It’s a new month, and that means plenty of new 9:30 Club shows to get excited about. Here’s your February preview and an extra chance to win tickets to the show of your choice from below—don’t forget to answer the challenge at the bottom! Here are five shows sure to add some funky love to your February.
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Mon 2/11
Spanning over 50 decades of making music, George Clinton is still going strong, recording both as Parliament and Funkadelic. He changed R&B during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Sly Stone, the Parliament/Funkadelic machine recorded three platinum albums, including three Number One hits in the ’70s.
While Clinton’s music was a pivotal soundtrack during the ’70s, many of his songs have spurred a new generation of Clinton fans. “Atomic Dog” hit number one on the R&B charts in 1982 and stayed at the top spot for four weeks. Additionally, it has remained alive through many reinventing the song over the years. Don’t be surprised if your five-year old is a Clinton fan after watching 102 Dalmatians. As the 9:30 is an all-ages club, bring the whole family and get down with George Clinton on a Monday night!
Rufus Wainwright, Tues 2/12
Out of the Game is the seventh studio album for Rufus Wainwright, produced by Mark Ronson and released in 2012 through Decca/Polydor Records. Wainwright had an intense and defining couple of years starting with the death of his mother, marriage, and birth of his daughter, providing a new vision of what he wanted for his always-honest albums. Wainwright stated, “Because I’m older and I’ve had different experiences, there’s a diversity in my life that I wanted the record to express. Maybe in the past, it would get a little confusing to people, but this time we were able to maintain that mountain range of an existence with something tying it together, a certain sound or warmth, which makes all the difference.”
Wainwright’s tour is one not to be missed for fans, as his latest record has been regarded as his most cohesive work. “There’s a famous saying that your mother gives birth to you twice—once when you’re born and once when you die. So having a slightly tougher, wiser attitude on this record, I think I only could have done that after her passing.” Look out for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see a wiser Rufus Wainwright, and you’ll be the wiser for it.
9:30 Presents The Dunwells at U Street Music Hall, Wed 2/20
Concord Records artists The Dunwells are a British quintet who started off playing in pubs in their home town of England. Get your British accent fix with brothers Joseph Dunwell (vocals, guitar) and David Dunwell (guitar, piano, banjo), cousins Jonny Lamb (vocals, drums) and Rob Clayton (bass), and longtime best mate Dave Hanson (guitar, pedal steel).
Best mates, The Dunwells, released their last album, Blind Sighted Faith, in 2012. “We’re obviously huge fans of American music and its history, but we didn’t set out with that in mind when we started playing together. It was an unexpected thing, really,” says David Dunwell. “We’re all in it for the same reason. We just love making music.” Greet these Brits at the Club with your DC love this month, and look out for a chance to win tickets to a swooning good time!
9:30 Presents Willy Moon at U Street Music Hall, Fri 2/22
Third Man Records artist Willy Moon will attack Uhall this month. According to Third Man, “Willy Moon writes, records and (mostly) produces everything on his own and keeps things short. Nothing grazes the three-minute mark. He doesn’t just blend different sounds, he smashes them together. It’s as if rock n’ roll was deep-frozen in 1965, and abruptly reanimated 45 years later by a laptop hip hop producer.”
Willy Moon, born William Sinclair in New Zealand, grew up raised by his sister and took off as soon as he could by buying a one-way plane ticket to London, where Moon’s sound was found. In 2010, he released his first song “I Wanna Be Your Man” and was quickly picked up by Island Records. For a young man who was given a rotten hand growing up, his adult life is shaping up quite well, having his song “Yeah Yeah” grace an iPod commercial. Get your dance on with Willy at Uhall because it won’t be long before you’ll have to catch him on bigger stage.
DC Funk-Punk Throwback Jam, Sun 2/24 (Doors 3pm)
If the word Funk Punk alone doesn’t get you in the door, check out this line up: Trouble Funk, Scream, Shady Groove, Black Market Baby, DJ Kool, Junkyard, Youth Brigade, Static Disruptors, and Worlds Collide, with special guests Stinky Dink and DJ Tommy B. The afternoon will be hosted by DC native Henry Rollins, who is sure to help set fire to your Sunday afternoon.
DJ Kool’s 1996 hit “Let Me Clear My Throat” gained him high praise in the late ’90s but remains a party staple to this day. As it is a throwback jam, be sure to leave your Just Dance version at home and get a reality check of what funk punk music really sounds like from the original cast members.
Stay tuned throughout the month for more info about how to win a pair of tickets to each of the above shows. Make it a family reunion, bring your parents and even your little sister, for this month the 9:30 brings generations of music for all-aged lovers. For an extra entry into the giveaway of your choice, tell us below, your favorite song from the ’70s.
Get to the club, and good luck, Music Freaks!
