Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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...

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.

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...

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".

"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."

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

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!

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.

I also have given them a list of stuff I'd like. They have an account with Forced Exposure, so I'll soon have the Lawrence album I've been gasping to hear for ages.

Re: Melody: While they're matchless on international, classical and jazz, their electronic section is showing conspicuous gaps since Joel, who used to buy for the electronic section left for Baltimore at the end of last year. CD Warehouse deserve to clean up!

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities invites musicians to participate in the 2nd Annual Fête de la Musique DC. The Fête is an internationally recognized music festival that marks the first days of summer. Festival dates are June 18-21, 2004 with performances throughout the afternoon and evening. The Arts Commission is sponsoring special workshops for area musicians interested in participating in the Fete and conducting live auditions for “acoustic” and “acapella” musicians and performers.

All types of musicians and bands interested in learning more can attend one of two special festival workshops. The workshops will provide valuable information on how musicians can participate and receive promotional assistance from the Arts Commission. The workshop dates are:

Dates and Times: Monday, March 15, 2004 at 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 12 Noon – 1 PM

P Place: DC Arts Commission, 410 8th Street NW, 5th floor

Please call (202) 724-5614 or send an email to jose.dominguez@dc.gov with any questions that you may have.

st ex has chimay, stella and delerium and a few more that i cant remember on draft. really nice people there. the barback, by mistake, bussed my last cigarette and matches when i went up to the bar to get another beer. when i mentioned this to the bartender, he gave me matches, a regular hooked me up with a cigarette, and a woman who was with the DJ said she was going out a cigarette run, and asked me what i wanted. i was actually confused by kindess.

My attempts to get the DC Arts Commisssion to add more indie-rock, Latin, African, go-go and hiphop to the upcoming June 20th Free Music Fete seem to have run into bureacratical walls and lack of money. Oh well, I tried.

amright

alright

some new young go-go acts, Soul of Seed, & Next Generation Krank are on first at Home Rule Fest at 12-1, then rappers over go-go inspired beats - Cayan & Magnus X Paydroo 1-2, then Okyerema Asante, Ghanaian Master Drummer from 2 -2:40

I once went to Broccoli City fest when it was on the parking lot grounds of RFK Stadium, this year this r&b & afrobeats & hiphop fest is presented by AT&T @ Live Nation owned Jiffy Lube Live out in Virginia. Summer Walker is on the bill. The "Presented by AT &T" phrasing is part of the title this year for this September event

I once went to Broccoli City fest when it was on the parking lot grounds of RFK Stadium, this year this r&b & afrobeats & hiphop fest is presented by AT&T @ Live Nation owned Jiffy Lube Live out in Virginia. Summer Walker is on the bill. The "Presented by AT &T" phrasing is part of the title this year for this September event

As I noted over on ILE and maybe here months ago, The NY Times had an article back in February on how the Trump administration was kicking the Smithsonian Folklife Festival off the national mall in DC for Trump’s American states fair. So that anonymous post that I have seen on Reddit, Threads, and via Alt National Park social media confirms some of the earlier NY Times article, while adding other details and leaving out some.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/arts/smithsonian-folklife-festival-great-american-state-fair.html?unlocked_article_code=1.tlA.R-02.ZnEvjiHd87u1&smid=nytcore-ios-share

Also, I have updated my June Steve DC global music blogspot calendar through July 4 with non-Trump events. Am working on my full July calendar and a Washington City Paper preview of an early July event.

Rhizome says its new location will be open by EOY.

Interesting. I am spoiled by current location that's like a few minutes drive for me, or a 20 minute walk. Current location I think is also closer to a Metro than new location will be. But those in suburban Virginia might be able to get to new location more easily. Maybe

I like this from the Feb. 2026 update-

There is no news as to if/when we are ever going to lose everyone's favorite house on Maple St, so dream big and perhaps we will be able to have two community hubs hubbing at least for awhile....

Not exactly my thing but I saw someone on Threads complaining that electronic dance locations like the newish Berhta on the old BET grounds in NE DC, and Transmission on H St NE, and Echostage were all not easily metro accessible and are pricey via Uber or Lyft.

Also, I saw on an Instagram post by a dj involved with the Funset r&b dance party (Prince, 90s r&b , house & more) that used to take place between 4 and 10 on Sundays at the Dew Drop Inn in NE near Catholic U. Apparently new neighbors have moved in over there and are complaining to the Dew Drop Inn that its too loud or something and too many cars parked there. Oy.

I don’t think the new Rhizome location will make much difference in my travel time from South Arlington, unfortunately.

I lived in the Fairlington part of Arlington for a number of years and know what you face traffic time wise.

Anyway, my Steve blogspot global music and more calendar with some Rhizome events is now posted .

I also did a Washington City Paper preview of July 3 Rare Essence and EU at 930 club.

Fort Reno Park short schedule starts tonight July 6. Last one is July 20.

Another Washington City Paper preview from me- this time of Trinidadian raised, dc area based steel pan player Josanne Francis who is doing a free Saturday July 11 gig backed by a jazzy trio

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/788413/josanne-francis-and-a-new-spin-on-dinner-theater-city-lights-for-july-9-15/

I previewed punk rock and more Downtown Boys for City Paper this week. Gig is Wed July 22 at dc9

In other news I see that the Rock Creek Conservancy and Washington Project for the Arts are gonna do a few August gigs at Carter Barron. They’re gonna set up a temporary stage in front of the amphitheater’s no longer safe old permanent stage

DC Council chair Phil Mendelson wants to spend $300 million of DC taxpayers money to help expand Audi Field from 20,000 seats to 28,000 and to give it a roof. He insanely think it will get 100 events a year and make up all that taxpayer investment. 4,200 capacity CareFirst Arena in SE DC is rarely used other than for the 22 Mystics home games. Expecting an expanded 28,000 seat enclosed Audi Field to get countless more events than the 17 home games the United soccer play there, & to take events from Cap One Arena, Nats Park, Northwest Stadium, Anthem, the future RFK stadium (& the current rfk parking lots ), Eaglebank Arena seems unlikely.

8,000 DC govt employees meanwhile have gone without pay raises for a number of years I read elsewhere.

Ekko Astral breaking up after all the discussion regarding how singer Jae Holzman interacted with the band and went to court to get a peace order re a former band member who allegedly was threatening

https://archive.is/s72uK

Went to a nice DC backyard house show a friend set up with the Mekons Jon Langford and singer Kelly Hogan. Actually discovered it not from friend, but from the homeowner's buddy who works at Art Sound Language record store and publicized the gig on their Instagram page

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/24/us/trump-news?unlocked_article_code=1.0FA.zjP2.BwAGsMHLsf3e&smid=nytcore-ios-share

Trump executive orders that stupid signs be posted outside Smithsonian National Museum of American History taking issue with content inside museum. Also suggests temporary exhibits be set up outside

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/24/us/trump-news?unlocked_article_code=1.0FA.zjP2.BwAGsMHLsf3e&smid=nytcore-ios-share🕸

Trump executive orders that stupid signs be posted outside Smithsonian National Museum of American History taking issue with content inside museum. Also suggests temporary exhibits be set up outside

just gave $100. thank you mister turmp

In less publicized wording from that idiotic Trump exec Order on Smithsonian, he asks evil Project 2025 and OMB head Russell Voight to look into the Smithsonian. I hope he doesn't mess with their federal funding

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/us/politics/kennedy-center-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.1VA.ph07.9GwU4cOIqH3_&smid=nytcore-ios-share

In the Opera House, which no longer has an opera, there is an empty orchestra pit scattered with trash. On the grand terrace overlooking the Potomac River, the flower beds are wilting and weedy. In the corridors and lounges, artwork has disappeared.

mark my words, we will eventually find: money and assets were looted by Grennel, the cronies of Kari Lake installed as the “management” and the board of toadies.

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered the Kennedy Center to explain the status of the tarps, which block where Trump’s name was removed , and its construction and operational plans by Aug. 20 or within five days of an August Kennedy Center board meeting, whichever is first

Cooper vacated his previous order that directed the Kennedy Center to submit the report to the court by July 31 or within seven days of a July board meeting, noting the Kennedy Center had pushed back its board meeting to the first half of August.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/07/28/kennedy-center-given-more-time-to-explain-why-tarps-remain/

Hearing was originally scheduled for July 31

https://www.washingtoninformer.com/chuck-brown-soul-searcher-book/

Self-published new CHuck Brown book

I previewed a Saturday appearance by the writer of the Chuck Brown’s book Sundiata Ramin, and a Friday gig by Mexican indie pop singer Julieta Venegas at the Howard Theatre for Washington City Paper

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/789208/shannon-shaw-band-julieta-venegas-and-soja-city-lights-for-july-30-aug-5/

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/us/politics/kennedy-center-tours.html?unlocked_article_code=1.11A.ernC.a2zmQOmdYwvH&smid=nytcore-ios-share

Well the Kennedy Center got its retribution against the 87 year old volunteer tour guide by canceling all tours of the Kennedy Center. How sad and pathetic

just sell it to the ufc already

They're still doing some Millennium Stage shows but in the Reach building now. A decent local jazz musician and band were in there last night. I didn't go and haven't been at all in this second administration. A source told me that musicians make a nice chunk of change from those Millenium Stage gigs which makes refusing them hard for some . I still think they should refuse.

Based on what I have read it sounds like whatever repairs need to be done could be made with the building still open but virtually no one wants to go while Trump is messing with it and the rest of DC and the nation and the world. I have a feeling that when/if the next judicial hearing happens around August 20, the judge may say that if they cross some t's and dot some i's , the Trump board though can close the place to the end of his term (but maybe have to drop the tarp).

I just want the National Symphony to survive the building can go to hell

Not seeing any news about NSO budget since the below from a June Washington Post article -

More than three months after the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees typically signs off on the NSO’s budget, the orchestra’s leaders are still waiting — and still don’t know whether their home venue will be available next season, according to six current and former officials, who like others in this article spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

Finally posted my Steve K blogspot August concert calendar

The Kennedy Center was closed Monday and today for “maintenance “ but bldg reopens Wednesday and tours are back on!

lol (sob)