Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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.

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...

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

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...

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

dc-improv-announce-owner@yahoogroups.com

salsanews@aol.com

the blow_up@hotmail.com

bw_zydeco@yahoo.com

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.

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.

March 31 Colin Newman from Wire with others gig at Pie Shop!

It's on H St. NE and it's pretty sick

They sell pies and have music upstairs, usually new very very obscure local rock bands, but once in awhile if a touring band can't get a gig elsewhere they play there

For some reason, the March for Science is today near the Lincoln Memorial and in other parts of the US and not on a non-workday of Saturday

More weekday protests this week- Department of Education one on Tuesday March 11 that afge is involved with; there are veterans protests at noon friday March 14 at capitol buildings in all 50 states and DC

Wednesday morning protest @ US Senate bldg Hart Atrium in Washington DC against continuing resolution bill that will cut DC funding by 1 billion, among other things, while increasing defense budget

I previewed for the Washington City Paper Spring Arts special the New African Film Fest @ the AFI Silver that includes 29 films in 2 weeks starting March 14; plus I previewed Dylan in the Movies that opens @ the AFI Silver April 4.

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/759898/2025-spring-arts-guide-films-to-see/

I previewed Georgetown Prof Maurice Jackson's upcoming talk on his Dec 2024 book Rhythms of Resistance and Resilience: How Black Washingtonians Used Music and Sports in the Fight for Equality, at Politics and Prose, March 26. My little preview covers some of the book but doesn't make clear how the book spells out how the Washington Senators baseball team and the Washington R-dskins football team were 2 of the last teams to employ Black players. One nitpick I have of this book which covers pre-70s Black music and sports is that it really doesn't cover dc soul fully - no Jewels, no Bo Diddley studio in DC . Jackson is more into jazz .

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/759952/2025-spring-arts-guide-book-recommendations/

For the music part of the Washington City Paper Spring Arts special, I pitched many gigs, and my editor asked me to preview 4 of them-- Sonido Gallo Negro @ Comet; Mt Pleasant Block Fest w/ Los Piranas; Denzel Curry @ Fillmore; & Jlin @ Library of Congress. Those 4 previews are included w/ more from others in the link

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/760223/2025-spring-arts-guide-concert-recommendations/

Trump's cutting more fed employees at fed agencies, and Schumer's doing a book tour and the rest of the Dem Senators and Reps do soundbites but not action or civil disobedience

Schumer book tour cancelled for security reasons.

So the attempt to shut down Voice of America could also mean shutting down its program Music Time in Africa, that has aired since 1965. It's also unclear what will happen to Music Time in Africa archives.

For now the website links to 500 episodes hosted by Heather Maxwell who was based in DC but went across to multiple African countries as well. Prior to Maxwell, the late great Leo Sarkisian who died at 97 and traveled the world recording musicians , and did programs from DC was in charge

https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7866550.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJEfxNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYgdikYWrsM_5waGSSVLlku41gUMjDGw1TKcmrlVIr4uSdcKZjdE6MhQBg_aem_aM3inYbputivkhPDBljpYw

DC punky power pop band Bad Moves are gonna do a final US tour and a few dc dates before breaking up after 10 years together

Marc Bumuthi Joseph, Artistic director of Kennedy Center Social Impact division just got fired as did some other folks there. Not good. He did strong work there

While it sounds easy and simple for some to say musicians and performers should not perform there, it’s not that easy a choice for some less wealthy artists.

Some artists have played there and then spoken out from the stage or unveiled anti-Trump t-shirts. Some artists have had trouble rescheduling gigs elsewhere in dc

2024 article on Bumuthi Joseph

https://www.washingtoninformer.com/marc-bamuthi-joseph-kennedy-center-social-impact/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/03/26/kennedy-center-social-impact-team-trump/

Ugh, tonight a stupid Trump executive order re the Smithsonian

I previewed Friday night's 40th anniversary go-go show by Northeast Groovers at the Howard Theatre. It won't be a standard go-go show

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/761163/northeast-groovers-turn-40-freak-slug-could-be-the-next-big-thing-city-lights-for-march-27-april-2/

Here's the link with my Northeast Groovers preview

Ugh, tonight a stupid Trump executive order re the Smithsonian

Anybody into U of MD basketball. What a mess

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/kevin-willard-leaves-maryland-for-villanova-in-messy-departure-following-terrapins-sweet-16-run/

Went to a discussion of old school dc club , dc space today . Space existed from 1977 to 1991 at 7th and E NW . There’s a coffee shop there now. Owner Bill Warrell spoke as did former employees Cynthia Connolly, Claudia Joseph, and Dot Steck. In the early years Space had a lot of avante garde jazz, poetry including late poets Greg Tate and Reuben Jackson, performance artists like Essex Hemphill, and Bob Boilen brought John Cale there and some local dc artsy rock bands. Later it had lots of Dischord punk groups, Steve Albini bands , and other touring punk bands and various local rock bands. Heavy Metal Parking Lot premiered there too.

The dc space event was at the Palisade Hub in upper NW off of Cathedral. NBC 4 news guy Mark Segraves hosted it .

Colin Newman from Wire ambient artsy project at Pie Shop tonight Monday

While I liked the new Colin Newman from Wire project it’s pretty mellow and I stayed home and worked on my April dc area global music and more concert calendar. It’s now posted again at steve ( last name ) blogspot

I like that I found an Eden Center event for doc movie about 80s Vietnamese teens in California called New Wave. Also found a new club hosting reggae singer Luciano on Georgia Ave. I can’t keep up with all the hardcore punk bands playing all over and there’s now a dc hardcore dot com website listing those . I included some of em.

saw a go-go talk this morning at the dc history conference. There's a pre-punk dc rock talk by Marc Opsasnick at the conference tomorrow, and Glen Friedman talk to Ian Mackaye Sunday at MLK. A busy Sunday afternoon-

Photographer Glen Friedman presents Fearless Vampire Killers, Bad Brains photos in conversation with Ian Mackaye from 1:30 to 3 @ DC History Conference

Mt. Pleasant Block Fest w/ skateboarding demo & photo contest @ 11am; 1 pm: DJs Leon City Sounds & Vinyl Record Market w/ 7 vendors; 2 pm: Motherf*#kers JMB & Co instrumental psychedelic drone with Geologist (Animal Collective), Jim Thomson (GWAR, Electric Cowbell), and Marc Minsker free; 2:45 pm: Los Pirañas for free (Colombian psych cumbia ) (If it rains the 2 bands will play @ Haydees)

Joe Boyd - And the Roots of Rhythm Remain book @ 3 @ Politics & Prose (Nick Drake & REM producer w/ new book on global sounds)

Saw on Instagram James Funk & Proper Utensils do a nice go-go version of 803 Fresh's "Boots on the ground (where them fans at) " and a youth go-go group do a not so good version.

I went to the latest Pete Duvall curated music-themed photo and artifact exhibit at the Brentwood Art Exchange. It's his best of the 3. In the first one I saw there on dc punk, he had a description on the wall thing that mistakenly said the Cramps played at the University of MD, when they did not. Ian Mackaye, who he referenced in that description, has said in several interviews that seeing the Cramps at Georgetown University Hall of Nations building was life-changing for him. Seeing the Cramps subsequently at the Warner Theatre and Ontario Theatre was a big deal for me. But back to Pete Duvall, skateboarder/photographer/curator. So his next exhibit there on go-go misspelled the name of photographer Antonia Tricarico. So this latest exhibit there has him curating photos of behind the scenes shots at dc area gigs, gig flyers, and there are actual pieces of the original 930 Club and a sign from dc space. This exhibit has his most photos and the least written explanations on the walls. In a very long video with countless photos, he misspells "Rhizome" once. So that's progress and while the video has way too many John Shore photos of backstage at SOJA shows, there are lots of great Chris Grady photos at Rhizome and Black Cat, and some great John Shore ones of Chuck Brown standing in the Howard Theatre before it got renovated. On the wall are some good Chip Py photos of backstage at go-go too.

I forgot to mention a great Chris Grady photo of Alec Mackaye and Mary Timony

I previewed tonight's April 24 Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat gig at the Museum of Asian Art Freer building. The Vahdat sisters, who were barred like all women from singing in public in Iran, fled to the US in 2017.

I also previewed next Tuesday's April 29 Youssou N'Dour gig at the Strathmore

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/762800/to-do-this-week-in-dc-vahdat-wallace-pink-floyd/

Better late than never steve k blogspot May dc area concert calendar is posted

and have now updated concert calendar with more gigs . Westminster Church didn't post their Monday blues gigs till today. I also missed a few other shows at various venues I thought were worth adding.

Thanks!

Capital Bop changed the look of their website recently but they still have a very detailed jazz gigs calendar

2 GW students who are graduating this semester and likely moving elsewhere per a City Paper article, have put together a dc indie rock compilation and a Plenty Happening Local Compilation benefit for gender affirming care Friday May 9 w/ Flowers for the Dead, Spring Silver, Toro, Brnda, Zach Basile ( of Home Remedies) at Black Cat.

This 2024 blog post by one of the GW students is entertaining at times https://gwradio.com/i-went-to-all-10-of-the-washington-posts-cant-miss-summer-shows/

RIP Jimi Dougans , conga player & vocalist of DC ‘s Young Senators who helped set the path for go-go, & backed Eddie Kendricks . His wife noted his May 5 passing. In 1972 the group was invited by former Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks to back him on his People Hold On album & join his tour.

I previewed Friday's Etran de L'Air gig @ Pearl Street Warehouse for Washington City Paper. 100 % Sahara guitar

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/763564/etran-de-lair-rhiannon-giddens-dc-events/

Does anyone want a free ticket to Roger Clark Miller’s (the Mission of Burma guy) concert at Rhizome on Friday, May 9? Let me know through the mythical ilxmail and if I figure it out I’ll transfer it to you.

Friday was a busy night of music. I saw Etran de L'Air at Pearl Street do their Saharan rock thing, which was fun.

The stages at Pearl Street Warehouse and Union Stage are too low, so if you're standing in the back it's hard to see.

I'm not generally an electronic dance music listener, but I previewed JLin and like some of her footwork style funky electronic dance and some of her avante-electro collabs with Kronos and Bjork so I went to her free show at the Library of Congress. Plus was curious about a gig like that taking place there in the main Great Hall. LOC regulars and tourists seem to be the main audience Thursday night (my guess) . LOC free shows all seem to "sell out" in advance and then many folks don't show. I bet more electro fans might have gone if they knew it was possible to have just shown up and gotten in. Other than my preview of the gig in the City Paper Spring Arts guide it didn't get much attention in the places that I see.

It's a cool 2 level building with art frescos and was wild to see her dj'ing not too many feet away from the glass case with the Gutenberg bible, a Thomas Jefferson sculpture, and Jefferson's book collection.

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/764043/what-to-do-in-dc-ramona-bernice-johnson-reagon-city-lights/

I previewed the celebration of the late Bernice Johnson Reagon show at Strathmore tonight

Thought about going to Jlin but it’s a schlep from where I live and the 7 pm start time wasn’t great for me

Ah.

I went last night to the Bernice Johnson Reagon tribute at Strathmore. The remaining Freedom Singers were inspiring. Toshi and band were good . Lots of guests

Some June 21 DC area gigs- Home Rule Fest w/ Imani-Grace Cooper, Farafina Kan African drummers, New Impressionz, Backyard Band go-go @ Walter Reed; Peterbug Fest ;
Positive Force @ St Stephens; Giant Barbeque Fest w/ go-go; Adobo DMV ; Buddy Guy, Kingfish Ingram @ Wolf Trap; Ohio Players @ Birchmere

Positive Force 40th aniv. news via Mark A's FB: PF is moving the Friday 6/20 and Saturday 6/21 shows into the St. Stephen's sanctuary, which should allow them to add at least 200 more people, to the benefit gigs

https://www.lechemag.com/home/adobo-the-flavorful-movement-uniting-the-dmvs-global-community?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKaMT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpxgmunUez4rQQVvtLVsOjzpyQvwjf4kL0rR1gRy9i-k4Sq17BOF5jUjsTXmy_aem_WMq1pOCkBPybur-B7OiRJg

Article on the Adobo DMV DJ party with DJ Pedro Night

https://bsky.app/profile/ekkoastral.bsky.social/post/3lpmihue6gs2q

Ekko Astral bluesky thread of dc rock and indie pop bands they like

So I have updated my concert calendar a bit with *Luciane Dom & band @ Creative Alliance in Baltimore (good Brazilian singer from Rio) tonight, Artscape this coming weekend plus other stuff . Look for the *asterisks* Should have done a heads up here about the late addition of the Bourbon & Bluegrass fest that had Swamp Dogg

steve k @ blogspot

Here in Arlington there was a failed restaurant called “Chicken & Whiskey” so that’s what I keep think the “Bluegrass and Bourbon” festival is.

It seems like the pricey barely publicized “Bluegrass and Bourbon” fest was not marketed to a music crowd