Washington National Opera (WNO) celebrates its fifth season of free opera simulcasts at Nationals Park with the M&M’S® Opera in the Outfield performance of Don Giovanni on Saturday, September 29. Gates open at 5 p.m. for “pregame” activities, including The Fly Ball, co-hosted by Kennedy Center MyTix and Brightest Young Things. The opera will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the high-definition screen at the ballpark at 7 p.m. Seating will be available on the outfield grass and in the stands.
A few weeks ago we learned the New Vegas Lounge was getting renovated at 1415 P St, NW. I’m happy to see they’ve already reopened. Anyone get a chance to see how the inside turned out?
Well into its thirty-fifth year of operation, the New Vegas Lounge is a Washington, DC institution preceded by its reputation for great music. The Out of Town Blues Band is comprised of lead vocalists Jimmy Johnson and the venerable Dr. Blues as well as a 7-piece rhythm and blues band that includes a saxophonist, trumpeter, keyboardist, percussionist, and a bass & lead guitarist. It is comprised of an eclectic group of professional road musicians who have worked in the past with the likes of the late great Wilson Pickett, Gene Chandler, The Delfonics, Solomon Burke, Heat Wave, and Johnny Taylor, just to name a few.
As the flagship band for Dr. Blues Productions, The Out of Town Blues Band has worked with a number of national acts including having served as the back up band for The Delfonics, the late Wilson Pickett, and Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills & Nash).
They have also had the honor of having been chosen to play at three inaugural balls including one for President George W. Bush as well as former President William J. Clinton. They have also performed at over 500 weddings including a recent wedding for a White House staffer.
HR-57’s brief sojourn has ended at 816 H St, NE. According to a recent liquor license application that space will now be know as Fever Bar and Lounge:
“New Tavern bar/lounge with entertainment that includes occasional live bands, DJ, dancing and cover charge. Food will typically consist of a short southern menu such as chicken wings, greens, mac and cheese, etc. Occupancy load is 99.”
Chez Billy opened at 3815 Georgia Ave, NW in April 2012. Here are some updates from an email:
Patio
Chez Billy’s backyard beer garden will debut in mid June. We will feature our bar menu and reduced pricing on growlers of selected draft beers.
Jazz in the lounge
In cooperation with the Petworth Jazz Project, Chez Billy will feature live jazz sessions every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the upstairs lounge. The full bar menu will be available. Entertainment hours will run from 6:30 until late night.
Dinner for locals
Every Sunday through Wednesday locals are invited to join us at Chez Billy for neighborhood appreciation dining specials. Patrons seated in the dining room by 6:30 who present proof of residency in zip codes 20010 and 20011 will get 15% off of their entire check. Reservations are suggested. Please mention neighborhood appreciation when booking a reservation through open table.
Hope to see you all this Saturday, May 19th, 6-9pm at Chez Billy, for the pre-season fundraiser for Season 2 of the Petworth Jazz Project!
This year there will be 5 shows, on the last Saturday of every month from May through September, on the lawn at the Petworth Rec Center at 8th and Taylor St. NW. The talent is sourced in collaboration with Omrao Brown of Bohemian Caverns, and is truly the best of the best in local jazz.
The season kicks off on May 26th with a performance by the Jolley Brothers.
If you cannot attend the fundraiser but wish to donate, please follow this link.
The fundraiser event will feature a silent auction with art works by:
Trevor Young
Tim Conlon
Aniekan Udofia
Albus Cavus
Mark Jenkins (signed book “Urban Theater”)
Brandon Hill
Peter Chang
Jeff Huntington
James Kerns
Live music by Herb Scott (sax), supporting the DJ, Rich “The Unknown” Patterson.
As I was walking down 14th Street yesterday afternoon I heard no less than six cars blasting Chuck Brown’s music. It was beautiful.
The Mayor’s Office issued a press release:
Mayor Vincent C. Gray today expressed his profound sadness upon hearing the news that D.C. native Chuck Brown, the singer and musician who came to be affectionately known as the “Godfather of Go-go,” has died.
“Go-go is D.C.’s very own unique contribution to the world of pop music, and Chuck Brown was regarded as Go-go’s creator and, arguably, its most legendary artist,” Mayor Gray said. “Today is a very sad day for music lovers the world over, but especially in the District of Columbia. Without Chuck Brown, the world – and our city – will be a different place. What a loss!
I am thankful that I had so many opportunities to witness Chuck’s singular talent in person, and I enjoyed each performance immensely. My heart, my thoughts and my prayers go out to his family.”
Chuck Brown was born in Washington. His musical career began in the 1960s as he played guitar with multiple bands, including Jerry Butler and the Earls of Rhythm and Los Latinos. His solo career took off in the 1970s as Go-go, a subgenre of funk music that originated with performers and clubs in and around the District, began to gain national popularity. His early work included hits like “Bustin’ Loose,” and pop-music historians generally consider Mr. Brown one of the main driving forces behind Go-go’s creation. He continued to play in the Washington area and elsewhere until recently, when he canceled an appearance at the newly refurbished Howard Theatre due to illness.
Last night The Howard Theatre hosted candlelight vigil for Chuck Brown. “Mr. Brown was slated to play The Howard Theatre on June 29, and had played the theatre often.”
The Washington Nationals announced that Dierks Bentley (June 2), The Wallflowers (July 21) and Third Eye Blind (August 18) will comprise the lineup for the NatsLive Post-Game Concert Series, three FREE concerts following select Nationals home games throughout the summer.
Fans who wish to attend the free concerts must have a valid ticket for that day’s Nationals game. The performances will begin approximately 15 minutes after the final out of each Nationals game.
DIERKS BENTLEY: Saturday, June 2
Multi-platinum selling country artist Dierks Bentley will be the first act to hit the NatsLive stage after the Nationals take on their NL East rival, the Atlanta Braves, the first weekend in June. The CMA Award winner and 10-time Grammy Award nominee is known for his hits including “What Was I Thinkin,” “Come a Little Closer” and “Sideways.” His sixth studio album Home was released earlier this year.
THE WALLFLOWERS: Saturday, July 21
Los Angeles-based rock band The Wallflowers will make their NatsLive debut after the Nationals-Braves game in mid-July. With hits including “One Headlight,” “6th Avenue Heartache” and “Heroes,” the two-time Grammy Award winning band’s album Bringing Down the Horse has been certified platinum four times since its release. The Wallflowers will release their sixth studio album this fall on Columbia Records.
THIRD EYE BLIND: Saturday, August 18
Third Eye Blind will wrap up the NatsLive Post-Game Concert Series after the Nationals face the New York Mets in August. “Semi-Charmed Life,” “Jumper” and “Graduate” are among the San Francisco-based rock band’s biggest hits following the release of their self-titled debut album in 1997, which went on to sell more than seven million copies in the U.S. alone. The band’s fourth studio album, Ursa Major, was released in late 2009.
Adam Yauch, one-third of the pioneering hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, has died at the age of 48, Rolling Stone has learned. Yauch, also known as MCA, had been in treatment for cancer since 2009. The rapper was diagnosed in 2009 after discovering a tumor in his salivary gland.
The highlight of the festival is Israeli sensation Hadag Nahash, at the Fillmore in Silver Spring on May 10. This year’s lineup includes everything from a dance party featuring the collaborative performance of Hasidic hip-hop artist DeScribe and Yemenite electro hip-hop DJ Diwon at Eden on May 12, to indie pop artist Yael Meyer at Sixth & I on May 16, to the soulful grooves of Basya Shechter, who sets to music the poetry of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (best known in the secular world for his civil rights work alongside Dr. King).
ShirLaLa will headline a family Shabbat service and dinner on May18 at the DCJCC and Peter Himmelman headlines Jerusalem Day on May 20 at Ohev Shalom – with a bounce house for the kids. The festival concludes with the silent film The Yellow Ticket with special musical accompaniment composed and performed by Alicia Svigals.
