In the News
Michael J. West’s CityPaper monthly jazz-about-town column Swing Beat profiles songwriter and vocalist Changamiré upon the release of her crowdfunded, long-dreamed-of tribute album Seeking Billie: The Unusual Tribute to Billie Holiday. This twisty tale is worth a read.
HarDCore fans of DC punk rock know all about the Fugazi Live Series, where Dischord Records archives, rates and sells live recordings of hundreds of sets by Fugazi for only $5 each. Now they’re branching out, releasing selections from this catalog to streaming apps and Bandcamp each month, starting with the first and last shows ever. Nina Corcoran at Pitchfork has more details.
Bandcamp’s Erick Bradshaw penned a wonderfully comprehensive profile of Teen-Beat Records, which started in Arlington by Mark Robinson and released a heap of snappy indie rock in the 90s from Unrest, Air Miami, Tuscadero and more.
Don’t Stay Home This Week
Monday May 5th
Pianist and composer José Luiz Martins brings a dose of Brazilian style from his hometown São Paulo to his contemporary jazz creations. His quintet, featuring Alex Hamburger on flute, Alex Browne on bass, John Lee on guitar, and Dana Hawkins on drums, kicks off a tour to celebrate the release of his fourth full length album Odyssey Mixtape at Blues Alley Monday night.
Tuesday May 6th
A tromba marina is a triangular bowed string instrument used in medieval and Renaissance Europe that was highly popular in the 15th century in England, and is now considered by some an “unprofitable instrument”. Experimental artist Alma Laprida both builds and performs on them, and roped in Rachel Beetz, Nate Scheible and Brian Weitz (a.k.a. Geologist of Animal Collective) to form an improvisational quartet to bring them new life. Tuesday night Rhizome takes a field trip to Tonal Park Studios in Takoma Park to present The Tromba Marina Quartet supporting a special recording project by Trondheim, Norway based bassist/composer Jordan Sand.
Wednesday May 7th
Comet Ping Pong helps us over the hump Wednesday night with NYC’s big & brassy Ghost Funk Orchestra, with opening sets from DC indie rocker J. Teal (f.k.a. Teenage Aviation) and Go Mod Go!, a DC supergroup helmed by drummer & producer Tom Barrick (of the band Adam West) featuring Jake Starr and Mx Mundy.
Honorable mention:
Lifted, Androgynous Bulge (Baltimore), and Overlight Penchant at Rhizome
Thursday May 8th
DG the Artist brings heavily caffeinated chaotic energy to his rap and hyperpop music, celebrating both his 25th birthday and the release of his new album You Deserve The World Thursday night at The Pocket, with an opening set by DC rapper FM Wu. Get a taste for his flow in this music video for “GET IT”, filmed in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Honorable mention:
Friday May 9th
GW grads and WGRW programmers Max Cohen and Carolina Carmo devoted themselves to the niches of DC music that felt the most welcoming and meaningful during their time here. As they prepare to graduate and move to other locales, they organized a benefit compilation called Plenty Happening as both a snapshot of those sounds here and now, and a way to help out transgender youth through the nonprofit Whitman-Walker Clinic. This release deserves celebrating, and the Black Cat provides the stage Friday night for contributing acts Flowers for the Dead, Spring Silver, Toro, BRNDA, and Zach Basile of Home Remedies. Check out Taylor Ruckle’s interview of Cohen and Carmo about this project over at the CityPaper.
Honorable mentions:
Cinema Hearts, Teens in Trouble (Raleigh) & Bat Boy (Richmond & Philly) at The Pocket
Bassmasters, Courage Mother, Suppai Helwa (Baltimore), and Czonka at Atlas Brew Works in Ivy City
Saturday May 10th
Your Saturday night cup runneth over with worthy choices of live music, as you can see in the honorable mentions below. We’d like to draw your attention to some funky indie rock at 7DrumCity’s The Pocket with Columbia MD band Miss Moon headlining, joined by Empris & The Gems from Baltimore and DC newcomers Neon Habits.
And now, the honorable mentions:
Mantagonist & Ammonite at Streetcar 82 Brewing in Hyattsville
Pretty Bitter, Kat & The Hurricane (Madison WI), and Jem Wilde at Quarry House Tavern
Sunday May 11th
Wrap up the 19th week of 2025 Sunday night back at The Pocket with swirly sweet indie pop vocals from Sabrina Movitz and Glosser opening for touring Philly songwriter Sophie Coran.
Don’t Forget the Playlists
We hope you’re staying hydrated and mentally healthy, friends. Always look after each other, and support the musicians by buying some releases. We’ll see you next week.
-PV