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Widespread Panic Fills Our Cup at 2019 MGM National Harbor Run

American rock royalty Widespread Panic (WSP) returned to the Theatre at MGM National Harbor for a trio of shows over St. Patrick's Day weekend 2019. We were lucky to catch the final two shows on Saturday, March 16 and the run-closing Sunday show on the Irish holiday. The band was in fine form and delighted the joyous fans in the 3,000 capacity music room at the still-new casino at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD.

Saturday, March 16

For the second year running, Panic fans infiltrated the casino early – many hoping to secure the highly coveted Chuck Sperry print. Others reveled outside the Lobby Bar to the sounds of Sol Roots and the taste of potent craft beers. It all led up to the middle night of Panic's initial shows of their spring run.

Jimmy Herring

The first set featured several old-school WSP tunes from the band's earliest albums, including the "The Take Out," "Porch Song," and Bloodkin's "Can't Get High." The band honored founding member and original guitarist Mikey Houser throughout the run and Saturday's setlist especially delighted the older heads in attendance. The set's extended jam came during "Airplane" and the band was settling in nicely. Dave Schools (bass) bounced around as JoJo Herman (keys) laid down a funky riff while Jimmy Herring (guitar) provided some haunting licks before tearing into a fierce solo that included some incredible bends paired with his immaculate tone.

The first set finished with a flurry that included "Rebirtha," and a rocking "Sleeping Man," with John Bell (vocals, guitar) on slide and JoJo providing the funk on the clavinet. Crowd favorite "Ain't Life Grand" brought the set to a close and fans exited the theatre to fill their cup or get a smoke.

The band returned and opened the second set with the swampy rocker "Proving Ground," and we knew the boys meant business. They segued into another heavy hitter, "Impossible," before closing the sandwich with a "Proving Ground" reprise. The rhythm section hit the groove on "Pickin' Up the Pieces" as Duane Trucks (drums) and Sunny Ortiz (percussion) were in lockstep with Schools as JoJo tickled the ivories for a tasteful solo. Paul Hoffman (lighting director) worked his magic with a gorgeous backlit stage display that danced with the groove. Fans noticed the new light rig for this tour that was without the signature screens we became used to. The rig was more than substantial and Hoffman utilized it to perfection during the run.

"Diner" came next and we all took a ride on the Duane Train as Trucks displayed his combination of power and precision behind the kit. The band went next level as Herring raged on with some mind bending guitar work and the band was in full throttle. JoJo's piano mastery was on display and JB unleashed some powerful vocals that cut to the core. The band morphed into a powerful "Junior" and the band had the rowdy fans in the palms of their hand. The hits kept on coming with "Surprise Valley" as School's thumped along while Herring played with his signature PRS axe with authority.

Trucks and Ortiz put on an absolute clinic during an extended "Drums" before the band returned for a beautiful "Cease Fire" off the 2015 album, Street Dogs. After a rocking first half, the song's outro featured a beautiful interplay between Herring and Herman. The pair's musical connection was on full display as they traded off in a beautiful way – Herring with precise melodic bends and Herman with some classic piano playing.

The band kept it old school with "I'm Not Alone" before the funky, set-closing, "Love Tractor." After a brief encore break, Panic kept the energy high with "North" before closing the show with a take on the apropos "And It Stoned Me" by famed Irish legend, Van Morrison.

Sunday, March 17

We certainly didn't miss the Sunday show and were rewarded with another fantastic Widespread Panic performance. Panic freaks were dressed in green and sparkles as the mood was festive for St. Patrick's Day 2019.

The band played no games early and opened with a strong "Disco" that had everyone grooving. They were locked in and it showed. "Rock" followed to the beat of Trucks on the snare and JB leading with the dirty slide guitar. Things slowed down as the boys hit a nice reggae groove during "Sleepy Monkey." Herring provided a beautiful outro with smooth swells and dramatic bends. The familiar chords of "Space Wrangler" came next, off the band's 1988 debut album.

Schools took us for a walk during "Second Skin" as his bass was featured for a 17-minute excursion. JoJo danced on piano throughout and Herring provided his signature fiery playing with an extra dose of mean. The band went honky-tonk on "Help Me Somebody" as JoJo took lead on vocals. After a couple of slower tunes, WSP picked things back up with the rousing funk-rock sounds of "Pigeons" and everyone was getting down on the dance floor for the set closer.

After the band got a break and the crowd caught a buzz, we were set for the final set of the run. The band was in full throttle as they opened to the hard rocking sound of "Imitation Leather Shoes." After "Good People" came the Panic staple, "Bust It Big" and everything was gravy. JoJo gave us the funk on keys as JB continued to utilize his slide guitar with beautiful tone. After the apt lyric "Beware of the man who builds monuments to himself," Schools added his own bit and yelled "Fake News!"

Schools continued on vocals with the dark "Blight" before claiming "love always wins!" Herring added a fiery solo to the mix and was certainly hitting the note. The heaviness was on display before the band jumped into the upbeat "Tie Your Shoes" that featured more guitar wizardry from Herring. Hints of "Traffic" came through before the band dissolved into their own variation of "Space," reminiscent of The Grateful Dead. JB's vocals took center stage during "Jack" before the band delved into a take on Alan Price's "Sell, Sell." JoJo delighted on the organ before Herring went full machine gun on guitar. Panic closed the second set with David Bromberg's "Sharon" to the delight of the crowd.

JB thanked everybody for the good times over the weekend and proceeded with "May Your Glass Be Filled" to honor the Irish celebration. The band had one more rocker in them as they went into a thumping rendition of Tom Petty's "Honey Bee." Fans said their farewells as they poured out into the casino after another successful Widespread Panic run at the MGM National Harbor. If we're lucky, they will return and the same rowdy crowd will be back again.

Setlists

FRI. - Mar 15
SAT - Mar. 16
SUN - Mar. 17

Set 1

1. The Take Out >
2. Porch Song
3. Can't Get High (BloodKin cover)
4. Holden Oversoul
5. Old Neighborhood
6. Airplane >
7. Rebirtha >
8. Sleeping Man (Vic Chesnutt cover)
9. Ain't Life Grand

Set 2

1. Proving Ground
2. Impossible
3. Pickin' Up the Pieces
4. Diner
5. Junior (Junior Kimbrough cover)
6. Surprise Valley
7. Drums
8. Cease Fire
9. I'm Not Alone
10. Love Tractor

Encore

1. North (Jerry Joseph cover)
2. And It Stoned Me (Van Morrison cover)

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Caitlin Moore of Caitlin Moore Photography.

Soundboard Recordings

Soundboards

©Josh Timmermans | Noble Visions

Link to Nugs.net

Soundboard Recording

©Josh Timmermans | Noble Visions

Link to Nugs.net

Soundboard Recording

©Josh Timmermans | Noble Visions

Link to Nugs.net

Soundboard Recording

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Concert Reviews

Alternative Rock Classics Weezer and Pixies Return to Baltimore

Fans who missed Weezer’s intimate performance at the Black Cat back in February were lucky enough to attend their Royal Farms Arena show a few weeks later on St Patrick's Day. Over 10,000 fans from the Baltimore area showed up decked out in green to see the popular rock band along with the other performers, the legendary Pixies and UK rock band Basement.

Starting out the evening was Basement, the five-piece band from Suffolk England whose sound ranges from pop-punk to alternative rock. Basement rose in popularity in 2012 after the release of their second studio album, Colourmeinkindess, which landed a spot on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Shortly after finishing a tour for the album, Basement went on an indefinite hiatus so vocalist Andrew Fisher could finish his teaching certification and drummer James Fisher could finish art school. Nearly two years later in 2014, Basement ended their hiatus and released their EP Further Sky. Their third studio album, Promise Everything, was released in 2016 and contained memorable songs such as “Submission”, “Oversized”, and “Brother’s Keeper”.

In 2017, Basement signed with record label Fueled by Ramen, known for mainstream rock artists such as Jimmy Eat World, Panic! At the Disco, Paramore, Twenty One Pilots, and Fall Out Boy. The last time Basement performed in the DC/Maryland area, they performed for 2,000 fans at the Fillmore Silver Spring while touring with The Front Bottoms. This time around, they were greeted by over 10,000 audience members in the Baltimore stadium. Basement opened their set with “Disconnect”, off their October 2018 album Beside Myself. Their set was short but sweet, including fan favorites such as “Aquasun”, “Whole”, and “Promise Everything”.

Next up were rock classics, Pixies, who have been going strong since 1986. With their unique sound, Pixies have influenced many artists and have been credited as shaping the alternative rock genre as a whole. Artists such as David Bowie, Radiohead, U2, Nirvana, and even Weezer have cited Pixies as a major musical influence. Their most notable song “Where Is My Mind” was featured in the 1999 David Fincher film “Fight Club” featuring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.

Pixies’ sixth studio album, Head Carrier, was released in late 2016 and their seventh studio album is set to release in September 2019. Fans who do not want to wait until September for new Pixies content can look forward to their podcast “Past is Prologue, Pixies” which will start June 27th. Hosted by New York Times best-selling author Tony Fletcher, the 12 episodes will be available on Apple, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.

Unlike most performers, Pixies’ changed their setlist each night of the tour and therefore fans had no idea what to expect when arriving that evening. For this particular evening, the co-headliners played 23 songs including “Where Is My Mind?”, “Here Comes Your Man”, “Monkey Gone to Heaven”, and “Classic Masher”. They also performed covers of songs such as “Winterlong” by Neil Young and “Head On” by The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Last up for the evening were California rock stars Weezer, composed of vocalist Rivers Cuomo, guitarist Brian Bell, bassist Scott Shriner, and drummer Patrick Wilson. Originating back in 1992, Weezer is known for influencing many of today's popular artists such as Blink 182. The Grammy winning band has become a household name with songs that have appealed to different generations over their 27-year career so far. Weezer has a lot to celebrate in 2019, with the release of two new albums and the 25th anniversary of their first studio album Weezer (Blue Album). Released back in 1994, Weezer (Blue Album) contains some of their most notable hits such as “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So”.

Shortly after the release of their eleventh studio album Pacific Daydream back in 2017, an internet fan campaign was created asking Weezer to cover the popular song “Africa” by Toto. A few months later, Weezer jokingly posted a cover of a different Toto song, “Rosanna” in response to the campaign. However two days later, Weezer gave into fans and posted the much requested cover of “Africa”. The cover was an instant success, hitting number one on Billboard’s Alternative songs chart in August 2018, and was Weezer’s first number one hit since “Pork and Beans” in 2008. The cover quickly became a radio staple and has since been played more often than the original on many rock stations.

After noting the major success of “Africa”, Weezer surprised fans in January 2019 with an unannounced release of Weezer (Teal Album). The ten song album contains Weezer covers of various hit songs from throughout the years, including “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, “Take On Me” by A-ha, and “No Scrubs” by TLC. A little over a month later in March 2019, Weezer released their highly anticipated thirteenth original album Weezer (Black Album). A music video for the lead single “Can’t Knock the Hustle” was released back in October and featured bassist Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy.

Despite the release of the Black Album just two weeks prior to the Baltimore show, Weezer’s setlist highlighted the Teal and Blue Albums. In addition to favorites “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So”, Weezer also performed “My Name is Jonas”, “Undone (The Sweater Song)”, and “Surf Wax America”. In addition to “Africa” and other songs off the Teal Album, Weezer performed a cover of “Stand by Me” by Ben King. Other top songs from previous albums were played, such as “Thank God for Girls”, “Beverly Hills”, “Island in the Sun”, “Perfect Situation”, and “Hash Pipe”. Out of the 22 songs on the evening’s setlist, only one song off of the Black Album, “Living in LA”, was performed. This leads to the question of whether or not Weezer will be embarking on a tour focused on the Black Album sometime late summer or fall.

The spring tour continues through mid-April with stops in Portland, Vancouver, Sacramento, Vegas, and more. Shortly after the tour comes to an end, Weezer will be playing the gigantic music festival Coachella before making a few stops in the UK and Europe. If you missed their performance in Baltimore, keep an eye out for a potential Black Album tour in the next few months. Or if you have the money to spend, you can book a flight to Coachella in April and see them there. Both the Teal Album and Black Album are available for purchase here and are available now on all major streaming platforms.

Videos

Setlist

Click here to see the setlist for Weezer's performance at Royal Farms Arena on March 17th, 2019

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Emily Vitek of Emily Vitek Photography.

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats at Rams Head Live

Concert Reviews

No Peace in the Wasteland as Graveyard and Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats stop in at Rams Head Live

There was nothing at all peaceful about the Graveyard and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats “Peace Across the Wasteland” tour at Rams Head Live last Thursday, March 7.

And that is exactly how it should have been.

Uncle Acid at Rams Head Live

After an ample dose of the “satanic feminism” of Twin Temple, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats hit the stage to take the audience on a trip to the darker reaches of psychedelia. The setlist consisted of cuts from all five of the fuzz-laden albums by the Cambridge, England four-piece (Kevin Starrs on lead vocals and lead guitar, Vaughn Strokes on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Justin Smith on bass, and Jon Rice on drums), including their most recent release in October 2018, “Wasteland.”

The heavy riffage of the band was accompanied by a back drop of imagery projected on a large screen that was reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic wasteland set in the late 1960s. Think biker gangs roaming the desolate roads of Southern California, occult rituals carried out by scantily clad women awash in a twisted sense of flower power, nuclear missile launches and the resulting mushroom clouds, and ultimately, an appearance by the man who truly represented the perverse outcome of hippie optimism gone awry, Charles Manson.

This and other B-movie horror imagery played in the background, creating a campy and uneasy, but ultimately fun and appropriate live setting. These projections belied the relatively stoic and almost reticent demeanors of some of the band members, who were at times accompanied by a fifth member on keys. Smith grooved along with his basslines and provided most of the stage presence, while Starrs (Uncle Acid, himself) remained hunched over his microphone for the duration of the set, rarely moving from his position. Despite this, the energy was high, the volume was loud, and the band left the stage to the sound of uproarious applause.

It is fair to say that Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats are a tough act to follow, but Graveyard had every intention of doing just that. Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, the four members of the band (Joakim Nilsson & Jonatan Larocca-Ramm sharing guitar and vocal duties, Truis Mörckhit on bass and vocals, and Oskar Bergenheim on drums) took to the stage and offered their own interpretation of hard rock laced with neo-psychedelia, in what ultimately turned out to be a comparatively laid back set that included cuts from all but their debut album.

The band is back together after a five-month long break up in late 2016 and early 2017 for what was, according to the band, “all so classic reasons.” Now they are touring on the back of their newest album, “Peace,” released in March 2019. After their set Thursday, we can only hope that they are here to stay this time.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Andy Jillson of Hazy EyE Images.

Lindsay Lou (Photo Credit: G. Laura Partain)

Concerts this Week

Goodman’s Good Mix – Concert Picks of the Week – March 18

Featured above is the ear-soothing, heartstring-tugging artist Lindsay Lou who is opening for Railroad Earth this Thursday at The National (Richmond) and this Friday and Saturday at DC's 9:30 Club. Photo by G. Laura Partain.

Week Of: March 18 — 24, 2019

Summary: Women History Month and Music

It's Women's History Month and as we do every week, we are featuring the important artistry of womxn making music.

Right now we are smack dab in the middle of the truly inspiring 9th annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival (WWJF), hosted from March 10-31 by Washington Women in Jazz. This festival that celebrates the diversity of music made by womxn and offers a beautifully dizzying array of events, from concerts, jam sessions, lectures, panels, discussions, and masterclasses including the Young Artist Showcase.

There are too many WWJF events to list here (some are below), but click HERE to get the FULL SCHEDULE. Some highlights from the festival this week include:

Mon: Washington Women in Jazz Festival All Stars FREE at 6p on the Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center
Tues: Strange Woman Records Launch Concert! at An die Musik
Wed: WWJF presents: The Trailblazing Life of Betty Carter - Washington Women in Jazz conversation about bandleader, vocalist, and revolutionary business woman Betty Carter at Mr. Henry's
Thurs: Shannon Gunn Presents: Carla Bley Tribute at Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery
Fri: CapitalBop Presents: Carla Bley Trio at Atlas Performing Arts Center
Fri: Washington Women in Jazz Workshop: The Business of Collaboration - full day of rehearsals, discussions, and workshops, including a business workshop at Publick Playhouse (Cheverly)
Sat: Toppling Systemic Exclusion: Women's Role in a Century of Jazz - focus on the history of women in jazz, jazz education, and the societal sexism that has shaped jazz culture at Publick Playhouse (Cheverly)
Sat: Washington Women In Jazz Festival: Salon Concert with Shana Tucker and Amy K Bormet at Pen Arts Building
Sat: Washington Women Jazz Festival: Young Artist Showcase at 2p at Publick Playhouse (Cheverly)
Sat: SAASY Live at 3p at Publick Playhouse (Cheverly)
Sat: Black Folks Don't Swim? Float Session: Official WWJF after Party at 1701 N St NW
Sun: Washington Women in Jazz Festival Kickoff at the DC Jazz Jam at The Brixton

And some other opportunities to celebrate womxn making music this week including (and not limited to):

Mon: CHAI, Haiku Hands, Den-Mate at Union Stage
Tues: 7DrumCity presents Kristie di Lascio at The Pub & The People
Tues: Riot Grrrls: An Evening of Documentary + Discussion at The Wonderland Ballroom
Wed: Pas de Deux with Jacie Lee Almira and Don Dillingham at Twins Jazz
Wed: Sophie Auster / Bird Streets / About You at Songbyrd
Wed: Femme Open Mic at Epicure Café
Thu: Oh He Dead at Sotto
Thu: Explore Your Voice: Singing for Non-Singers at School of Musical Traditions
Fri: Friday Music Series: La Marvela at 1p at Georgetown University Department of Performing Arts
Fri: Lucy Dacus at Black Cat
Fri: Remembering the Queen of Soul - A Tribute to the Music of Aretha at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club
Fri: Claudio Vega & La Marvela at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
Sat: Gladys Knight at MGM National Harbor
Sat: Anoushka Shankar // Early Show at Sixth & I
Sat: Martina McBride Rock and Roll for Children Foundation 2019 Charity Concert at The Fillmore Silver Spring
Sat: Dior Ashley Brown EMCEE FREE at 6p on the Millennial Stage at The Kennedy Center
Sat: Millennial Pink: Fully Automated Luxury Gay Space Communism at The Dew Drop Inn
Sat: Her Power: Bomba & Plena at Hawk 'n' Dove
Sat: Diary of an R&B Legend: The Legacy of Sade at Songbyrd
Sun: Fleetwood Mac at Royal Farms Arena (Baltimore)
Sun: Emma G | A Fiery Soul Pop Rock Concert at Hotel RL (Baltimore)
Sun: Free Show! Southwest Soul Sessions w/ Elijah Balbed & Isabelle De Leon at Pearl Street Warehouse

So get out there and check out our strong and varied scene— MORE shows are listed in the links below, with personal choices in bold, along with a list of the DCMR staff top picks and cool "gems" that you don't want to miss.

Mon — March 18

Tue — March 19

DCMR Staff Recs

Sol Roots Band (w special guest Ron Holloway) at JV's
The 9 Songwriter Series at Hill Country DC

Tuesday Night Cool Stuff

A Kojo Roadshow: How Gentrification Affects The Arts In D.C. at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
Riot Grrrls: An Evening of Documentary + Discussion at The Wonderland Ballroom
Multiflora Productions Presents: Burkinabè Bounty at Suns Cinema
Sauf Haus Open Mic feat. GROVER at Sauf Haus
The Taco Jam at Mariachis Restaurant (Manassas)

Hidden Gems

J.S. Ondara | Cat Clyde at Songbyrd
7DrumCity presents Kristie di Lascio at The Pub & The People
Weston Smith / Easy Sleeper / Rico Triste / Dripkiss & more at Smith Public Trust
password:password with WITH: Indiana Jonesin, Option Paralysis, KSMNT at DC9 Nightclub
An Evening with Pangaea at Songbyrd
Gathering Sparks In Concert at Allyworld
Strange Woman Records Launch Concert! at An die Musik (Baltimore)

Wed — March 20

DCMR Staff Recs

The Jacob Jolliff Band (of Yonder Mountain String Band) at Pearl Street Warehouse
José González & The String Theory at The Lincoln Theatre
Ghost-Note at Jammin Java
Drew Beckman & The Boundary Boys | Friends of Friends at Songbyrd
Syriac Hymns at The Kennedy Center

Postponed Performances

Massive Attack at The Anthem - postponed due to illness, tentatively rescheduled for 9/24/19

Wednesday Night Mics, Jams & Such

Femme Open Mic at Epicure Café
Takoma Park Old Time Jam at Takoma Bev Co.
Capitol Hill Jazz Jam at Mr. Henry's
Weds Night Open Mic featuring Purify Love at Busboys & Poets
Neel Singh’s Open Jam/Workshop at Villain & Saint
Open Mic Night hosted by Alex The Red Parez! at Rhodeside Grill
WWJF presents: The Trailblazing Life of Betty Carter - Washington Women in Jazz conversation about bandleader, vocalist, and revolutionary business woman Betty Carter at Mr. Henry's
La Voz: Latin Karaoke at Haydee's
Emo Skate Night - DC! at Temple Hills Skating Center

Hidden Gems

Collectif Medz Bazar (France-Armenia-Turkey) at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
Irrevery (NYC), Pink Film, Black Dominia at Slash Run
Pas de Deux with Jacie Lee Almira and Don Dillingham at Twins Jazz
Conductor Pablo Fiasco’s Reggae Sweatshop at Dangerous Pies DC
Cormega at Union Stage
The #Collective Indie Artist Show Feat. The Kontrolled Khaos Band at Takoma Station
Justin Trawick Live House Concert and Dinner at 3729 W St NW
Sophie Auster / Bird Streets / About You at Songbyrd
GoldPants Party with Nardo Lilly // A Shrewdness of Apes at Sauf Haus
9:30 Presents Mansionair at U Street Music Hall
Derrick Michaels presents: Trio Xolo at An die Musik (Baltimore)

Thu — March 21

DCMR Staff Recs

The Official Matt McGhee Release Party w/ FootsXcoles at Dangerous Pies DC
Moonshine Society in The Hamilton Loft
The Jacob Jolliff Band (of Yonder Mountain String Band) at Pearl Street Warehouse
Oh He Dead at Sotto
Shannon Gunn Presents: Carla Bley Tribute at Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery
Houses at 9:30 Club
Plate Scrapers, The Hills & The Rivers, West King String Band at The 8x10 (Baltimore)
Railroad Earth with Lindsay Lou at The National (Richmond)
Anders Osborne (solo) with Seth Stainback at Boathouse Live (Newport News)

Thursday Night Mics, Jams & Such

Songbyrd Open Mic Night!
Explore Your Voice: Singing for Non-Singers at School of Musical Traditions
Jazz Jam at Mecklenburg Inn (Shepherdstown, WV)

Hidden Gems

Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour at The Strathmore
Thursday Jazz: Joe Herrera Duo at Petworth Citizen
The Comet is Coming at U Street Music Hall
Tristan Welch / The Ambient Eye / Womajich Dialyseiz / Melvl at The Bastille
The Excitable Boys / The Invisibles at The Dew Drop Inn DC
Bluebeat March: Adam Birch & the Vershons and The Chariots! at Bluebeat DC
Orchester Praževica - Danube Sessions at Rye Fells Point (Baltimore)
Yheti, NastyNasty & EazyBaked b2b Vide at VIP Room (Baltimore)
Lone Star Legends: Kinky Friedman & Dale Watson at Creative Alliance (Baltimore)

Fri — March 22

DCMR Staff Recs

Railroad Earth with Lindsay Lou at The 9:30 Club
Lucy Dacus at Black Cat
The Hip Abducton at Gypsy Sally's
Remembering the Queen of Soul - A Tribute to the Music of Aretha at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club
Funk vs. Bluegrass w/ The Dirty Grass Players & Of Tomorrow at The Camel (Richmond)
Gogol Bordello at Rams Head Live (Baltimore)

Friday Cool Stuff

Friday Music Series: La Marvela at 1p at Georgetown University Department of Performing Arts
Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead Art Exhibit - Live Appearance - Wentworth Gallery Montgomery Mall
Hirshhorn Shuffle - explore Hirshhorn artworks through the artist’s favorite musicians and songs at the Hirshhorn
Washington Women in Jazz Workshop: The Business of Collaboration - full day of rehearsals, discussions, and workshops, including a business workshop at Publick Playhouse (Cheverly)

Hidden Gems

CapitalBop Presents: Carla Bley Trio at Atlas Performing Arts Center
Claudio Vega & La Marvela at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
Dead Soft, Goon, Park Snakes at Dangerous Pies DC
Souled Out DC - Adrian Loving & Merritt Wuchina (sax) at Zeba Bar
Kendall Street Company with Free Union and Kate Bollinger at The Jefferson (Charlottesville)
Moose Jaw Bluegrass, Hannah Jayne & The Hideaways, UxMExU at Songbyrd
Southeast DC Night with VeVe & tha Rebels at Dupont Underground
tyler plazio "Nervous Feelings" EP Release Show at Epicure Café
Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet at Embassy of Argentina in the United States
Albino Rhino at Cowboy Cafe
The Edwiges + Knife Wife at Comet Ping Pong
Haint Blue / Rock Creek Revival at Villain & Saint
Dan Lipton Trio at Vinyl Lounge at Gypsy Sally's
Covered with Jam presents Michael Jackson VS Prince at Bright Box (Winchester, VA)
Inaugural Baltimore Old Time Music Festival at Creative Alliance (Baltimore)
Joseph & the Beasts, Paris_Monster, Concrete City, Thrushes at Ottobar (Baltimore)

Sat — March 23

DCMR Staff Recs

Gladys Knight at MGM National Harbor
Railroad Earth with Lindsay Lou at the 9:30 Club
Martina McBride for the Rock and Roll for Children Foundation 2019 Charity Concert at The Fillmore Silver Spring
Anoushka Shankar // Early Show at Sixth & I
Elikeh, The Dave Kline Band at Gypsy Sally's
Funk VS Bluegrass: Of Tomorrow + Dirty Grass Players at Bright Box (Winchester, VA)
Anders Osborne at The Broadberry (Richmond)

Saturday Music Related Experiences

Toppling Systemic Exclusion: Women's Role in a Century of Jazz - focus on the history of women in jazz, jazz education, and the societal sexism that has shaped jazz culture at Publick Playhouse (Cheverly)
The BLACK Love Experience - multisensory event geared towards creatives, revolutionaries, kindred souls, and fearless visionaries celebrating ourselves under the canopy of all things Black at THEARC
Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead Art Exhibit - Live Appearance - Wentworth Gallery Tyson's Galleria

Hidden Gems

Dior Ashley Brown EMCEE FREE at 6p on the Millennial Stage at The Kennedy Center
Millennial Pink: Fully Automated Luxury Gay Space Communism at The Dew Drop Inn
Opening Cermony - National Cherry Blossom Festival at The Warner Theatre
Washington Women In Jazz Festival: Salon Concert with Shana Tucker and Amy K Bormet at Pen Arts Building
Black Folks Don't Swim? Float Session: Official WWJF after Party at 1701 N St NW
Que Bonito es el Fandango! at 1228 Emerson St NW
Bahia night with Rafael Pondé trio and Batala DC at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
Biff Bang Pow at Slash Run
Mari Black World Fiddle Ensemble at Potters Violins
Her Power: Bomba & Plena at Hawk 'n' Dove
PAP World Music Series Presents: Munit at Port-au-Prince Haitian Cuisine by Don Berto's Kitchen
Frend w/ Trajectories, Tuff Lover at DC9 Nightclub
Elder Island | TESHA at Songbyrd
Diary of an R&B Legend: The Legacy of Sade at Songbyrd
Almost Honest // The Druids // Stump Devils // Sorge at The Pinch
Split Seconds, Chill Parents, Fellowcraft, Bluewreck at Dangerous Pies DC
The Outpatients at JV's
GDSC Presents: From Jackie to Mimi - a Hard Rock Showcase at Smith Public Trust
Scorpio EP Release w/ Gabi Kirsch and Daydrunks at Dwell DC
Tropical Beat: Leon City Sounds at Showtime
FULL POWER BLUES at The New Deal Cafe
Washington Women Jazz Festival: Young Artist Showcase at 2p at Publick Playhouse (Cheverly)
SAASY Live at 3p at Publick Playhouse (Cheverly)
Swing at noon at Syriana Cafe & Gallery (Ellicott City)
Crooked Angels: LIVE Music at Paladin Bar & Grill (Stephens City, VA)
Swing Underground at The Elk Room (Baltimore)
Inaugural Baltimore Old T7DrumCity presents Ardamus FREE at 6p at The Pub & The Peopleime Music Festival at Creative Alliance (Baltimore)

Sun — March 24

DCMR Staff Recs

Washington Women in Jazz Festival Kickoff at the DC Jazz Jam at The Brixton
Free Show! Southwest Soul Sessions w/ Elijah Balbed & Isabelle De Leon at Pearl Street Warehouse
Fleetwood Mac at Royal Farms Arena (Baltimore)
Emma G | A Fiery Soul Pop Rock Concert at Hotel RL (Baltimore)

Sunday & Such

DIY Electronics Workshop w Vaux Flores - The Eyecillator at Rhizome DC

Hidden Gems

7DrumCity presents Ardamus FREE at 6p at The Pub & The People
Portland Cello Project at AMP Powered By Strathmore
Piramid Scheme + Erik Bradford at Galaxy Hut
Homeshake at Black Cat
Funktronics at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
Dina Maccabee / Bill Brovold / Amy Reed at Rhizome DC
Matador! Soul Sounds w/ Backbeat Underground at Union Stage
Yoke Lore / Cape Francis / Samuel Proffitt at Songbyrd
Classic Album Sundays DC: Flaming Lips "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" at Songbyrd
K-Ci at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club
Alash: Tuvan Throat Singing Masters Return to Baltimore at Creative Alliance (Baltimore)

The Ramble Festival 2025 – The Great Ramble Rising

The Dirty Grass Players and Sicard Hollow Set The Recher Ablaze With Ferocious Progressive Bluegrass Prowess

Gangstagrass And The Ron Holloway Band Performing At The Hamilton’s TTB Afterparties

Getting To Know: Sol Roots

Why DC Musicians and Fans Should Watch thecrossover.tv

Lettuce Turnip the Beet at The Anthem

Railroad Earth Finishes Winter Tour with Two at 9:30 Club

TESTIFY! DC Supergroup Honors Rage Against the Machine for Benefit Concert at The Pie Shop

Yonder Mountain String Band Slays at Union Stage

Railroad Earth Helps Ardmore Music Hall Celebrate 5th Anniversary

Railroad Earth And Others Come to The Ardmore Music Hall As The Venue Celebrates Their 5-Year Anniversary

Leftover Salmon Brings a Little Light To The Baltimore Soundstage

Vesper Woods performing at The Pie Shop in Washington, D.C.

On Our Radar

On Our Radar: Vesper Wood

Vesper Wood is redefining the power of simplicity. Using just keys and strings to support the haunting voice of Christina Wood, Vesper Wood successfully captivated the crowd at The Pie Shop in Washington, D.C. on March 7.

In a refreshing change of pace, the artist stuck true to her vision of simplicity, turning off all stage lights and leaving witty banter for another time. Barely an iPhone in sight, the dark room was instead filled with an attentive audience focusing solely on the music.

Typically seen performing as one half of the UK electro-pop duo Kaleida, Wood is no stranger to success. With tracks featured in John Wick, Atomic Blonde, and CSI, it’s clear that her voice strikes a chord with the large masses; though sonically different, Vesper Wood is sure to be featured in an indie movie soundtrack.

Here at DC Music Review, we are excited to see where Wood takes her solo endeavors! In addition, we would like to congratulate Woods on her pregnancy and the release of her debut solo album.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Ana Medvedeva.

Concert Reviews

The Motet Brings The Rocky Mountain High to Virginia

It was a chilly night, but with the firestorm of funk that The Motet and the NO BS! Brass Band brought to the stage in Richmond, Virginia’s historic theatre, The National, there wasn’t a cold soul in the room. The energy that both acts brought to the stage was enough to power the city for a week straight. They transformed the room into an all-night dance party with every person shaking what their mamas gave them.

When 12 people walk out on stage, there’s got to be something good about to happen. Richmond locals, The NO BS! Brass Band lit the fuse and there was no going back. The band is comprised of five trombones, four trumpets, one sax, a tube to fill in the bass, and drums. Brass bangers like “3am Bounce” and “Git It Awn” got the crowd fired up immediately. The addition of Sam Reed’s silky smooth vocals was an absolute pleasure on their cover of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” But NBBB, doesn’t just stop at having everyone get their groove on. Crowd participation is a must. “RVA All Day” had the entire crowd chanting the title along with A-ha’s “Take on Me.” This is a band that should march off the stage and right into your playlists!

Colorado natives, The Motet, brought the crowd up to a Rocky Mountain high for the rest of the night. Their sound is a mix of 70’s soul, experimental jams, and a massive injection of funk that can lift a person’s spirits from the darkest depths. The band is hitting the road in support of their new album Death or Devotion, the latest and greatest in the band’s long line of phenomenal albums. The show was a solid mix of a handful of new tracks along with older favorites. Songs like “Damn!” feature front man Lyle Divinsky’s infectious energy: the smile never leaves his face and he never stops dancing for even a second. The band is chock full of talent though: Dave Watts and Garrett Sayers hold down the rhythm on drums and bass, Joey Porter keeps it weird on the keys, Ryan Jalbert melts faces with his guitar, Drew Sayers and Parris Fleming round out the sound on the sax and trumpet with their soaring solos. The band cranked out one jam after another like “So High,” “Supernova,” “Fool No more,” and “Death or Devotion.” The guys gave the crowd a short breather before coming back and dropping a two song bomb of and encore by playing the instrumental “Rynodub” and the sing-a-long “Get It Right.”

These are two bands that are great on records, but they are on a whole different level live. Do yourself a favor and catch a show by these powerhouse bands!

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Sean Chagnon of Eye of The Storm Photography.

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Concert Reviews

State Champs and Our Last Night Electrify Sold Out Baltimore Show

Three hours before doors opened, a line of fans eagerly congregated outside Baltimore Soundstage on Tuesday early awaiting pop-punk State Champ’s sold out performance that evening. Many of the young adults, decked out in the band’s merchandise, shared stories and photos from the performance two days prior in Philadelphia. Long before the bands took the stage, the pent-up excitement showed that it was going to be a night to remember.

The New York pop-punk band is no stranger to Soundstage, having played the venue four times within the past three years alone. Most recently, State Champs stopped in Baltimore for their “Living Proof Tour” bringing along Our Last Night, Grayscale, and Maryland-natives The Dangerous Summer. After the release of their third studio album Living Proof back in June 2018, State Champs embarked on a UK and European tour that fall. Now back in the States, vocalist Derek DiScanio, guitarists Tyler Szalkowski and Tony Diaz, bassist Ryan Graham, and drummer Evan Ambrosio are hitting up some of the top cities in North America. The new 13-track album includes fan favorites such as “Criminal” and “Dead and Gone”, and has been a success so far with #9 Top Current Albums, #28 Top 200 and #3 Rock Billboard charting positions.

Philly natives Grayscale opened up the night and quickly got the crowd riled up with their pop-punk hits such as “Atlantic”, “Beautiful Things”, and “Palette”. The Philadelphia area has kept pop punk and alternative scene alive for years, generating bands such as The Starting Line, Circa Survive, The Wonder Years, Balance and Composure, and Modern Baseball. It won’t be long before Grayscale rises to fame and books their own headlining tour.

Next up were hometown heroes The Dangerous Summer, who originated from Ellicott City just a few miles outside Baltimore. Back in the mid to late 2000s when Maryland pop-punk was in its prime, their songs “The Permanent Rain” and “Where I Want to Be” were on iPods everywhere. In addition to their throwback songs, The Dangerous Summer also played their newest hit “Where Were You When The Sky Opened Up” which was released a few weeks prior. The Dangerous Summer’s set brought on a wave of nostalgia reminiscing over days listening to pop-punk playlists filled with their songs and fellow Baltimore natives All Time Low.

Shortly after, Our Last Night took the stage for their highly anticipated performance. Moving away from the pop-punk performances, Our Last Night energized the audience with their more hardcore sound. Consisting of brothers Trevor and Matt Wentworth, along with Alex Woodrow and Tim Molloy, Our Last Night rose to fame due to their YouTube covers of popular songs. Their hardcore versions of songs such as Selena Gomez’s “Back to You” and Panic! At the Disco’s “High Hopes” put a creative twist on the radio hits that would fit perfectly on a Punk Goes Pop album. In addition to their catchy cover songs, Our Last Night has been successful in creating their own music as well with five studio albums and seven EP’s. Their most recent album, Let Light Overcome, was released just a few days prior to their Baltimore show.

Our Last Night opened their set with “Bury the Hatchet”, the third song off Let Light Overcome. Co-vocalists Matt and Trevor Wentworth perfectly balance singing and screaming in their songs, and their catchy lyrics quickly had fans singing along. While Grayscale and The Dangerous Summer warmed up the audience and had fans moving around, Our Last Night brought on a mosh pit and took the energy to the next level. They performed addition songs off their new album including “Demons” and “The Leap”, as well as older favorites like “Same Old War” and “Sunrise”. They pleased fans with a cover of Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE” which is arguably better than the original version. Our Last Night’s incredible set left fans eager for more, and with the release of their new album, hopefully an announcement for a fall album tour is on its way.

Headliners State Champs continued the fun and opened with “Criminal”, the first song off Living Proof. As soon as DiScanio reached the microphone and started singing, crowd surfers launched into the air and made their way to the stage one right after the next. Perusing the jam-packed venue, audience members were jumping up and down and screaming along to the lyrics like their lives depended on it. State Champs have quickly grown to be one of the top players in the current Pop-Punk scene, so it is no surprise that the venue was filled to capacity even on a school night. State Champs’s set list contained the majority of Living Proof, with songs such as “Dead and Gone”, “Crystal Ball”, “Something About You” and “Mine is Gold”.

During their set, State Champs invited local saxophonist Tony Hancock, also known as Saxl Rose, up on stage to perform with them. The Havre de Grace musician is best known for his saxophone covers of various pop punk and alternative songs such as Neck Deep’s “In Bloom” and Paramore’s “Ain’t it Fun”. State Champs ended the evening with an encore performance of their songs “Elevated” and “Secrets”, two songs that will always evoke happy memories of driving to Warped Tour with your best friends, windows down with music blasting. Although the Warped Tour era may have come to an end, State Champs have shown that they are here to stay. With their relatable song lyrics and immense musical talent, the five-piece band is already influencing a new wave of pop-punk for this generation.

The “Living Proof Tour” continues through the end of the month with shows in Atlanta, Denver, Anaheim, and more. If you missed their show in Baltimore, keep an eye out as it likely won’t be long before State Champs returns to the area. With many of their shows sold out this tour, it’s clear these boys are going places. Check out their newest music video for “Criminal” below and listen to Living Proof available now on their website and all major streaming platforms.

Videos

Setlist

Click here to see the setlist for State Champs' performance at Baltimore Soundstage on March 12th, 2019

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Emily Vitek of Emily Vitek Photography.

Greg Puciato of The Black Queen performs at Union Stage

Concert Reviews

Infinite Fun At The Union Stage As The Infinite Tour Stops In

Last Wednesday, March 6, Union Stage played host to the Infinite Games tour, featuring electronic and industrial acts KANGA, Uniform, and The Black Queen.

After an opening set featuring the synth-pop sounds of KANGA, the New York industrial act Uniform shifted the mood of the room to a decidedly darker tone. Raw, distorted tones, compliments of guitarist Ben Greenberg, lashed the audience, accompanied by the steady pulse of bass synthesizers and the frantic, shouting vocal delivery of front man Michael Berdan. The band, now in its sixth year, recently expanded their line up to include a third member, drummer Greg Fox, who also appears on their latest studio album, The Long Walk, released in August 2018 (due to scheduling conflicts, Mike Sharp is filling in on drums for this tour). This addition serves to up the intensity of the band’s performances, a prospect that seemed impossible even when Berdan and Greenberg relied on a drum machine for their rhythm section.

Michael Berdan of Uniform

Berdan appeared adequately frenzied and disturbed, pacing across the stage and climbing atop monitors to stare down audience members, or sometimes just directly into the projector that illuminated the stage in suitably unsettling imagery. Greenberg and Fox were locked in tight with each other to provide the sonic backdrop for Berdan’s strained voice. The guys have appeared to come more into their own each time they have played in Washington, DC, and this set proved to be no exception.

Steve Alexander of The Black Queen

After the hectic Uniform set, the stage was set for headliners The Black Queen, the members of which are from a variety of different musical backgrounds. Guitarist Steve Alexander has put in time as a guitar tech for well-known acts such as Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle. Synth player Josh Eustis’s credentials include serving as a touring member for Nine Inch Nails and Puscifer, as well as being the creative force behind Telefon Tel Aviv, a project that has pulled him away from this current tour, with Justin McGrath filling in his space in the lineup.

Greg Puciato of The Black Queen

Which brings us to the most curious member of the group, lead vocalist Greg Puciato. Most widely known as the front man of now-defunct The Dillinger Escape Plan, Puciato’s vocal range consists of high-pitched croons and guttural screams that have always been combined with a performance style of unparalleled intensity and an outspokenness that has brewed much controversy over the years. How was a man known for such brashness going to translate to a comparatively calm synth-pop act?

Of course, Puciato is many things, but he is first and foremost a professional, so the transition was seamless. The intensity of his past act was only slightly hinted at within the first few seconds of taking the stage, when he drained the remnants of a cocktail and tossed the plastic cup and ice cubes into the crowd. From there, it was all pumping shoulders and pleasant serenades as the front man danced with the mic stand to the synth and guitar work of McGrath and Alexander, even taking up an axe himself later in the set, which included cuts from their 2016 album Fever Daydream and 2018’s Infinite Games.

While the evening’s lineup did not necessarily offer something for everyone, it offered a lot of the specific things that the fans of these styles were seeking that night.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy photos by our photographer Andy Jillson of Hazy EyE Images.

Livestream

WATCH LIVE Gordon Sterling Presents: The Gypsysally’s Jam

It's been almost a month but Gordon Sterling's Gypsysally's Jam returns tonight!

We will be on scene to provide a livestream via the DC Music Review facebook page. You can also find the stream on the DC Music Review YouTube page. on the DCMR twitter via periscope, and on the DCMR instagram. Those of you that would prefer an audio-only stream can find that on DC Music Review contributor Will Urquhart's Mixlr account.

Kansas Performs at The Modell Lyric in Baltimore

Concert Reviews

Kansas Soared To A Musical Galaxy With Its Fans At The Modell Performing Arts Center At The Lyric In Baltimore

Kansas enlightened its fans on Friday, March 1 with their classic progressive-rock sound featuring soaring electric violin playing, keyboard and synthesizer cosmic sounds, and guitars to slice the musical galaxy of resonance into as many pieces as the audience could envision in their minds.

The band Kansas has it beginnings all the way back to the early 1970’s when prog-rock was just forming, as a matter of fact they were right in the mix of helping create it. Bringing keyboards and synthesizers, and the unique sound of electric violin into the mix of rock-music was genius. Of course to fuse all of these components together and be successful with it, a talented group of musicians and a creative vision was needed, hence the numbers of accomplishments this band has had over the years.

Ronnie Platt and Zak Rizvi of Kansas

As most classic rock bands have had different line-ups throughout the years, Kansas is no different. Drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Rich Williams have original ties to the band dating back to 1973, and bassist Billy Greer joined Kansas back in 1985. The fourth longest band member belongs to David Ragsdale on the violin with newest member Tom Brislin on keyboards. Ronnie Platt on vocals and keyboards and Zak Rizvi on guitars rounds out the current members of Kansas, and I must say that they sound fantastic together, and show very tight musicianship.

Opening the night with a five-song acoustic set, the boys wasted no time with bringing the audience into the evenings performance by connecting the music to the crowd though a musical relationship. Apologizing for having to re-schedule a previous performance due to an illness in the band, Kansas perhaps felt the desire to nail this concert to help make up for that. And judging by the intensity in the house, the groove that was vibrating from the stage, I would say the mission was accomplished.

David Ragsdale of Kansas on the Electric Violin

Personally, I love when a band of this caliber shares the entire night with the fans by themselves. Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and a place for opening acts because without them musicians would not get the exposure that they often deserve. But when a group can jam a two-and-a-half-hour set with very little interruption, man that is a show of epic proportion. For one, it speaks volumes to the bands ability to sustain a live performance, and second, it sends the fans home feeling fully satisfied that they witnessed a great show.

After settling in on stage, the band tore into a ten-song electric set. Mixing up the setlist, Kansas was nailing song after song from a variety of different albums. Most of the music played was highlighted from albums from the early to mid-seventies, including “Two Cents Worth” and “Mysteries and Mayhem” from Masque (1975), “The Wall” from Leftoverture (1976), as well as “Musicatto” and “Taking in the View” from Power (1986).

Now keep in mind these acoustic and electric sets were before the album the band is supporting on this tour, Point of No Return (1977), was played in its entirety, opening to ending note. Such an intricate album placed right in the middle of the set, the band proceeded to weave in and out between many different layers of music. Singing duties were equally shared by bassist Billy Greer and Ronnie Platt, who also spent his fair share of time on the keyboards. The band gelled, shaped, and molded such finely designed songs throughout this portion of the show that just captivated the listeners. Growing and building towards a storied ending, the show closed with “Carry on Wayward Son”, the bands first top 20 song.

Phil Ehart of Kansas on Drums

This was such an enjoyable evening at one of Baltimore’s finest halls, The Modell Lyric, which dates back to 1894 when The Music Hall (1894-1909) opened with a performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Lyric Opera House (1909-2010), and currently The Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric continues to bring top quality entertainment to Baltimore.

All in all it is simple to assure that the folks that came out were delighted by the bands performance. Covering a variety of their music catalog, the band left no doubt that they still have the desire, endurance, and deftness to put together a rock and roll show that will continue selling tickets enabling the Kansas music to live on. For us classic rock fans that is a win-win situation as we continue to hold onto the music of our youth as it still lives in our blood and in our hearts. Carry on my Wayward Son, until we meet again on the road…