Greg Ormont, frontman of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, is widely recognized for his vibrant stage presence and magnetic connection with audiences. Known for his signature sound, thrashing ringlets, infectious grin, and unmistakable sense of humor, Ormont has become a central figure in the modern jam scene. His leadership continues to define Pigeons Playing Ping Pong’s spirited blend of funk, rock, and improvisation, inspiring both devoted fans and a new generation of live music enthusiasts. Hailing from Baltimore, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, or 'Pigeons' for short, consists of Greg Ormont and Jeremy Schon on guitar, Ben Carrey on bass, and Alex "Gator" Petropulos on drums. Though Ormont leads lyrically and vocally, the band functions as a true vocal ensemble, with every member adding their own voice in the mix. Their dedicated and extensive fanbase dubbed "The Flock" is known to travel alongside as they tour the country, filling venues and festival lawns with the same pure joy and positive vibes that the Pigeons themselves embody.

Despite the jam-packed weekend at Ramble Festival 2025—with Schon appearing as Artist at Large, Gator performing with Infinity Tribe, and Ormont leading his Scrambled Greg kids’ set—we were able to sit down with Ormont, ahead of that evening’s double-headlining show.  He opened up about the band’s ongoing evolution, their deep connection to the jam-band community, and the release of their latest album, Feed The Fire.

DC Music Review:  How does it feel to be headlining Ramble Festival? Are you guys excited for your double set tonight?

Greg Ormont:  We are stoked. We love the people who throw this (Brick and Jay), and to be in the home state playing two sets it's awesome. We're gonna let her rip!

Have you (Pigeons Playing Ping Pong) played Ramble? I know you've done the kids set.

The band has not, but we actually met these guys when they were helping us with our festival Domefest and they were in the early days of talking about this music festival... they saw how we do things (at Domefest) and it's really incredible to see these seeds of ideas blossom into this whole community that's bigger than the festival itself. I mean people love Ramble and we're included. I'm super proud of them and they should be proud too.

Tell me about the new album.

We're thrilled with the new album! It's called Feed the Fire... just released! I love this new album; we wouldn't put it out if we didn't love it and and this one feels really great. It's a big mix of our different styles and it's a bunch of new things too. For instance, our bassist (Ben Carrey) sings on the record for the first time as lead. and he did a great job on a song called Hit the Ground Running. And we've had new collaborations like Wes Bailey from Moon Taxi on the title track and some familiar collaborations like Chalk Dinosaur on a couple tracks and our friends West End Blend and Here Come the Mummies on horns. It was kind of like taking our touring sound and bottling it up into a nice neat package. And with that comes our touring friends... it was very collaborative and fun and hopefully what we sound like now and the next one will continue to evolve.

 I feel like that's the Pigeon way: jamming with other musicians. Any Pigeons show I've shot you've always had people coming up sitting in.

Well, we play shows all the time, and they're always so fun, but it's always extra exciting when you have a new element on stage or in anything in life... that new is what we're chasing and to have such talented friends around all the time, we'd be fools not to invite them up. In fact, I'd be curious to see if anyone up comes up tonight, because we know a lot of people on this lineup!

Hint, hint, hint!? I know every Pigeons set is going to be different; you're never gonna get the same one especially with different people sitting in. I know and follow a lot of your fans too, The Flock, (which is) such a robust, passionate following because they're putting out set lists like, "oh, yeah, and then they did this!" You don't get that with a lot of bands because the sets will be the same or similar, and they play the songs the way they are on the album, which is great, but I know with Pigeons, you're gonna funk it up and you're not gonna play it exactly how you would lay it down in studio.

I appreciate what you said. We work hard to make every show super different. The reality is you had to be there. And it's like that because one night this other band was on the lineup, they sat in and there was this epic jam or the vibe in the crowd was inspiring us to push certain songs and jams in new directions... into unchartered territory. That's why we all like jam music to begin with. It really is like this choose your own adventure, hang on and go along for the ride kind of genre. So it's hopefully just as much fun for the crowd as it is for us to see where the music takes us.

I think that's why you guys (Pigeons) are such a good fit for Ramble because that is the essence: you just had to be there! Being open to the vibe and bringing whoever up... it's always mystery, but that's the Ramble spirit. Pigeons is a perfect fit.

For sure! I love being here. The vibe is incredible. It's really laid back, but well oiled... there's lots of different genres going on. We we all brought our whole families! All six band kids are here running around, having fun, and it is such an amazing break from reality and at the same time, in our weird profession and world, it is our reality. To be able to coexist with everything that happens outside of the the music scene in today's society... to also be reminded of the pure camaraderie and togetherness that you experience at a festival. It's a really great reminder that we're not as divided as it sometimes seems.

And I think the fact that you can bring the family and have this be a family weekend... making memories together, I think that's great because I know you tour a lot and the kids and wives can't come with you everywhere, and that's gotta be hard!

It's very challenging to balance parenthood and and touring as a musician because you can't be in two places at once. But it's my job to give one thousand percent to all of life's pursuits, whether it's being a present father or an adventurous musician, or doing anything; you give it your all and hope for the best. If you do that and you're mindful of others' feelings and trying to balance it as best you can, you can sleep at night. Allegedly. Not when I'm home. My kids won't let me sleep at night! And then there's these beautiful moments like today, I had both my kids on stage with me for my kids' set. My daughter Goldie got to sing on stage for the first time with me.

I've talked a lot about what got me to this point in life where I'm a touring musician, and one of the things I look back on is the first time I was on stage was the Kindergarten Circus. I was the doggy in the window and I remember barking and people being like, "aww" and laughing. and I remember liking that feeling. And today, my daughter is now in Kindergarten, and got to be on stage and got cheers and it's like incredibly full circle and while it's very challenging sometimes to be gone all the time, moments like today where I get to share the stage with my daughter is something I wouldn't trade for the world.

I love that so much. So do you think she's got the performer personality?

I think she has that personality, but I am not pushing it on her at all. I think when you see your parents do things, you want to do that too, but it was her idea to come on stage. Every time I'm on stage and she's there, she wants to be on stage too. It was her idea to sing on stage and what songs to do and to play more than one song. So if she wants to, I'm happy to do it with her, but I want to make sure that I'm not guiding her natural instincts and what she is passionate about. If it happens to work out that way, then it won't be our last daddy-daughter song. I'm kind of following her lead and she did a great job. We practiced in my house, but once we got on stage at sound check and there's a big microphone and there's people, it was totally different and I could tell she was getting a little nervous. I wasn't sure when the showtime came if she'd be up for it, but she got up there, she shook the nerves off and owned it. It was amazing. I was so impressed. And then my two year old came up and got down too. He did a great baby shark-but it was like a modern baby shark.

What did your daughter (Goldie) sing with you?

Two originals that we wrote together. We had one song called "I Love You So Much" and another song called "Unicorns." Unicorns actually became a Pigeon song, but the band requested that I change the lyrics "unicorns like bubbles" and "unicorns like flowers," so now that song's called "Blue Light" and it's about our reliance on technology and it's not at all a kid song. When we debuted "Blue Light" for the first time, Goldie was in the crowd and was very upset that it was not about unicorns anymore. I warned her, she knew it was going to happen, but apparently she was not impressed with my version. So today was Redemption Day for Dad; we played the proper, original version of "Unicorns" that is not all of a sudden about androids. She did not sign off on that!

What were the lyric changes from unicorns, like bubbles and unicorns to what?

Well, it's like, 'androids are computers and androids are the problem' that's essentially about a not being a slave to your phone. 'Androids are the limit. Androids are the problem.' They're limiting us in our communication with each other. They're the problem in terms of us having a harder time, you know, being in society or connecting with each other, not being anxious. It went from this super cute kiddie idea to this way more adult thing.

I will say I had an absolute blast playing the original lyrics today. Goldie's favorite lyric was "unicorn fart glitter" and she crushed it. There was crowd participation—we asked the other kids in the crowd what else unicorns like and one of them was marshmallows, which was very unexpected, but probably true. I don't think that's wrong! So it was a big day for the fam.

That's awesome. Such a such a fun memory to share with your daughter. How do you think your sound has changed? How does parenthood and touring and just being a band together for so long (17 years!)—How has that changed songwriting and recording albums?

I think all people evolve in life no matter what your job is or what your role in a family is. When you're in a band, it's interesting because you have four different people in our case, evolving at different rates in different ways and therefore the communal soup of our existence tends to change with all these different ingredients, but in ways that won't knock you over the head. So some of us became dads and I don't think that's really affected the music. As the primary lyricist, it has affected the way I approach things sometimes, but not all the times. We have a song on this new album (Feed The Fire), "Donkey Hotel" that is as silly and off the wall as one of our earliest songs from college. With an evolution, you kind of just let it flow and see where it takes you. As a musician, you're chasing something new; once you've made a song, you want to write the next one... this is kind of the nature of the beast.

So one thing we're aware of is letting the evolution happen as it does naturally, not overthinking it. If it sounds good to your ear, then make that music. Another thing that we balance with that is not forgetting where you came from and what got you to this point... what the earliest inspiration was, how that felt at the time and and hearkening back to that. As I grow as a lyricist and I have kids now and I'm talking about different things than I did in college, I also stop myself and remember those earliest days when we were young and touring the country, sleeping on people's couches... really roughing it and having so much fun; everything was new. Calling back those memories to inject in today's lyrics, because those are the those are the vibes that got us to this point to begin with. I think it's important for evolution to embrace the future, but don't leave the past behind. That mixture is what makes us all human and what makes the music interesting, because it's not just a snapshot of today; It's where you are and how you got there. And when when time elapses, you'll look back on this song and it can mean something completely different than it did before. There are so many lyrics I've written or songs we've written that at the time meant something to me in in one way and now mean almost the polar opposite. I find it so interesting because you end up singing these songs over and over, sporadically, because the set lists do change, but when they do come back up, you're singing it with a different intention, energy, and mindset; it's really fascinating to revisit the old while embracing the new.

It's funny because people still talk about the "Early Pigeons Days" When I am out in the jam scene, not even at a Pigeons show, I'll hear  "oh, man, I'm an original, I used to see them at the 8x10 way back when they were just getting started," they talk about seeing you from the ground up.

The last person I spoke to before sitting down with you told me that she saw us in Salisbury, Maryland at a pizza place, Vinny's La Roma... we would show up anywhere that someone would let us play music, clear out the tables, bring our own little sound system, flip the place upside down for a night, then meet people and crash on their floors. And that was like THE DREAM. We were living the dream and we still are! It's just we're playing at a festival and we don't have to provide our own sound.

And the lights!! (Thanks to Pigeons LD, Manny Newman)

I really love talking to people who were there from the earliest days, because it does feel like we got here together... the fact that they are still following us, they've probably told friends about it, and that helps us keep the dream alive. I know just as a fan of bands, I love watching their success. Like Goose, who opened for us in 2019. 2020, right before the pandemic, and fast forward five years and they're selling out Madison Square Garden... they're amazing guys and I love them so much and I'm so proud of them. And I feel how some of our fans do from the early years like "I remember when you guys (Goose) were the support band; look how incredible this growth is in this community you've built." The songwriting is incredible, and they've just earned every bit of success they have. I feel part of that ride... there's something about the longevity of the support that makes the successes all the more meaningful.

Of course. What do they say, 'a rising tide lifts all boats?'

Totally. That has been by mantra.... I came from a sports culture childhood and that is not the case: It's a zero sum game. If one team wins, the other team loses, and it took me a while to put my finger on it, but once I switched into this music-based lifestyle, the fact that someone's success doesn't mean it's negative for you, was such a relief. It's hard to explain how relaxed that made me about everything. The fact that we're all in this together... it really is a special thing, and that's why the jam community amongst many other music communities are just... it's hard to put into words how special it is.

And I don't think everyone sees it until they see it, when you realize "oh, wait, wait, you care about my success and I care about you!"

Greg: And that ties right back into places like Ramble; it's a really great reminder that we're all rooting for each other, especially in PERSON. You get sucked into these digital worlds where the point is to make a point—as opposed to the point being to support and lift each other up. And it's so great to see. Ramble is a perfect place to cleanse your soul of the the day to day and remind yourself about the importance of human connection and and how fleeting it all can be.

Last question, what is your favorite song to play live?

Feed The Fire. Well, in actuality, I would say my favorite song to play live is the one (iteration of Feed The Fire) that we're currently playing because like many people, I'm sure, I have a hard time like not getting stuck in the past or anxious about the future, but when you're on stage and you're focusing on the chords you're playing, the words you're singing, what the other musicians are doing, it's the best way for me to like turn off my brain and be in the now. What I appreciate the most about playing live is just you know, staying in the moment, feeling the energy and because of that, it doesn't even matter what we're playing. I'm probably more grounded than usual when I'm when I'm playing it.

I feel like it bleeds into other areas of life, too, when you have those moments, it helps you be present when you're not on stage. That's what happens to me when I'm in the crowd.

Well, especially when you're improvising. If you let your mind wander, you're gonna miss the train. and it's just a really good metaphor for our everyday existence; if you keep looking behind you or looking ahead of you, you're gonna miss what's in front of you.

Authentic, soulful, and downright groovy band Oh He Dead is on the rise, making tremendous strides within the music industry, and evolving beyond the Washington DC region. Comprised of multiple talented individuals, they possess the distinct ability to turn any melancholic story into an uplifting tune. The band knows no bounds when it comes to genres, emitting sounds of funk, soul, and pop, among many others. Ascending from the roots of Washington, D.C., Oh He Dead wears their love for the city on their sleeve as they spiral upwards to national new beginnings. 

It all started off on H Street in D.C., where founders CJ Johnson and Andrew Valenti were first introduced by their now manager, Claire Newbegin. Immediately after meeting, the two clicked, through both heart and sound, giving rise to the band Oh He Dead. The two are peas in a pod, sharing one of the most sweet, loving, and impenetrable friendships, while also perfectly harmonizing on just about any song. A little later down the road, guitarist Alex Salser, drummer Adam Ashforth, keyboardist Piano Whitman, and bassist Richard Smith joined the pair, formulating an unstoppable force. The band’s DC origins play a major role in their music presence, pouring into every song.

“We wouldn't be able to do all this stuff if It wasn't for DC, and it's why we want to give back so much. We feel like we owe so much to the city,” says Valenti. DC is the glue that holds Oh He Dead together. Their pride in being a DC band shines bright, its flag even appearing in elements of their branding.

Though their hearts reside in DC, their latest single, California, takes place 3,000 miles away (though raised in DC, of course). Released at the beginning of this year, the single has already garnered a substantial buzz from fans across the country. The hip-shaking hit features unforgettable lyrics, paired with rhythmic beats and groovy guitar rifts. Californiais the type of track to have every member in the audience on their feet, swaying with every note. 

The story of California’s emergence is almost as notable as the track itself. Inspired by a blogger’s remark to make previous single This Time Around more “poppy”, Johnson sat down and began crafting the captivating song. “She wrote it all in one night and I think it was inspired by her being angry at this blogger that told us we weren't poppy enough. She was like, ‘I'll show you’ and when we all heard it we were like ‘this is gold’,” says Valenti recounting the moment.

The band sees themselves playing this track at their next tour in California, which may be around the corner given their current trajectory. “I would love to do a big sized show in California where we're are playing the song because I feel like California would be a nice little groove for the Californians,” says Johnson. 

In addition to this dazzling song, Oh He Dead has countless breathtaking singles in store for fans. Earlier this week, they dropped their latest video and entry for the Tiny Desk contest, showcasing their unreleased single, More Time. The upbeat and melodic track tells the sorrowful story of a person trying to move on from a past love but still being haunted by the relationship. Proven time and time again, the band can turn any subject into a hit, just like their name. Describing the song Valenti admits, “That's become one of our things- to write about a heavy topic, but make it funky, make it like groovy.”

Their next single is set to release at the beginning of next month, on April 6th. In the meantime, fans will have to navigate to YouTube to satiate their hunger for new Oh He Dead.  More Time will be the band’s first release off of their upcoming album, Pretty. Although nothing has been released about the album so far, both Valenti and Johnson claimed the ideal name for it should be “straight bangers”, giving fans a sneak peak at what to expect in the upcoming months.

Not only are these tracks traveling far but so is the band- literally. Currently, Oh He Dead is gearing up for a sprinkle of shows around the DC area (catch them while you can) and a few national appearances this summer. At the end of May, Oh He Dead will make their debut at Summer Camp Music Festival after performing at The Kreeger Museum on May 19th and DC Hill House on May 21st. In June, they will perform at three festivals, including Mulberry Music Festival on June 16, Peach Music Festival on June 29, and Brandi Carlile’s Out & About Festival on June 25.

Oh He Dead may be embarking on a national tour, but DC will always be their home. Not only is DC where the band officially formed, but it is where the heart of where their music lies. “There's a lot of artists that you know, get good in DC and then they run off to LA or New York or Nashville, and we don't we don't want to do that,” says Valenti. “We think it's really important to us to be a DC band and to bring DC music and our kind of brand to the world.” 

Oh He Dead’s experiences within the city lit the flame that sparked their music career. According to the group, their fan base has been a major catalyst for their growth. “I feel like it's mostly the support from our DC fans that make us set better goals for ourselves and make us want to keep going,” Johnson reflects. “Without them, I don’t really think we would be where we are as far as playing music. It's been great being a DC band, being considered a DC band.”

Like birds of a feather, Oh He Dead and DC stick together. Be on the lookout for future releases from the band because they are on the horizon, drifting straight to shore. 

(Cover Photo Credit: Abhijeet Toor)

To learn more about Oh He Dead, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• TIDAL
• Spotify
• Pandora
• TikTok

If you are a fan of bluegrass music there is one name that you have been hearing about over and over again the past several years - Billy Strings.

Billy Strings is, without a doubt, one of the brightest rising stars in the constellation of Bluegrass performers. Once you witness Billy Strings and his band perform live, you will understand why, in only a few short years, he has gone from a supporting act to headlining and selling out shows around the country.  The chemisty and interplay between Strings and his touring band continues to grow and mature with each passing day - especailly as they venture into JamGrass songs. Strings tours with three other extraordinarily talented musicians; Billy Failing on the banjo, Royal Masat on the bass, and Jarrod Walker on the mandolin.

Strings is  not just  limited to bluegrass - far from it. He is known to be a big fan of rock, metal, and jam bands. DC Music Review has seen him pick up a white Fender Stratocaster and perform alongside Greeensky Bluegrass where he played and sung a commanding version of Chuck Berry's "Johny B. Goode" one night and then perform "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath the following night.  We have also been fortunate enough to see Strings perform on his grandfather's "prison guitar" and hear the fascinating story behind its construction.

Lately, Strings and his bandmates have expanded their sound by adding more pedals to their sound. Be on the lookout for some Jerry Garcia "bubble gum" guitar sounds coming from a Strings performance near you.

DC Music Review feels lucky to  witnessed so many unforgettable performances by this increadibly talented artist over the years and know this list will continue to grow.

Please keep this page bookmarked as we will keep it updated with future performanced.

To learn more about Billy Strings, please use the following web resources:

• Live Concert Soundboard Recordings on Nugs.net

The electric blue hair isn’t the only bold aspect of artist Elizabeth II. In her new EP, Dark Chops,  she daringly combines a taste of heavy rock with her intricate guitar riffs while still encapsulating a softer element of pop rock.  The EP is set to come out on August 6th, and will be available on all streaming platforms. 

A Washington DC local, Elizabeth began performing her innovative music in 2017 with a live band. She brings in a younger edge to the world of hard rock and intricate guitar solos. Pulling from a childhood filled with rock music from both the 70s and the 90s, Elizabeth ii incorporates  bold progressions with distinctive riffs in the EP.

 “I wanted to give DC something different, something rock, something catchy, and something weird,” she said discussing the diversity within the EP. If you are looking for a faster paced and dark rock piece “Devastation,” fits the criteria, while songs like “Fall this far,” bring in a smoother mix of pop rock.

Elizabeth II opens for Cat Janice on August 30th at Union Stage. Be sure to catch Elizabeth II live for a truly spectacular life performance and help her celebrate her latest EP.  Aside from being streamed, the EP will be available in CD form at Elizabeth's shows for purchase. 

Venue Review: Learn more about Union Stage, parking, food recommendations, and more.

To learn more about Elizabeth II, please use the following resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Bandcamp

Cris Jacobs has cemented himself as a leading voice in the DMV music scene. After ten years as the front-man, guitarist, and vocalist of the Baltimore-based jam band The Bridge, Jacobs has continued to lead the scene in Baltimore and beyond through his solo project, Cris Jacobs Band. Jacobs's soulful voice and guitar chops have become a staple at local music festivals and concert venues. We sat down with Cris to talk with him about his upcoming album, Color Where You Are, which will be released on April 12th as he embarks on a nationwide tour. Be sure to catch the Cris Jacobs Band in Baltimore at Union Craft Brewing on April 12th and Washington, DC at Pearl Street Warehouse on April 13th!

DC Music Review: Hey Cris, thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. I’ve been bingeing on your new album, Color Where You Are, all week. It’s great.

Cris Jacobs: Thank you, I appreciate that.

DCMR: So, this is your first album since putting out Dust to Gold, back in 2016. How did your approach change for this album versus your last time in the studio?

CJ: Well, you know, it mostly just changed as far as the situation with the band. We had really just started playing together around then, Dusty [Ray Simmons], Todd [Herrington] and I, the bassist and drummer. We went into the studio for Dust to Gold after maybe having played less than 10 gigs together, and we went in to record that album and Jonathan Sloane, who plays guitar in the band, had just talked with me about getting together and he hadn’t even really played any shows with us yet. So he came in and kind of sprinkled some stuff in when we were kind of rounding third on that record and, you know, we were just kind of getting used to playing with each other. So that obviously had a lot to do with the approach and the chemistry back then, even though there was still great chemistry. Since that record we’ve done three years of pretty extensive touring together and we’ve played a lot of shows, so we’ve really bonded as a unit, and we went into Color Where You Are more confident and with a cohesive vision. So, I brought a lot of tunes that weren’t fully fleshed out and just knew that the intuitive choices the band was going to make would work. We kept a very organic approach that way because we really trusted each other since we built all that chemistry and cohesion since the last record.

DCMR: I think that really shines through on the album. The band sounds really tight and I think cohesive is the perfect word for it. It shows a lot of your range too because you’ve got songs that feel really soulful, you’ve got country and blues influence, ballads and rockers. So, when you were putting together the material for this record, some of the songs you’d been playing for a while. How’d you decide what to include between the material you’d already written and what you had to write in order to put the record out?

CJ: For this one, there was definitely less material to start with, so a lot of the songs I went in with some raw ideas of songs that either didn’t have all the lyrics finished or didn’t have one section finished. So, in the process I showed them to the band and we’d record them and listen back together. And sometimes that’s when everything kind of reveals itself to me and I’m able to see it all through together instead of just the way it sounds in my head. Basically, I just brought as much as I could, and we’d record and finish it all together until we felt like we had a full record, and at the end of the day, viewing it as a body of work or just one piece, it seemed like it was complete. We could have added a few more, but at the end of the day I didn’t want it to be a super long record. There’s a beauty in just a nice piece of music that you can listen to on a quick ride or walk. You know, less than an hour.

DCMR: One of the biggest changes for you that’s happened since Dust to Gold was the growth of your family, getting married and having a child. How did that influence what you put out in the songs and the songwriting process itself?

CJ: Having a child changes a lot, as anyone with a child knows. So basically, it meant less time to work; needing to be more focused with the time that was available. It turned into a more focused, professional approach and really zoning in on what it is that I wanted to say, which I think is the other big thing. Having a family really just creates a deeper connection with the world, where it’s not just about me, and when you feel that love and concern for a family it opens your eyes to many things. Many things mean more to you. And with everything that’s going on in the world, politically and socially, while I’m sitting there trying to squeeze out tunes, I can’t help but just live in what’s going on at that time. So, it’s a combination of harder, sharper, more deliberate focus mixed with some deeper emotions that I was kind of working out and processing the world around me.

DCMR: You’ve mentioned that the opening track “Painted Roads” was inspired by Tom Petty. Can you talk about that song and how Petty’s influence impacted it?

CJ: It wasn’t really a deliberate thing, but I’ve always loved Tom Petty. With “Painted Roads,” he got brought up because it really started as a simple rock tune, but after I brought it to the band it turned into a totally different tune. It just didn’t sound interesting enough to me the way we did it at first, so I suggested that we kind of deconstruct it and do something different. We kept the melody intact and as a band we were able to deconstruct the groove and build it up again with some really outside the box ideas in relation to that tune, which was a different kind of approach than we took on a lot of other stuff. It sort of made us go “Wow, we should just redo the whole record!” It was kind of an exciting moment for us as a band to realize that we could take these different approaches in the future, and it was cool for me to kind of give up the reins. It’s never like I say, “Okay, here’s the bass line and here’s what you should do, John.” It’s never like that. I play with guys that I trust and are incredible, but we took it a step further where it was like, “Hey, play something that’s totally unpredictable from what we were just doing or what the tune naturally called for and we can just lock in with each other.” It’s just inspired us to want to get together and make some music that’ll surprise us as a band. It was kind of like we broke through a crack in the door and found some new places to go.

DCMR: Last year you put out an album with Ivan Neville and toured as Neville Jacobs. Can you tell me about that project and how that work together made it into the studio for this album?

CJ: Well, Ivan and I met years ago and became friends. After just crossing paths between The Bridge and Dumpstaphunk and bumping into him a few times at Jazz Fest, we really solidified our friendship at the poker table in a New Orleans casino. We just randomly ended up sitting next to each other and getting a chance to really talk and hang, and eventually the stars aligned and we were able to get together and just make some noise in a studio, just the two of us with no real expectations or any real need to do it or not. We just had a few days off in Baltimore where we could play some cards, eat crab cakes, and then we can go into the studio. Really that’s all it was, but we came out with all these cool ideas and realized we had great musical chemistry and a shared love for lots of different styles of music. He’s such a deep musical well, so I was able to just feed off of everything he was giving me and vice versa. It was all organic and really one of the most collaborative songwriting processes I’ve ever had with anybody. It was so good just because it came out of a situation with no pressure. It’s good because it’s good, not because it needed to be. That’s what I took with me into the studio this time, just the comfort with the community that you surround yourself with when you’re trying to create. There’s a million ideas out there, but the magic really happens when there’s mutual love and trust between the people that are collaborating. That’s the key to everything that I do and I try to keep that philosophy with Cris Jacobs Band.

DCMR: That process sounds like it sheds expectations and egos and could be really powerful.

CJ: Right, absolutely. Like, we’ve both got our own things going independent from that project, so it didn’t need to happen. It just happened.

DCMR: So, you’ve had a couple of shows last month, but your tour really kicks off this month. What’s it going to be like bringing these songs to a live audience for the first time?

CJ: There’s still a bunch of these songs we haven’t even tested in front of an audience yet before this tour, so we’re excited to roll them out.

DCMR: Is there anything coming up on this tour that you’re particularly looking forward to?

CJ: Well, obviously the Baltimore show is the day of the album release at Union Craft, which is owned by some of my best friends, so that’s a cool thing that we’re all going to be there celebrating together. They’ve opened this great new space and I’m putting out the record, so we’re all pushing creative envelopes in our own worlds. There’s a lot of love there. But to be honest, I’m excited for all of it. I really am. When people come out and are appreciating the music, it just makes it magical.

DCMR: I want to wrap up with one last question that has nothing to do with the album or music at all, as a Baltimore native myself. On a scale from one to ten, how bad are the Orioles going to be this year?

CJ: Soft six! I’m optimistic about the changes they’re making, and they’re at least committed to the rebuild. They’ll be an underdog, but we’ve got nothing to lose at this point.

I wanted to start by congratulating you on 'Drew Barrymore' becoming a certified gold single in December! While I saw your initial reaction on that cute Instagram video, I was curious as to how you're feeling now that it's been a few weeks and now that it's about to become platinum?

Bryce Vine: I definitely feel...legitimate [laughs]. I think that was always a struggle for me; I never wanted to even tell people that I was an artist when I was trying to come up because I didn't feel like I'd legitimized it.

Everybody in LA is trying to do something, and they put up a front of who they are a lot of times. I just didn't want to do that. I didn't feel legitimate, and this really secured that—the fact that so many people love the song makes me excited to make more stuff.

That's great to hear! I'm a photographer and artist myself, so I know how hard it can be to have confidence in your own work.

Yeah, you have to keep reassuring yourself even through all the insecurities. It's not easy.

With such significant achievements, I'm sure you've had a lot of different opportunities pop up that you didn't have in the past. Out of all of the different experiences you've had, what's been the most memorable?

Probably playing with the VMA's pre-show on that rooftop. I felt like I was living somebody else's life, I was just like 'This is unreal' [laughs]. I've seen Eminem start his performance out there; I've seen No Doubt play, Red Hot Chili Peppers...getting up there, that was genuinely surreal.

Are there any places you'd like to play still on your bucket list? 

Oh yeah, I mean I never thought that the VMA's was going to be a checkpoint or more than a goal. And now it's like, 'All right, cool, so what's next?'

I've never been to Asia; I've never been to Africa. Two very important places for me to go especially as a songwriter. I like knowing people from around the world and getting a better idea of what I don't understand in the world, being in the bubble of the United States.

It'd be sick to win a Grammy, don't get me wrong, it would be amazing. What would be really cool is being able to take my mom to the Grammy's! Just actually having her beaming like that would be crazy. Winning would be unreal, too, but I'd be cool with just that.

I remember when you played in D.C. last, you opened up for MAX. The crowd was the most excited I've ever seen it for an opener at the 9:30 Club! Now that you're headlining and have more creative freedom, what are you most excited for the D.C. crowd to see?

We've completely elevated the whole show; my drummer is going to be on a high rise, and we have a whole lighting setup. I'm playing all of my songs. I always think I play all the songs people want to hear but then after the shows, every single time, there's somebody that goes, 'Why didn't you play this?' I'm like, 'I don't know! I didn't know anyone wanted to hear it!'

So now, I've decided it's enough of that; these people are coming to see me, I'm going to play all of the songs that they could possibly ask for...so that they never want to see me again [laughs].

Are all the shows sold out at this point, or are there still a few left that people can grab tickets for?

I think there are six shows left that you can still buy tickets for.

Wow, so how do you feel about that?

I'm still in the mindset that nobody's going to come! Not in a negative way...you have to understand that I played on cardboard boxes at schools where no one cared, just to try and gain a fan or two. Now to have the shows sell out, and I mean they sold out fast. It's just unreal; it's such a breath of fresh air.

It makes me excited to write more stuff and keep doing what I'm doing. To have my love for music and want to perform be legitimized like that, it makes you want to meet all the fans. I love that we kept it to small rooms so that I could still feel close with everyone. I feel like you miss something if you get too big as an artist without having the chance to play the smaller rooms first. You miss the chance to connect with fans on a much more intimate level.

You've had a pretty intense year, which resulted in a heavy touring schedule. I'm sure touring takes its toll both mentally and physically on you. How do you take care of yourself while you're on tour?

That's a hard thing to do, even when it comes to eating! Some of the guys in my crew are vegan, and I don't know how they do it. You spend hours and hours on the road, with nothing to eat but McDonald's and White Castle. When we're staying in hotels, I always look for the gym. If there is a gym, I try to spend the morning or evening running for 15 minutes to try and get a sweat going.

Other than that, you try not to drink too much! None of the guys in my group or I do any drugs or anything like that, so eating is honestly the most difficult part. 

It's funny, touring isn't what everyone thinks it'll be like. People think you're popping bottles every night, doing all of this wild stuff like blowing coke on the tour bus...but it's more like getting straight to bed so that we can play the next show [laughs].

Yeah, I feel like that would be so exhausting to do every single day.

Especially when you have like, five shows in a row. When you have a break, that's when we can actually go out and celebrate at a bar and do some karaoke or something like that. By no means is it the Guns N' Roses days. 

That's probably for the better in the long run [laughs].

Oh, 100%, better for my skin too [laughs].

You have your debut album release coming up this year—tell me about what we can expect from that.

I wanted to make a body of work instead of just releasing single, single, single...here's another single. I wanted to make a soundtrack for the life of an everyday person, and all the things that we go through. I wrote a song for people that I hope will be used for the first dance of weddings. I wrote a song about how I see the world right now; not even from a political place, just as a human being. I wrote songs about love, the way that you look at somebody, and the feeling that they give you.

It's called Carnival because that's how my mind works; there's a lot going on, it's very colorful and ADD, but it's all in one theme.

To wrap things up, I was curious as to what the story behind the 'Who The F*** Is Bryce Vine?' shirt was?

That's a great question, and you're the first person that's ever asked me that, which is amazing! Like I said before, for years I've been opening for little shows where no one knew who I was or cared...or had any reason to care. A lot of times that would be the question people would ask on Twitter and Instagram on Instagram.

Once I started gaining fans, they would answer those people's questions. Then I was like, ‘We should just have a little fun with it.’ We always try to use humor whenever we respond to hate or anything like that. I tend to think of something funny and non-offensive to say. So we decided we should make those shirts, put them out, and then all of a sudden everyone bought one!

Now I have people yell at me from across the street, like this one guy in New York yelled at me, 'Yo, who the fuck is Bryce Vine?'...and it takes me a second to realize what's going on [laughs].

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Venue Review: Learn more about Union Stage, parking, food recommendations, and more.

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Cris Jacobs is a Baltimore, MD resident and a fan favorite in the DMV. Cris spent a decade as the principal songwriter, guitarist, and frontman for The Bridge (2001-2011). Jacobs has toured nationally with such musical greats such as Steve Winwood and Ivan Neville.

We are extremely fortunate to have Cris and his Fender Telecaster delight audiences throughout the DMV region performing solo, with friends, or as part of a composite band such as Everyone Orchestra.  Jacob's yearly pre-Christmas shows, A Very Jerry Christmas, are a fan favorites and not to be missed.

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