In the News
Brett Callwood, for the veteran publication Music Connection, interviewed Melina Afzal about the origins of her distinguished career running sound at DC9 and other venues. She got her start running sound at the H St. NE burlesque spot Palace of Wonders, where I first met her as my girlfriend back then made costumes for Trixie Little and Lil Dutch. Then she booked my idea for a DJ night spinning all DC music called “Hometown Sounds” upstairs at the Argonaut. Fifteen years later, here we are now. Shout out to Mel!
Get your calendars out. Jackson Sinnenberg at CapitalBop picks out some choice jazz shows for July.
Stereogum is really into the new album Next Time by DC punk band Bacchae. Tom Breihan named it the Album of the Week.
Music Video
At the intersection of hip-hop and jazz, MC and producer Kokayi continues to pioneer spontaneous composition with a distinct DC flavor. The new single “Mama Drum” just appeared on YouTube with visuals from a long-standing DC institution, the Sunday afternoon drum circle at Malcolm X Park. If you’ve got even an ounce of rhythm, we highly recommend grabbing anything remotely percussive and joining in, or dancing if the spirit moves you. In an accompanying IG post, Kokayi wrote “Shout out to all the rumberos, teachers, masters of the craft, singers of sacred songs, gatherers of vibe, orisha vessels, clave holders.” For more vibes, check out the consistently active Friends of Malcolm X Park Drum Circle Facebook group. For more Kokayi, reserve a free pass to see Kokayi & friends perform Friday evening at the Folger Shakespeare Library.
Don’t Stay In Your Air-Conditioned House, Even Though It’s Hot Out
Monday July 8th
Fort Reno season is upon us! To those who haven’t yet taken in DC’s long-running punk-affiliated summer concert series, here’s the primer. On Mondays and Thursdays in July, and fingers crossed into August, three DMV band bills start around 7:15 PM. Bring chairs, a blanket, your dog, a picnic dinner, or grab some Whole Foods carryout nearby. No glass bottles, no fireworks, and no cover charge. The 2024 inaugural lineup features garage punks little a, cowpunks Ligatures, and psychedelic post-punks Flash Hits.
Tuesday July 9th
Saxophonist Brad Linde, guitarist Nelson Dougherty, and drummer Keith Butler Jr. are names you might recognize from DC’s expansive jazz scene. As the jazz trio Dream Feeder, they’re releasing their debut album Everything at Once Tuesday night at Rhizome, with help from tuba/guitar duo Illusion Transmitter.
Thursday July 11th
Pinky Lemon’s Bandcamp bio is one perfect word: “shoegays”. At the end of 2022 they released their debut EP Pinky Heaven, and now its sinful companion Pinky Hell is out in the world on streaming and cassette. Songbyrd hosts the release show Thursday night with indie pop bff’s Pretty Bitter and Cuni.
Honorable mentions:
Carillon (Ken Quam from Ra Ra Rasputin!), STEPH, Dead Rainbows at Fort Reno
Wanted Man (single release!), Blunda at Black Cat’s Red Room
Friday July 12th
“Dark Americana songstress” Annie Stokes headlines the new downtown Fairfax venue Earp’s Ordinary Friday night, with Baltimore psychedelic folk musician Miles Gannett opening.
Saturday July 13th
Dexter’s Lab was a ska/punk band out of Wheaton that played their last show in 2005, and their website is an absolute time capsule with a guestbook, a broken counter and links to Myspace. They buried hatchets, picked up axes and relearned the hits for a reunion show Saturday night at Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring, along with DC bands Batsnack and Chach.
Sunday July 14th
Power pop trio Massie, fresh off murdering us last week with their music video “Lost Mary”, headline 7DrumCity’s show space The Pocket Sunday night. Big Girl from NYC take the midspot, and Ekko Astral singer Jael Holzman celebrates her birthday with a new project called slutmoon, so that means show up on time.
Honorable mention:
That’s a Wrap
We hope to see you at a show real soon. Stay lively.
-PV