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-one years ago)

Skipping 5453 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

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 (one month 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 (one month 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 (three 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 (three weeks 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 (two weeks ago)

Ha, so this guy who got hired by Trump folks and then wrote an Atlantic article about his efforts to save visual art paintings and such at Kennedy Center is getting slammed as a fraud in Washington Probs IG comments

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 18 April 2026 15:14 (one week ago)

link?

― The New Blockader (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 18 April 2026 15:27 (one week ago)

nm I found it

totally worried about the fate of the National Symphony, they still haven’t announced a season yet.

― The New Blockader (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 18 April 2026 15:49 (one week ago)

Crazy. Is there a location yet? Back in February I read :

The venue that is being currently explored as a possibility is the DAR Constitution Hall near the White House.

https://operawire.com/national-symphony-orchestra-looking-for-new-venue-to-perform-during-kennedy-center-renovation/

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 18 April 2026 18:58 (one week ago)

no announcement—haven’t had the heart to ask the ushers if they have scuttlebutt

― The New Blockader (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 18 April 2026 20:00 (one week ago)

I am a subscriber so I assume I would hear as soon as possible if a new season is announced.

― The New Blockader (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 18 April 2026 20:01 (one week ago)

I have updated my April music events calendar Steve blogspot .

Something I added that I didn't mention earlier here was some Filmfest DC movies. My wife and I saw "The Essence of Eva" about vocalist Eva Cassidy, a Bowie, MD raised singer who in the late 80s and early 90s sang locally, put out a duets album of jazz, blues, and soul standards with Godfather of go-go Chuck Brown, and a live at Blues Alley release. She sadly died of cancer at age 33 and became a posthumous star in the UK and Europe thanks to her versions of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" and a Sting song

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 25 April 2026 02:37 (two days ago)

There's a drama film at Filmfest DC Saturday night with an actress playing the role of Egyptian singing legend Ulm Kulthum.

On Sunday - "Gloria !" film as part of Filmfest DC 4pm @ MLK Library (In 1800 Italy Teresa discovers a beautiful instrument (a pianoforte) in a storeroom. Teresa's revolutionary "music machine" gathers an amazing quartet of young women: the most dynamic musicians of Sant Ignazio) *

Unrelated to Filmfest DC but showing on Sunday is -- *Razz doc director's cut plus additional footage (Jeff Krulik & Richard Taylor film about 70s era dc proto-punk rock band) 3 pm @ Greenbelt Cinema followed by Razz at the Bayou footage 6-8 @ New Deal Cafe* *

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 25 April 2026 02:42 (two days ago)

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