Red Baraat’s musical approach almost seems too contrived: Bhangra meets New Orleans brass meets jazz and funk and go-go. But since this Brooklyn nine-piece group formed a little over three years ago, it's made this largely instrumental style work, and garnished a following to show for it. The group includes three percussionists and six horn [...]

The biggest go-go bands can be like small companies: Personnel comes and goes, but the overall brand generally retains its standing. Occasionally, however, a lineup change is a Really Big Deal in go-go circles, like rapper Killa Cal's recent decision to leave the WHAT? band and take his firm verbals to Rare Essence, one of the [...]

So here's this nice new video from DMV rapper Killa Cal, the dude known for freestyling in The WHAT? Band, and it's labeled as an "electronic press kit," which is basically a fancy way of saying "infomercial." So what's he selling? There's an album, right? Nah, not really. Maybe next year. Just lots of mixtapes [...]

For the first time last week, Prince George's County authorities used expanded powers related to dancehall licensing to shutter the Capitol Heights nightclub MSG following a fatal shooting that police said took place outside the venue. Those powers fall under a July 19 bill passed unanimously by the Prince George's County Council that increased license fees, requires [...]

Unless you have been dancing deep in the pit, feeling every snare strike, conga syncopation, rototom fill, or cowbell blast, it’s hard to imagine the energy coursing through a go-go concert. But Thomas Sayers Ellis’ best photographs ensnare their radiating power. And more important, his images capture a scene that is D.C. to the core. [...]

For this week's issue, I reported a lengthy oral history of the annual concert series at Fort Reno in Tenleytown. This summer's shows conclude tonight with sets from The Evens and Laughing Man.
For years, Fort Reno regulars have circulated rumors of a ban against go-go (and even hip-hop) at Fort Reno. Certainly, no one seems to [...]

The inimitable Chuck Brown will headline this year's D.C. Statehood event on the West Capitol Lawn next Thursday.
Sponsored by the ACLU of the Nation's Capital, the third annual event will be part speak-out, part concert. Information tables will be out by 12 p.m.; between 4 and 6 p.m., members of the public are invited to [...]

Earlier this week, WAMU's DCentric blog interviewed me about my story about punk and go-go shows. In that piece, I reported that it took Eckington residents a year to shut down a punk venue, and just a week to quash a go-go show, as WAMU's Anne Hoffman nicely summarizes it.  And that conversation got me thinking: [...]

REVIEW OF FUNDAMENTALS: On one side are the deep thoughts, the reflections, the revelations, the oddballs, the paradoxes and the acid trips. On the other side are the conflicts, the punchlines, the flameouts, the retorts and the oh-wows. Or something like that. It's Far Out vs. Hot Dang, people and it is THE FUTURE OF [...]

Your favorite assemblage is back, and we've got nothin' but love for you, baby! We don't call it "aggregation," because aggregation is too aggro. In the land of FO-vs.-HD, all the pieces fit together like a giant group hug. D.C. deserves it! Catch up here. Then accept this week's embrace. Then go make some art [...]