Soundgarden
w/ The Mars Volta
GMU Patriot Center ‧ Fairfax , VA
6:30 PM Doors
$59.50 Reserved Seat & $59.50 General Admission Floor
Tickets available here.
As always just let me know why you want to go in the comments and I’ll pick a winner next Friday.
Ed. Note: There is still time to win Lynyrd Skynrd tickets at Wolf Trap July 27.
Lina Khan is PoP’s new music editor. She will review a monthly concert and in the near future provide a weekly agenda of who the local spots are featuring per readers requests.
A few songs into his set, Zach Condon made a confession. “I’ve been told we’ve played here
before, but for the life of me I just can’t remember,” he half-chuckled. For a musician whose
sound plays like an ode to hazy remembrance, the comment captured what Beirut best kindles: a
potent nostalgia for a time you can’t quite place, an undeniable gesture to memory without totally
detailing it.
Playing to a swarming crowd at Black Cat on Tuesday night, Beirut took the stage as a six-
member band with no shortage of brass, with two players alternating between trumpet, trombone,
and tuba, and Condon frequently joining them on horn. They opened with “The Concubine,” a
mix of humming accordion and playful percussion, before segueing to “Elephant Gun,” a crowd
favorite that gets Condon gently plucking his ukulele.
With three albums that span a staggering range of influence — Balkan and gypsy, electronic,
folk, early pop, and mariachi, to name a few — Beirut played a broad retrospective, with the
welcomed inclusion of pieces where the sweeping brass narrates songs, developing storylines
with unexpected crescendos and quickening tempos. Early in the set, “The Shrew” encapsulated
the part-drunken waltz, part-majestic fanfare into which a piece can ascend, as Condon, eyes
closed, stomps and claps.
In addition to sampling some newer tracks — “Santa Fe” and “East Harlem” — the band did
justice to timeless pieces like “Postcards from Italy,” whose hauntingly simple ukulele, layered
with a collection of horns, enacts a gorgeous hymn to a more sincere, uncomplicated past,
nascent young love, and a musky yearning for it all. “Those were our times,” Condon crooned
with his textured lilt, soaking in the memory, an elegy both triumphant and wistful.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user K’s Clicks
“Dear PoPville,
Tonight is another edition of Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery, apparently the only place to be in DC on a Friday evening in summer, thus long lines for drinks, food & bathrooms. My question for you: While I know that bringing your own adult beverages is frowned upon, even “prohibited” according to the rules posted at the entrance gate, do they actually enforce not bringing your own alcohol into the park? I’ve been there and never had a problem with quietly and discreetly drinking our own wine, but recently friends have told me that they are starting to check people’s bags at the door? Has anyone else heard of this happening?”
“Dear PoP,
The Petworth Jazz Project kicked off Saturday May 21st, at 6:45pm! Live music was provided by the Donvonte McCoy Quartet. Opening, midway, and closing DJ Sets by The Unknown.
It was a free, outdoor evening of great local jazz, on the lawn at 8th and Taylor, NW, at the Petworth Rec Center and Blankets were provided.
Petworth Jazz Project has details on the rest of the series taking place every 2nd Saturday during the summer.”
PJP organizer Tom writes:
“Come out and enjoy the second installment of the Petworth Jazz Project, on the lawn at 8th and Taylor St NW (Petworth Rec Center) this Saturday, June 11th, at 7pm until 8:30pm.
This month The Dan Leonard Trio will be performing, with DJ sets by Richard “The Unknown” Patterson.
Get there early, grab a blanket (provided for free) and bring a picnic!”
From an email:
We’ll be playing everything from Bob Wills and Hank Williams to Willie & Waylon to Alabama, Dolly, Garth and Alan Jackson. It’s a unique musical event for the area, so I thought your readers might be interested. Thanks!
OUTLAWS
Country / Folk / Honkytonk / Blues
Marx Cafe / 3203 Mt. Pleasant St, NW
Tuesday June 7 @ 9 pm
Free + Drink Specials
Thanks to the producer, Andy Rothwell, for sending. The video was mainly shot at “Sticky Fingers, Wonderland Ballroom, the Raven, Pho 14, Red Derby, and Room 11.”
Very cool.
While Andy is not affiliated with the band, Vetiver , he tells me that the band has a new album The Errant Charm is out next Tues, June 14.
Photo courtesy of Monte Montgomery
From an email:
What:
Audio/video recording session of “Ready to Live,” a song about fighting HIV/AIDS stigma, to performed live by Caressa Cameron, Miss America 2010, for distribution online and exhibition in clinics and waiting rooms around the world.
When:
Monday 6/6/11, approx. 4:30- 7pm
Where:
Columbia Heights Civic Plaza, corner of 14th & Park Sts. NW, Washington DC, 20010. One block N of the Columbia Heights Metro station.
Who:
A “flash choir” consisting of HIV+ and HIV- performers, identified as such by colorful badges that first hang around necks, then are tossed in a trash can to symbolize how insignificant HIV status will be in a post-stigma world.
Clothes:
Up to you. Just remember that the badges referred to in the previous point need to be concealed under a shirt or top until they all come out at once. So a T-shirt would work, but not, for example, a bikini top.
Pay:
None, but food/drinks/snacks will be provided, you’ll meet a lot of cool people, and it’s a heck of a good cause.
Lyric:
Only three words: “Ready — to — Live.” Easy! (Sheet music available on request, although the part is extremely simple.)
Rhythm:
Must be able to clap on beats 2 and 4. Easy!
From an email:
26 Record Dealers, 1 Tee Shirt Dealer, 1 Rep of the Historic Globe Poster Company, 1 Artist (Designed this Record Fair Poster)
DJs as usual. Here’s the DJ schedule:11-12 Lipstick DJs: DJ Jennder & BYT’s William Alberque
12-1 Jon Meyers (TVD)
1-2 Ed the Metaphysical
2-3 Nitekrawler
3-4 DJ Smudge
4-5 DJ Mojo GogoAlso as usual, we’ll have drinks and other refreshments on site.
Fair Location: A BYT/Art Whino/Vitamin Water Space-takeover (2213-2217 14th St. NW)
Show Date & Time: Saturday June 4th,11am-5pm
Door Fee for customers: $5 from 11am-12pm, $2 from 12pm-5pm
From an email:
Monument Fest’s One Year Birthday Celebration to Benefit 826DC
Date: Thursday, June 2Location: DC9 (9th and U)
Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance (available at http://www.ticketalternative.com/Events/14148.aspx) and $17 at the door.
The Cause: All proceeds will go to 826DC, the local affiliate of Dave Egger’s creative writing nonprofit organization. The organization is dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.
The Headliner: Guards is the latest project of Richie James Follin, former frontman of The Willowz and current member of buzz band Cults. Guards makes a slightly warped version of 60s pop and classic rock with big hooks and spacey atmospherics. The band has garnered attention from Pitchfork, Altered Zones, and The Guardian UK, among others. Everything Guards has recorded so far can be streamed at its bandcamp page. For for more information check out its Windish Agency page.
The Other Headliner: Xylos makes sleek and infectious synth-pop, or as the New York Times puts it “iPad commercial” music. The band just released its full-length debut, recorded by Yeasayer and Chairlift producer Britt Myers. Stream some songs here.
The Opener: Monument co-founder Brandon Minow will kick the night off with a rare solo performance.
The Beer: Award-winning California brewery Lagunitas has donated a ton of delicious beer, which we will be selling for very cheap, with proceeds to 826DC.About Monument: The Monument Music and Arts Festival engages bands and their fans in forward-thinking causes. In the past year, it has raised awareness – and $15,000 – for local nonprofits such as We Are Family, Dreams for Kids, DC Greenworks and Citizen Effect.