Going Out Gurus Archive by Category

Radiohead Tickets: More Than a (Nice Dream)

Take Mom to see Thom Yorke and Radiohead this weekend! (Mark Humphrey /AP) Q: When is a sold-out concert not a sold-out concert? A: When tickets become available late in the game. Tickets for Radiohead's Mother's Day gig at Nissan...

By Fritz Hahn | May 8, 2008; 02:48 PM ET | Comments (4)

May Mixtape

In this edition of the mixtape, you'll find plenty of stuff to make you dance (Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Hot Club of Cowtown), reminisce (Polvo, Urban Verbs) and lay down and do nothing (Pontiak, Ida). "Where's Da G's"...

By David Malitz | May 7, 2008; 04:07 PM ET | Comments (2)

Nightlife Agenda

Miss Kitty Victorian welcomes you to the new Golden Triangle Cabaret. (Nate Lankford for The Washington Post) This week, a new burlesque night appears south of Dupont Circle; singles party outdoors in Reston; bands make a mysterious return to Comet...

By Fritz Hahn | May 6, 2008; 05:57 PM ET | Comments (1)

Top 5 May Shows at Which You Are Most Unlikely to Find a New Girlfriend

Hey guys, are you single and want it to stay that way? Then consider hitting up these five May shows, because the likelihood of finding a new lady friend -- or any lady at all -- is pretty slim. "No...

By David Malitz | May 2, 2008; 11:12 AM ET | Comments (1)

Best Bets for Cinco de Mayo

Monday is Cinco de Mayo, and for the next four days, there are a lot of parties on our plate -- some barely or only slightly tangentially related to the Mexican army's great victory over the French forces at the...

By Fritz Hahn | May 1, 2008; 02:11 PM ET | Comments (3)

Nightlife Agenda

It's Cinco de Mayo weekend, so there are parties, margarita deals and mariachis galore, but don't miss a benefit for Mt.Pleasant fire victims, a DJ battle and happy hour at the Phillips Collection, the "Booze for Boobs" fundraiser, an Oscar...

By Fritz Hahn | April 29, 2008; 05:46 PM ET | Comments (0)

Nightlife Agenda

It's a great weekend for doing good, as bachelorette auctions, '80s parties, bar crawls and live music benefit charities. Also contained in this week's column: old-school hip-hop, an appearance by South African singer Goapele, a gathering of top house DJs,...

By Fritz Hahn | April 22, 2008; 05:50 PM ET | Comments (1)

Podcast: The Child Ballads

Searching for Stewart Lupton could have made for a decent little documentary back in 2004. If you typed his name into Google a few years ago, the first batch of returns would simply be people asking where he was and...

By David Malitz | April 17, 2008; 02:23 PM ET | Comments (2)

Nightlife Agenda

There's a little something for everyone in this week's column -- local DJs getting their mid-week groove on at Modern, Lounge 201 and Fly; the long-awaited Child Ballads album-release party; old-school house music in Fairfax; and a ?uestlove DJ set...

By David Malitz | April 15, 2008; 05:14 PM ET | Comments (3)

Podcast: These United States

These United States get around. The local alt-folk-pop band is wrapping up a six-week national tour Sunday at the Black Cat. Led by Jesse Elliott, the band features a rotating cast of characters that almost always includes multi-instrumentalist J. Tom...

By David Malitz | April 10, 2008; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Nightlife Agenda

This week's column is full of Bhangra Blowout parties; some great local bands, including a homecoming show for These United States; an exclusive Hot Chip DJ set; beer tapping parties for charity; beer pong for charity; the search for the...

By Fritz Hahn | April 8, 2008; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (4)

April Mixtape

It's a month of impressive double bills. Les Savy Fav + the Dodos, the Dirtbombs + Kelley Stoltz, the Felice Brothers + Justin Townes Earle and Monotonix + Dark Meat account for almost half of this month's songs. Also be...

By David Malitz | April 4, 2008; 05:58 PM ET | Comments (0)

Nightlife Agenda

There are no excuses for not catching some great local rock on Friday night; bars (and Clydesdales) celebrate 75 years of legal beer drinking; hip-hop legends Biz Markie and Slick Rick perform; Sasha and Digweed bring their reunion tour to...

By Fritz Hahn | April 1, 2008; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (2)

Nightlife Agenda

Check out chart-topping Rick Ross and local hip-hop veterans the Package, meet Thievery Corporation DJ and restaurateur Eric Hilton, get an introduction to experimental music at the Velvet Lounge, attend an '80s prom and sample California beers or traditional rum...

By Fritz Hahn | March 25, 2008; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (2)

Nightlife Agenda

There's lots going on this week, including St. Patrick's Day parties, the Clash and Godzilla on the big screen, a benefit concert with a deep lineup of hip-hop and go-go acts, and a party where you'll be denied admission unless...

By Fritz Hahn | March 12, 2008; 06:10 PM ET | Comments (2)

Best Bets for St. Patrick's Day

Even though St. Patrick's Day falls on a Monday this year, most pubs and bars will still be hauling out the tri-colored flags and green bunting on the 17th. Here's my advice on where to celebrate that day, with an...

By Fritz Hahn | March 11, 2008; 04:39 PM ET | Comments (15)

March Mixtape

The word legend gets thrown around a lot, but March brings more than a few to town. Boogie piano icon Pinetop Perkins visits Glen Echo, sax great Maceo Parker will make the State Theatre funky and a couple of underground...

By David Malitz | February 29, 2008; 06:46 PM ET | Comments (1)

New Nightlife Agenda Podcast

Canadian electro-rapper Cadence Weapon fuses sounds old and new at DC9 on March 6. (Epitaph) Rhome is off on a beach, but David and I bravely soldiered on and recorded a new Nightlife Agenda podcast. This episode features music by...

By Fritz Hahn | February 29, 2008; 05:21 PM ET | Comments (0)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

A few weeks ago, we had the Wammies, the much-derided local music awards ceremony. In the spirit of "If you want something done right ...," D.C.'s finest reggae musicians are getting together this weekend for the 11th annual D.C. Reggae...

By Fritz Hahn | February 28, 2008; 09:28 AM ET | Comments (0)

Livin' on a Prayer

We know there are more than a few Guru readers who are also major Bon Jovi fans, and that's why we have this blaze-of-glory moment to offer you. Mr. New Jersey himself (and opener Daughtry) are coming to town for...

By Anne | February 22, 2008; 05:32 PM ET | Comments (1)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

Keren Ann brings her globe-trotting pop sound to the Black Cat on Feb. 27. (Courtesy of Blue Note Records) You'd be forgiven for feeling slightly uncomfortable at a Daniel Johnston (listen) show. Imagine standing there watching someone who you know...

By Fritz Hahn | February 21, 2008; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

Nightlife Agenda Podcast and Pick of the Week

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week Just released on DVD this week, the documentary "Africa Unite" adds a new dimension to the existing body of work that aims to capture Bob Marley's musical and cultural legacy. This film records Bob's...

By Fritz Hahn | February 14, 2008; 03:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

Radiohead at Nissan Pavilion, May 11

Radiohead at Nissan Pavilion? It just seems so ... normal. The British rockers, who broke all the rules with the release of last year's "In Rainbows," have announced dates for the first leg of their American tour and it will...

By David Malitz | February 12, 2008; 12:48 PM ET | Comments (10)

New Nightlife Agenda Podcast

Virtuoso jazz pianist Robert Glasper is coming to the University of Maryland to perform a free show. (Jessica Chornesky) It's February, so David, Rhome and I are back with the latest Nightlife Agenda Podcast. This one covers the period between...

By Fritz Hahn | February 1, 2008; 05:40 PM ET | Comments (6)

February Mixtape

There should be a little something for everyone on this month's mixtape from jazz (Robert Glasper) to country (the Wrights) to soul (Anthony David) to hip-hop (Sole & the Skyrider Band) to rock (Jason Isbell) to local indie rock (the...

By David Malitz | January 31, 2008; 05:19 PM ET | Comments (5)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

We haven't talked about Jukebox the Ghost (listen) too much, but it's not because we're ignoring them. It's because we have a bit of a conflict of interest: Guitarist Tommy Siegel was a City Guide intern a few semesters back....

By Fritz Hahn | January 24, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

New Nightlife Agenda Podcast

A Buffalo Tom reunion has the Gurus feeling nostalgic for "My So-Called Life." (ABC) The latest edition of the Nightlife Agenda podcast went online yesterday (Jan. 15), featuring Rhome, David and me talking about six concerts taking place in the...

By Fritz Hahn | January 16, 2008; 02:12 PM ET | Comments (4)

January Mixtape

This January is an unusually rich month, thanks in large part to a solid Millennium Stage lineup that features folkie Jenny Owen Youngs, roots rockers Hoots and Hellmouth and the "Italian Tom Waits," Vinicio Capossela. Also be sure to check...

By David Malitz | January 4, 2008; 02:42 PM ET | Comments (2)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

DJ Will Eastman's calendar already includes a Friday night residency at Metropolitain, the champagne bar underneath Adams Morgan's Napoleon bistro, and the long-running Bliss indie/electro monthly at the Black Cat, but we're always glad when he can squeeze one of...

By Fritz Hahn | January 3, 2008; 03:00 PM ET | Comments (1)

Local Mixtape, 2007

I'll skip the long-winded introduction. Below are 20 songs by local artists that did the good thing for me in 2007. As I always say, I hesitate to call this a "best of" list and prefer to call it a...

By David Malitz | December 21, 2007; 02:15 PM ET | Comments (5)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

Lucky Dube triumphed over oppressive socio-political realities to achieve international success as a South African reggae ambassador, and when he was senselessly murdered in October, it left fans around the world reeling with grief. Dube began his career crafting songs...

By Fritz Hahn | December 13, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (1)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

A large article in Tuesday's Metro section focused on how Hanukkah is helping turn Jewish music hip, and you'll get firsthand proof Saturday at the historic Sixth and I Synagogue with the Eighth, a concert featuring the LeeVees and DeLeon....

By Fritz Hahn | December 6, 2007; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (1)

December Mixtape

Live music pickings are pretty slim in December as many bands stay off the road and take it easy for the holidays. No big deal. That just makes for a convenient time to feature some worthy local acts. There should...

By David Malitz | November 30, 2007; 06:16 PM ET | Email a Comment

Living in the Past

Some people talk about nostalgia as if it's a bad thing. The promoters behind Heaven and Hell's '80s night -- now in its 14th year! -- can tell you that's not the case. Call it a quirk of fate, but...

By Fritz Hahn | November 29, 2007; 05:56 PM ET | Email a Comment

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

As huge as go-go music is in D.C., it's never been able to establish a foothold outside of the Beltway. That changed for a brief period in 1988, when Experience Unlimited -- EU to their fans -- made an unforgettable...

By Fritz Hahn | November 15, 2007; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (1)

November Mixtape

The next-to-last mixtape of the year features the worldly sounds of Caetano Veloso, Mum and Vieux Farka Toure, local sounds from Benjy Ferree, Thao Nguyen and Georgie James, and twangy sounds from Robert Earl Keen and Alejandro Escovedo. All those...

By David Malitz | November 2, 2007; 12:47 PM ET | Email a Comment

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

If the brand-new Carlyle Club wasn't built with Doc Scantlin and His Imperial Palms Orchestra in mind, it may as well have been. Alexandria's new supper club, inspired by legendary art-deco nightspots in New York and Chicago, features beautiful leather...

By Fritz Hahn | November 1, 2007; 12:30 PM ET | Email a Comment

November Spawned a Mozzer

Last week, as I was sifting through the hundreds of e-mails that greeted me upon my return from a week of vacation, I found one that especially caught my eye: "$35 Tickets Released for Morrissey at DAR Constitution Hall!" A...

By David Malitz | October 31, 2007; 05:11 PM ET | Comments (2)

Happy Hump-Day Halloween

Most Halloween parties at bars and clubs took place over the weekend -- some of us needed to sleep in on Sunday morning -- but there are more than a few events around the area on Wednesday night. Here's our...

By Fritz Hahn | October 29, 2007; 04:47 PM ET | Comments (4)

Not Just Another Show at the Red & the Black

Go to enough shows and they all start to blur together. I've been to about a hundred this year and while this doesn't prevent me from having a good time and getting into the music when it's worth getting into,...

By David Malitz | October 29, 2007; 01:42 PM ET | Comments (1)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

TV on the Radio isn't quite big time but they are at least big time. A featured slot at Virgin Festival, sold-out two night stand at the 9:30 Club, major articles in magazines that your parents might have even heard...

By Fritz Hahn | October 25, 2007; 12:00 PM ET | Email a Comment

New Nightlife Agenda Podcast

Got a free night this week? David, Rhome and I suggest going out to see some live music. The latest episode of our Nightlife Agenda Podcast includes audio clips from six artists playing in Washington over the next seven days:...

By Fritz Hahn | October 24, 2007; 12:49 PM ET | Email a Comment

DAM! Festival Preview/Mini-Mixtape

It's almost CMJ Music Marathon time up in New York so you know what that means ... DAM! Festival time here in D.C. Oh, we kid, we kid. But the local indie-rock festival, now in its second year, is obviously...

By David Malitz | October 9, 2007; 04:50 PM ET | Email a Comment

Clap Your Hands For a Third Show

All's well that ends well. Earlier this week, the Rock and Roll Hotel refunded 100 tickets to a pair of November shows by wait-am-I-still-allowed-to-like-them-or-are-they-not-cool-anymore? Brooklyn indie-rockers Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. It wasn't because the shows were canceled, but because...

By David Malitz | October 4, 2007; 05:48 PM ET | Email a Comment

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

It's a good thing that the 9:30 Club doesn't have a marquee, because there's no way the following would fit: Gypsy Eyes Records, ESL Music, the Federal Reserve, Proper Topper and the DC Public Library Foundation Present A Fund Raiser...

By Fritz Hahn | October 4, 2007; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (3)

October Mixtape

It's a good month for fans of indie pop, as bands such as the Brunettes, Caribou and the Lodger come to town. Also check out minor jazz icon Kidd Jordan, Israeli punks Monotonix and 15 more, after the jump....

By David Malitz | October 2, 2007; 05:36 PM ET | Comments (12)

New Music From Local Bands

Two of D.C.'s most hyped bands -- Georgie James and Le Loup -- are featured in this latest look at the local music scene, but a below-the-radar debut by singer-songwriter John Bustine proves very worthwhile as well....

By David Malitz | September 26, 2007; 05:01 PM ET | Comments (6)

Still More on the Fillmore

Today's press conference about the Fillmore's arrival in Silver Spring was short on actual news, but all about saying the right things. County Executive Isiah Leggett was asked why the original plan, which involved the Birchmere, called for the concert...

By Fritz Hahn | September 26, 2007; 04:12 PM ET | Email a Comment

Jazz, Family Style

During yesterday's Got Plans? chat, there were a number of questions I wasn't able to answer because we ran out of time. Here's one from a reader in Arlington: Gurus, My parents and 18 year old brother are visiting the...

By Fritz Hahn | September 14, 2007; 02:14 PM ET | Comments (2)

New Music From Local Bands

Another week, another look at some releases from local bands. This time around: the chilled-out hip-hop of Panacea, radio-ready rock of Juniper Lane and classic pop/rock of the Beanstalk Library. Words and music, after the jump....

By David Malitz | September 11, 2007; 05:37 PM ET | Email a Comment

November = Old Dudes Rock Month

There's a production that opens next week at the Verizon Center called Walking With Dinosaurs. But November at the Verizon Center may as well be called Rocking With Dinosaurs, as stars of the AARP segment of the rock-and-roll circuit will...

By David Malitz | September 10, 2007; 04:23 PM ET | Email a Comment

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

What is it about the beginning of September that makes everyone want to throw a music festival? Okay, it's Labor Day, that last gasp of summer when people might be looking for any excuse to head outdoors. That makes sense....

By Fritz Hahn | September 6, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Email a Comment

September Mixtape

As we enter the last third of the year, lots of my favorite acts have already rolled through town. You won't be seeing the likes of Dan Deacon, the Black Lips or Jay Reatard on here because they've already been...

By David Malitz | September 5, 2007; 05:34 PM ET | Email a Comment

New Music From Local Bands

It's time to check in on some more local acts with new tunes. In this edition we feature new releases from roots rockers Justin Jones & the Driving Rain, D.C. indie rock icon Travis Morrison and the ever-pleasant roots-folk stylings...

By David Malitz | August 30, 2007; 02:14 PM ET | Comments (2)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

Time has flown by, but it's been 15 years since Dr. Dre unveiled "The Chronic," the most influential hip-hop album of '90s. Packed with P-Funk samples, gangsta boasting and endless dissing of Eazy-E and Tim Dog, the lyrical highlights of...

By Fritz Hahn | August 30, 2007; 12:00 PM ET | Email a Comment

Feeling Festive

What is it about the beginning of September that makes everyone want to throw a music festival? OK, it's Labor Day, that last gasp of summer when people might be looking for any excuse to head outdoors. That makes sense....

By David Malitz | August 27, 2007; 06:06 PM ET | Email a Comment

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

It's an embarrassment of riches on Sunday night for fans of that increasingly hard to define genre of "indie rock." There are five very worthy shows, so let's give a quick rundown of our three favorites. Full writeups can be...

By Fritz Hahn | August 23, 2007; 08:00 AM ET | Email a Comment

August Mixtape

Things tend to slow down on the touring circuit in August, with much of the summer concert season over and many bands gearing up for fall adventures on the road. Personally, I'm very much looking forward to August as three...

By David Malitz | July 31, 2007; 06:01 PM ET | Comments (1)

Virgin Festival Schedule Released

Heading out to Pimlico next weekend for Virgin Festival? Now you can start planning your hour-by-hour itinerary. The schedule was just released, check it out after the jump....

By David Malitz | July 26, 2007; 01:44 PM ET | Comments (25)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

We're too young to have experienced d.c. space, but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate it. Starting in the 1970s, the F Street spot was one of the first venues in the city to embrace punk, as well as other...

By Fritz Hahn | July 26, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (1)

New Music From Local Bands

There's more new music to be heard from local acts that will be on area stages soon. This week find out about (and listen to) new music by pop-punk upstarts the Dance Party, psych-popsters Donny Hue and the Colors and...

By David Malitz | July 25, 2007; 05:52 PM ET | Comments (1)

New Music From Local Bands

In the latest installment of this irregular series, find out about (and listen to) new local music. This edition features Baltimore's finest roadhouse rockers, J Roddy Walston and the Business, Maryland hip-hop crew Educated Consumers and promising post-punkers Zulu Pearls....

By David Malitz | July 20, 2007; 11:15 AM ET | Email a Comment

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

Bohemian Caverns scores a major coup this week with back-to-back shows featuring Les Nubians, the acclaimed Francophone sisters who began their love affair with America right here in Washington. The breezy Afropop and nu-soul of Les Nubians' debut caught fire...

By Fritz Hahn | July 12, 2007; 12:00 PM ET | Email a Comment

A Little Live Earth for D.C.

It won't be quite the spectacle as originally planned, but there will be a Live Earth event on the National Mall tomorrow. As reported earlier this morning by J. Freedom du Lac, a mini-Live Earth concert will take place tomorrow...

By David Malitz | July 6, 2007; 10:46 AM ET | Comments (1)

Today is the Greatest Day

If you wanted to see the reformed Smashing Pumpkins at the Virgin Festival but don't feel like stumping up the $97.50 to see the band on a huge stage in the middle of a racetrack, here's some amazing news: The...

By Fritz Hahn | July 3, 2007; 01:53 PM ET | Comments (11)

July Mixtape

It's summertime, and without really even thinking about, July's mixtape is kinda summery, at least by my standards. Sure, it starts off with the Pope of Mope, but then things pick up with the Latin grooves of Pacha Massive, Balkan...

By David Malitz | June 28, 2007; 04:45 PM ET | Comments (4)

A Guide to Free Summer Music

There's plenty of free music to be had in the Washington area during the summer months, but quantity does not always equal quality. While D.C. can't be expected to match New York when it comes to free entertainment, you'd think...

By David Malitz | June 12, 2007; 05:11 PM ET | Comments (9)

Discounts Don't Give Us the Blues

Blues Alley consistently brings in some of the top names in jazz and R&B, but seeing a show there can be expensive. On top of the usual ticket prices ($25 to $45 for better-known musicians), each patron gets hit with...

By Fritz Hahn | June 6, 2007; 06:21 PM ET | Email a Comment

June Mixtape

It's summer concert season, and in this edition of the mixtape we cover shows big and small, from international sensation Manu Chao at Merriweather to local "progressive hardcore" group Mass Movement of the Moth at Warehouse Next Door. Also: El-P,...

By David Malitz | May 31, 2007; 02:14 PM ET | Comments (3)

Fort Reno Dates Trickling In

One of the final, um, rites of spring is waiting to find out which bands will be performing at the long-running Fort Reno Summer Concert Series, the annual event that brings free music to Fort Reno Park every Monday and...

By David Malitz | May 23, 2007; 02:40 PM ET | Comments (9)

New Music From Local Bands

A couple of CD release shows this weekend and one more next weekend, as we look at new albums by Let's French, No Second Troy and Bellman Barker....

By David Malitz | May 18, 2007; 12:15 PM ET | Email a Comment

Georgie James Signs to Saddle Creek

When we first talked with Georgie James last March, they hadn't even played a show and had only a seven-song demo EP to their name. Even so, it was apparent that the group was destined for big things. The band...

By David Malitz | May 15, 2007; 03:47 PM ET | Comments (1)

New Music From Local Bands

A slew of local bands have CD release shows coming up, so let's take a quick look (and listen) to some of them. I'd like to make this an at least semi-regular feature, so if you are in a local...

By David Malitz | May 9, 2007; 06:43 PM ET | Comments (18)

May Mixtape

The May Mixtape may be the most obscure edition yet in our continuing series. But hey, that's cool, a better chance to discover some new favorites. I generally try to avoid sold-out shows in these columns, so that's why you...

By David Malitz | April 30, 2007; 05:31 PM ET | Comments (5)

Six Points Music Festival Tip Sheet

In its fourth year, the Six Points Music Festival seems to be finding its identity. Past editions have felt thrown together and lacking in any real focus; there was little to distinguish the festival from any other weekend of shows...

By David Malitz | April 10, 2007; 01:17 PM ET | Comments (1)

April Mixtape

Welcome to this month's mixtape. Hopefully you'll discover some new music, reacquaint yourself with some old favorites or at the very, very least find some bands to avoid at all costs in the future. If there's a band you like...

By David Malitz | March 30, 2007; 07:01 PM ET | Comments (5)

Dismemberment Plan Tickets On Sale ... NOW!!

This caught us off guard, but tickets for the Dismemberment Plan show on April 27 are on sale through Ticketmaster right now. There is a 4-ticket limit this time around. Get them while you can....

By David Malitz | March 7, 2007; 05:36 PM ET | Comments (5)

The Dismemberment Plan To Add Second Show

Bummed because you got shut out this afternoon while trying to score tickets to the much-anticipated Dismemberment Plan reunion show next month? Don't go paying exorbitant prices to heartless scalpers on Craigslist just yet. (It's a benefit show for a...

By David Malitz | March 2, 2007; 06:01 PM ET | Comments (3)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

DJ Dave Nada seems to be everywhere these days, dropping his lethal mix of Daft Punk, Baltimore club, electro, indie-rock remixes and hip-hop classics on Wednesdays at Vegetate, random weekends at Wonderland, house parties, underwear parties at Rock and Roll...

By David Malitz | February 28, 2007; 06:24 PM ET | Email a Comment

March Mixtape

March is one of the busiest touring months of the year because just about every band in the world tries to schedule shows on the road to Austin for SXSW. We feel the reverberations even 1,500 miles away. So instead...

By David Malitz | February 27, 2007; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (9)

Wammie Time

Last Sunday we had the Grammys, this Sunday we have the Wammies. The local music awards show -- Washington Area Music Awards, if you want to be all formal -- certainly has a few things in common with the national...

By David Malitz | February 16, 2007; 02:13 PM ET | Comments (1)

Thievery Corporation at the Black Cat For a Great Cause

It's always nice to see the town rally around a good cause, and that's exactly what's happening in regards to Callum Robbins. Fritz recently wrote about the tragic story of the 1-year-old son of J. Robbins and Janet Morgan, two-thirds...

By David Malitz | February 8, 2007; 02:23 PM ET | Comments (1)

February Mixtape

Time for your monthly mixtape and guide to some of the best live music options in town in February. A few notes before we begin. 1) Everything linked here is legal -- I think. I'm not trying to get fired...

By David Malitz | January 29, 2007; 05:20 PM ET | Comments (7)

Sufjan Stevens Ticket Giveaway Update

While we have absolutely no interest in leaving the confines of our warm office on this bitterly cold day, our colleague over at the Post, Chris Richards, headed to the Kennedy Center to see if the Sufjan Stevens Ticket Giveaway...

By David Malitz | January 26, 2007; 02:34 PM ET | Comments (22)

Our Love

You know you've been wanting to see Justin Timberlake ever since he sold out that 9:30 club gig in record time. His Verizon Center show on Feb. 2 can accommodate a few more fans, but lots of the seats are...

By Anne | January 11, 2007; 04:48 PM ET | Email a Comment

Alright! Lily Allen Comes to 9:30 Club

Don't you hate it when a non-American performer or band comes to the country for a few shows and skips the nation's capital? It seems wrong, and yet it seems like it happens quite often. Not this time, though. Delightfully...

By David Malitz | January 11, 2007; 04:47 PM ET | Comments (1)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

One of the biggest success stories of the last few years is the growth of Blowoff, the DJ night run by legendary guitarist Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar) and remixer/producer Richard Morel (New Order, the Pet Shop Boys). The duo's...

By Fritz Hahn | January 11, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Email a Comment

Where to Hear Reggae Riddims

Yesterday in Got Plans?, a Washington reader put forth a simple query: "Hot places in D.C. to hear reggae -- band or DJ. Go!" OK, not so much a question as a command, but you get the idea. We didn't...

By David Malitz | January 5, 2007; 02:01 PM ET | Comments (2)

January Mixtape

Elvis Costello once said, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." To that I say, calling yourself Elvis when your name is really Declan isn't much better. But anyway, it's always nice to be able to hear some tunes...

By David Malitz | January 2, 2007; 04:49 PM ET | Comments (9)

David's 10 Favorite Local Albums of 2006

Before we get to my 10 favorite local albums of the year, I'll give the usual caveats. I'm not calling this "Top 10" or "Best of" or whatever, I'm calling it "Favorite" for a reason. These are simply the 10...

By David Malitz | December 27, 2006; 04:01 PM ET | Comments (3)

Sleeping Out for Sufjan?

Those of you hoping to catch indie-folk star Sufjan Stevens' free performance at the Kennedy Center as part of the Feb. 5 Millennium Stage 10th Anniversary Celebration might want to cancel any plans for the evening of Friday, Jan. 26....

By David Malitz | December 15, 2006; 11:56 AM ET | Comments (2)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

Fans of jazz piano have one more weekend to get themselves down to HR-57 to catch Eric Lewis, who's been holding down the 14th Street club with his trio every Friday and Saturday this month. Formerly a member of the...

By Fritz Hahn | December 14, 2006; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (1)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

Nearly six months after its launch party, Gypsy Eyes Records finally has GYP-001 ready to go. Shortstack's "The History of Cut Nails in America" proves to be worth the wait, as the local quartet hones its twangy, throwback country sound...

By Fritz Hahn | November 2, 2006; 10:00 AM ET | Email a Comment

DAM Festival Brings the (Indie) Rock to D.C.

Every autumn, music fans in the D.C. area are likely to feel a twinge of jealousy when the lineup for New York's annual CMJ Music Marathon is announced. And it probably happens again in the spring when South by Southwest...

By David Malitz | October 19, 2006; 03:43 PM ET | Comments (3)

New Music From Local Bands

It's a busy time for local bands releasing new albums. Let's take a closer look at three groups -- The Jet Age, Soft Complex and the Hard Tomorrows -- holding CD release shows this week, break down their sounds with...

By David Malitz | September 15, 2006; 02:25 PM ET | Comments (1)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

As consistently disappointed cheerleaders of local music, we hold these truths to be self-evident: that D.C. based hip-hop artists and go-go music will never become national phenomena. And just when we're convinced of that declaration, one new voice on the...

By Fritz Hahn | August 31, 2006; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (11)

A Night at the Hotel

Joe Englert and his partners plan to open eight bars on H Street NE, and they're halfway there. This past weekend, in the neighborhood that he may revitalize almost singlehandedly, Englert unveiled his biggest venture: the Rock and Roll Hotel....

By David Malitz | August 28, 2006; 06:32 PM ET | Comments (3)

Nightlife Agenda Pick of the Week

Back in May we welcomed Gypsy Eyes Records, a new local label that launched with an impressive showcase at the 9:30 club, featuring Americana-tinged acts Shortstack, Revival, These United States and Brandon Butler. In the months since then ... not...

By Fritz Hahn | August 24, 2006; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (2)

9:30's Sleater-Kinney Show Postponed

Last night's Sleater-Kinney show at the 9:30 club came to an abrupt end before it even really got started. According to the club's message board: "As soon as Pepco and the Fire Department ascertained that [the billowing, smelly smoke] wasn't...

By Julia Beizer | August 2, 2006; 11:06 AM ET | Comments (2)

Unlikely Sites for Outdoor Music

Everyone knows the usual spots to hear live music -- your clubs in the city, pavilions out in the 'burbs and arenas downtown. But during the summer that list of spots expands, and this weekend is a perfect chance to...

By David Malitz | June 21, 2006; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (3)

Rock on Screen

Thursday is already shaping up to be one of the busiest music nights of the year. You've got plenty of big names in town -- Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint at Wolf Trap, Sonic Youth at the 9:30 Club, Marshall...

By David Malitz | June 14, 2006; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (1)

Finally: Fort Reno

The long-awaited Fort Reno schedule has finally been posted on the organizers' Web site, fortreno.com. It's obviously still a work in progress -- 22 of the 57 slots are TBA -- but the fleshed-out calendar features a number of bands...

By Fritz Hahn | June 12, 2006; 12:59 PM ET | Email a Comment

What They Do is Stupid

David and I both paused when we received the latest Black Cat schedule. Saturday, August 5, the club hosts the Germs. As in the notoriously volatile L.A. punk band known for "Lexicon Devil," "Sex Boy" and "Shut Down (Annihilation Man)."...

By Fritz Hahn | June 9, 2006; 10:00 AM ET | Email a Comment

Fort Reno Show Announced

We finally know when Fort Reno is starting: Thursday, June 15. We finally know who's kicking off the legendary summer concert series: Gist, with support from Diacritical and our favorite local band, TBA (who somehow usually manages to get on...

By Fritz Hahn | May 25, 2006; 03:38 PM ET | Comments (3)

Ute Lemper Concert Canceled

We excitedly discussed a free concert by German chanteuse Ute Lemper in the Nightlife Agenda Podcast and in this week's e-mail newsletter. Sadly, we just received word from the National Gallery of Art that tomorrow afternoon's performance "has been cancelled...

By Fritz Hahn | April 28, 2006; 03:06 PM ET | Email a Comment

Back to School

Just because you're not in college anymore doesn't mean that you can't take advantage of the big spring concerts at local universities. Though these shows are meant for students, they offer great chances for the public to catch top acts...

By | April 21, 2006; 09:48 AM ET | Email a Comment

Get Boss-y

Bruce Springsteen is coming back to the area, and if you thought the E Street Band was big, wait until you get a look at his backing band this time around. According to an announcement today on his Web site,...

By | April 17, 2006; 05:51 PM ET | Comments (5)

Where Are They Now?

If you're asking about random musical acts from the '80s and '90s, the answer is "In D.C., this summer." Why is it that bands you haven't heard about in 10-15 years get up and tour once the spring/summer concert season...

By Julia Beizer | April 5, 2006; 03:06 PM ET | Comments (6)

Ta'mar and Prince's Hit and Run

Offices all around the Washington area are feeling an acute employee drain this morning, and it's not only because people are calling in "sick" to enjoy the summer temperatures. Many of the people whom you might see on a day-to-day...

By Rhome Anderson | March 13, 2006; 11:10 AM ET | Comments (8)

Rock For Breakfast

From a sold-out Madison Square Garden to ... Lulu's? Weird. From multi-platinum alt-rock superstars to complete irrelevancy to ... Lulu's? OK, that makes a bit more sense. Both of those descriptions fit the bill for this St. Patrick's Day, though....

By Fritz Hahn | March 2, 2006; 05:51 PM ET | Email a Comment

Six Points -- What's the Point?

It's not exactly CMJ or SXSW, but the D.C. area does have its own music festival. The Six Points Music Festival today announced the lineup for its third edition, which will present shows featuring more than 40 bands in a...

By | March 1, 2006; 05:06 PM ET | Comments (9)

Black Cat Goes Smoke-Free (Twice)

Want to take a peek into the future, all the way to the year ... 2007? You'll have the chance on Saturday evening, as the Black Cat's main performance area goes smoke-free for the show featuring spiky-but-sweet San Francisco experimental...

By Fritz Hahn | January 26, 2006; 05:19 PM ET | Comments (8)

Music to Mark on Your Calendars

What am I looking forward to in the music world in 2006? Well, I'm looking forward to not knowing what I'm looking forward to, if that makes sense. I'm excited about being blown away by some heretofore unknown opening band,...

By | January 12, 2006; 04:39 PM ET | Comments (4)

Rhome's 2005 CD Picks

I buy a lot of music. Sometimes there's so much of it crowding my shelves that I don't get around to listening to new things for months. But these two purchases managed to stay in constant rotation even when other...

By Rhome Anderson | December 30, 2005; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (1)

David's Top 10 Songs of the Year by Local Artists

I've always had a slight aversion to year-end lists, especially when it comes to music. There's just so much out there that it's impossible to hear everything, even if you limit yourself to the local scene. And there's simply no...

By | December 29, 2005; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (5)

Free 9:30 Club Shows For an Entire Year

If you've ever been on the guest list for a concert, you know how great it is to walk up to the box office, slide your ID to the person behind the window and say, "I'm on the list." Imagine...

By | December 13, 2005; 03:57 PM ET | Email a Comment

Mos Def Appearing as Advertised

One of the 9:30 club's most anticipated shows of the year -- and that's saying a lot -- is scheduled to go on as advertised, despite rumors to the contrary. Mos Def and Talib Kweli -- two of hip-hop's brightest...

By | November 21, 2005; 05:23 PM ET | Comments (4)

Watch Out for Animals

Food for Animals is making some noise, both literally and figuratively. The local electro-hip-hip duo has garnered lots of well-deserved acclaim for its relatively low-profile 2004 release, "Scavengers," on promising area label Muckamuck. "I don't write novels yet I write...

By | November 10, 2005; 10:57 AM ET | Comments (2)

Bring the Noise, Bring the ... Noise

When considering music genres associated with D.C., most people will either think of go-go, an almost entirely local sensation spearheaded by the likes of Chuck Brown, Troublefunk and E.U. in the early '80s, or the slashing, passionate indie rock favored...

By | October 28, 2005; 11:43 AM ET | Email a Comment

You on U2

By now, you may have read J. Freedom du Lac's review of Wednesday night's U2 concert. Now it's your turn to play pop music critic: What did you think of the U2 shows at MCI Center? If you attended both,...

By Jen Chaney | October 21, 2005; 01:28 PM ET | Comments (12)

U2 Can Still Get Tickets, Part Two

The last-minute release of U2 tickets from Ticketmaster -- as reported Friday on the GoG blog -- still didn't hook you up? Here's one more way to potentially snag seats to see Bono and co. Tonight and tomorrow at 7...

By Jen Chaney | October 17, 2005; 11:33 AM ET | Email a Comment

U2 Can Still Get Tickets

Thanks to a tip from a reader who has become my new best friend, I discovered that Ticketmaster is doing a ticket drop for next week's U2 shows. What does this mean? It means that, if your timing is right,...

By Jen Chaney | October 14, 2005; 04:20 PM ET | Email a Comment

Get There Early ... and Pay Attention

You're the opening act at a concert. To the majority of the people in the crowd, you're just up there to pass the time. They converse with their friends and act like you aren't even there. And those are the...

By | October 12, 2005; 05:13 PM ET | Comments (3)

The Long Goodbye

As we've reported before, Alice Despard recently sold Arlington indie-rock hangout Galaxy Hut to longtime bartender Lary Hoffman. Lary took over on the first of September, which happened to be the same day Alice pulled her last bartending shift. This...

By Fritz Hahn | September 23, 2005; 01:30 PM ET | Email a Comment

Paying Tribute to Keter Betts

Local jazz legend Keter Betts was scheduled to play at the Westminster Presbyterian Church's weekly concert on Friday night. Sadly, Betts, who spent years playing bass with Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, passed away Saturday. He was 77....

By Fritz Hahn | August 10, 2005; 06:15 PM ET | Email a Comment

Please Enjoy

Beck is back. The man who covets both Jenny From J.C. Penney and her sister (I think her name's Debra) is going on tour; his D.C. date is Oct. 5 at the George Mason Patriot Center. Tickets are $40 and...

By Jen Chaney | August 10, 2005; 02:35 PM ET | Comments (1)

Wrap Your Ears Around (The Sounds of) Kaleidoscope

To describe local quintet (The Sounds of) Kaleidoscope as a psych-pop band would be fairly accurate, but not entirely. Psychedelic? Yes. But retro? No. Pop? Yes. But simple? Not at all. The band, which concocts a heady mix of swirling...

By | July 22, 2005; 10:17 AM ET | Comments (5)

First the Bad News...

Bad news for local music fans: Alice Despard is selling Galaxy Hut, the intimate Arlington pub that made a name for itself by booking little-known indie-rock bands (including the Strokes and Godspeed You! Black Emperor); offering free live music three...

By Fritz Hahn | July 20, 2005; 01:10 PM ET | Email a Comment

Q and Not U, Not Much Longer

Come fall, the Washington indie-rock scene will be without its biggest name. Agit-punk trio Q and Not U announced yesterday its impending breakup. The band -- consisting of singer-guitarist Chris Richards, guitarist Harris Klahr and drummer John Davis -- is...

By | July 8, 2005; 01:11 PM ET | Comments (3)

A Night at the Opry

Finding great country music on the radio in this town can be a chore. But every Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. on 88.5 WAMU-FM, the brilliant Eddie Stubbs hosts two hours of classic country music. His program is a...

By washingtonpost.com | June 30, 2005; 12:43 PM ET | Comments (4)

Sunday Soul at Takoma Station

Washington-based crooner Raheem Devaughn's star keeps rising even though it's taken two years for Jive Records to finally release his "Love Experience" album. I guess that's what happens when you're stuck below the Pied Piper of R&B on the corporate...

By Rhome Anderson | June 24, 2005; 04:29 PM ET | Email a Comment

Run for Cover

There is plenty of great music in town on Saturday night, from the sold-out Sleater-Kinney show at the 9:30 Club to Odetta at Blues Alley. But if you're looking for flat-out fun, the place to be is the Black Cat,...

By | June 23, 2005; 03:31 PM ET | Comments (10)

White Stripes for Fall

Jack and Meg White, aka the White Stripes, will bring their tour to Merriweather Post Pavilion for an early fall show. The band's publicist announced a Tuesday, Sept. 27, concert for the pair, who are on tour in support of...

By washingtonpost.com | June 20, 2005; 01:27 PM ET | Email a Comment

X: The Unheard Country Music

I realize Aug. 12 is a long way off, but I've already circled the date for the Knitters reunion-tour concert at the Birchmere. A countryish side project of the great L.A. punk band X, the Knitters released one wonderful album,...

By washingtonpost.com | June 17, 2005; 11:45 AM ET | Email a Comment

Time for Fort Reno

It may not be official until June 21, but summer in D.C. starts tomorrow night. That's when this year's Fort Reno summer concert series kicks off with performances from Gist, Sentai and the Rude Staircase. It took a long while...

By | June 15, 2005; 12:23 PM ET | Comments (4)

Bob in Bowie

No offense to the fine folks of Bowie, Md., but it's not often that I find myself wanting to head out there from Arlington in the middle of rush hour. But tonight, nothing will stop me. That's because the one...

By | June 14, 2005; 12:16 PM ET | Comments (1)

Last Minute Music Plans

Okay, it's Friday afternoon and you still haven't finalized plans for the weekend, have you? Well, don't give up hope. There are a pile of promising concerts/shows that haven't sold out yet. So instead of pleading with some soulless scalper...

By washingtonpost.com | June 10, 2005; 12:57 PM ET | Comments (2)

Not Just 'Hava Nagila'

Is it possible that the hippest music venue in the Washington area this week won't be the 9:30 Club, Black Cat, IOTA or any other of the regulars but ... the D.C. Jewish Community Center? Don't laugh; the sixth annual...

By | June 7, 2005; 02:39 PM ET | Comments (1)

Vans REALLY Warped Tour

You have to wonder how bad your band has to be to NOT make the cut for the Vans Warped Tour. By our quick count, it looks like 75 to 80 artists are scheduled to perform on eight stages when...

By washingtonpost.com | June 6, 2005; 03:03 PM ET | Comments (7)

Live 8 Update

As Joe mentioned yesterday, the Live 8 concert line-ups have been announced. You can read this article for all the details, but here's the basic rundown: London's got Coldplay, Paul McCartney, Madonna, R.E.M. and U2; Philly offers Will Smith, Bon...

By washingtonpost.com | May 31, 2005; 12:01 PM ET | Comments (3)

Live 8

Rumors swirled for weeks that Live 8, a concert planned to mark the 20th anniversary of the Live Aid concerts, was going to be held in Washington in early July. The rumors, unfortunately, turned out not to be true. But...

By washingtonpost.com | May 30, 2005; 10:49 AM ET | Comments (2)

Cheapest 9:30 Show Ever!

The 9:30 turns 25 this month and to celebrate the club is hosting a free show Sunday night featuring the venerable D.C. band the Slickee Boys. There will also be a screening of the documentary "930 F Street." Doors open...

By washingtonpost.com | May 27, 2005; 03:45 PM ET | Email a Comment

I'm Wound Up, Chuck

For Chuck Brown's fans, it seems that "We Need Some Money" has become more than a favorite song. When the Godfather of Go-Go played at the D.C. Armory with Trouble Funk, Rare Essence and E.U. last month, tickets were $50...

By washingtonpost.com | May 25, 2005; 11:26 AM ET | Comments (2)

Plastic People of the Universe

When bands like Coldplay think that they have it rough they should just think of the Plastic People of the Universe and stay quiet. Sure, Chris Martin may feel like a slave to shareholders, but at least he wasn't thrown...

By washingtonpost.com | May 23, 2005; 03:33 PM ET | Email a Comment

Rap in Springfield

For whatever reason, the D.C. region hasn't produced its fair share of rap and hip-hop artists. Certainly not in comparison with other cities of similar size. It may have something to do with there not being enough quality hip-hop venues....

By washingtonpost.com | May 20, 2005; 12:54 PM ET | Comments (2)

Eric Roberson

Howard University alum Eric Roberson may have carved out a career crafting tunes for other big R&B stars like 112 and Musiq Soulchild, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know how to flourish when the spotlight is squarely on him....

By washingtonpost.com | May 13, 2005; 03:54 PM ET | Comments (1)

The Stones at MCI

Here's the first bit of interesting news: The Rolling Stones are still alive. Here's why that matters: The aging rockers have announced a concert for Monday, Oct. 3, at the MCI Center. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10...

By washingtonpost.com | May 10, 2005; 03:12 PM ET | Email a Comment

System Of A Down

This just in: System Of A Down will play a long-rumored club show at the 9:30 on Wednesday. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m. Tickets for the show will go on sale...

By washingtonpost.com | May 6, 2005; 05:39 PM ET | Comments (4)

Battle of the Beats

Is there a 5th element of hip-hop? Once one acknowledges the basic four pillars of b-boying (breakdancing), dj'ing, rapping and graffiti art, it can get a bit fuzzy. Some have tried to make a case for beatboxing. Others have tried...

By washingtonpost.com | May 6, 2005; 12:00 AM ET | Comments (1)

Erasure Postponed

Erasure had sold-out shows scheduled for the 9:30 club for last night and tonight but both shows have been postponed according to the 9:30's Web site. No reason is offered for the postponement, but the dates have already been rescheduled....

By washingtonpost.com | May 3, 2005; 02:23 PM ET | Email a Comment

California Concert Carpetbaggers

If it isn't bad enough that we live in a region that doesn't have a single decent high-profile radio station willing to play anything other than mainstream music, now we have to suffer the indignity of having concerts being "presented"...

By washingtonpost.com | April 28, 2005; 03:53 PM ET | Comments (18)

EVO at ESL

Here's some late breaking news but not too late to inject some flavor into your hump day. While it's increasingly the playground of "spirited" groups of young professionals, historically Eighteenth Street Lounge is the home of a coordinated vibe of...

By washingtonpost.com | April 26, 2005; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (4)

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