-punk-producer-skip-groff-dies-at-70/

I miss Yesterday and Today Records so much. I specifically miss the ads they used to run in the City Paper.

Infanta Terrible (j.lu), Thursday, 19 February 2026 14:50 (one month ago)

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/779769/ekko-astral-jael-holzman-peace-order-miri-tyler-threats🕸/

Uh oh

this keeps crashing my browser (google chrome)

Toe Bean Sprout (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 19 February 2026 15:48 (one month ago)

I was having the same problem and thought it was me. But I finally got it to work

curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 February 2026 19:23 (one month ago)

It seems to work better on my laptop than my phone.

So one member of Ekko Astral quite awhile back and blamed the singer/bassist for being a jerk. Now the drummer quit and blamed and sorta threated the singer who went to court to get a "peace order" to keep the drummer away from them. Drummer is giving up alcohol and getting therapy. There's a lot more detail in the article. It's sad as I like the group and like one of the drummer's side project where she leads her own band.

curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 February 2026 21:42 (one month ago)

City Paper was trying to fix tech issue.

An IG post from another musician scheduled to perform at Ekko Astral’s upcoming liberation weekend with shows at Black Cat ( & elsewhere) raising some money for trans causes, addressed the sad issues from the City Paper article

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVB8ttbEZdL/?igsh=MTRxemsyeDU1djR6dA==

curmudgeon, Monday, 23 February 2026 19:43 (one month ago)

I see in a Chris Richards substack post that dmv producer Yoyo has put out a dc rap compilation called All Roads Lead to Rome. The producer says some of it has "free car" music and some soundcloud r& b. Apparently some of the rappers are doing a dc thing where they flow and phrase ahead of the beat.

Chris also mentioned that there's also a new dc hardcore punk comp called Future Left Behind

Chris loves hardcore punk from many eras, and that style of dc rap.

I haven't heard either album yet.

curmudgeon, Monday, 23 February 2026 20:12 (one month ago)

From Baltimore Banner:

Philip Glass pulled his new symphony in protest from the beleaguered Kennedy Center. Now, the acclaimed Baltimore-born composer is bringing the work home.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will perform the Maryland debut of Glass’ Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln,” on June 4 and June 6, 2027, at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The orchestra, which announced its next season on Tuesday, will also perform the piece on June 5, 2027, at its sister venue, the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda.

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 24 February 2026 14:56 (one month ago)

https://pitchfork.com/news/topshelf-records-drops-ekko-astral/

Pitchfork covering Topshelf Records dropping Ekko Astral after recent issues

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 24 February 2026 15:00 (one month ago)

Maybe i’m late but it seems like many Adelphi Records releases are on Apple Music now.

Mollusk, Virginia (Boring, Maryland), Sunday, 1 March 2026 18:17 (one month ago)

seems like none of the jazz releases though

Mollusk, Virginia (Boring, Maryland), Sunday, 1 March 2026 18:22 (one month ago)

Oh so just the blues, folk, etc. . Hmmm, I wonder why. Not that I know how many jazz ones they ever released.

I see that Cuneiform records that doesn't allow its stuff on Spotify , is putting out 2 cellist Janel Leppin records in late March. One is her more jazzy group Ensemble Volcanic Ash and the other one is just under her name.

curmudgeon, Monday, 2 March 2026 22:13 (one month ago)

oh boy, the Wammies are coming up March 28 and an email tells me the VIP tickets are sold out . The Wammies which didn't happen for 2 years are back and to nominate a musician you had to pay the Wammies $20. A number of good DC musicians decided they didn't care about the Wammies or didn't know about them and are not nominated

Their 7-9 award show will just feature 3 performances- The Blackbyrds, Kara Lavchenko, Wammies own youth choir

I haven't heard of Lavchenko but she has 5,000 IG followers

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 March 2026 19:47 (one month ago)

Finally posted my March dc concert calendar last night. Got behind on it as I was writing a bunch of previews for upcoming City Paper spring arts special.

You can find it at steve blogspot

The full list has multiple Ghana Independence Day events, a Don Zientara interview, 90 year old Herb Alpert, soul events at Blue Dolphin & Lamont’s, punk rock, DJs, rap, go-go, norteno, Ethiopian, Caribbean , Asian, a gospel show, blues, last night’s Tipa Tipo ( tropical yachtrock meets cumbia ) gig at Comet Ping Pong and more .

curmudgeon, Thursday, 5 March 2026 14:56 (one month ago)

Brendan Canty isn't talking in his IG story today about the digital release of 1992 Albini recorded Fugazi demo, but his daughter Mabel June's (of Birthday Girl DC) first solo release Mumbled Songs. I saw her sing some of these indie-pop-folk songs @ Rhizome.

https://mabeljune.bandcamp.com/album/mumbled-songs

curmudgeon, Friday, 6 March 2026 20:10 (one month ago)

proud papa

Mollusk, Virginia (Boring, Maryland), Friday, 6 March 2026 21:18 (one month ago)

On Thursday, the Kennedy Center filed a lawsuit against against local jazz drummer Chuck Redd in D.C. Superior Court, citing a breach of contract. The lawsuit, which states that Redd was to be paid $6,500 for the appearance, cited the following as damages: “lost goodwill with the public, wasted marketing expenses, and sunk costs preparing for a concert that did not occur.”

Redd cancelled the Christmas jazz jam appearance due to the building name change. Kennedy Center hed has threatened to sue him for a million dollars

curmudgeon, Sunday, 8 March 2026 19:52 (one month ago)

lol

Mollusk, Virginia (Boring, Maryland), Sunday, 8 March 2026 19:53 (one month ago)

Grinnell is a fucking moron like all of them

Mollusk, Virginia (Boring, Maryland), Sunday, 8 March 2026 19:53 (one month ago)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/03/06/nso-director-quits/

The head of the NSo at Kennedy Center quit ; the Kennedy Center sued a dc area jazz drummer , and a congresswoman is suing to stop the planned closure.

curmudgeon, Sunday, 8 March 2026 19:54 (one month ago)

Grinell out at K. Center replaced by May 2024 pre-Trump facilities guy Matt Floca who stuck around and has been supervising construction and putting up Trump's name at K Ctr for Trump. Guy once worked for DC govt before joining k Ctr

curmudgeon, Saturday, 14 March 2026 06:02 (one month ago)

sure might as well have the janitor run it

Mollusk, Virginia (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 14 March 2026 08:51 (one month ago)

yep

curmudgeon, Saturday, 14 March 2026 16:30 (one month ago)

Seeing reports on Facebook that dc area based drummer Robert Mousey Thompson just passed away . Thompson is best known for drumming with James Brown in Brown’s later years

In 2014 he was interviewed about those years. I think I first saw him play with his DC group in 2015 at Carter Barron and again some years later. He was still out there playing around town on ocassion. I think he was about 69 years old. Guessing it might have been a heart attack.

https://www.drummersresource.com/robert-mousey-thompson-interview/

curmudgeon, Saturday, 14 March 2026 17:14 (one month ago)

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/us/politics/kennedy-center-judge-order.html?smid=bsky-nytimes&smtyp=cur

A federal judge in Washington on Saturday ordered that Representative Joyce Beatty, Democrat of Ohio, be allowed to participate in a planning meeting about the future of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, temporarily resolving a minor standoff with President Trump.

The ruling appeared to give Ms. Beatty, an ex officio member of the center’s board of trustees, a window into the president’s goals for remaking it in his image, after dozens of performers canceled shows in protest and patrons worried about a proposed multiyear closure of the performance space....The center’s board is scheduled to meet on Monday, though Ms. Beatty argued that the purpose of the meeting had not been explained and that she had been kept out of the loop.

...Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the Federal District Court in Washington agreed that Ms. Beatty needed to receive a more thorough accounting of the meeting’s agenda and be allowed “a meaningful opportunity to lodge her dissent.” ...Ms. Beatty has also asked the court to issue a more permanent order barring Mr. Trump from closing and redeveloping the site. Judge Cooper has not yet considered that request...

In the 37-page opinion, Judge Cooper laid out a list of documents — including budgets and planning reports — that must be sent to Ms. Beatty within 24 hours, “to the extent they exist.” He added that the government’s claims in the lawsuit that no plans had been finalized, just four days before the board could meet to approve them, “borders on preposterous.”

curmudgeon, Sunday, 15 March 2026 01:22 (one month ago)

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/781107/stand-by-me-at-40-mystery-friends-and-amythyst-kiah-city-lights-for-march-12-18/

I previewed the Sarau de Samba Brazilian music dance party for City Paper that was this afternoon at Glen Echo Park’s Ballroom back room. It was big fun. DC area based Brazilian musicians led by Pablo Regis on a 4 stringed little instrument plus a trombonist and many percussionists all sat at a rectangular table and played and sang and led the mostly Brazilian crowd in call and response and chanted old school samba songs with Portuguese lyrics. Lots of dancing go on also. There was a samba dance lesson early. About 100 people in a small room.

curmudgeon, Monday, 16 March 2026 00:03 (one month ago)

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/781828/spring-arts-guide-2026-the-concerts-we-cant-wait-for/

In early February my Washington City Paper arts editor sent out a request for us freelancers to submit Spring arts events pitches 4 days later. I researched and checked around and sent in a bunch of ideas in many genres. As she has many writers covering rock, my rock pitches didn’t get accepted but a number of my other pitches did and I got them written. I posted my April 9 Brian Gilmore book talk on Black DC poets yesterday and today my 5 music ones are posted.

: March 25- Sweet Thang (from Backyard Band ) & Tabria (of Rare Essence) w/ a special backing band @ Sycamore & Oak ( go-go & r& b)
April 9- Yilian Cañizares (Cuban-Swiss violinist singer ) @ Library of Congress
April 14 & 15- Natalia Lafourcade @ Strathmore Music Center ( Mexican indie-folk)
May 3- Protoje @ Fillmore ( reggae)
May 13- Juan Manu @ Strathmore Mansion (Moved from El Paso to DC mariachi-influenced violinist who is part of Strathmore Artists in Residence program)

curmudgeon, Friday, 20 March 2026 02:51 (four weeks ago)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/03/25/concerts-dc-april/

The freelancer who does monthly concert recs for the W. Post suggests worthwhile US & UK & European punk, techno, industrial, rap & r&b but never jazz, Latin, African, Asian

curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 March 2026 00:23 (three weeks ago)

My April dc area concert list is up at Steve K... blogspot dot com

Lots of international stuff plus djs, US & UK rock, gospel, roots, r&b, rap and more

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 April 2026 05:57 (two weeks ago)

Howard Wuelfing who put out an anthology of his late '70s/early 80s DC punk zines -Descenes & Discords will be part of a chat w/Mark Jenkins (who did zines, a DC punk book & more) & John R. Davis (book on dc punk zines) about Wuelfing's zines and dc punk April 11 @ 2-3:30 pm @ MLK Library

https://dclibrary.libnet.info/event/16021018
Registration link for free event is advised-

curmudgeon, Sunday, 5 April 2026 16:51 (one week ago)

https://www.hillrag.com/2026/04/03/celebrate-50-years-of-peterbug-academy-with-documentary/

There's a doc out about Peterbug Mathew, DC resident . I missed this 1st screening at MLK Library April 4th but hopefully there will be more showings

So this guy Peterbug Mathew has a shoe shop in SE DC capitol hill area and he mentors kids and has for years had a Peterbug Day at his place where obscure soul and sometimes go-go acts play (and he just mentions the event on his own Facebook and doesn't spell out specifics regarding when the acts are there that day but it's still a cool event if you wing it ) . His next Peter Bug Day is June 20th for Juneteenth (as is Home Rule Fest at Walter AReed)

curmudgeon, Monday, 13 April 2026 20:59 (five days ago)


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