Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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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)

Can I plug my band here or is that gauche? We are the Vowels from New York/New Jersey, it's our first time playing in DC. We're playing next Saturday, March 13th at Velvet Lounge with Detachment Kit and Apollo Sunshine (spinART). OK I am done. Sorry.

― scott m (mcd), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Agreed about CD Warehouse. And thanks for being the instigator of Coloma and Allien! I did ask John there to get in Silverware, Coloma's debut. I'll be asking them for Junior Boys nearer the release date.

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!

― paul c (paul c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

part of the problem is that NOW moved to Old Town. why did they do that? I might be the only person in the city who knows who David Ware is.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

After they lost their lease in the pricier part of Arlington(Clarendon near a metro), they moved to an out-of-the way Arlington location practically in Falls Church. I guess they then assumed that an Old Town Alexandria location would be more accessible. But it really wasn't.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

no not at all, and the stock was always the same. i am going to go to the sale this weekend and buy the same stuff i have been eyeing for over a year.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I've got The Delgados and Malcolm Middleton of Arab Strap coming to DJ at Saint-Ex after their show at the Black Cat Tuesday, March 30th.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Cool. So I tried to buy stuff at NOW on Saturday. Got there at 12:10 and the store was closed. By 12:50 there were about 15 people waiting and the damn place hadn't opened. Their e-mail said they'd open at noon. I had other things to do so I left. No wonder they went out of business. This happened to me once before trying to go there.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 15 March 2004 01:25 (twenty-two years ago)

We need good local bands and djs to get involved in the below:

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.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 15 March 2004 01:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Is the Ghostly thing still on at the Warehouse Next Door on April 1st? I thought I saw something else listed there for that night in their City Paper ad. I e-mailed the label and they didn't respond back.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 15 March 2004 01:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't have the ad in front of me, but I know at least one of the acts listed, Output Message, is on Ghostly.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Monday, 15 March 2004 05:10 (twenty-two years ago)

finally checked out cafe st ex tonight. i went downstairs and had a few chimays on draft. not bad. my improv group might be playing the electric maid in takoma this weekend.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 15 March 2004 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

oh also does anyone have the kind of connections that would help a hardworking bartender get a job in DC?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 15 March 2004 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

cafe st ex has draft now? excellent

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 15 March 2004 06:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Aaron, I know the Kimpton Group properties are hiring - Topaz, Rouge, Helix.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Monday, 15 March 2004 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

already went to all of those places :-( i always have a hard time getting new jobs, but when i do get them, i become one of the best employees within a few months. its a frustrating process.

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.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 15 March 2004 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

hello all. my band Indent will be playing tomorrow (sat) night at the electric maid in takoma park at 236 carroll, right near the metro. sets are at 7pm and 10pm, $7. i am the drummer. come have a smoke break with me between sets and introduce yrselves. oh we are a free improv band.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

No Ellen Allien DC dates for her US tour, but Ghostly e-mailed me that Mathew Dear may be coming here in the summer.

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.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 8 April 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Yea, yea I know DC has a lack of cheap rent warehouses and is stuck with a not exactly helpful government bureacracy. But I'm still counting on Aaron with his bartending profits or someone else to create events I want to see!!!

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 8 April 2004 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i still need a good bartending job for bartending profits. and then there is the matter of a good venue... every time i go out in dc, i feel like there is a lot of great talent, and no place to collect it all. Tom and I went to the first floor bar of Reef last week for the open turntable night. we both DJed for a while, and had fun, but the guys who played after us were tremendous, and as far as i can tell, they usually play in their bedrooms.
i played (this is not 100% correct in order, but generally in order):
convextion "convextion" (matrix 1)
Schatrax "?" (Schatrax)
Paul Kalkbrenner (can't remember)
R is R "Nude Photo" (transmat)
K. Alexi "All for Lee-sah" (transmat)
Pierre's Phantasy Club "Fantasy Girl" (Trax)
Sleezy D "I've Lost Control" (Trax)
Jaime Principle "Baby Wants to Ride" (Trax)
Suzy Q "Two of Hearts"
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam "I Wonder if I Take You Home"

didnt mix, just having some fun. am going to see Ken Mcintyre of AACM fame tonight I think.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 8 April 2004 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Andreas Tilliander and Normal Music are on tomorrow night (4/9) at DC9.

6/11 is Richie Hawtin and Magda at Cubik

here's the day-by-day linup for the once.twice festival in Baltimore...

>>>>>>>>>

avant hip-hop + twisted rhythms
THURSDAY APRIL 15TH
2549 N Howard Street
www.theottobar.com
All ages / Doors open @ 9pm / ADMISSION $10

DABRYE [ DETROIT - Ghostly International ]
GHISLAIN POIRIER [ MONTREAL - 12k / Chocolate Industries ]
JIMMY EDGAR [ DETROIT - Warp / M3rck / Audio.NL ]
NAUTICAL ALMANAC [ BALTIMORE - Heresee ]
MARC LUSSIER [ BALTIMORE ]

>>>>>>>>>

PERLON LABEL FOCUS
FRIDAY APRIL 16th
THE SUPREME IMPERIAL
223 Pearl STREET
http://www.thehush.net/supreme.htm
All ages / Doors open @ 9pm / ADMISSION $10

AKUFEN [ MONTREAL - Perlon / Force-Inc / Musique Risquee ]
DIMBIMAN aka ZIP [ BERLIN - Perlon ]
MATTHEW DEAR aka JABBERJAW [ DETROIT - Perlon / Plus8 / Ghostly ]
SOMEONE ELSE [ PHILADELPHIA - Foundsound / Musik Krause ]
BEN PARRIS dj set [ Baltimore - Once.Twice / Foundsound ]
MISKATE dj set [ PHILADELPHIA - Foundsound ]

>>>>>>>

SATURDAY APRIL 17th JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
MATTIN CENTER ROSS JONES BUILDING, SDS ROOM
3400 N CHARLES ST,BALTIMORE MD
All ages / Doors open @ 8pm / ADMISSION $10

AGF [ BERLIN - Orthlorng Musork / Kitty Yo ]
+ SUE.C [ SAN FRANCISCO - Orthlorng Musork ]
CHRISTOHPER WILLITS [ SAN FRANCISCO - 12k / Fallt ]
+SCOTT PAGANO [ SAN FRANCISCO - Reline ]
MYLENA BERGERON [ MONTREAL - Oral ]
+ CAROLINE HAYEUR [ MONTREAL ]
LOADBANG [ BALTIMORE ]

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 8 April 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm looking forward to this. I was at the once.twice exhibition a few years ago with Moonstealingproject/Richard Chartier/Taylor Deupree/Mokira, and it was a really nice (though obv. subdued) time. Definitely making the drive up on Friday, and possibly Saturday as well.

I've been really pleased with the ridiculous amount of good music available to us in the last month or so. Bummed about missing TV on the Radio, but Xiu Xiu were great, and the prospect of seeing Sunburned Hand of the Man + Four Tet (again, in Baltimore, Tuesday the 20th) = more excitement. Add CocoRosie on to that, and I'll be near broke.

― Dare, Thursday, 8 April 2004 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

i really really want to go to friday night's performance with dimbiman, akufen, dear, tc, but i have no ride. is anyone going?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 16 April 2004 05:11 (twenty-two years ago)

four weeks pass...

RICH
tech house & techno

resident DJ's Milo & Daedau

every Friday starting tonight

at Saveur
2218 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Glover Park, DC
10ish-2ish
NO COVER CHARGE

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Friday, 14 May 2004 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 5574 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

The Smithsonian had been seeking to build a Latino Museum somewhere near the mall but with Trump and Republicans in charge they can’t get approval, so they’re going to put it in the mostly empty Arts & Industries building that the Smithsonian already controls. I saw in an article on some arts website a link to a right wing Washington Examiner op Ed about it. The right winger was mad about this loophole and contending that of course there was no need for a Latino museum. He did express relief that at least a Mexican brutalist museum wasn’t being built! Lol

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 1 September 2026 23:08 (three weeks ago)

My September Steve K blogspot concert calendar is posted

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 September 2026 06:12 (three weeks ago)

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/791043/fort-dupont-park-concert-series-wont-happen-in-2026/

My article which also mentions other NPS parks in dc

― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 September 2026 16:40 (two weeks ago)

NPS money is being used for Trump's gross projects but there's nothing left to do a concert series at Fort Dupont Park (whose series started in 1972)

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 5 September 2026 04:00 (two weeks ago)

Sept. 4th & 5th at 7pm at Mount Vernon Place
United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20001

MASS. Struggle. Beauty. Rebellion.
Leonard Bernstein crafted MASS as the inaugural performance of the Kennedy Center on September 8, 1971. It reflects the authentic struggle and beauty of the human soul, screaming and singing for its liberation.

This production is a response to the defunding of the National Endowment of the Arts, and the overhaul of the Kennedy Center. We have come together to stand in affirmation of the spirit that gave life to the Kennedy Center.

As allies in the arts, we are excited to announce this collaborative staging, honoring the anniversary of its premier and affirming our commitment to making the music that inspires us.

This Shall Be Our Reply.

https://www.mass2026.com/

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 5 September 2026 04:03 (two weeks ago)

Uh oh, Lonnie Bunch decided to retire at 73 from running the Smithsonian

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 September 2026 16:57 (two weeks ago)

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/791164/melanie-c-crankin-power-and-resilience-in-washington-d-c-s-go-go-culture-book-launch-and-steph-phest-city-lights-for-sept-10-16/

I previewed for Washington City Paper the Saturday Sept 12 book talk for the new book Crankin! Power and Resilience in Washington, DC’s Go-Go Culture that is at Politics & Prose Union Market location 6:30pm that night . After that but not mentioned above is that the writers are going to the Art All Night MLK Library Block Party where Chuck Brown Band, Ms Kim Michelle Experience and others will be performing. The book authors will be signing books at both spots. There are a bunch of Art all Night events everywhere

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 9 September 2026 19:32 (two weeks ago)

I went to the Crankin book release event at Politics & Prose which was very interesting although not hugely well attended. Then I went up to the art all night MLk block party and it was packed . A huge line down 9th street that wrapped around on F Street. I just ended up watching from across the street the video screen view of the Ms Kim Experience doing a nice set. Saw on Instagram a huge crowd in se dc for TOB doing a set including their popular cover of “Ghetto Love Story ( I just want to dance)”.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 September 2026 19:37 (one week ago)

Trump trying to blackmail now on Kennedy Center by insisting that if one of the 9 different versions of “The John F Kennedy Center renovated by Donald Trump” isn’t put up on the facade that the building will deteriorate and the Kennedy Center will have to declare bankruptcy . Board member Democrat Beatty’s lawyers are calling this out as nonsense.

I think there’s an emergency court hearing tomorrow.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 September 2026 19:42 (one week ago)

Or maybe just a Kennedy Center board meeting where his cult members on the board will advocate for this above report written by other Trump cult members

― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 September 2026 19:45 (one week ago)

Judge says no again to proposals to put Trump's name on the facade.

Kennedy Center Board votes again to shut down main building for 2 years

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 September 2026 18:56 (one week ago)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/15/trump-kennedy-center-renovations

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 September 2026 19:02 (one week ago)

https://actionnetwork.org/events/hands-around-the-kennedy-center?source=direct_link&&link_id=1&can_id=bc5c3e23032cbb91f7fc5065171c97fc&email_referrer=email_3401981&email_subject=link-correction-friday-at-the-kennedy-center-our-biggest-action-yet-__&

Hands around the Kennedy Center protest Friday September 18

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 September 2026 19:02 (one week ago)

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/791540/fall-arts-guide-2026/

I have 7 music events previews in the Washington City Paper 2026 Fall Arts special. I pitched to my editor countless events in multiple genres and she decided which ones she wanted. So you can read my previews of SE DC's funky Cruddy Crankerz (w/ TOB) Saturday Sept 19 at Fort Dupont Park (The NPS may not be doing gigs there but the Crankerz are); plus rap duo Armand Hammer on Sept. 27 @ Union Stage; rapper Open Mike Eagle & producer/keyboardist Kenny Segal @ Songbyrd October 13; Latin artsy indie pop supergroup Helado Tropical on Oct. 23 @ Black Cat; rapper Vince Staples on October 29 @ Fillmore Silver Spring; Afro-Peruvian singing legend Eva Ayllon w/ Peruvian salsa singer Daniella Darcourt on Nov. 1 @ the Howard Theatre; and country musicians Ashley Monroe w/ Charlie Worsham Nov. 4 @ the Birchmere .

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 September 2026 20:46 (one week ago)

More fall events

Sept. 16 on -AFI Latin American Film Fest
Sept. 17- Samir Langus (Moroccan gnawa blues melded with funk) , Light Beams (dc postpunk dance) @ Takoma Station (A Secret Planet produced show)
Sept 23- Cabaret Voltaire @ Howard Theatre (reunited early 1980s artsy postpunk dancey band)
L’rain @ dc 9 (critic fave Black experimental pop & neo-psych r&b)
Sept 25- K8A (Kaethe Hostetter) , Andy Betezema @ Rhizome ( American violinist Kaethe who lived in Ethiopia & played in bands there for 12 years has a solo project here in US now using violin, tape looping, & electronics)
Sept. 26-Glitterer, Posicio Unida, Somebody’s Daughter 4-7 pm free @ Sylvan Theater near Washington Monument (dc alt rock & punk)
Sept 27- Sonu Nigam @ Eaglebank (India bollywood playback singer)
Armand Hammer @ Union Stage (billy woods & another guy doing clever wordy underground rap)
Nicholas Payton “Supreme Blue” @ Blues Alley (New Orleans jazz star's hybrid tribute to Coltrane's Love Supreme & Mile Davis Kind of Blue)
Sept. 28- Rocketship, Lightheaded @ Pearl St Warehouse (acclaimed twee pop)
October 2 - Global Sounds on the Hill Featuring Mexican and Tejano Fiddle with Belen Escobedo @ Hill Center DC
October 9--3BallMty @ Fillmore (Mexican group pronounced tribal monty melded pop & trad sounds)
Oct. 13- Kelela @ Fillmore (artsy r&b)
Open Mike Eagle & Kenny Segal @ Songbyrd (underground wordy rap)
Chanel Beads @ Black Cat (young critic fave hyperpop shoegaze influenced indie rock )
Oct. 14- Sugar, J. Robbins @ Anthem (Sugar are the reunited 90s punk pop Bob Mould led band)
Burmese Harp movie at Freer Asian Art
Oct. 16- Guachinangos, Chicha Morada –Cumbia with a Mexican Jarocho flavor, Guachinangos features members from diverse cultural backgrounds. The band fuses Mexican son jarocho with Colombian cumbia and other Latin American rhythms, NY based w/ Chicha Morada opening @ Songbyrd
Oct 17- Blind Boys of Alabama gospel style tribute to Stevie Wonder's 1970s r&b classic Songs in the Key of Live @ Montgomery College
Oct 21- The Damned, Flamin Groovies, Courettes @ 930 Club (77 Brit punks The Damned, 1974 garage rockin Groovies, 21st Century Courettes )
Arcangel @ Eaglebank Arena
JPeg Mafia @ Echostage
Oct. 22 - Inner Spaces w/ Amir ElSaffer and Lorenzo Bianchi: Where traditional Arabic Maqam meets modern Sonic Innovation @ Hill Center ( Iraqi-American vocalist, trumpeter & santur/Persian hammered dulcimer player ElSaffer & electronics musician Bianchi are Inner Spaces)
Oct 23- Helado Tropical, the debut collaborative album from Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical, @ Black Cat (great new collaboration with male & female vocals melding pop & alternative & indie Latin sounds)
Oct 24- Peni Candra Rini with Shahzad Ismaily & Andy McGraw / Alex Koi x Kirin McElwain
@ Rhizome (powerful artsy Indonesian singer & South Asian jazzy musician Ismaily & richmond, va musicians)
Oct 29- Vince Staples @ Fillmore (rap)
Afro-Cuban Allstars @ Strathmore (classic salsa and latin jazzy sounds)
Oct 30- Heavens to Betsy @ Black Cat (Corin Tucker from Sleater Kinney’s 1st band w/ drummer Tracy Sawyer reunited )
Nov 1- Eva Allyon & Daniella Darcourt @ Howard Theatre (Afro-Peruvian legendary singer )
Nov. 4- Ashley Monroe and Charlie Worsham @ Birchmere (clever critics friendly country w/ a bit of pop to it also)
Nov. 5- Tul8te @ Fillmore (Egyptian singer/rapper)
Nov 7-Devin the Dude @ Black Cat (wacky old rapper)
Nov. 8- William Basinski @ Bette @ Bertha (critic fave avante-garde ambient composer who uses loops from his old decaying tapes)
Nov. 9- The Tubs & Slippers @ Songbyrd (Brit folk meets punk headliners)
Nov 10- Deerhoof, That This, Jackie Cougar & the Vampyres from Africa @ Black Cat (Deerhoof are bay area artsy punk vets w/ dc openers)
Nov 15- Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Fruko, and Carmelo Torres present Madre Cumbia @ Union Stage (cumbia)
Nov 16- Greg Freeman, Robber Robber @ Atlantis (rock)
Jalen Ngonda @ 930 (Daptone label retro r& b)
Nov. 19- The Saami Brothers Qawwali 7pm @ Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St NW (unique Pakistani music singers & musicians)
Nov 20-Caroline @ Howard Theatre (Critic fave Brit alt rock)
Nov. 28- Manhattans feat. Gerald Alston @ Birchmere (old school soul)

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 September 2026 20:48 (one week ago)

what the heck is bette @bertha?

― Stone Temple Pilates (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 17 September 2026 20:53 (one week ago)

It's a newish compound for mostly techno but ocassionally other genres build on what I think was once the BET cable television space (but they deserted DC). Oops and I spelled it wrong its Behrta (apparently named after some German techno club) and it apparently has 2 smaller rooms Bette and Bananas. Or so I have read, I haven't been there

― curmudgeon, Friday, 18 September 2026 17:04 (six days ago)

Oops again- it's Berhta

https://www.berhtaclub.com/

― curmudgeon, Friday, 18 September 2026 17:06 (six days ago)

Grouper is at the Lincoln Theatre tomorrow night

― Chris L, Friday, 18 September 2026 17:19 (six days ago)

Yea, that's one of many good options this weekend. Alas, I have a conflict Saturday night and won't be seeing any music that night.

I wrote up this Saturday choice for Washington City Paper-

In 2012, Southeast’s Lady Moet the Beast and D.C. Ty the Monster began performing together with a band and called themselves the Cruddy Crankerz. Moet previously sang in 1990s go-go group Petworth, and Ty had a background in rapping and producing. In 2023, after receiving a grant from the city, they began booking the Cruddy Chronicles Summer Concert Series, free gigs with large rosters of lesser known rap, R&B, and go-go bands willing to play for free at Fort Dupont Park, Anacostia Park, and the Sylvan Theater near the Washington Monument. These shows brought them some much-deserved attention. In subsequent summers, the Cruddy Crankerz continued booking concerts across the city—although Moet, aka Chanel Cowan, tells City Paper they have been denied grants from 2024 on and are currently working as Uber Eats delivery bike riders to pay for the shows. Billing themselves as “crud rock,” their 2023 album, The Cruddy Corner, and their 2024 Return of the Savages release both cleverly blended 1970s era Funkadelic rhythms with soul, blues, and 21st-century rap and jazz touches. Their 2026 album, Banned from the Go-Go, adds more go-go rhythms to the mix. “Big Girls Don’t Cry They Bounce Back” blends go-go and R&B with a clever mix of spoken and sung vocals. Moet also taunts popular go-go bands that rely on covers when she chants that the Crankerz are just doing “original music.” The National Park Service might not be hosting concerts at Fort Dupont Park this year, but the Crankerz are and they’ll be joined on this eight-hour bill by one of D.C.’s top bouncebeat go-go bands TOB, experimental rapper and producer Black Moses, go-go band A Level Up, rapper Bobby Drake, and others. The Cruddy Crankerz play at 7 p.m., but the concert starts at 2 p.m. on Sept. 19 at Fort Dupont Park. cruddycrankerz.com. Free.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 18 September 2026 20:33 (six days ago)

I went to the Kennedy Center protest

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 19 September 2026 04:52 (five days ago)

i would have but my wife and I had a trivia night with some friends.

― Stone Temple Pilates (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 19 September 2026 16:59 (five days ago)

A good turnout - mostly older white folks who were also at No Kings protests and such, but a scattering of folks from other demographics

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 19 September 2026 17:59 (five days ago)

yeah my wife and I do our best to bring down the average age at classical concerts lol

― Stone Temple Pilates (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 19 September 2026 18:05 (five days ago)

https://thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/on-the-other-side-and-far-away?r=2ck8a&utm_medium=ios

Chris Richards wrote a little about the Grouper show at Lincoln Theatre and a record of theirs

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 20 September 2026 15:39 (four days ago)

The militarized capital, with National Guard troops and increasingly armed checkpoints and a PARADE with TANKS is such 20th century dictator cosplay.

― Paprikachu (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 20 September 2026 17:37 (four days ago)

Oops meant for other thread

― Paprikachu (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 20 September 2026 17:38 (four days ago)

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