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Venue Review: Union Stage – Washington, D.C.

Union Stage is the newest of the three music venues at The Wharf in Washington, DC. In the middle of 2017 the owners of Jammin' Java, a mainstay of live music in Vienna, Virginia announced that they would open up a second music venue along The Wharf.

Union Stage

https://www.unionstage.com

740 Water Street SW

Washington, DC 20024

740 Water Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

(877) 987-6487

740 Water Street SW

Washington, DC 20024

(877) 987-6487

Capacity: 450

This 450 person, 7500 square foot venue had the same loving attention paid to its planning, construction, and day-to-day operations that led Paste magazine to call Jammin' Java one of America's 40 best music venue in 2007.

Union Stage plays host to a vast array of performances including happy hours, themed events (eg: “Back to the 90's”), comedy nights, and open mic nights. Union Stage and has a diverse selection of musical acts and plays host to several of The Anthem afterparty concerts.

Stay tuned to Union Stage to host some extraordinary performances in the coming years as brother's Jonathan, Luke, and Daniel Brindely ensure that the same level of detail and high standards make Union Stage as revered as their original venue.

Performance Calendar

Please make sure to view the venue's website calendar or Facebook Calendar of Events for a complete lineup of upcoming performances.

Essential Information

Union Stage is a credit only venue and cash is not accepted at the bar or table service.

IMPORTANT WHARF CONSTRUCTION NOTE:

We highly recommend that you utlize SpotHero to purchase parking around the venue before driving to the venue. Phase II District Wharf Construction has eliminated some previous parking lots and this area has rapidly become a tourist and food/happy hour destination,

Parking is now at a premium more than ever. Also, if there is a big performance at The Anthem the same night you are going to Union Stage, please expect parking to sell out.

Find SpotHero Parking Near Union Stage

Venue Configuration

Ground Floor:

The ground floor of this venue contains the box office as well as the TapRoom Bar. The venue does project movies along a wall opposite the bar where you can watch old Rolling Stones documentaries amongst other music-oriented films (Keith Richards never looked so young).

Performance Floor (One Floor Down):

The central performance space is unobstructed standing room only. To the far left of the performance space beyond the soundboard is a small section for seated dining and also the location of the coat check.

Coat Check

A self-serve coat check is available at the venue and is free of charge.

Accessibility

Union Stage is a wheelchair accessible venue, and there are elevators to transport individuals from the ground floor to the venue below. Union Stage notes in their FAQ page “If you have other special needs or arrangements, please do not hesitate to call us in advance of the show, and we will do our best to accommodate you.” Please contact them at (877) 987-6487 for more information.

Seating

To the far left of the performance space beyond and behind the soundboard a small area for a seated performance experience. The tables also include full service drink and dining service.
Tip: Seats / seated dining spaces are quite limited and on a first come first serve basis. If you prefer to sit, please arrive at the venue closer to door opening time than performance time.

Stage, Lighting, & Sound

Stage, Lighting, and Sound

Stage, Lighting,

and Sound

The main performance hall is approximately 7500 square feet and comfortably accommodates 450 concertgoers.
Both the lighting and sound system are brand new and quite state of the art. The sound inside the concert hall is crisp and robust with no noticeable dead spots or distortion.

Food

The venue has a small menu of delicious pizzas. There is also house salad, coffee, and sorbet on the menu.

Drinks

There are two bars at the venue. The TapRoom Bar is immediately inside the venue while another larger bar is inside the performance space to the right of the stage.

We will go out on a limb and say that Union Stage has one of the more impressive list of craft beers in draft and cans. You will not be disappointed with their selection in the least as they are hand selected by the bar staff. A truly inspired selection of seasonal beer selections and one that changes every few months. You will not be dissapointed by their selection of both local, regional, and national beers. The beer prices are standard “Wharf Rate” and cost anywhere between $7 - $9 per beer.

Restrooms

There is a men's and women's restroom located on the venue level right beside the performance hall doors.

Vending

Artist vending is located just a few feet inside the performance hall space to the right of the doors.

Pre & Post Show Options

Pre & Post

Show Options

Pre-Show

Before the show, you can go to the Taproom Bar on the ground level for a pre-performance drink. You can also order pizza and sit in the limited seating at the rear of the performance hall to the left of the stage.

Post-Show

There are an endless variety of dining and drinking options after the performance located along The District Wharf (https://www.wharfdc.com). For an up to date list of all food and drink options, we recommend you check The District Wharf's Restaurant website for available options (https://www.wharfdc.com/restaurants/)

Getting There

The venue and box office is located at 740 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Water Street is a relatively small street located within the Wharf Complex between Maine Avenue and Wharf Street SW.

Car:

From North of Washington DC: From I-495, take I-295 South. Take Exit 1B-C toward I-695/Route 395/Downtown. Take Exit 5 for 7th Street/L’Enfant Promenade, then turn left onto 7th Street to Maine Avenue. Turn right on Maine Avenue.

South of Washington DC: Take I-395 North. Take Exit 4 toward SW Waterfront/National Park/Maine Ave and follow 9th Street to Maine Avenue. Continue down Maine Avenue to 7th Street SE..

Metro:

The Waterfront Metro station the closest Metro station from the venue as Union Stage is on the southernmost part of The District Wharf.

Taxi / Uber / Lyft

The venue and box office is located at 740 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024.
This most straightforward address to let your car service use is either The Canopy by Hilton at 975 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20024 or Hanks Oyster Bar at 701 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Parking

There are several parking options available for people driving to Union Stage.

Wharf Parking

The closest parking option for Union Stage is Wharf parking located at 690 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024. It will cost you almost as much for parking as it did for your ticket (and probably more if we are to be honest). There rare multiple entrances and exits to this parking lot that run under the entirety of The District Wharf.

Additional Parking (We cannot understate the value of the following section):

There are approximately 10 parking lots within walking distance of the venue.

If you are looking for pre-booked parking at discounted rates, we recommend using Spot Hero. If you don't mind walking a few blocks, you can buy parking for as little as $7.
Two reference points are Arena Stage Parking and The Anthem Parking.

Find SpotHero Parking Near Arena Stage

Find SpotHero Parking Near The Anthem

Additional Resources

Additional

Resources

For more information on The Wharf, please see the following link.

Additional Resources

Additional

Resources

Concert Reviews

Relive The Dan Lipton Trio’s Soothing Set at Gypsy Sally’s [Video, Audio, Photos]

"We are the Vinyl Lounge house band," Dan Lipton joked after opening their set on the main stage at Gypsy Sally's last Thursday, supporting Yes Darling at their DC debut on April 5. The Dan Lipton Trio is no stranger to this Georgetown venue, though they are typically found in the Vinyl Lounge bar accessed through the back alley.

This three-piece act features Dan Lipton as their frontman on guitar and vocals, Ken Cobb on bass, and Gypsy Sally's own, Baptiste Bourgade, on cajón. Their sound evokes an Americana songwriting style that sits comfortably at home on this stage.

[bctt tweet=”"Their sound evokes an Americana songwriting that sits comfortably at home on this stage.＂” via=”yes”]

Akin to great songwriters such as James Taylor, this trio writes even more melancholy lyrics like those found in 'Water Rising' that comes across as pleasantly soothing and peaceful. They will be back at the Vinyl Lounge on April 20 and you can find them at New Deal Cafe on May 22. Relive their full set below with video, audio, and photos from the night.

Click here to see the setlist for The Dan Lipton Trio's performance at Gypsy Sally's on 4/05/2018

Enjoy video and audio recordings of the performance recorded by our collaborator Will Urquhart.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Josh Brick of Josh Brick Graphics.

Concert Reviews

In Tall Buildings Performs a Multi-Dimensional Musical Experience at the DC9 Nightclub

Erik Hall, or as he is better known — In Tall Buildings — is a suave and innovative musical wizard. His late March performance at DC9 was an early stop on his 2018 promotional tour. Standing tall, he casted a serene aura over the intimate crowd, despite the intermittently intense drums and ethereal mixing.

“Siren Song,” a track off Hall’s latest release started off the set, with “Beginning To Fade” not too far behind. Both songs were shining examples of the range of In Tall Buildings. In addition to soaring vocals and wild range, the variety of sounds experienced in just one track was amazing.

The Chicago based group are on tour for Hall's latest release Akinetic, a multi-dimensional musical experience that showcases numerous layers of sounds and tones. The album requires numerous listens, as the sounds and melodies only become richer and more prominent with more exposure. For some reason, those sounds that make multiple listens a treat, came through in Hall’s live performance. Harmonies were striking, the soothing vocals setting the tone for the evening, indicating that even those with just slightest bit of interest in Hall’s recorded content should not miss a live show.

If you couldn’t see the band, you’d assume Hall was backed by at least seven others. In actuality, there were just four, with at least half of the musicians doubling up on instruments. Hall was joined onstage by Quin Kirchner (drums), Stacy Harden (bass, synth), and Justin Walter (keys).

The wide range of sounds was almost baffling.

While at times In Tall Buildings’s sound had elements that were reminiscent of The Shins, their sound was totally modern and unique. They were both quiet and powerful, lulling you into a sense of comfort and intrigue all at once.

Toward the end of the set, Hall gratefully acknowledged the crowd, saying, “It means the world to me that you’re all here. What a lovely group of people.”

DC9 was not Hall’s first trip to the District, and his knowledge of the Capital’s hot spots rolled off his tongue as though he were a DMV native. While he was chatting with the small but rambunctious crowd, Hall mentioned that they arrived to DC too late to partake in their favorite tourist attractions. Most remorseful of all, he said: “We didn’t get to go to Ben’s Chili Bowl.”

However, on a positive note, Hall repeatedly said “see you soon” throughout the night, perhaps indicating that he will return to DC soon for a reprise performance (and a bowl of chili).

Hall’s performance looked effortless and felt masterful, with the artist embellishing each song with a soft smile at its conclusion. Hall seemed as though he were raised on the stage, his performance coming off as though it were second nature.

As the band was inching off the stage, one brave fan called out, “ONE MORE SONG!” to which Hall delightedly relented, with a nonchalant, “Alright, yeah!” The band closed out with “Monster’s Lair,” and a sweet comment on how nice it felt to travel and “feel the love” wherever they went.

If you’re looking for a musical experience that engages your ears as well as your mind, then make sure to check out In Tall Buildings. We hope to host him soon again in the DMV.

Setlist

Click here to see the setlist for In Tall Buildings' performance at DC9 Nightclub on Mar. 28, 2018

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Jason Herman of Jason Herman Photography.

Livestream

WATCH: Funky Dawgz Brass Band and Dan N’ Friends at Gypsy Sally’s

We're streaming live tonight from the Funky Dawgz Brass Band and Dan N' Friends show at Gypsy Sally's!

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Concert Reviews

Yes Darling Came to DC to Kiss Our Lips and Punch Us in the Face

The scene opens with a couple on a couch, preparing for the night. The duet bickers as they seamlessly roll into an intimate song. Seated at the back of the Gypsy Sally's main stage, they steal glances at each other throughout the opening tune.

With Yes Darling, Hayley Jane and Ryan Montbleau have developed a performance that captures everything beautiful, and exciting, and terrifying, and outright annoying about love and relationships. One part concert and one part theater, this duo of characters weaves a story that is familiar and intimate through a mix of dialogue and impressive musical performances.

[bctt tweet=”"With Yes Darling, Hayley Jane and Ryan Montbleau have developed a performance that captures everything beautiful, and exciting, and terrifying, and outright annoying about love and relationships.＂” via=”no”]

The night whirls through a Ferris wheel of emotions. From the bliss of "seeing her sleep with the smile you made," and the love found in little things you take for granted, to the comedy of two big personalities clashing with each other, to the terrifying notion of being stuck in a car together for hours on end during a road trip on acid with... oh crap are those police lights flashing in the rear view mirror?! The pair dances back and forth between cute, raunchy, and emotionally painful, with laughter sprinkled throughout.

Nearly all of the songs they perform are originals off their album that showcase their fiery and hilarious chemistry, but they did step outside of that briefly for a couple covers. One of those being "In Spite of Ourselves," by John Prine, a song written for the Billy Bob Thornton film, Daddy & Them, in which Prine appears (yes, we googled that for you, darling).

The on stage banter extends into the audience every now and then, but mostly this performance is as meticulously plotted out as any play. The shared glances and precise timing are far too on-the-nose to have been left up to chance. Even the two mics that supposedly are just for them to communicate with each other-but which comically broadcast their more private arguments over the speakers-have the distinct sound of a backstage crew radio.

All of this combines for an immersive and moving night of theater, that will have your stomach aching with laughter. You can find Yes Darling's album on iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and Google Play.

Hayley and Ryan are in Philadelphia tonight and New York tomorrow before jutting off to Florida for a few nights. If you are lucky enough to catch this act, buckle up because Yes Darling is a wild ride and it just might be the most adorably not-safe-for-work show you will ever see.

The Dan Lipton Trio, a group that is very familiar to Gypsy Sally's, opened the night with a set of soothing songwriting. We will have a full review with photos of them shortly, and you can relive that opening set with our webcast recording.

[bctt tweet=”"Yes Darling is a wild ride and it just might be the most adorably not-safe-for-work show you will ever see.＂” via=”yes”]

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Josh Brick of Josh Brick Graphics.

Social Media Posts

Social Media

Artist News, Interviews

Interview with Larry Joseloff of The Jerry Tripsters

On Thursday, March 22, DC Music Review had the opportunity to sit down with Jerry Tripsters bass player Larry Joseloff after their debut show at Gypsy Sally’s to ask him about this new project that has begun to generate buzz among the DMV Deadhead set. In their nearly three hours of music, The Jerry Tripsters played for an engaged and appreciative crowd for a Thursday night. We asked Larry what made the Jerry Tripsters different, how the band came to be, and what their plans are for the future:

Larry Joseloff (Bass)

Nina Goodman: Thanks for taking the time for a few questions, Larry. I caught your last show at Villain and Saint a few weeks ago and had a blast, but I had not heard of your band prior to that show. When did you guys start up?

Larry Joseloff: First of all thanks for the opportunity to talk and for DC Music Review for supporting the local music scene. So tonight was our 4th show overall, but only the 3rd show where I had actually met all the band members prior to performing.

NG: I feel like there is a story in here somewhere.

LJ: So Rex Wilkes (of Better of Dead) and I have been friends for awhile and I always wanted to find an opportunity to play music with him on a regular basis. We did this acoustic duo project called Dead Red, which was fun and maybe we will pick it up again sometime – but I knew there was more potential. Last August, Rex called me and said there is a Jerry Garcia festival at a brewery and a spot opened up in the bill and if I wanted to come down and play some songs. So I thought sure…why not….beer, music, sunny day – I am IN!

NG: Did you rehearse with the band at all before that?

Rex Wilkes (Vocals & Guitar)

LJ: No, we just emailed some song ideas and knew we could pull it off. He told me Scott Toop (of Splintered Sunlight and Stewbone) is the drummer. I have known him for awhile, but we never played music together. And Kirk Kness (of Stewbone) is on keyboards – I had never met him before until we were loading in and we just got there and started up. And Amy Wilson (of On The Bus and Getting Weir'd) adds amazing vocals to about half the songs. I remember from the first note it just FELT good. Everything was relaxed and natural – the grooves were just automatically in sync and everyone’s instruments and voices just worked together right away. We just looked at each other and laughed after the first song….and said WHOA – this is really fun! It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but we thought…hey let’s keep this train going and see where it takes us.

NG: There was a song I didn’t recognize early in the set, what was it?

LJ: That first song was called “Finders Keepers” that Jerry Garcia played with Merl Saunders. I had never heard that one before Rex suggested it but I love playing it!

[bctt tweet=”We just looked at each other and laughed after the first song….and said WHOA – this is really fun! It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but we thought…hey let’s keep this train going and see where it takes us.” via=”yes”]

Kirk Kness (Keyboards, Vocals)

NG: I also didn’t know that Jerry ever did Stevie Wonder’s "Boogie on Reggae Woman," one of my all time favorite songs. That was one of the highlights of the show.

Something different from other Jerry bands I have played with is we are pulling some tunes out of the Legion of Mary catalog and some other projects he did with Merl Saunders. So not just the Grateful Dead or Jerry Garcia Band. That is when Jerry covered “Boogie On.”

NG: Well, you seemed to be enjoying yourself up there.

LJ: My philosophy in this band is groove is the most important thing. As long as Scott and I are locked in, everything else will work itself out. Rex and Kirk can take care of the hard parts while I just roll my eyes in the back of head and just groove all night.

NG: What is the biggest challenge of this group playing together?

LJ: It’s pretty funny. We have all played much of this music before in other groups, but as you know –Jerry did not play these songs the same way all the time. So we will see a song that we THINK we know, "Mighty High" for example, and it turns out we all learned it in four slightly different arrangements. I am glad we practiced that one. Trainwreck avoided.

NG: Any upcoming plans for the group?

Scott Toop (Drums, Vocals)

LJ: We have a couple shows booked in Baltimore. We are at the The 8X10 on April 11 and the Ottobar on May 19. We are all busy in our other projects so we know this will be something we do when we can find a free moment, however I am having a blast and open for any opportunity that can work with our schedules that comes our way.

NG: Thanks, Larry. Fun show and DC Music Review looks forward to the next one!

To learn more about The Jerry Tripsters please go to their Facebook page.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Mark Raker of Mark Raker Photography from their March 22 performance at Gypsy Sally's.

Concert Reviews

The Steel Woods Cut to the Core at The Hamilton With The Trongone Band [Audio/Photos]

The Steel Woods brought their powerful brand of southern rock to The Hamilton last Wednesday, March 28. The Nashville-based quartet impressed with a headlining set that put both their songwriting and musicianship on display. Led by co-founders Wes Bayliss (guitar, vocals, harmonica) and Jason 'Rowdy' Cope (guitar), the band featured a number of songs off their 2017 debut, Straw In The Wind.

The duo met in Nashville while working in different projects and began writing songs that evoke the sounds ranging from traditional country to boot-stomping southern rock and roll. The band includes Jay Tooke (drums, vocals) and Johnny Stanton (bass, vocals), a formidable rhythm section that completes the band's full sound. Bayliss' vocals shone throughout the night, at times supported by Took and Stanton creating beautiful harmonies. Cope, previously a member of Jamey Johnson's band, impressed with his guitar chops and thick, clean tone on his Fender Telecaster.

After a swampy take on The Allman Brothers Band's "Whipping Post," the band launched into a particularly meaty portion of the set that captivated the audience. "Straw In The Wind" was especially gripping and featured both Cope and Bayliss on electric guitar. Bayliss let loose on vocals and it was clear the band was feeling it, unleashing their haunting and edgy sound. "Della Jane's Heart" followed, another gem written by Cope and Bayliss. After a forcible and bluesy "I Need You," Tooke laid down the opening beat to Black Sabbath's "Hole In The Sky." The Steel Wood's impressive rendition featured the song's hard-hitting riff mixed with the Bayliss' southern, soul-wrenching vocals. The band closed with "Axe" and "Rain" and it was apparent the crowd wanted more. They will have to wait for the rocking quartet to return to The District, and DC Music Review certainly hopes that happens sooner rather than later.

The Trongone Band, the always impressive quartet from Virginia, returned to The Hamilton stage to open the evening. The Richmond natives had just come off a lengthy tour and were happy to be back in DC. It was clear early that this billing was well-suited as The Trongone band plays music that ranges in genre from country, americana, folk and rock. At heart, they are a rock and roll band and they make sure their audience knows it. The band includes brothers Andrew (guitar, vocals) and Johnny (drums) Trongone, Ben 'Wolf' White (keys, vocals) and Zach Hudgins (bass). The quartet displayed their songwriting pedigree as well as impressive musicianship. The set focused on originals from their 2017 release, Keys to the House, and featured crisp vocal harmonies and fierce guitar solos from Andrew Trongone. The band is set to play several shows in the southeast with The Vagabonds on their way to the Sweetwater 420 Festival in Atlanta, GA.

Setlist

Click here to see the setlist for The Steel Woods' performance at The Hamilton on 3/28/2018

Click here to see the setlist for The Trongone Band's performance at The Hamilton on 3/28/2018

Audio Recordings

Enjoy audio recording of the performance recorded by our collaborator Will Urquhart.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Josh Brick of Josh Brick Graphics.

The Steel Woods

The Trongone Band

Livestream

WATCH: Tuesday’s Gypsysally’s Jam Raising Funds to Help Maishah Hendrix of Capital City Care

Tonight's Gordon Sterling Presents: The Gypsysally's Jam is a special one. Gordon and crew will be using this jam to help raise funds to support Maishah Hendrix's fight against sickle cell anemia. Regulars of the jam will know Maishah as one of the loyal sponsors through her work with Capital City Care. She has consistently demonstrated what Gordon described as "unwavering support of our music and arts scene." And now we ask you to give back to her and consider making a donation at bit.ly/Maishah.

As usual, we at DC Music Review will be on scene to livestream tonight's jam from the Gypsysally's Jam facebook page and will update this post with that webstream when it goes live. Please consider making a contribution.

Concert Reviews

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Put the Fun in Funk for Two Nights at 9:30 Club [Updated with nugs.net links]

The University of Maryland-formed jam band Pigeons Playing Ping Pong kicked off their spring tour this weekend, headlining two sold-out nights at DC’s 9:30 Club and treating fans to an adrenaline-fueled throwdown at one of the band’s favorite venues. Playing to their hometown crowd, the energy in the venue was palpable for what felt like a huge milestone gig for the four-piece psychedelic funk outfit out of College Park.

Night 1: PPPPajama Party Means No Worries

The Pigeons fan-base, affectionately known as “the Flock,” showed up early for a pre-show pajama party and had almost filled the 9:30 Club before the opening act left the stage. Asheville, North Carolina’s The Fritz played a set seemingly curated for Pigeons fans’ tastes, featuring tunes that moved from funk to psychedelia to jukebox covers, getting the crowd limber and hyped for the main event. As the members of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong set up their gear, the crowd cheered excitedly and was ready to rock well before Pigeons’ first set kicked off at 10:30 PM.

Greg Ormont of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Upon taking the stage, leader singer and guitarist, “Scrambled” Greg Ormont took a moment t acknowledge the band’s excitement for their first two-night booking at DC’s historic nightclub. Kicking off the festivities with “Porcupine,” the crowd’s energy was immediately apparent through the first few tunes as the Flock sang along enthusiastically with the choruses of “Melting Lights” and “Live it Up.”

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong invited Fritz percussionist Mike Evans onto the stage for a sit-in on their next song, and the calypso-tinged “Fortress” fit like a glove for this collaboration, as the beach vibes spread through the room and euphoria set in for the audience. The band took a sharp turn into psychedelic territory with the jamtronica anthem “Avalanche,” which roared through the club and changed the tone of the show dramatically, kicking the party into a higher gear. Lead guitarist Jeremy Schon’s solos were inspired and furious, building to intense peaks and guiding the energy of this raucous dance party. Throughout the night, the complementary play between Schon and drummer Alex Petropulos was palpable and drove the band’s explorations.

When the band returned for their second set, they kept up the fun and playful feel of the show with “Whoopie,” bobbing their heads in unison through the syncopated instrumental sections. Ben Carrey’s thumping bass lines carried the room at this point, getting the crowd ready to throw down for one more raging set. The surprise highlight of the set came in an unexpected cover, the Disney classic “Hakuna Matata.” This funky rendition segued perfectly into “Moonwalk,” providing another opportunity for Pigeons to showcase the electronic influence in their music and provide another outstanding jam with epic tension and release.

For a band that seems to take pride in its sense of humor, “F.U.” was a fitting way to close out the show and put an exclamation point on an endlessly fun and funky night at 9:30 Club before the band and its Flock would come back to do it all over again less than 24 hours later.

Night 2: Fooling the Flock

The second night of the run saw the sci-fi Middle Eastern fusion band from New York, Consider the Source, opening. A unique band with a psychedelic mix of sounds got the crowd warmed up with a fiery set.

As Pigeons Playing Ping Pong took the stage to start night two, Greg expressed to the crowd how much this run meant to the band fittingly launching into "Time to Ride." Next up was the mysterious dance jingle "Fox and Toad," followed by "Pop Off" and "Poseidon," all of which had the audience singing along and grooving to the music. "Offshoot" led into the first cover of the night as the band segued seamlessly in and out of "Pink Panther" before finishing the instrumental original.

But the magic of the night was saved for set two. Greg again opened the set with a message about what the 9:30 Club meant to them, having grown up in the DMV, and acknowledged this important milestone for the band of selling out their first two night stand at this historic venue. "We want to do something special," he said, adding that they were going to recreate one of their favorite sets they had played at this venue.

Back in 2015 on Halloween night, the crew performed a "Dead Zeppelin" set, mashing up beloved tunes by the Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin. The band led fans to believe they'd recreate this beloved performance by opening the set briefly with an unfinished version of "Horizon" transitioning into "Eyes of the World." But this night was not Halloween, and since the second set had started shortly after midnight, we had officially slipped into April Fools' Day. The crowd erupted as the band jumped into "War Pigs" and, leaving the classic metal anthem unfinished, played a short version of "Bare Necessities" before returning to finish "Horizon."

That turned the energy level for the rest of the night up to eleven as the band stepped away from the "Dead Zeppelin" fake-out to round out a set of pure Pigeons funk. The encore opened with a new song, aptly titled "Dawn A New Day" before closing out with "Fun in Funk," leaving the show on a perfect note for fans who will no doubt be wanting another PPPPajama party sooner rather than later.

Pigeons will tour the East Coast and the South through April before wrapping up their spring tour with 3-nights at the Brooklyn Bowl. They’ll host their annual Domefest just two weeks later, only a short drive from DC in Bedford, PA. You can also catch them at just about any music festival this summer.

Will Urquhart contributed to this article.

Setlist

Click here to see the setlist for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at the 9:30 Club on March 30, 2018

Click here to see the setlist for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at the 9:30 Club on March 31, 2018

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Josh Brick of Josh Brick Graphics.

Enjoy photos by our photographer Mark Raker of Mark Raker Photography.

Soundboard Recordings

Soundboards

Updated 04/03 at 03:04 PM: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong have added audio from both nights to nugs.net.

Click on Image for Night One

Click on Image for Night Two

Social Media Posts

Social Media

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at the 9:30 Club on 10/31/2015

Concerts this Week

Goodman’s Good Music – Concert Picks of the Week – April 2nd

Week Of: April 2-8, 2018

Hatching the groove eggs.

Summary:

Spring is in the air. Time to shake off that winter dander and loosen up those viscid joints with this bounty of freshness.

DC Music Review Staff Picks:

I checked in with the DC Music Review staff, these are some of the headliner shows that they are springing for:

April 3: The nation's leading Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra pays their now annual visit to The Hamilton for an acoustic performance. This year has two special twists: 1. With Rob Eaton unable to make the trip, this year's show will have a Jerry Garcia Band theme. 2. Local favorites Better Off Dead will be doing a FREE after-show upstairs in The Hamilton Loft. The beloved DC Dead cover band kicks their set off at 10:30 and will playing into the wee hours.
April 4: Yo La Tengo just released their new album, "There's a Riot Going on," which is getting solid reviews on the blogosphere. They are on a three-month tour and lucky us, they are stopping in DC at the 9:30 Club. Check them out at this unique, often interactive, feel-good show.
April 5: Thursday brings Denver's leading hypnotic horn-driven funk ensemble to the 9:30 club as The Motet with Soule Monde hits DC. This is only the second stop of their Spring tour so they will be sure to be fresh and full of goodness.
April 6: Make sure you save some energy for an amazing Friday night lineup as Gypsy Sally's is proud to welcome the Funky Dawgz Brass Band w/Dan n' Friends. While they hail from Connecticut, the dawgz bring the spirit and traditions of New Orleans to Georgetown. Opening the show is local legend Dan Steele and his rotating cast of friends. When you need a break, dip into the adjacent Vinyl Lounge to soak up the sounds of Dan Segall and songwriter/storyteller extraordinaire Jay Byrd.
April 7: In Richmond? Catch the incredible Phish tribute band Runaway Gin as they light up the Broadberry and prime everyone for festival season this summer.
April 8: It's a sold out show, but if you can get in, get to Lorde with Run the Jewels and Mitski at Anthem. Reviewers of the show say it's raw, real, and you get to see Lorde cut loose and dance. With guests like Run the Jewels and Mitski, it's a hot ticket.

And don't miss these...

Living Legends -- How incredibly lucky are we to have these legends grace the DMV. Check it out:

April 3-4: Victor Wooten Trio at The Broadberry on April 3 and at Rams Head On Stage on April 4
April 6: Bobby McFarrin at Strathmore
April 7: Patti LaBelle at Warner Theater
April 8: Art Garfunkel at Rams Head On Stage

Hidden Gems

April 3: Mirah with The Secret Drum Band at DC9 will be a deep-reaching show in a very intimate space. Philly-born and Brooklyn-based Mirah is praised by Pitchfork for her “incredible voice—a versatile coo that can flit from low, sultry tones to high, airy falsetto in one breath.” Joining her is Portland's Secret Drum band, which features five percussionists and two ambient musicians who create music in response to soundscape, choosing locations that draw attention to issues concerning endangered species, ecosystem function, and habitat loss.
April 3: At the Jennifer Hartswick & Nick Cassarino show at Pearl Street Warehouse, you can expect Jen (a mainstay with Phish's frontman’s Trey Anastasio Band) and Nick (one of the founders of The Nth Power) to play some sweet material from Jen’s forthcoming album as well as other choice selections that come from each of their past projects.
April 5: Start the weekend early on Thursday as DC9 features a quadruple-header of powerful DMV talent: Mary-el, nah., Fractal Cat, and FuzzQueen. Mary-eL for her jaw-dropping edgy funk, rock, and soul. nah. for their captivating, hand-holding, introspective realism. Fractal Cat with their psychedelic rock social commentary and tight groove. And the one-of-a-kind power of FuzzQueen, who, "coalesce around issues of social injustice and feminine power to both mirror and confront the political climate through sonic exploration." Early 7:30 start to get all the greatness in. Only $8.
April 5: The new super-duo, Yes Darling, comes to DC for their first time to play at Gypsy Sally's. Yes Darling features Hayley Jane and Ryan Montbleau in an adorable, quirky, and fun combination of two powerful performers. Come check them out with the authentic, good-time, soulful The Dan Lipton Trio opening. See the DCMR write-up here for more information on this goodness.
April 5: In Baltimore? Check out Letitia & Laura Duo and The End of America play at The Four Hour Day Lutherie. Baltimore singer-songwriters Letitia VanSant and Laura Wortman of the Honey Dewdrops are teaming up to bring you unique harmonies on both originals and classic American favorites. Joined by Philly-based The End of America, a band of friends, singers and travelers who blend three-part harmony with rock and Americana.
April 6: Amorphous Amalgam is a super-new, super-weird, super-talented experimental band in town and they're playing a FREE, early show at Bossa on Friday night. Check them out as your tasty hors d'oeuvre before getting to your late-night Friday show.

Soulful Sounds

April 3: Spend an evening with remarkable DC-native Sy Smith, the "Queen of Underground Soul" at Blues Alley. Sy is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, musician, actress, music producer, and owns her own recording label. She is also a pioneer in the Electrosoul/Futuristic Soul/Indie Soul movements which has given her the well-deserved title of Queen in the Underground Soul genre.
April 4: You made to the middle of the week which is definitely an accomplishment worth celebrating! U Street Music Hall is giving you an excuse to lace up your dancing shoes for a trifecta of groove. Ripe headlines the night offering, "an unstoppable groove, an extended moment of ecstatic release, the catalyst for taking just another night and elevating it into something else entirely.” Ripe is joined by Boston’s own indie powerhouse Los Elk and DC’s tribute to 1960’s reggae and Ska (with a modern twist) The Fuss.
April 4: Ana Moura is an internationally recognized Portuguese fado singer who has collaborated with the likes of The Rolling Stones and Prince. This Portuguese fadista’s “melancholic intimacy dominates the moment it sashays out of the speakers…setting a mood of mesmerizing sorrow” (BBC). Catch her dynamic performance at Wolf Trap.
April 5: Khruangbin w/ special guest Mattson 2 at the Black Cat his will be a super cool show. Texas-based Khruangbin is described as, "a psychedelic trio who draw inspiration from the deepest depths of music history: mixing 1960’s funk scene in Thailand, 1970’s Persian rock music, and 1980’s Algerian symphonia with a dash of disco, soul, and balearic music." Intrigued? Get there.

Indie Fixes

April 2: Slow, subdued, hypnotic, and moody, the Brooklyn-quartet Cigarettes After Sex will twist you up with their straight-up lyrics and chew on you for awhile. If you need to catch your breath and go a little zoned-out deep, this is a perfect show to catch at the 9:30 Club. Catch their DCMR write-up here.
April 6: The North Carolina duo of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, aka Sylvan Esso, are gracing The National in Richmond to promote their haunting, mesmerizing second album, "What Now." Their live show is said to be as incredible as listening to their music with your headphones with your eyes closed.
April 6: Feel it with Field Report w/Campdogzz at Songbyrd. Milwaukee-based Field Report's new album, "Summertime Songs” is deeply personal. As they describe, "there’s a lot of that fragility to sort through as many of us grapple with which version of panicky cold sweat we’re dealing with each day. But where these stories take us is quite personal and not at all a conversation about all that we can’t control. These stories remind us of all that we do or did control that WE let slip away. It’s our fault usually, and we KNOW it." Damn.

Jam Opps

April 4: Head to Neel Singh's Open Jam and Workshop at Villain & Saint, walk in, sign up, and be paired up with other musicians for an impromptu jam. Or if you and your band have something already prepared you want to try workshop on stage, this is the place. Mistakes, risk-taking, letting go are welcomed at this fun jam.
April 4: The March Shining Blade Session, a free jam hosted at Bossa by local band Shining Blade Theory, is a space for DC musicians who like funk, soul and hip-hop to meet, create and/or simply vibe together in an informal jam session. Bring your instrument (drum kit and amplifiers provided), your good vibes, and create with other musicians and music-lovers in a live, informal setting.
April 5: If you love experiencing music unfold live before you, or if you a musician wanting to jump on stage for a solid jam, get yourself to the welcoming Gordon Sterling Presents: The Gypsy Sally's Jam to experience and share some sick on-the-spot grooves and kind people.

Here are our recommendations for shows throughout the DMV.

All Featured Events

District

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Maryland

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Virginia

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