Author Archives: Luanne Lim

What do Matchbox Twenty and the Goo Goo Dolls have in common? Well, both are familiar names when it comes to American rock bands. Both have been in the business for decades. Both have had numerous chart-topping singles throughout their long careers…and both are currently on a summer tour together.

With hits like “Iris” and “If You’re Gone,” it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t heard of either of these bands. Matchbox Twenty and the Goo Goo Dolls, of course, have plenty of other tracks between them that are just as great as those chart-toppers. With two great American bands sharing one stage, it’s safe to say that the #MB20GoosTour is one you wouldn’t want to miss.

Want to win tickets to see both bands on their stop at Jiffy Lube Live this Saturday, August 10? We’re giving two pairs of Pavilion tickets away!

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Not looking to stop his outstanding career anytime soon, Bob Dylan and his band are headlining this year’s Americanarama Festival of Music. The summer tour also features rock bands Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Bingham, and more. This tour makes a stop at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on July 23, and we’re giving away a pair of lawn tickets.

For five decades, Bob Dylan has continuously influenced the world of rock music. His name is a familiar name in any household that listens to music. The American musician and culture icon has never ceased to “wow” fans and music-lovers everywhere with his consistently different albums. The rock legend’s latest release in 2012, TEMPEST, was his thirty-fifth studio album.

Accompanying the 72-year old singer-songwriter and his band are Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and Ryan Bingham. The Chicago-based band formed in 1994 and released their eighth studio album in 2011, titled The Whole Love. The album was nominated in the category for the Best Rock Album on the 54th Grammy Awards.

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Travis isn’t a singular person. They’re actually four people in a band who will soon have seven studio albums under their belt.

Glasglow, Scotland is home to the four members who make up Travis; consisting of Fran Healy, Douglas Payne, Neil Primrose, and Andy Dunlop, the band formed in 1997. With countless awards, including two BRITs, being called “the cornerstone for the Britpop era,” and inspiring big ol’ rock bands like Coldplay, the band is set to release their seventh studio album, titled Where You Stand, on August 19, and it’s safe to say Travis is still going strong.

A new album is not the only thing in the works for Travis. The band is currently playing random shows across the UK and will make their way across the pond for a US tour in the fall. Travis recently added a DC date to their itinerary and will be playing at the Lincoln Theatre on September 20. Tickets officially go on sale this Friday, July 12, but we’re giving away a pair before they go on sale!

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“If you were 12 in 1979, The Specials were easy peasy lemon squeezy the greatest band on the planet. If you’re 42 in 2009, nothing’s changed.” Four years later, in 2013, the English 2 Tone ska revivalist band is still keeping things fresh.

Formed in 1977 in Coventry, England, The Specials, or at that time “The Coventry Automatics,” were not just a band who helped revitalize ska, they were a band who helped break down racial barriers in the UK music scene. The Coventry Automatics, later known as “The Specials AKA” and finally “The Specials,” contributed to the anti-National Front cause of Rock Against Racism, an organization that did exactly that—used music as a way to protest against racism.

In a 2008 interview with UK’s The Guardian, founding member Jerry Dammers says, “…it was no good being anti-racist if you didn’t involve black people, so what the Specials tried to do was create something that was more integrated.”

They didn’t just try, they succeeded. The Specials’ contribution to that cause, and of course, their revitalized 2 Tone ska music, hasn’t been forgotten. In fact, the band is currently touring all over North America. The tour includes a stop at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Friday, July 12, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets.

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“If you were 12 in 1979, The Specials were easy peasy lemon squeezy the greatest band on the planet. If you’re 42 in 2009, nothing’s changed.” Four years later, in 2013, the English 2 Tone ska revivalist band is still keeping things fresh.

Formed in 1977 in Coventry, England, The Specials, or at that time “The Coventry Automatics,” were not just a band who helped revitalize ska, they were a band who helped break down racial barriers in the UK music scene. The Coventry Automatics, later known as “The Specials AKA” and finally “The Specials,” contributed to the anti-National Front cause of Rock Against Racism, an organization that did exactly that—used music as a way to protest against racism.

In a 2008 interview with UK’s The Guardian, founding member Jerry Dammers says, “…it was no good being anti-racist if you didn’t involve black people, so what the Specials tried to do was create something that was more integrated.”

They didn’t just try, they succeeded. The Specials’ contribution to that cause, and of course, their revitalized 2 Tone ska music, hasn’t been forgotten. In fact, the band is currently touring all over North America. The tour includes a stop at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Friday, July 12, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets.

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2004 marked the end of alternative rock band The Czars. It also seemed to be the end of the music line for Czars’ front man, John Grant. After taking a small hiatus where he traveled to various cities and ultimately rediscovered himself, Grant picked up where he left off… but this time, he went solo.

The Denver singer-songwriter began his solo career in 2010, releasing his debut album titled Queen of Denmark. The album was well-received by critics, and was even chosen as the Best Album of 2010 by British music magazine Mojo. Grant just released his second solo album, titled Pale Green Ghosts, this past March.

Grant is currently on the road again, finishing up his North American Tour before he flies off to perform shows in Europe. The folk/alternative singer is taking the stage at U Street Music Hall this Saturday, June 29, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets.

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Athens, Greece is a city known for its great history and culture. Across the Atlantic in Athens, Georgia, emerges an American, indie brand of rock with a hint of psychedelia known as Futurebirds.

The five-piece band is composed of Thomas Johnson, Carter King, Dennis Love, Brannen Miles, and Daniel Womack. Formed in 2008, Futurebirds gained a fan following and a record deal through their first, self-titled EP released the following year. The next couple of years saw a few more releases for the up-and-coming quartet, ultimately leading to the release of their full-length album, Baba Yaga.

Futurebirds has constantly been on tour, expanding their fan base and earning the cache to create and release albums. It’s 2013, and they just kicked off a new tour to promote the long-awaited, second full-length album, the aforementioned Baba Yaga. As part of their cross-country tour, the psychedelic five-piece is making a stop at the 9:30 Club on May 23, and we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away!

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Living Colour not only rocked the ’80s musically, they rocked it with racial diversity. 

The band gelled around the creativity and determination of aspiring rocker and guitarist Vernon Reid, who founded the Black Rock Coalition, which took a stand against discrimination in the music industry. The BRC helped overcome racial barriers, allowing bands—including Living Colour—to let their music be heard via any platform—be that radio or MTV.

Twenty-five years later (with a few breaks in-between) Living Colour continues to rock crowds with their powerful lyrics and epic guitar solos. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of their debut album Vivid, the New York band will stop by the 9:30 Club on Friday, April 19 as a part of a celebratory tour, and we have a pair of tickets to give away.

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“We never meant our music to come with a pre-programmed emotional response. We don’t want to tell anyone how to feel and what to take from it…”—Sigur Rós

With their seventh album in the works and set for a 2013 release, Sigur Rós continues to make unique, sometimes lyricless, music that inspires audiences to think outside their usual realm of thought. The Icelandic band emerged into the American music industry after the release of their second album, ágætis byrjun, which ironically means “A good beginning.” It was, in fact, a good beginning for the band. Gaining high ratings and reviews for their great musical artistry, Sigur Rós was approached by numerous record labels, ultimately settling on one that would allow them to exercise their creative freedom.

After releasing their sixth album just last year, Sigur Rós is currently on a world tour, making stops in North America, Europe, and Asia. The “post-rock” band is making a stop at The Patriot Center as a part of the North American leg, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets!

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From winning their native country’s “Battle of the Bands” competition in 2010, to gaining rock-star status across the globe with their single, “Little Talks,” Of Monsters and Men have definitely come a long way within a couple of years. With “Little Talks” reaching platinum status and an ongoing tour, the Icelandic band’s success continues to grow, well, monster-sized.

Of Monsters and Men began as a result of co-singer/guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir needing a bit of extra oomph with her solo acoustic act, Songbird. She rounded together the members that now comprise the band, Ragnar þórhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, and Kristján Páll Kristjánsson. Liking the sound and music they created as a group, Of Monsters and Men emerged.

After playing shows in Europe and South America, the five-piece will be spending the spring months playing venues across the U.S., including a stop at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 11. Tickets haven’t even gone on sale yet, but we’ve got a pair of lawn tickets to give away!

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“Keep things short and sweet” is exactly what New Zealand-born, England-raised, Willy Moon does. His first album, Here’s Willy Moon, contains less than half an hour’s worth of music. Unlike the length of his songs, however, Moon appears to be headed for an extensive career in the music industry.

At the age of 16, Moon found himself on a plane to London, discovering a passion for music and creating his own unique homage to the ’60s pop sound. His first single, “I Wanna Be Your Man,” released in 2011, gained Moon a following, kickstarting his musical career. It wasn’t long before the now 23-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer had his catchy, upbeat 2012 single, “Yeah Yeah,” featured in iPod commercials across the US.

Willy Moon is currently touring across America, and is making a stop at U Street Music Hall, presented by the 9:30 Club, on Friday, February 22, and we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away!

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The last time we gave away tickets to The Lumineers a few weeks ago, we had 200 entries but only 1 winner. Good thing they’ve just announced a date at MPP, so that we can give you all one more shot to win.—Ed.

From emerging into mainstream radio to getting nominated for two Grammy awards, it’s safe to say that 2012 was the year for The Lumineers. 2013 looks just as promising for the folk band. With a sold-out tour, the band has started the new year right. 

The Lumineers were founded in 2005 by front man Wesley Schultz and drummer Jeremiah Fraites. Grief-stricken by the loss of close friend and brother Joshua Fraites, the band served as a way of coping. With a move to Denver and the addition of cellist Neyla Pekarek, The Lumineers gained a following, and so much more, with their hit single, “Ho Hey.”

On July 26, the band will be playing at Merriweather Post Pavilion… and we’re giving away a pair of lawn tickets before they even go on sale!

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With a new album in the works, Femi Kuti and The Positive Force have kicked off the new year with a US tour to promote the new record, No Place for My Dream, which is set for an early 2013 release.

After creating a name for himself in the international music industry in the late eighties, Femi Kuti drifted away from the Afrobeat sound of his father. He ventured off into hip hop, working with artists such as Common and Mos Def. This year’s release is said to be the 50-year-old singer’s return to the Afrobeat sound that launched him into the music industry.

“Now it’s going back on track where I really want to be with No Place for My Dream. It’s like going back to where I started off.”

The three-time Grammy-nominated artist and his band, The Positive Force, are making a stop at the 9:30 Club this Friday, January 25, as a part of their 2013 tour—and we’re giving away a pair of tickets!

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