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Bad Bad Hats Bring Their One Hour Special To Union Stage—No Two Drink Minimum Required

“One more song! One more song! One more song!” The infamous call for an encore reverberated against the walls of Union Stage on Sunday, June 24.

With a surprised look across their faces, Bad Bad Hats, comprised of Kerry Alexander (vocals, guitar), Chris Hoge (Drums), Connor Davison (guitar), and for live sets, Noah Boswell (bass), slowly crept back on stage.

“Wow...this has never happened before...we’re not quite sure what to do,” remarked Alexander.

This genuine humbleness is exactly why Bad Bad Hats is making a splash on the indie rock scene. Marrying pop inspired guitar riffs with introspective lyrics about unrequited love, lust, and past relationships, the band not only writes relatable music—they are relatable. They too are nervous (in Alexander’s case, this is from way too much cold brew coffee), silly, and a bit shy. To top it all off, they’re hilarious too.

While the band jumped into the first three songs in a no-nonsense fashion, what followed was quite the opposite. Alexander dove into commentary about how difficult it was to combine dancing, singing, and playing the guitar, the convenience store that had her back during college, and her study abroad experience in Paris.

Noah and Kerry of Bad Bad Hats entertaining the crowd with silly faces

With every witty remark, the room filled with giggles as the audience identified with Alexander’s experiences.

“In college, I studied abroad in Paris...and I realized just how not fancy or stylish I was” quipped Alexander, in the midst of tuning her guitar.

“You know, I usually just choose from one of ten squares and think ‘Oh, this one will do’. But there I was, dressed in tights, a dress, and a leather sport coat with a baguette in my hand.”

With their unique blend of self-deprecating comedy and incredibly catchy tunes, Bad Bad Hats is quickly cultivating devoted fans, as evidenced by the vast majority of the audience lining up to meet the band after the show. Get yourself to one of their shows to witness the two-for-one special before the trio climb to the top of the indie scene.

Bad Bad Hats are currently on a nationwide tour, and will be releasing a new record, Lightning Round, on August 3.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy the following photos by our photographer Ana Medvedeva.

Concert Reviews

Dustbowl Revival Comes To The Soundry

To say that the Dustbowl Revival is a live band would be an understatement. Coming in at more than 200 shows in the past 4 years, this band knows how to perform live. Last Friday’s show at newly opened music venue in Columbia, MD, The Soundry, provided proof of their energetic stage performance! The crew of 8 musicians lit up The Hamilton in D.C. the night before. Fan in the area were treated to another night of music.

Dustbowl Revival performed in 2017 at both Hot August Music Festival and Charm City Bluegrass Festival winning over fans in the Baltimore-DC area. Many of those who were there this evening also attended the show at The Hamilton demonstrating that this band has a devoted following.

Dustbowlrevivalsoundry06222018-15dcmusic

The stage at The Soundry is only a few feet above the floor level. This keeps the band close to the audience, creating a very intimate feel. Every inch of the stage was covered with all 8 band members and an array of instruments. They didn’t waste any time kicking off their set of traditional American style tunes. After the first song, guitarist and vocalist, Zach Lupetin, said, “You guys look like a rowdy crowd so we’re gonna jump right in!” This was an accurate observation! The crowd filled the entire floor space in front of the stage and danced the entire evening. Although The Soundry offers seating, very few of them were taken!

Dustbowlrevivalsoundry06222018-18dcmusic

The band performed songs off their most recent release, Dustbowl Revival, including “Good Egg” and “Call My Name”. The sounds of horns, mandolins, fiddles, and bass filled the room while Lupetin and Liz Beebe offered vocals that made you feel as if you were watching this performance from a bar in New Orleans. The band’s version of "John the Revelator" did a wonderful job of creating this nostalgic mood. Everyone in the audience was smiling and dancing. This was definitely a great way to enjoy a Friday evening!

The Dustbowl Revival is Zach Lupetin (guitars, vocals), Liz Beebe (vocals, washboard, ukulele), Daniel Mark (mandolin), Connor Vance (fiddle), Matt Rubin (trumpet), Ulf Bjorlin (trombone), Josh Heffernan (drums), and James Klopfleisch (bass).

Opening for the evening was Lowland Hum, a husband and wife duo from Charlottesville, Virginia. The quiet, mostly acoustic tunes were the perfect way for the audience to relax before a night of dancing! Lauren and Daniel Goans performed beautifully together. Their stage banter and jokes offered comic relief between their songs. The highlight of their set was a “less electric” version of Weezer’s, “In the Garage” that was quite impressive!

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Chris Gamber of Chris Gamber Photography.

Album Review

Ryan Martin Releases Debut Album ‘Gimme Some Light’

Ryan Martin is an intense burst of light and honesty, with lyrics that hit too close to home and a voice that reaches even the darkest cynic in you. With vocals that are reminiscent of Glen Hansard, Cat Stevens, and at times, Ben Folds, Martin is a brooding force to be reckoned with.

With his debut album Gimme Some Light scheduled for release on June 29, Martin has made his rounds across the country playing a variety of venues and shows. He visited DC on May 24 for an intimate Sofar Sounds show where we fell in love with his raw vocals and soulful presence. Standing tall and stoic, Martin absolutely shines and commands attention when he lets his vocals take over, ringing out loud and clear.

Martin bared his soul on this album. Because listening to the album is a deeply intimate experience, listeners will have to make the choice of whether to turn away or to surrender themselves completely to the brutal honesty and heart-wrenching hope that accompanies the album.

Accompanied by Jonathan Lam (pedal steel), Keith Robinson (drums), Dave Smith (bass), Christina LaRocca (vocals), Barami Waspe (sax), Cornelius McMoyler (piano), and Joe McGinty (organ), this album is a symphonic blend of the best parts of music: vocal and instrumental harmonies, chilling lyrics, and passion.

The opening track “All the Good Men” leads the album off to a powerful start. The song is so good, it’s almost hard to press on to the rest of the track-list. Martin belts tortured lyrics that are complimented by LaRocca’s sweet vocals. However, LaRocca steps down for the final chorus (“I lost my mind/Then I felt the plane taking off”) leaving Martin alone with instruments that are slowly trickling off. The song ends on a note that feels almost like a cliffhanger, that makes you want to follow this lost and sad protagonist on his journey to find closure.

“Say You Love Me” and “Regular Man” both adopt somewhat pleading tones of desired acceptance. While the former is more upbeat and reminiscent of REM, the latter is full of chilling long notes that showcase Martin’s unique talent for both performing and story telling. There isn’t a dull track on this album. Faster-paced and brighter songs compliment the slower more melodic ones, keeping you alert and eager for more. It flows together with such cohesion through shared themes, instruments, and harmonies that it's best consumed in one uninterrupted sitting.

Make no mistake, this is no easy listening. Gimme Some Light commands and deserves your undivided attention. It is a unique album that explores tragedy, loss, love, hope, and finally, seeks redemption all the while combining indie, folk, and country influences into one dense and moving album.

Martin is a talent to keep both eyes on.

Gimme Some Light will be widely released on June 29. Preorder the album here, and visit Martin’s website for upcoming tour dates.

Ryan Martin

Gimme Some Light

Released: June 29, 2018

Track Listing:

1. All The Good Men

2. Destitute Darlings

3. Death of Love

4. Parasol

5. Say You Love Me

6. Dangerously Unplugged

7. Regular Man

8. Suicide Parade

9. Be Kind

10. Adeline

11. Lepers In Armor

12. Ask Your Mother

13. Real Human Being

Dwight Yoakam at MECU Pavilion - Baltimore, MD

Concert Reviews

The LSD Tour: Country and Folk With A Twist

Three of America’s great country and folk singer-songwriters rolled through Baltimore and rocked the MECU Pavilion (formerly Pier 6 Pavilion) stage on June 19. Despite the humidity and sweltering heat that comes with a Baltimore City summer, concert goers delighted in the evening’s four-band LSD Tour line-up that included included King Leg, Steve Earle and the Dukes’, Lucinda Williams and Dwight Yoakam.

Fans enjoying Steve Earle and The Dukes from the lawn

The evening started early with the bright sun that shone into the pavilion and the venue’s lawn as the official tour opener, King Leg took the stage. The five-piece big-country band shared their heavy-rock and smooth country sound mixed with mid-century musical influential sounds coming from the Beach Boys and Dwight Yoakam. The crowd seemed pleased to have the band for an opener as the audience clapped along to the rhythms.

The tour’s full audience slowly trickled as the sun set over the venue that sits along the Baltimore Harbor just in time for Steve Earle and the Dukes’ set. The six-piece band opened with a slow country song equipped with a fiddle, three electric guitars, a slide guitar and drums. The musical speed changed with the song, “Devil’s Got Me,” which he prefaced with left-leaning political empowerment to which most of the crowd roared and rose to sway and clap along. Following that number, Earle introduced a tune originally recorded with Del McCoury in the 1990s where Earle played the harmonica, showcasing the band’s versatility, from country rock to bluegrass rhythms. Right as the song ended, the crowd grew loud with cheers and stood in Lucinda Williams’ honor as she smoothly walked on stage to sing alongside Earle for one of his classic tunes. The crowd shared applause and cheers for Williams as she walked off stage and the band lead into “Galway Girl,” a crowd favorite that included mandolin and accordion. The song added to the audience’s growing energy as Earle moved into “Copperhead Road.” To add to the band’s versatility and the crowd’s excitement, the highlight of Earle’s set was the band’s end with a gnarly and energetic rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe,” where infinite jam held the audience standing and swaying in awe. Earle’s supporting guitarist lead the song’s riveting jams that gave the audience chills. At one point Earle’s guitarist shred so hard and with gumption that he broke a guitar string and still continued to shred until the very end when the audience awaited the group with thanks and applause.

Steve Earle and The Dukes

The hot day turned into a cool night as Lucinda Williams moved on stage with her four-piece band including bass, electric guitar, drums and her alternation between electric and acoustic guitars.

Williams’ set opener was slow and showcased her powerful voice and eclectic and ultra cool-country sound. As the set continued the energy and momentum of her songs grew livening up the crowd. Williams played “Drunken Angel,” which the crowd was very excited for, especially when Earle came to sit in for a soulful harmonica solo and addition. When the two shared the stage, magic came over the crowd as the history between Williams and Earle became apparent. Earle produced Williams’ record, “Wheels on a Gravel Road,” and afterwards the alternative-country act grew in popularity for her unique mysterious voodoo voice, New Orleans country sound and All-American Western tone. Earle left the stage and Williams and her band moved into “Bitter Memory.” The crowd cheered for the song and Williams’ exuberant coolness that was better than a cold brew on a hot summer night.

Williams’ supporting guitarist played delicious wholesome rips for her hit song, “Change the Locks,” which included heavy rock tones. The highlight of Williams’ set was the set ender where Williams lead a politically charged rendition of her hit song, “Joy,” that got most of the crowd up and moving. Earle joined in once again with Williams and her band who took the songs energy to another level by creating a great living wall of jammy sound that spilled into the audience that grinned and grooved.

Dwight Yoakam

A bright, half-crescent moon hung overhead in the hazy summer night sky as the pavilion’s PA system played the Beach Boys while listeners chatted and eagerly awaited the evening’s headliner, Dwight Yoakam.

When Yoakam and his band finally took the stage, the crowd stood and roared. Yoakam has diehard fans who go crazy for his extraordinarily unique stage energy and presence. Yoakam dressed to the nines in typical cowboy style with cowboy boots, tight denim jeans and a denim sequin-studded jacket all topped with a tall gallon cowboy hat and rad electric and acoustic guitar to match. His three-piece band looked just as swanky in formal country and western sequin-studded blazers and pants. Yoakam is an experience that takes the audience back to a time when country and western performers were as glitz and glam as the stars.

The crowd went wild with cheers and adoration for the swing-country star’s big-south-twang and Elvis-like feel as he lead the crowd through melodic country sounds. Yoakam and his band played a new number with a fiddle part, called “Hard Love,” which in good humor, they had to restart. Yoakam pulled out his fancy footwork to shimmy across the stage and charm his fans who hollered from a distance. Following that song, the act played “Honky Tonk Man,” where the supporting guitarist switched from electric guitar, to mandolin and then back again. During the same song, the keyboardist played with one hand and with a fiddle in the other. Most of the crowd stood or boogied on foot for the entire set, egging Yoakam and his band to give them the works, which he did in high honky-tonk style.

The first leg of the 18-stop LSD Tour ended on June 21 and the second leg will continue on August 1 as the country and folk greats continue to impress the rest of North America with good times sure to be ahead.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Chris Gamber of Chris Gamber Photography.

Concerts this Week

Goodman’s Good Music – Concert Picks of the Week – June 25

Week Of: June 25 - July 1, 2018

Summary: Sizzling Summer Stew

Last week was so chock full of amazingness. I got to see the debut of what might be my favorite new DC band, novo, who were fresh, full of vitality and a tangible chemistry. We had Halcyon's By The People offering so many incredible opportunities for art and words and love across the city. And I experienced the one and only Herbie Hancock perform mind-bending, heart-racing, at times enigmatic songs that stand the test of time.

If that was the start to summer, let's throw in some more ingredients to the pot this week with these sizzling options.

Must See Shows:

If I could see see two or three shows every day this week, here's what I would catch:

Monday, 6/25

Mokoomba at the African American Civil War Museum and Memorial at 4p (speaking) and 6p (performing) - Hailing from the Victoria Falls region of Zimbabwe, Mokoomba’s six young band members offer a unique blend of Tonga and Luvale traditional rhythms fused with dashes of funk, ska and soukous. Their music makes you move, but behind their raw energy are stories of pain and of hope. Before performing music from their most recent album, Luyando, they will be speaking about their story at 4p (tickets available at 3p) at Rite of Passage sponsored by the Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute.

serpentwithfeet with Lee Mo at DC9 Nightclub at 8p- Baltimore's serpentwithfeet (aka Josiah Wise) is "an avant-garde vocalist and performance artist whose growing body of work is rooted in dueling obsessions with the ephemeral and the everlasting." His voice shimmers with both strength and vulnerability, a rare combination that to me represents self-awareness and vision. His debut full-length album soil was just released on June 8 and met with critical acclaim as he, "looks back to the sounds of his religious upbringing while crafting language to express living as a queer black person in the present." (NPR) serpentwithfeet is performing with Baltimore born, Philly-based Lee Mo, who is known for her, "killer vocals, soulful feel, and impressive music sensibilities."

Tuesday, 6/26

Katie von Schleicher with Julian at DC9 Nightclub at 7:30p- Maryland's Katie Von Schleicher's self-recorded EP Bleaksploitation, was spot-on described as full of "irreverent, fuzz-laden tunes." NPR’s Bob Boilen calls her debut full-length album, Shitty Hits, "one of those constant repeat records for me." To me, her songs and words are bendy and soothing. She is reminiscent of a lot of a lot of artists I love, but she presents closer up in the forefront than most. Katie is playing with DC-band Julian whose latest release, Real Distance, offers a "hazy, atmospheric" sound.

We Are Scientists with The Candescents at Rock & Roll Hotel at 8p - I saw the NY-based indie rock band We Are Scientists a few years back at Black Cat on a whim and remembered to remember them because of the big sounds and feelings that poured off the stage. They are coming back to DC as they promote their spirited new album, MEGAPLEX, which has this song "One In, One Out" that I can't stop listening to.

Wednesday, 6/27

Seán Barna / Rob Stokes Band/ Laura Wolf at Songbyrd at 7p - DC and NY-based Sean Barna's voice grabs hold -- in its sound and what it has to say and how it lays itself out there for you to look at or walk on or hold above you like an umbrella. According to his site, Barna is preparing to release Cissy, "a gasping, 5-song exploration of isolation, anxiety, queerness, and mortality" which features a collaboration with Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows. Cissy is described as a, "measured, brutally observant deconstruction of masculinity, where the main players in the story – drag queens, mothers, queers, office workers, and wanderers – come together in the name of excess to achieve a well-worn life." I feel like this is a must see show, especially as he is playing alongside Rob Stokes Band whose, "lush sound doesn’t rely on contemporary mandates for cleanliness and order, but squiggles for its’ futurism" and cellist/singer Laura Wolf who, "uses live looping, effect pedals and various instruments to weave a penetrating world of sound."

Artist in Residence: Josanne Francis at Strathmore Mansion at 7:30p - If you want to see steelpan played like you may have never seen/heard it before, go see Josanne Francis, who is described as a natural pannest. She plays with such joy and such nuance, it's a bit like feeling a new magic. As the artistic director of the Cultural Academy for Excellence, she also uses the steelpan to bring music education to after-school and weekend programs. I am a huge fan of the Strathmore Mansion programs because they allow you to experience a diversity of talent in an up-close-and-personal living room. I anticipate that Josanne Francis in that space is going to be eye-heart-ear opening.

Thursday, 6/28

Deborah Bond at Sotto at 8p - "A self-proclaimed "people watcher, dreamer and lover of philosophy", Deborah Bond takes these traits and puts them into her music. She has a powerful, confident voice that seamlessly mixes R&B with funk and British soul, and you can hear how her main influences including Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, and Sade have shaped her signature sound. Check out her powerful vocals at Sotto on Thursday night.

Canned Heat at Amp Powered by Strathmore at 8p - Legendary blues/rock band Canned Heat has been around a long time (did you know they have 38 albums!) with classic songs such as "On the Road Again" (nope, not the Willie Nelson song) and "Going Up the Country." They offered a unique sound at Woodstock back in the day and their original members, Adolfo de la Parra, Larry Taylor, and Harvey Mandel are bringing their classic sound and prolific songbook to the DMV on Thursday.

Friday, 6/29 - three big names you know and some you may not:

Sarah McLachlan at The Music Center at Strathmore at 8p

Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers and The Wood Brothers at Wolf Trap at 7:30p

The Pretenders at The Fillmore Silver Spring at 8p

Trajectories/PLRLS/Combs/Creachies at Slash Run at 8p - Because they promote this as such: "paths, multiples, hairdos, and ghoulies come alive in this mythical magical romp!" And because PLRLS new wave post punk is representing the messy haired, spunky younger sister of a B52. Trajectories are from DC and The Combs hail from VA and although I don't know them yet, I do see they punk all out and are featured in some upcoming shows I'm excited about. And Creachies offers, "whirling elements of psychedelia, bubble gum power pop, and new wave (and) immerse you in a colorful, cartoon universe of fuzz guitars and shimmery synths—a world where Devo and the Go-Gos wiggle and jiggle with Kraftwerk and Spacemen 3."

Saturday, 6/30

Road to LOCKN' ft. Disco Risqué, Firecracker Jam, & 49 Winchester at Gypsy Sally's at 9p - As we inch closer to LOCKN' 2018, Gypsy Sally's offers us this appetizing event to get the motors running for August. Disco Risqué is a heavy funk band from central Virginia who are playing LOCKN' and have previously shared the stage with jam favorites like Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Tauk, and People’s Blues of Richmond. Firecracker Jam is a jam band without a guitar, imagine that! But they produce a, "big, high energy sound that is truly state of the art" using electric mandolin, bass and drums in a way that's genre-defying. And 49 Winchester is a VA acoustic folk trio well received in the region's strong culture of grassroots music for their use of poetic, heartfelt lyrics and amazing musicality.

Stephen Stills and Judy Collins with Kenny White at Kennedy Center at 8p - I listened to these two legends, Stephen Stills and Judy Collins, all through my childhood and teens and into adulthood and they still remind me of being a kid in simpler times. Individually, they are each so prolific with signature voices and styles. Put them together for the first time as they share both their original songs along with some debut songs from their upcoming album, and you have a lovely, memorable, nostalgic in all-the-right-ways night to sink into.

Paperhaus, Park Snakes, Bacchae, DJ Hipster Woods at Rock & Roll Hotel at 7p - DC's own Paperhaus has a psychedelic sensibilities, intentional catch and hook sound that gives a nod to so many artists before them (to me there's a fuzzier bit of Cure in there). They lead in the swim upstream with so many other relevant DC-artists busting out today. Joining them is more amazingness coming out of DC including the rock band Park Snakes, the post-punk Bacchae, and DJ Hipster Woods, all of which I've checked out and am excited to hear live.

Sunday, 7/1

Reba McEntire at Wolf Trap at 8p

Keith Busey's "70's Best" Show at City Winery DC at 6p - DC-native Keith Busey’s musical career includes Musical Director for acts like The Stylistics, Heat Wave, The Intruders , Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Jeane Carne, The Emotions and The 70’s Soul Jam Concerts Series. With his “70’s Best” series, Keith and his band delve deep into the soul and R&B back catalogue, including Chaka Khan, Al Green, Patti LaBelle, and Earth Wind and Fire. I feel like this will be an incredible variety show where he adds his charisma to so many beloved songs and tells lots of stories about back in the day. Heck, yes!

Oso Oso with Queen of Jeans, Future Teens at Songbyrd at 7p - This is next gen music. NY's Oso Oso, "heralds punk’s pivot towards ’00s revivalism, which makes sense—’90s kids are aging out, and now it’s our turn." Future Teens from Boston offers "bummer pop" with songs that, "toe the line between despair and humor." And Philly's Queens of Jeans, "estrogen on ice" music is lush and melodic and moving with sweet harmonics and smart lyrics.

Below are more DCMR staff picks for every day of the week!

Featured Events

District

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Maryland

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Virginia

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Livestream

WATCH LIVE: John Kadlecik Closes Out 4-Night Summer Solstice Run

John Kadlecik's four-night run of Summer Solstice Jams at Gypsy Sally's comes to a close tonight, and Nora Lyle is on hand for DC Music Review to stream the full show through our facebook page, scheduled to start around 7pm. John is joined by Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band, Jay Lane of Further and RatDog, Robin Sylvester of Ratdog, and Jessica Lake and Mary Lankford of DC Mystery Cats.

An audio only version of this stream is available through Will Urquhart's mixlr.

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Concert Reviews

Ray LaMontagne and Neko Case Light Up The Anthem

Earlier this year, Ray LaMontagne announced that he would be performing a show at Merriweather Post Pavilion with Neko Case this summer. I admit to not knowing much of LaMontagne’s material, but I am a big fan of Neko Case. I was impressed when I saw her perform at The 9:30 Club in 2009 with The New Pornographers. The idea of enjoying this concert in June at Merriweather excited me.

Very shortly after the tickets went on sale, it was announced that the show was moved to The Anthem. This made me happy since The Anthem has become my favorite venue in D.C. However, reading the discussion on the event page, many ticket holders were upset by this venue change. They claimed that a summer concert such as this was more appropriate for Merriweather’s outdoor experience. I was not too bothered by the venue change and picked up my own tickets to attend this show at The Anthem.

Ray LaMontagne stunned the audience all night with a visual backdrop.

This was my eleventh show this year to date at The Anthem but my first seated show. The massive floor spaced was neatly lined with chairs all the way back to the soundboard. The standing areas in the upper level boxes were also lined with chairs. This was definitely a different experience for me. I arrived early to take advantage of The Anthems happy hour and waited for the venue to fill with people. The venue was very quiet, even up to minutes before Neko Case took the stage.

The show started promptly at 8 PM as the audience slowly began to fill the seats. Neko Case took the stage accompanied by 6 additional musicians and welcomed everyone. She even thanked them for braving the “horrific” DC traffic. Her set started off strong with “Man”, the single from her 2013 album, The Worse Things Get, the Harder I fight, the Harder I fight, the More I Love You. This fast-paced song filled The Anthem with powerful guitars as Case rocked out on her guitar solo.

Neko Case performed a 12-song set-list primarily supporting her newest release, Hell-On. The set included the title track, “Hell-On”, as well as, current single, “Bad Luck”. Highlights of her performance included her howling vocals on “Oracle of the Maritimes” and “Winnie”. Both of these songs are beautiful ballads with a maritime theme. She closed out her set with a favorite among fans, “Hold On Hold On”. Her voice echoed through The Anthem and she received a standing ovation from the crowd who had finally filled the empty seats.

Ray LaMontagne

The audience members took advantage of the set break to grabs drinks at the bar and mingle. Approximately 30 minutes later, Ray LaMontagne took the stage. The backdrop provided a very colorful scene, consisting of three giant T.V. images swirling with ever changing colors throughout the set. LaMontagne was dressed in all neutral colors, wearing a cowboy hat and hiking boots, giving a very rustic appearance. He took the stage centered between his 4 band members and rarely left his spot in front of the microphone. He would step away from time to time for a brief guitar solo, but stayed mostly stationary throughout the entire performance.

LaMontagne’s set list was impressive and covered songs from throughout his catalog. Half of his 18-song set list supported his latest release, Part of the Light. The highlight of his performance was during “Ojai” when LaMontagne proceeded to jam out to his guitar under very low lights. It was at this moment when I realized why so many people were disappointed with the venue change. As the sounds of howling bluesy guitars filled The Anthem, I suddenly had the desire to be laying on the lawn of Merriweather Post Pavilion. It was during this song that I understood. His music and performance would have been the perfect companion to the relaxed feeling of Merriweather, and I suddenly felt a little disappointed that the venue had been changed.

Despite the solemn stage presence, I was still impressed with this show and LaMontagne’s performance. It was a peaceful and relaxing evening, which made sense why The Anthem provided seats for the audience. However, I believe that some performers are better suited for certain venues. After a 4-song encore and ending with “While it Still Beats”, I walked out of the venue to pouring rain. At least everyone stayed dry inside The Anthem!

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Shantel Breen of These Subtle Sounds.

Related Articles

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Ray LaMontagne and Neko Case Light Up The Anthem

Concert News

The Monophonics Bring Their Psychedelic Soul Sound To The 8×10 This Sunday

This Sunday, June 24th, the Monophonics will be playing The 8x10 in Baltimore for a night of funky psychedelic soul, in support of their newest album Mirrors.

Mirrors - Released Feb. 15, 2018

Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, the group has been lighting up dance floors from coast to coast with their powerful soulful sound. It’s been a while since these guys last came to town, so take advantage of this rare treat while you can, at one of the best places to see a show in Baltimore.

Put a funky cap on the weekend and let these guys help you forget about your Monday morning blues with some psychedelic soul therapy. Local acts Backbeat Underground and Spark Arrester will be opening the night.

Opening for the Monophonics is local soul jazz and funk band Backbeat Underground out of Washington DC. This band will play the hardest hitting DC 'go-go' drumbeat and blow you away with their performance. Virginia DJ Spark Arrester will also be performing and playing their infectious and worldly electronic funk hip hop beats!

Doors 7:00PM - Show Starts at 8:00PM.

Tickets are $17.11 online (after fees)

The event is AGES 18 AND OVER.

Buy Tickets Now

Albums:

Monphonics are touring in support of their latest album, Mirrors, released on February 15, 2018.

https://monophonics.bandcamp.com/album/mirrors

Mirrors - Released Feb. 15, 2018

Associated Videos:

(Courtesy of Monophonics' YouTube Channel)

Concert News

Celebrate The Summer Solstice With An All Star Summer Solstice Jam at Gypsy Sally’s [4-Night Run]

Welcome the first day of the Summer Solstice with a truly amazing four-night run of music at Gypsy Sally’s in Washington DC, June 21-24.

None other than hometown hero, John Kadlecik, hosts an all-star jam with Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band, Jay Lane of Further and RatDog, Robin Sylvester of Ratdog, and Jessica Lake and Mary Lankford of DC Mystery Cats.

The ongoing collaborations among these musicians goes back over 15 years and this never-before-seen ensemble is a sure recipe for a delightful weekend of music.

Please click on the tag cloud below for a photograph of any one of the solstice performers.

Thursday - June 21

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Friday - June 22

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Saturday - June 23

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Sunday - June 24

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Bad Bad Hats (Credit: Zoe Prinds - Flash Featured Photo)

Interviews

Bad Bad Hats Bring Their Bite To The Nation’s Capital

Ever wonder what the unlikely combination of "Minnesota nice" and New York City bluntness sounds like? Come to Union Stage this Sunday, June 24, to hear Minneapolis natives Bad Bad Hats artfully blend the two together .

Consisting of Kerry Alexander, Chris Hoge, and Connor Davison, the trio turned heads with their debut album in 2015. The record was a perfect mix of classic pop and nineties rock, catching the attention of multiple notable media outlets.

As NPR reflected, Bad Bad Hats' music is "...programmed to fire all neural pathways associated with carefree indie rock fun. But beware: These lyrics will bite."

The band recently announced the release of their sophomore album, Lightning Round, out on August 3. With a number of songs recorded live, the record is sure to bring Alexander's candid poetry to the forefront.

Come rid yourself of the Sunday blues with Bad Bad Hats' infectious rhythms at Union Stage this Sunday night.

Get to know the faces behind the music and learn what Bad Bad Hats is most excited for in D.C. in our interview below!

AM: Last time you were in D.C., you were playing as an opener at the 9:30 Club. Now that you’re the headliner, how does your approach to the performance change, if at all?

Kerry Alexander (KA): We're excited to be the headliner! It's a nice opportunity to play more songs, and to be a bit more easygoing with banter. We like opening too, having to work within a smaller time frame and impress people who haven't heard of us. But as a headliner we get to play a more diverse set of songs from our catalog and give the audience a fuller picture of who we are as a band.

AM: What differentiates you from other bands that come through D.C.?

Chris Hoge (CH): I think Kerry's stage banter. If you haven't seen us play before, Kerry tells jokes and stories throughout the set. We're still trying to get her to try a stand-up comedy open mic on tour, she would be great.

AM: With your upcoming album, you recorded the songs live. What was that experience like? I imagine it can be intimidating to know that you only get one shot at getting the song just how you want it!

KA: It was a really exciting experience for me, because that wasn't something I thought I would be able to do. Not all the songs are live, and we were able to do multiple takes (thankfully), but it definitely added new excitement and spontaneity to the process. I'm so used to recording by doing one track at time, kind of checking off the boxes as I go. Which is a much more formulaic process. The songs we did live, I had to let go and let them become what they became. And I'm happy with them.

AM: Since you’ve toured D.C. before, is there anything that you’re looking forward to seeing, experiencing, eating, etc. when you’re back?

CH: We have a friend who works at 2 Amys pizza, and we always look forward to going there. Kerry really likes Amsterdam Falafel too. We don't always have time to explore the cities we're in, which is one of the downsides of tour. But we have a day off in D.C. this time, so we're hoping to explore a bit.

AM: When the audience is heading home from the show, how do you hope they’re feeling? Is there any specific sentiment you’d like to have them leave with?

KA: We hope our shows are a joyful experience for people! We have fun on stage and hopefully people leave feeling happy and entertained.

See Bad Bad Hats at Union Stage this Sunday, June 24, 2018

Tickets: $15 Doors: 6:30 Show: 7:30

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