Author Archives: Marissa Cetin

The pristine Music Center Strathmore took a break from its typically orchestral stylings with energetic synth-rock courtesy of Metric on September 21.

The night had a slow start, opening with low-tempo tracks from the Canadian group’s latest release Synthetica. But once “Help, I’m Alive” off 2009‘s Fantasies kicked in, the sold out crowd was on their feet.

The venue itself put Metric in an odd spot. The Strathmore was built for musical performances; the room’s acoustics were impeccable, not that seasoned performing pros Emily Haines & Co. needed the boost. Yet the clean, light-wooded, seated Music Center felt too mint and bright for the gritty, infectious electro-rock which all but requires mimicking Haines’ constant jumping and trashing.

Then again, Metric sold-out the almost 2,000 seat venue so the space’s size was necessary, especially considering the band’s history with D.C. and their affection for the 9:30 Club.

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For those of you who didn’t quite get Song of the Summer Gotye’s “Somebody I Used to Know” and are passing on Sunday’s Merriweather Post Pavilion gig, there’s still plenty going on at D.C.’s venues this last September weekend.

Friday 9/29, Angus Stone (sans Julia) plays the Rock & Roll Hotel for an evening of soothing indie for a sweet, relaxed end to a long work week. Those with energy to spare can dance the night away with U Street Music Hall and DC9’s weekly ragers, Red Fridays and Liberation Dance Party, respectively.

The trippy Crystal Castles begins its two night-stint at the 9:30 Club with a sold out show Saturday (9/30), and tickets are still available for Sunday’s gig. Grimes’ UHall Saturday synth-pop set is sold-out, but come at 10 to for disco-tinged Classixx supported by Will Eastman and Ozker.

Synth seems to be the theme for Saturday night, with D.C.’s Dance for the Dying celebrating the release of their second EP at Red Palace. Ugly Purple Sweater and Fire and the Wheel are set to join the dance-rock group.

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Unlike your typical D.C. weekend, Sunday is the heavy hitter this weekend. But before we get to the musical wonders Sunday brings us, let’s see what the other two-thirds of the weekend has in store.

Friday (9/21) bust a move at DC9 with its staple Liberation Dance Party with special guest DJ Marc Alan Gray, or over at the Rock & Roll Hotel’s Epic Dance Party with DJ Doc Rok. U Street Music Hall is hosting Animal Liberation Orchestra’s (ALO) California, groovy rock though the 9:30 club presents series.

The Depeche Mode Dance Party is back at the Black Cat Saturday (9/22) evening for those who just can’t get enough of those Brits and their iconic electro-pop.

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It may not be another three-day weekend, but D.C.’s not willing to let that dampen the end-of-summer festivities.

Friday (9/7), Dupont Underground — Aboveground takes over Eastern Market with its fall fundraiser. The evening will be packed with raffles, art installations and performances, portrait drawings and, of course, beer and wine. D.C. Setlist is bringing Alex Minoff, Margot MacDonald and Justin Jones to play at the event, and DJ Todd Love Supreme will be spinning pre, post, and between sets. Come down and support the project to convert the abandoned trolley station under the Dupont Circle metro into an arts, design and innovation center.

Also on Friday: Sondre Lerche plays the 9:30 with Fancy Colors on the heels of the release of his sixth album; Virginia natives Sons of Bill and Melodime play an early show at U Street Music Hall; and DC9 holds its famed Liberation Dance Party.

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I don’t know when The Postal Service visited D.C. because the district never seems to sleep on the weekends, this one is no exception.

Friday’s (8/3) big ticket is at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. The Summer Spirit Festival comes to the wonderfully woodsy venue with hip hop, R&B, jazz and soul acts galore including Erykah Badu, Common and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.

Also playing Friday evening is the Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Fest Benefit at the Black Cat in prep for the festival Columbus Day weekend. This month’s benefit features Drop Electric, Conveyor, Southwork, and Presto Bando. The Rock and Roll Hotel hosts Civil Twilight, A Silent Film, and Anchor and Braille. Head to the Red Palace to check out Kool A.D. of Das Racist.

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There are literally a lot of musical things going on in DC this weekend. Brace yourselves.

Friday (7/27) Violinist-vocalist Kishi Bashi will be in town Friday night at U Street Music Hall, bringing along Tall Tall Trees to the sold-out show.

The Red Palace will be hosting Royal Bangs’s “kinetic rock and roll,” with talented local openers The Blackberry Belles. If you’re hungry for some food and tunes, head over to Comet Ping Ping for Natural Child, The Doozies, and Birdcloud and chow down on delicious pizza pre-gig festivities. And if you’re thirsty, the Rock & Roll Hotel is holding its monthly Spelling Buzz. Take shots and spell ‘til you can’t no mo’.

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This weekend’s big ticket isn’t until its end, but D.C.’s Friday and Saturday music offerings aren’t too shabby.

Buzz band Lower Dens stop by the Rock & Roll Hotel, Friday, 7/20, currently on tour to promote their latest album Nootropics. The psychedelic, ambient folk quartet are bringing along No Joy and Alan Resnic to open. If you fancy dancing, there’s always options in D.C., like DC9’s weekly Liberation Dance Party. Taking the reins this week is Black Light Dinner Party.

Saturday, 7/21, there are two opportunities to support local D.C. artists with album release parties. Brandon Butler, a folk singer with a hint of coutnry and reformed ‘90s emo frontman, is celebrating the release of his third solo album, HENO at the Black Cat. The Beanstalk Library will also be performing an acoustic set. The Red Palace is hosting Deleted Scenes’ album release for Park the Van.

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It may be Friday the 13th but this weekend D.C.’s music scene is far from unlucky. That is, unless you wanted to attend Saturday’s sold-out Best Coast show at the 9:30 club. In that case, you actually are unlucky.

Suiting the day’s spooky theme, Murder By Death, the gloomy rockers from Indiana, play the Black Cat main stage Friday, 7/13 with support from Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons and Ha Ha Tonka. Over at the Red Palace, Girl In A Coma will be showcasing their Morrissey-meets-Joan Jett jams.

For a less morbid Friday night, check out U Street Music Hall for Spoek Mathambo’s banging Afro-electro-rap fusion at 7 p.m., and stay for U Hall’s Friday night staple Red Fridays at 10 p.m. This week’s installment brings Tim Green and Simon Baker with Beaner and Lxsx Frxnk.

Hip-hop takes over the 9:30 club tonight, with La Coka Nostra headlining the night and Jedi Mind Tricks opening. At the Rock & Roll Hotel, ‘90s pop meets ‘70s disco in the form of Wynter Gordon, who is bringing The DTQ and Beyond Modern along as support.

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Gig-wise, it’s a pretty quiet weekend here in D.C., but fear not, good times will still be had by all. The venues are abound with the standard, but never routine, DJs and movie screenings, plus some not-so-standard burlesque shows and air guitar competitions.

Friday (6/22) get up offa that thing and boogie to the Black Cat for Sandwich of Soul, where DJ Soul Call Paul will have you shimmying to your favorite sixties soul jams by James Brown, Tina Turner, and Stevie Wonder. This week’s Red Fridays at U Street Music Hall starts pumping at 10 p.m. with Timmy Regisford and Chris Burns, but come earlier at 7 p.m. for Boston-based soul singer Eli “Paperboy” Reed and openers Lily & The Parlour Tricks.

Prefer to do the rocking yourself? Friday, the 9:30 club is hosting D.C. regional competition of the U.S. Air Guitar Championships. Yes, that’s right — air guitar.

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Father’s Day isn’t known for being a bender of a weekend, but let’s challenge that, shall we?

Friday’s (6/15) big ticket suits the holiday; The Beach Boys are surfin’ MPP. The quintessentially California ‘60s band have reunited for their 50th anniversary global tour and Columbia, Md.’s Merriweather Post Pavilion is set to be filled with the waves of dad rock. A lower-key option for the evening is ‘70s-style psych-punk duo JEFF the Brotherhood at the Red Palace. Yes, they are brothers; no, neither of their names is “Jeff.”

If the sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s aren’t your thing, the Black Cat offers a chance to leap back to the ‘80s with Right Round at the venue’s Backstage on Saturday (6/16). Break out your best Molly Ringwald à la Breakfast Club jig and dance the night away to the alt-pop of yesteryear.

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Hungry for music and, well, food? Sound Bites brings the best of D.C.’s music and food to the 9:30 Club Sunday May 20. Your musical and culinary gluttony won’t be all for naught — proceeds from the evening of tasty tunes and grub benefit D.C. Central Kitchen.

The “Sound” portion of the night brings you an appetizing lineup of Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation for a DJ set, Bone, Fur, and Feathers, Nappy Riddem and The Archives. Also present is Batala, a local Brazillian drum troupe and a “Mixology Madness” competition hosted by 99.5’s Samy K.

All that dancing will make you hungry, so the “Bites” brings you food from area restaurants such as Cork, Della’s Dolce, Harry’s Smokehouse, Policy, Room 11, Taylor’s Gourmet, Chipotle, Sixth Engine and more.

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