"We've been kind of a soap opera for the last couple years," admitted Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams about halfway through her headlining set on Saturday night at the Fillmore in Silver Spring. But the band seemed to have emerged from their tabloidy interlude not too much worse for the wear either musically or commercially. They [...]

The day Chuck Brown died, fans gathered in front of the Howard Theatre for a sprawling candlelight vigil as outdoor speakers cranked go-go into the streets. Yesterday, on the first anniversary of his death, a more sedate celebration of Chuck’s life unfolded in front of the historic theater as WPGC played classic Chuck songs and vendors [...]

Darcy James Argue describes his 18-piece Secret Society ensemble as a "steampunk big band," but that's not exactly literal. The composer and bandleader does operate on a similar, cross-genre and -era aesthetic as steampunk, but his jazz big band doesn't fully embrace the subculture's outlandish fashion, for one, and it also works with elements of [...]

While the Kennedy Center can proudly claim to have presented a broad spectrum of female artists in its annual Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival, the avant-garde hasn't been greatly represented there. That changes this year. As part of Artistic Advisor for Jazz Jason Moran's efforts at more diverse and daring programming, the festival [...]

Standout Track: No. 2, the smooth, soulful “Grateful,” captures what Caz and the Day Laborers frontwoman Caz Gardiner calls the “gourmet” experience that she and bassist Jorge Bañales set out to create on their new self-titled EP, which channels ’60s rock, mod, and garage rock, but especially rocksteady.
Musical Motivation: The song’s cheerful melody contrasts with [...]

Chuck Brown died one year ago today, on May 16, 2012.
We have no way of knowing how many block parties, go-gos, and barbecues have been held in Brown’s honor since then. But at least a few major tributes to Brown have emerged in the last year, some of them with more staying power than others.
Among [...]

Sisters and brothers—especially sisters—if you're reading this, you probably already know that the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival is taking place this weekend at the Kennedy Center. It's taking a refreshing approach this year, featuring, alongside legendary singer Sheila Jordan and pianist and past MLW Competition winner Helen Sung, the inventive up-and-coming Dutch [...]

Washington City Paper's Summer Entertainment Guide is here—online now, and in boxes today. You should thumb (or click) through it. Why? Because we know the secret to a great D.C. summer.
Psssst! The secret is to chill.
Yeah, chill. That's how everyone should spend a D.C. summer. Ride a bike at night. Stretch out on a patch [...]

On Tuesday night, as he kicked off his Bohemian Caverns residency, trumpeter Donvonte' McCoy had a healthy mix of local veterans and new young talent in his quintet. Elijah Easton is a promising saxophonist, with a tone like Dexter Gordon's and a predilection for eighth-note runs; pianist Bill Murad has chops for miles, and drummer [...]

We last heard from Violet Says 5 frontman Ethan Spalding on last year's Beef and Broccoli, his collaborative album with Silver Spring MC/producer Awthentik. Broccoli crossed Southern crunk with East Coast boom-bap—and showed both in their best lights.
Now Spalding—under the name Violet Rocker—goes at it alone on the second installment of his Champagne, Weed and Bubble [...]