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.

I see that some Canadian dance company Le Patin is still scheduled to bring a blend of dance and skating to an ice rink installed on an outdoor Kennedy Center plaza from Feb 17 to Feb. 22. I guess the company decided they can't afford to cancel or move that. The K Ctr website says they're gonna have seats out there for $35 each. I wonder if people will go?

x-post - a decade or so ago George Washington U used to pay someone to coordinate booking shows at Lisner but then GW decided to save money and drop that person (and Lisner has largely sat empty). It was also easier for musicians from Africa and elsewhere to come to the US to tour then, so both local promoters and Putumayo and others did shows there back then.

I sorta knew that Lisner curator who ended up moving elsewhere

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/777992/swing-beat-what-it-means-for-local-artists-to-cancel-shows-at-the-kennedy-center/

Interesting article on how some local jazz acts haven’t cancelled at Kennedy Center because they need the $ and /or don’t want to give up the building to Trump.

i’ve gotten two donation begging emails just this month, which is very unusual considering it’s the first month of the tax year. The latest one literally says “Imagine Washington without the Trump Kennedy Center” which is an odd way of phrasing it, especially if you have been telling everyone about your record breaking fundraising. Also, I can easily imagine Washington without the Kennedy Center. Considering Grinnell is a Trump-level liar and slanderer perhaps maybe they aren’t raking in the MAGA cash?

ICE out of everywhere rally meeting in response to killing in Minnesota is happening at 6 pm in Hancock Park in DC near L’enfant Metro

That’s today Saturday

Was going to go to the National Symphony tonight until I got an email about all the security measures at the Kennedy Center because of the fucking "Oligarchs Only" red carpet premiere of "Melania: The Film Colon Movie" at the same time. Didn;t want to be bothered, made amngry, I was afraid I'd do something that would get me disappeared.

Sorry. I haven't been to Kennedy Center in a long time now. I see in NY Times, wash Post, etc. that a guy they hired two weeks ago to do programming at Kennedy Center just suddenly quit without explanation.

I talk about the Kennedy Center too much here, I know, but I don’t do social media or the Washington Post forums and classical music blogs are all ideologically “bad the Arts are a gloriously non-political refuge where right and left can put apart their differences to commune with the Muses”

I think the Washington Post classical music critic irritated some by expressing some support for those objecting to what the Trump admin has done to Kennedy Center

Meanwhile, a Washington Post freelancer's article on "dance music" clubs in DC is focused nearly entirely on techno, with just one sentence about how club Culture also books afrobeats, hiphop, and some Latin music. No mention of amapiano dance nights that also happen in dc area, or countless Latin ones. Yes, Transmission (in old rnr hotel space on h St ne) and Behrta in old BET space, are focused mainly on techno, but just call it techno dance music and don't pretend people don't dance around dc area to afrobeats, amapiano, various Latin styles, old folks hand dancing, lotsa styles at glen echo

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/01/29/dance-clubs-dc/

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

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

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

Washingtonian has an article on how weird it was for NSO fans at the Kennedy Center the night Melania doc also was shown there

https://washingtonian.com/2026/01/30/kennedy-center-regulars-did-not-enjoy-the-melania-premiere/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newspack%20Newsletter%20%28778410%29&utm_source=612a4959fd&utm_source=Editorial+and+Events&utm_campaign=3f39019ee4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_01_30_04_26&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-3f39019ee4-403152024

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

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

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

thanks!

also, Trump is closing the Kennedy Center apparently lol

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

Welp. Sad, as a certain person might say.

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

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

whither Shear Madness

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

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

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

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

jesus

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

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

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

lol “900 square foot beaux arts pavilions”

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

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

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

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

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

Next up: Memorial Bridge, the airports, Amtrak.

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

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

Uh oh

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

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

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

Uh oh

this keeps crashing my browser (google chrome)

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

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

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

City Paper was trying to fix tech issue.

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

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

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

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

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

I haven't heard either album yet.

From Baltimore Banner:

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

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

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

Pitchfork covering Topshelf Records dropping Ekko Astral after recent issues

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

seems like none of the jazz releases though

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

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

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

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 .

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

proud papa

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

lol

Grinnell is a fucking moron like all of them

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.