If you’ve ever wanted to know what fun sounds like, attend a Pigeons Playing Ping Pong show. The Baltimore-based funk-jam has a huge following, and it’s clear from the moment the four-piece steps on stage that you’re in for a night of pure joy. The band recently kicked off three […]
Rain might not be the perfect weather for a lot of things, but the hazy weather outside of the packed Fillmore Silver Spring Wednesday night set the mood for the loud, heavy, and over-the-top performance by Rammstein vocalist Till Lindemann. For the Berlin industrial metal giant, the Silver Spring stop […]
The sisters of The Warning, the trio from Monterrey, Mexico, have been taking the world by storm since a video of the band performing Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” became an overnight sensation when they were in their early teens. Since then, Daniela “Dany” Villarreal Vélez (vocals/guitar), Paulina“Pau” Villarreal Vélez (drums/vocals), and […]
Saturday night at Rams Head Live in Baltimore was filled with the sounds of Norway’s Leprous as they brought their progressively symphonic metal to Charm City. Words like symphonic and heavy come to mind when listening to the Norwegian band Leprous’ extensive catalog. But with their new album, Melodies of […]
The last couple of years have been a cornucopia of riches for fans of bands who haven’t toured in ages and who have chosen to reunite. And there are even those rare opportunities, like in the case of The Folk Implosion, of a group that not only got back together, […]
When a musician puts something out that sounds completely different than anything they’ve ever done, sometimes fans can get upset. It’s not what they are used to. People dislike change. It’s uncomfortable. However, people grow. People change. Their tastes change. Influences, friends, locales. They all change. Polaroid Lovers, the latest album […]
In 2009, friends of mine, Pete and Lindsay—AKA Free Breakfast, hosted a music night every Monday at First Capital Dispensing Company—AKA The Cap. Sometimes, they would play by themselves; other times, friends would join in; and other times, they brought bands in from out of town to play. Back then, […]
What’s better on a chilly Monday in November than to jump and sweat to the bouncing brass sounds of Rubblebucket? Well, after Monday night at the Baltimore Soundstage I can unequivocally say there is nothing better. Rubblebucket, the dance-pop-art ensemble that released their sixth full-length LP, Earth Worship, last year […]
This year, the Sultana Downrigger Festival, held annually in Chestertown, Maryland, featured an exciting blend of Bluegrass music, tall ships, fireworks, and incredibly delicious seafood. On Friday evening, after a late start from work, I found myself by the Chester River in Chestertown, Maryland. I arrived in time to catch […]
DragonForce is a power metal institution. There’s the lightning-quick guitar licks; metronome perfect drums that seem inhuman; and soaring vocals that continue to be the mainstay of their work. And while they never take themselves too seriously, there is some serious talent at work. The London-based DragonForce started nearly 25 […]
The Oceans Calling Music Festival in Ocean City, Maryland was a spectacular celebration of music, culture, and classic beach vibes. Nestled against the backdrop of the southern tip of the southern inlet along the end of the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, the event transformed the coastal town into a […]
Baroness has been through a lot in the more than 20 years the band from Savannah, Georgia has been around. From a near fatal accident in the UK 10 years ago to changes in band members – oh, and then there was a global pandemic which put the brakes on […]
Explosions In the Sky perform 2 sold-out shows in DC at the 9:30 Club.
Dave King, singer and band leader for Flogging Molly, has a knack for doing two things: 1) leading an incredible performance, and 2) putting together a touring line-up that can’t be beat. It’s a fact. I’ve seen Flogging Molly a handful of times now and each time it feels like […]
“Now see, that’s fuckin’ Baltimore. Baltimore’s always down,” Kim Schifino exclaimed to a packed room at Rams Head Live Saturday night. Schifino, along with Matt Johnson who make up the New York-based duo Matt and Kim, have a way of turning a soggy, wind-swept evening into a party in the […]
“How many of you are seeing us for the first time,” Jennifer Finch asked the sold-out crowd at The Black Cat as more than a few held their hands up. A testament to the strength and relevance of the California-based band who formed back in the mid-1980’s, L7 returned from […]
I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard Arctic Monkeys. It was 2004 and I was deployed to Kuwait. Like every other night for six months–after work, chow and the gym–Pat Quinn, Anthony Black and I were sitting in my corner of our tent playing NCAA Football on the PlayStation and listening to BBC’s Radio 1.
On Friday and Saturday nights, the Black Cat nightclub in Washington, DC, celebrated its 30th Anniversary with two nights of special shows featuring bands with strong ties to the community. The sold-out shows included the debut of Birthday Girl as well as a reunion of the late eighties and early-to-mid […]
For the first time in 54 years to the weekend, a festival was held on the hallowed grounds that hosted Woodstock ’69, and what a weekend it was. Taking it’s name from the bird on the original Woodstock poster, the inaugural Catbird Music Festival was held this past weekend at […]
What else can you do on an absolutely gorgeous Saturday in Hunt Valley, Maryland? Well, you can head over to Oregon Ridge Park for a live music experience at the annual Hot August Music Festival. A big shout-out goes to the organizers, Ryan and Robbie, for taking the reins of […]
Seeing Boy George with Culture Club was always on my bucket list, and I recently got to check it off. Also on the tour (“The Letting It Go Show”), and checked off my concert list, were Berlin and Howard Jones. It was an all-star 80s line-up! The start time of the […]
“We wrote this around George Bush Jr time, and the lyrics are more relevant to what’s happening now than they were then,” Kathleen Hanna, singer of the dance punk trio Le Tigre told a sold-out crowd at the Baltimore Soundstage Wednesday night. “ I’m just saying it’s fucking weird… and […]
Weezer is on a 30-city run of shows—Weezer’s Indie Rock Road Trip—and one of the stops was in Columbia, Maryland, at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Joined by Joyce Manor and Future Islands, they arranged an awesome playlist—all while snapping selfies and enjoying life on the road. There was a little mix-up at […]
On June 27th, Tedeschi Trucks Band brought their summer tour to the iconic Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. As always, it was an absolute musical feast for the senses. The band’s exceptional musicianship, soulful vocals, and electrifying stage presence made for an incredible evening to remember. The energy […]
Band History Blink-182 has had a stop-and-go sort of existence throughout their years since forming in 1992. They replaced their original drummer Scott Raynor in 1998 with Travis Barker. In 1999, Blink-182 was everywhere after the release of Enema of the State, the band’s third studio album. Breaking into the mainstream, the band […]
You know the adage, “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life”? For most that’s a reminder – maybe something to pin on your cork board – or something to strive toward, but I get the feeling The Cure takes that old saying to heart. […]
That’s right, this past weekend many of us took the yearly journey to Cumberland, MD for the Delfest Bluegrass Festival. This years Fest boasted excellent weather great music and lots of positive interactions. The best part is to catch up and renew friendships and to make new friends that turn out to […]
@thenational return to DC to play two sold out shows at @theanthemdc
The much beloved indie-mod-pop band Chisel disbanded in 1997. I saw the band perform only twice before they split (both shows within months of each other in 1996.) On Saturday night, Chisel returned to The Black Cat in Washington, DC with support from DC’s Bed Maker and noise rock-ish New […]
Just like that festival season begins. With the new season comes the 10th Charm City Bluegrass Festival. This year in a new location. Although it has been held at Union Craft Brewery before, it was not held in Union Crafts newest location. Friday The bands performed both inside the brewery […]
I remember hearing The Walkmen years ago with a couple of friends who were already into them. I think there was an unspoken competition to see who could find the next cool band or record. I liked what I was hearing, but it wasn’t until their second album, Bows + […]
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs brought their iconic brand of punk-infused rock and roll to the nation’s capital for the first time in over a decade, igniting the stage at the Anthem for an unforgettable evening of music and mayhem. The sold-out crowd packed the venue to capacity, eagerly anticipating the […]
What does it mean when an artist is described as prolific? How many albums do they need to release? I can’t answer that question but I believe 21 Lp’s, 18 EP’s, 3 live albums and nearly 700 recorded songs qualify. John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats pumps out albums like […]
Sometimes music can pull you out of the day to day perils of a stressful busy life. This is exactly what happened to me on Friday evening at The Manor Mill in Monkton, Maryland. After I was worn out from a stress filled day of work, I was treated to […]
Indie-Pop Darlings Celebrate the First Birthday of Second Nature Lucius released Second Nature, on April 8th, 2022. The album was their first since the acoustic collection, Nudes was released in 2018 and a lot had changed for frontwomen Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig in those 4 years. The album addresses […]
