In the News
The irony is dark that the current administration has chosen to target and inflame hysteria at the trans community, just as the music scene here in DC affiliated with and supporting the trans community has never been stronger or more exciting. Washington CityPaper’s Taylor Ruckle spoke with some of its more prominent creatives, including Rosslyn Station’s Guinevere Tully, Jael Holzman of Ekko Astral, Rusty Knives of DMV Trans Punk Alliance, Miri Tyler of Pretty Bitter, and Demeter Capsalis of Druid Stone. Keep your eyes on Ekko Astral’s social media feed for info about an upcoming music festival in May to support the Gender Liberation Movement, and email Holzman at EkkoAstralDC@gmail.com if you can help sponsor the event.
Mark Jenkins at WaPo [gift link, no need to give the billionaires your money] interviewed musical couple Mike Andre and Amanda Huron, previously of Puff Pieces and now in art-rock band Sensor Ghost, about the differences between the two. If you missed their album release show at Haydee’s this past weekend, mark your calendars for April 7th when they join DC’s Continuals opening for Chicago trio FACS at Songbyrd.
For jazz-focused site CapitalBop, Joshua Myers recaps the early March set by the ad-hoc quintet led by trumpeter Thad Wilson at Takoma Station.
CityCastDC’s Nicole Schaller celebrates Women’s History Month by devoting their monthly Local Music Guide to women artists, including Ari Voxx, Birthday Girl DC, Prinze George, Cinema Hearts, Massie, Pretty Bitter, and more. Here’s their well-curated Spotify playlist:
Post-hardcore/power-pop band Shudder To Think originated in DC and made three influential albums on Dischord Records in the early 90s before going major and disbanding in 1998. Frontman Craig Werden now has a successful career crafting soundtracks and theme music for shows like Yellowjackets, Shrill, and The State. Both Stereogum and BrooklynVegan recap the recent Shudder To Think reunion shows in L.A. ($5 cover!), whose setlist includes a new song.
DC Music Video
Back in January, synthpop band Color Palette headlined a sold-out show at the Pie Shop that included yours truly spinning some MP3s between bands. While I huddled behind my laptop ordering songs, video artist Stephanie Sapienza crouched next to me to manage the visuals projected behind the band, which were way above and beyond what I’ve seen recently at shows. Sapienza also filmed the band’s whole set and condensed it into this music video for the new single “Grateful”.
It’s So Nice Out, Don’t Stay Home
Monday March 17th
Bad weather postponed Indie/neo-soul singer Brandin St. Clair’s show last month at Blues Alley, but this Monday night she and her band The Green Room grace the Georgetown jazz club stage for two sets at 7 and 9:30. The flyer says February, but this show is a go for now!
Wednesday March 19th
“Saviors”, the first single from A Shrewdness of Apes’ new EP prog-stoner-rock Mythology, “is based on an original story of polytheistic demigods emerging in a dystopian future and toppling the government.” Get a lot more of this vibe at their EP release show Wednesday night at Vienna VA’s Jammin’ Java, with DC-area openers Sol Reactor and R-NØT.
Honorable mention:
Right Chipper, XK Scenario, and Attic Sessions at DC9
Friday March 21st
There’s some great honorable mentions for this Friday night, but ska-punk band Kill Lincoln takes the cake. At their recent album release show at the 9:30 Club, we witnessed trombone player Ume jump from the balcony into the crowd, catch his trombone, and keep playing while crowd-surfing back to the stage. After this show, Ume heads to Japan to fill in with HEY-SMITH as an unofficial international ambassador of ska music, so let’s keep him safe Friday night at the Black Cat along with Cali bands OMNIGONE and Half Past Two, plus DC ska band The Maka Sticks.
Honorable mentions:
Czonka, Eleganus (Harrisonburg VA), Swoll (Baltimore) at Rhizome
Trash Boat and the Ambush, Average Joey (Pittsburgh), Rosslyn Station at Chacho’s Distillery
Saturday March 22nd
Some shows at Mt. Pleasant’s Haydee’s fly a bit too under the radar, so we are delighted to signal boost. This Saturday night three-band bill features gothic synth punks Jester & The Mad Pranksters, hardcore punk band Hostile Mind, and West Virginia rockers Michael Maverick and The Chaos Effect. The excellent and free app DC Music Live didn’t have this listing, nor did hyper-focused newcomer dc-hardcore.com. We found it on Facebook, because we are on team old, but we still dream of a post-Zuckerberg music ecosystem.
Honorable mention:
Bad Moves, S.L.O.G. (Minneapolis), Slut Intent (also Minneapolis) at Comet
Sunday March 23rd
Another weather-related reschedule! Soul and ska singer Caz Gardiner’s January set at Clarendon vegan-friendly bar Galaxy Hut got snowed out. This Sunday night she and her band are back to blow your socks off, at 9 PM sharp, but get there early to nab a coveted seat with a good view.
Honorable mention:
Fiona Kohrman, Sad Veiled Bride, Deer Scout + Pinkie Normal (Chicago/NYC), and Katy Pinke (NYC) at Rhizome
Playlists
We hope you found something new to like in this roundup, and we’d love to say hello at a show soon. Let us know what you’re into, what we all need to know about. See you next week.
-PV