The Smashing Pumpkins didn't give fans much to complain about last night at the 9:30 Club. At no point did frontman Billy Corgan emerge dressed like a celestial Jesus. Nor did he inflict his band's new material on the sold-out room in increments greater than two songs in a row. Nor did he clear the [...]
Sorry Bob: WaPo's presidential majordomo Bob Woodward still cranks out a new book every one-to-three years, but does anyone bother to read them?Writing in the July issue of Washingtonian, Hudson Institute fellow Tevi Troy guesses that no, they probably don't. Troy discusses a phenomenon dubbed the "Washington Read," in which a new title seeps into the conversational ether [...]
It's easy to love The Black Angels. At the 9:30 Club last night, the band offered a wonderful aural mixing bowl of my favorite musical eras: huge pounding drums à la Maureen Tucker, big Epiphone guitars à la Johnny Cash, hooks straight out of late-'80s Madchester. The result was a gritty and sensual sound that, when paired with the [...]
There's something improbable about Deerhunter, especially now that they're playing clubs as big as the 9:30. They don't look like much; or maybe it's that they look like they could've been a lot of other things, including not a rock band at all.* But last night they sounded utterly satisfying. Two things:
1. I'm not sure [...]
The Hold Steady brought its new four-guitar lineup to the 9:30 Monday night in support of its new record, Heaven is Whenever, and the result was one of the better examples of joy I've seen in some time at a live show, both on stage and in front of it.
Enthusiastic pogoing, above-the-head clapping, and reckless [...]
Even if you haven't heard the name Sia Furler before, you've definitely heard her music. Her 2005 single "Breathe Me" could be heard in commercials for the Beijing Olympics and the 2006 Victoria's Secret televised fashion show, and it most memorably appeared during the final six minutes of the Six Feet Under series finale.
With her [...]
Friday
Jakob Dylan, Three Legs, Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Mimicking Birds. 9:30 Club. $25.
Lucy Kaplansky. Wolf Trap. $20.
Gist, Gary B. & the Notions, The Courtesy Line. The Red & The Black. $8.
Eilen Jewell, Little Pink. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.
The Blue Line, Poor But Sexy, The Very Small. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10.
Buckshot Blues. Bangkok Blues. [...]
Friday
Martin Sexton, Ryan Montbleau Band. 9:30 Club. $25.
Jamie McLean Band. Strathmore. $10 in advance, $12 at door.
Livingston Taylor. Wolf Trap. $22.
Horsehead, Hiding Places, Deutschmarks. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.
Laura Tsaggaris, James Maddock. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.
Pissed Jeans, Cloak/Dagger, The Wayward. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10 in advance, $12 at door.
Rhododendron Road. Bangkok [...]
Friday
Needtobreathe, Will Hoge, Matt Hires. 9:30 Club. $16.
Gato & the Palenke Music Co. Strathmore. $10 in advance, $12 at door.
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Wolf Trap. $35.
East Coast Caravan. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.
Shwa, The Royal We. IOTA Club & Cafe. $10.
Bonjour, Ganesh!, The Jones, Big Chimney, Blankus Larry. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10.
Andy [...]
Happy Friday, readers.
Season two of Top Chef Masters debuted with an appearance by The Bravery, who judged the gas station food-themed quickfire challenge.
Lea Michelle appears in the new PETA ad. To the disappointment of Gleeks everywhere, it's not part of the I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur campaign.
We're in the last week of the [...]
