While the sudden temperature spurt would make it seem otherwise (almost 70 degrees in the middle of the winter season?!), the month of February is now upon us.
For those who find themselves without a Valentine this year, worry not—there is still plenty to love about February, including the free tickets The Vinyl District will be giving away to each of these upcoming shows at the 9:30 Club!
Kathleen Edwards, Fri. 2/3
Canadian singer Kathleen Edwards will be taking the stage in support her newest release, Voyageur. Having written the album while in the midst of a divorce, the honesty and emotion found within each song is undeniable, with the Vancouver Sun saying the Bon Iver-produced album “very bluntly – and poetically, and hauntingly” describes the dissolution of her relationship. If the looming Valentine’s Day holiday has you feeling down about your own love life, instead of drowning your sorrows in vodka, check out a powerful female musician performing poignant material when Edwards comes to the District. If you’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’, perhaps you should stay tuned to TVD… later today?!
Theophilus London, Mon. 2/6
You might have heard his debut single “I Stand Alone” in the trailer for HBO’s Season Two premiere of How to Make it America. For those not in the know, this Trinidad-born, Brooklyn-raised rapper has a sound all of his own. Having worked with musicians ranging from indie queens Tegan & Sara to soul singer Solange Knowles, Theophilus London is constantly pushing genres, with his music mixing the sounds of hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and indie rock. Notorious for his energetic live shows, London will be sure to make you sweat when he comes to the 9:30 Club on the 6th. Gettin’ excited? Get ready to try to nab those tickets quite soon…
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Tues. 2/7
Despite having given up his trademark rainbow-colored hair, George Clinton can definitely still kick it. The 70-year-old funk pioneer and his gang are known to have more than 20 people singing, dancing, and playing simultaneously during their rambunctious live concerts. Witness the shenanigans for yourself and hear hits like “Flashlight” and “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” when George Clinton & P-Funk roll through the club on the 7th. Hint: If your favorite movie scene is the ending of PCU, perhaps you should check back with us tomorrow.
9:30 Club and Black Cat Present: Zola Jesus, Thurs. 2/16 at U Street Music Hall
Zola Jesus, born Nika Roza Danilova, is frequently praised for her distinct vocals and wide range. Pitchfork has stated, “You don’t hear singers like this every day, or even every year.” Her talent, as well as her classical and gothic-inspired sound, helps her stand apart from most of today’s modern female singers. The Russian-American’s most recent release, Conatus, includes elements of cello, violin, and viola, and was praised by Stereogum for its “Concrete raw-nerve emotions rendered without compromise, but done in a way that makes perfect pop sense.”
Mos Def, Mon. 2/20
Mos Def is no stranger to the hip-hop scene. He is well known for being half of the duo Black Star with fellow rapper Talib Kweli, and has also released four solo albums. Mos Def has proven he is a man of many talents, having also dabbled in the acting world. Perhaps you remember him from his multi-episode appearance on Showtime’s Dexter series? Not only is he a man of many talents, but the rapper-actor is now a man of many names; he recently announced that he now goes by the stage name of Yaslin Bey, which means “rich” in Arabic. Regardless of what you prefer to call him, make sure you see Mos Def when he stops in DC on the 20th.
Galactic, Thurs. 2/23
This New Orleans-based jam and funk band is embarking on a North American tour in support of their new album, Carnivale Electricos. The album captures the essence of Mardi Gras and will fittingly be released on February 21st, Mardi Gras Day. Carnivale Electricos features a wide variety of sounds, dabbling in genres from “blistering rock, hip-hop and R&B, to samba, zydeco, jazz, and of course, funk,” according to the band’s website. Watch Galactic bring Mardi Gras to DC when they play at the 9:30 Club on February 23rd.
Don’t worry, dear readers. We’ll be your Valentine—as usual, we will be giving away tickets to each of these shows… perhaps even today or tomorrow?! Don’t miss out on your chance to hear some great music performed by these awesome artists.
