In the News

The 50th Anniversary of Go-Go hits NPR’s Tiny Desk with a “raucously funky” set by E.U., capped off, of course, with the 80s breakout mega-hit “Da Butt”.

90s-era Dischord-to-major indie rock band Shudder To Think are back on the scene. Last year they released a 7” with two brand new songs, “Thirst Walk” and “Playback”, and now the Craig Wedren-fronted group announced another three-song EP dropping on September 11th, starting with “Who Sent You?”. Tom Breihan at Stereogum has more details, including three (non-DC) tour dates announced so far.

The monthly Swing Beat column by Michael J. West at CityPaper documents the handover of the venerable Friday night jazz series at Westminster Presbyterian Church from Rev. Brian Hamilton and Dick Smith to saxophonist Paul Carr, who also runs the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Fest.

Why Stay Home?

Monday August 31st

We start the week off Monday night at Takoma Park DIY mecca Rhizome with Sour Tooth from TN joining post-hardcore Gifts Given, screamo Torn Memory, and alt-rock Stafford (from Prince George’s, not Virginia, confusing!) for a lineup curated by new bookers Eight Angels.

Wednesday September 2nd

There’s only one chance ever to see the debut live performance by rock supergroup Dirt Champ, featuring Don Potter from Outerloop, Ella G from Lud Roes, and Erik Sleight from too many bands (don’t get us started). This chance is Wednesday night at the Pie Shop, with an all-DMV lineup of punks little a, teen garage punks Petrichor, and desert grunge Short Lives, organized by photog extraordinaire Roxplosion.

Honorable mention:

Luke Ijams Trio, The Electric Spurs, and Tránsito at The Pocket

Thursday September 3rd

The Big Tony-fronted legendary go-go ensemble Trouble Funk kicks off the next 50 years of DC’s signature sound with a headlining show Thursday night at the 9:30 Club.

Honorable mentions:

• More go-go! Junkyard Band at The Hamilton

• Marc 2Ray, Dumi Right, and Night Train 357 at The Pocket

• Free Bluegrass Night with Tornado Rose at Quarry House Tavern

• Herm Hopkins and his “Big Soul Band” at Blues Alley

Friday September 4th

DMV rapper Nino Paid hits the midpoint of his nationwide tour celebrating his third full-length album Somewhere Over The Rainbow (8.3 on Pitchfork courtesy of Alphonse Pierre) Friday night at the Black Cat, with an opening set by tour-mate 1UP Tee from Detroit, and hosted by Philly-based Twitch streamer Raud.

Honorable mentions:

• The Nighthawks at Jammin’ Java

• threeeyedmouse, threethirtytwo (Houston), SIR E.U, and Kilian Fonlon at The Pocket

• Land, Dream Feeder, and KAZ (Keith Butler Jr., Abe Mamet, & Zoë Jorgenson-Speirs) at Rhizome

• Wavedash DIY presents Torrents, Take Steps (Albany NY), Tongue Scraper (Baltimore), and Lye Bath at Patchwork DC

Saturday September 5th

Widescreen, bombastic, cinematic rock threatens the structural integrity of 7DrumCity’s cozy performance space The Pocket Saturday night with space rockers Youth In Government, heavy ambient metal band TONE, and NC post-rock group Slow Teeth.

Honorable mentions:

• Tiny Hands, Will Sevy, and My Mandy at Black Cat’s Red Room

• Chopteeth at Takoma Station

Sunday September 6th

Pop-rockers with the tricky name Leannán Shi (“Lee-ann-uhn’ Shee”) complete an east coast “Tour de Pants” Sunday night at the Pie Shop with fellow DMV classic rockers Moondog Revival and Blacksburg VA’s Coral Bank Hollow on the bill.

Honorable mention:

Ladybird (Milwaukee), Dylan Rockwell, Little Lungs, and Boat Water (Baltimore) at The Pocket

Monday September 7th

The week in live DC music ends back where it began, at Rhizome. The third annual Shivfest, a holiday weekend tradition organized by Shiv Sharma, puts together flash tattoos, outdoor vendors, and so many bands: Bubblegum Octopus (NJ), Courage Mother, Druid Stone, Isabella deVarona (Baltimore), Jade Weapon (MD), Pain Response, Peel Off Your Skin, and Potosí. Happy Labor Day!

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Next week, as always.

-PV

In the News

For All Things Considered on WAMU, host Tamika Smith interviewed Pan-African jazz singer Akua Allrich about her new album Bonya.

Sophia Solano at WaPo catches up readers on the controversy around this year’s Chuck Brown Day, as Brown’s surviving family pulls their support for the annual festival. [gift link!]

Slovenian musician Samo Šalamon chats with jazz guitarist Anthony Pirog of The Messthetics for episode 662 of his podcast/interview series Dr. Jazz Talks.

Someday You Might Wish You’d Gone Out More

Monday August 24th

In-demand bassist Luke Stewart, most prominently of “liberation-oriented” free jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements, brings his duo Blacks’ Myths with drummer Warren “Trae” Crudup to headline the Black Cat’s Red Room tonight. Starting the night out right are saxophonist Mark Cisneros, of Des Demonas and Hammered Hulls, joined by percussionist and synth composer Nik Francis.

Honorable mention:

Untitled Documentary by Osheen Keshishian with music by Nik Francis, Layne Garrett, Shelly Purdy, & Nate Scheible at Rhizome

Tuesday August 25th

Seven long years ago, in the before times, we loved the heck out of the peppy indie rock tune “whoops” by chicx guapx, despite the ridiculous price tag of $420.69 for the 6 song s/t EP. We are thrilled to report the return of CG’s juan luis pues, now under his own name, headlining Rhizome Tuesday night. You also get a rare acoustic set by cowpokes Heaven Forbid and what we believe to be the debut US performance by Geese Tooth, a new folky project from Fiona Kohrman of Dim Wizard and Light Beams, and we can’t imagine what more anyone could want.

Wednesday August 26th

Wednesday night’s lineup of mellow psychedelic rockers Time in the Wilderness, midwestern emo-flavored Doll Apartments, skronky punks The Delarcos, and NJ’s Last Legs, was originally scheduled at The Garage. After their closure earlier this summer, the fine folks at Songbyrd stepped in to re-host the show.

Honorable mentions:

• Red Sunflower, Spark Isle, and Dumb Lucky open for Windows (L.A.) at DC9

• Letters from Venus, Sec Anders, and Sadia at The Pocket

Thursday August 27th

DC, this is the end of the saga, and the end of the road for trans punks Ekko Astral. Original members Liam Hughes and Jae Holzman put the scorching hot act to rest for a final performance Thursday night at DC9, with math-rockers Right Chipper and indie pop star Berra opening. If you need this, don’t sleep on advance tickets.

Honorable mention:

PsychoPomP, ¡Fiasco!, and Zigarette at The Pocket

Friday August 28th

Troubadour Justin Jones is heavyweight enough to lead this epic all-star band: Sara Curtin (The Sweater Set), Ryan Walker (The Beanstalk Library), Jasmine Gillison, Will Waikart (Junior League, Typefighter, The Deadmen), Jason Butler (Sarah White & The Pearls, Big Dixie, Skyline Awake, Whitebird, Unholy Four, Heart Pines), and Monica Smith (Worship). Catch this incredible crew at Ernie’s Place Friday night for an intimate night of amazing songs. Now Justin, The Deadmen reunion in DC when?

Honorable mentions:

• Mark Cisneros’ SPACE FIRE TRUTH with Anthony Pirog & Kiyan Saifi of Red Sunflower at Rhizome

• Neon Habits, Flora and the Fauna (RVA), and Pet Names at Pie Shop

• Keegan Del Rio and Bluem open for Big Chemical (Brooklyn) at The Pocket

• Dono Dono and Danny’s Girl open for Terror Pigeon (Nashville) at Comet Ping Pong

• Princess Taft, Clay Cygelman, Teddy Dustmop, and I Have Arrived at Galactic Panther

Saturday August 29th

“Garage soul” band Kontrolled Khaos plays an early set Saturday night at Union Stage, with R&B pop singer Michelyn Cierra opening. If there really are as many people on stage as there are in that Instagram flyer below, expect a whole lot of khaos.

Honorable mentions:

• The Cassaday Concoction, Femi and the Foundation, and Brendan Lane & The Sugar Packets at Pearl St.

• Careless Flight and The People Psychologic open for Freelance Sweatpants (Philly) at The Pocket

• Sheila and NAYAN open for Dead Billionaires (RVA) at Quarry House Tavern

• ok, cuddle (NY), Exciting! Excellent! (PDX), thisdogllhunt, and Somebody’s Daughter at Patchwork DC

• Psychobuildings (NYC), Hershel Hoover & Nonpar, and Hàn Gắn at Art Sound Language

Sunday August 30th

Heavy hard rockers The Missing Peace play the next-to-last night of their nationwide summer tour at Songbyrd Sunday night with tour-mates Blanket from Blackpool UK and DC’s grunge-y Day Aches opening.

Honorable mentions:

• Flo Petite and Jeer open for Caring Less (Philly) at Pie Shop

• Southside Shai, Acid Red Dress, and Melting Virgo at Rhizome

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Don’t forget your earplugs. See you next week, friends.

-PV

Just One Item In News This Week

New for your bookmark collection, developer Erik Reid Jones created DC Arts Events to merge the events listings of more than 125 DC-area venues into a single, filterable feed. The site doesn’t contain advertising or sell your personal data, so iOS app users, consider supporting the developer by buying a monthly or annual in-app subscription.

Don’t Stay Home

Tuesday August 18th

“Makin’ The World A Funkier Place”, McLean VA based saxophonist Lil’ Maceo hypes his just-released full length album Closer Tuesday night with two headlining sets at Georgetown’s Blues Alley.

Wednesday August 19th

Wednesday night’s all-DMV lineup at The Pocket inside 7DrumCity features 3 piece garage-metal-punks Carrier Wave, “sludgy grungy post-punk indie rock” Solvent, heavy stoners Spunt, and psychedelic folk project Warped Wells. Don’t forget the earplugs.

Thursday August 20th

Keep those earplugs handy, The Exchange Project (“fuzzed-out, heavy riff soundtrack for the apocalypse”) celebrate the release of their new album This Will End Me headlining Thursday night at Songbyrd with pop-punk, lightly ska-flavored band R-NØT and soulful alt-rockers Please Knock opening.

Honorable mentions:

• Mycah Chevalier at Blues Alley

• Erasergirl, New Passengers, and Bohemian Waxwing at Pie Shop

Friday August 21st

The thick, heavy rock vibes of this week’s newsletter continue Friday night at Comet Ping Pong with Lud Roes celebrating a special vinyl pressing of remastered songs from their 2024 album Dear IV. Grungy metal-shoegazers Scoria and prog-punk/psych-sludge band Caustic Casanova help the crowd head-bang way past your bedtime.

Honorable mentions:

• Velvet Divide, AITA (Baltimore), and Courage Mother at Black Cat

• Black Masala and The Last Rewind (Phish Tribute) at Pearl Street

• Club U.S.A. and Endlings open for Jo Passed (Toronto) at Pie Shop

Saturday August 22nd

Bubble-grunge darlings Flowerbomb play the penultimate night of their east coast summer tour Saturday night at Union Stage, with opening sets from formerly DC now Baltimore singer Taisha Estrada and utterly “catchy” power-pop trio Cal Rifkin.

Honorable mentions:

• Punk For Purpose II with Joy Destroyer, Fat Nave, Soroche, and Buko Buko at St. Stephen’s

• You Fool! single release show with NAYAN and Kinoko at Songbyrd

• Debórah Bond at Blues Alley (also Sunday night)

• Jen Krupa Quartet: Melba Liston Tribute at Wesley United Methodist

• Chuck Brown Day at Fort Dupont Park

• Deep Dish at Berhta (6 pm doors at the outdoor Bananas stage)

• Veronneau at Creative Cauldron

Sunday August 23rd

Four young musical acts unite Sunday night at Pearl Street Warehouse under the banner “Sounds of the District”, which of course grabbed our attention. The lineup features poppy indie rock UMD student band Quiet Hours, alt-rock quintet Offleash, Frederick MD art-rock band Mancala, and country-pop singer Kailey Jane.

Honorable mentions:

• DKMTR, Lef, Brandon De’Sean, Shani Monet, Watusi, Aaviious, and Pack Man Dre at The Pocket

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Thank you thank you, dear music friends. See you next week.

-PV

In the News

Stereogum’s Spencer Kaufman interviewed drummer Brendan Canty last month about his work scoring the dark Disney documentary Stolen Kingdom, and his current musical projects. For perhaps the millionth time he was asked about a reunion of post-hardcore band Fugazi: “I never say never.”

Do Not Stay Home, Especially Saturday

Monday August 10th

Blues Alley, primarily known as a spot for traditional, top shelf jazz, gets a fresh dose of pop and R&B Monday night with vocalist Miss Gavri, presented by “social music” saxophonist Marcus Mitchell.

Tuesday August 11th

Musicians Christian Hernandez and Aaron M. host many under-the-radar events under the booking banner Wavedash DIY. Cranking up the volume on an otherwise quiet Tuesday night at Simple Underground are feminist post hxc/emo band Courage Mother, 90s alt rockers Abacot, Be Safe down from Frostburg MD, and touring band California Cousins from Rochester NY.

Honorable mention:

Wes Watkins at Blues Alley

Wednesday August 12th

DC sure can use some “folky country nights”, so snaps to Songbyrd for hosting Poolesville MD songwriter Patrick Budd and his friend Jackson Perkins, originally from Nashville and now a U.S. Marine Corps Captain serving in DC, this Wednesday night.

Honorable mentions:

• Abacot, Girls on Toast, and RenRiot at MLK Library rooftop for DC Punk Archive

• Sana All (Chicago), Ammonite, thisdogllhunt, and Sonorosa at Simple Underground

Thursday August 13th

Thursday night Capital City Soundsystem’s red-hot DIY spot The Fridge hosts a couple of bands from Brooklyn, Debris Bardot and reading, along with DC lo-fi indie rockers Nice Breeze and utterly un-google-able (go ahead, try) “soft noise” emo band clothes.

Honorable mentions:

• Spiked Punch with Flex Kartel, PaydaiOTW, and Samoris at Pearl Street

• Housie (RVA), Saafewaay, Powerband, Deen Gray, and Qiiiiiiik at Rhizome

• Social Station and Hazel of 2DCAT at The Renegade

Friday August 14th

The mutual aid banner Food Not Bombs flies above a dedicated group in DC serving free vegan meals every Saturday afternoon, as well as many other locations throughout the world, including Gaza. Legendary DC peace activists Positive Force host an all ages benefit show for Food Not Bombs Gaza Friday night at St. Stephen’s, featuring Persian/DC protest punks Shadow Riot, young hardcore band Gorf, Philly’s Sun Within, and catchy pop-rockers Neon Habits. In addition, chef Muna’s five course Palestinian cuisine East Coast tour The Secret is the Olive Oil joins in to feed attendees at 6 PM. RSVP here to accurately count heads/mouths/bellies, contribute to the event financially, or sign up to help cook or clean up.

Honorable mentions:

• Night Hawk, Spirit of the Bear (OH), and Jem Wilde at DC9

• Paul Carr and Marshall Keys at Westminster Pres.

Saturday August 15th

Maximalist psychedelic funk band Argo and the Violet Queens wrap up an extensive nationwide tour supporting their debut full length album In Pieces Saturday night at the Black Cat, with an all-DMV opening slate from emo/punk/powerpop bands Massie, Cuni, and Pinkhouse. Plus we’re benefitting DC’s Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network!

Deep breath… honorable mentions:

• Oh He Dead at 9:30 Club

• John Strike’s 40th Birthday at Galactic Panther with Rise Defy, Rocket 77 (NC), The Knuckleheads and Allstrike

• Gordon Sterling & The People, Soundwaves, and Isaac Haden (Asheville NC) at Union Stage

• Pearie Sol, That This, and Jackie Cougar & The Vampires From Africa at Rhizome

• NADIE NADIA feat. Superweapons, 4la7la (RVA), and Your Trusted Officials at Pie Shop (2 PM matinee show!)

• Hiroe (Philly), Sutras, Engineered Extinction, and Quiet Room at Pie Shop (8 PM show!)

• Destructo Disk (RVA) with Playrite and Jeer at The Pocket

Sunday August 16th

Galaxy Hut only hosts live music on Sunday nights, and very rarely are advance tickets required. Head to Clarendon’s craft beer and vegan-forward outpost this Sunday night for experimental sounds from sound collage tape loop artist a. guiou and “TRANSSAPPHIC SOUNDTERROR” from jane.

Listen to All the Above Music In Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Seeing live music doesn’t have to cost a fortune and require months of planning. All these shows, and many more, are worth your time and money. Go check out something brand new to you, and make friends with another part of your city. Thanks for reading, friends. See you next week.

-PV

Catch Up on DC Music in the News

For Washington Informer, Sam Plo Kwia Collins Jr. interviewed historian and Go-Go Museum curator Sundiata Ramin about his newly released biography Soul Searcher: Life and Legend of Chuck Brown, Godfather of Go-Go [not an affiliate link!], and details some of the other upcoming projects about Brown’s life and legacy.

19 year old TikToker Davontae from Arkansas gushed about his visit to DC’s Go-Go Museum during his quest to explore neighborhoods around DC’s metro stops.

In CityPaper’s Swing Beat column, Michael J. West profiles the Dashiell family, multi-generational jazz talents and educators including Carroll Dashiell and his children Carroll Vaughn “C.V.”, Cameron, Christie, and Christian.

CityPaper music writer Eliza Tebo chatted with experimental R&B musicians April George and Matthew Thompson, also known as April + VISTA, about their recent trajectory and the backstory on songs from their new album Traditional Noise.

For his Substack The Future Is Ours To Make, Chris Richards does his quarterly blurb-explosion of thoughts about music, including DMV artists Analog Tara, Michael R. Bernstein, Broommaker, Croz Boyce, Drawn, Glenn Echo & Daniel Meinecke, Expiration Date, Jaeychino, Tony Kill, Lifted, Martyn, ST6 JodyBoof & Dragnutz,Wifigawd, and others. Could use some links, we say, or a playlist.

For The Banner’s Capital Region coverage, Rondez Green interviewed Largo-based Afro-Puerto Rican trap artist Rico Nasty about her contributions to CD Projekt RED’s Cyberpunk franchise and her newly released album RX.

Don’t Stay Home

Tuesday August 4th

Punk princess Gigi Marie anchors a Tuesday night bill at the Pie Shop with NYC band Theophobia and VA synth-pop groovers Pleasure Business. The bad-asses at Punk It Forward are donating money for every ticket sold to the other bad-asses at Free DC, so show your support by nabbing those advance tix now.

Honorable mentions:

• Blaster (Iowa), Gorf, Brain Surgery (Baltimore), and Gifts Ungiven at Rhizome

• Memphis Gold and the Blues Express feat. Tia Dae at Blues Alley

Wednesday August 5th

Emo quartet hana sora celebrate the release of their debut EP What You Can’t See, featuring production by Sunday Coffee’s Jay Nemeyer and Kyle Downes, Wednesday night at The Pocket with peppy, jazzy Freddy Mac debuting brand new single “New York” and intriguing instrumental production by HolyTheory.

Thursday August 6th

The Two Dillweeds in Wonderland enter the “terrible twos” celebrating their second anniversary of FREE monthly shows at Wonderland Ballroom this Thursday night with three diverse and kickass DC acts: instrumental math-rock with Czonka, shoegaze with The Moonbugs, and bedroom pop jams from J.Teal (f.k.a. Teenage Aviation).

Honorable mentions:

• The Barons, The Jellies, and Leannán Shi at Union Stage

• Grrrrl Jam with Mantagonist, Betty Machete, and Younger Sister at The Pocket

Friday August 7th

After a few tight EPs, indie rock band Foot Traffic are going full length on their debut album that you’ll hear Friday night at DC9, with support from our favorite psychedelic slackers Makeup Girl and poppy indie punks Playrite.

Honorable mention:

Abominog, Goetia, Human Fluid Rot (FL we think), Drugs of Faith, Trepanate, Spit Pile at Pie Shop (this is a lot, godspeed to you death metal fans)

Saturday August 8th

Attention emo fans of a certain age, early ‘00s band Fairweather reunite Saturday night at DC9 to play through their sophomore album Lusitania from back to front to celebrate its repress on pretty pretty vinyl courtesy Equal Vision Records. Baltimore’s Dosser and our own anthemic punks Celebration Summer hop on the bandwagon for a loud ride.

Honorable mentions:

• The Goons, Murphy’s Law (NYC), and Menstrual Tramps (MN) at Songbyrd

• Ammonite, Blackout Transmission (Santa Fe), and Grace A. Keller at Rhizome

Sunday August 9th

We are feeling the vintage 80s arcade theme on syurpy rapper Bucky Malone’s 2025 album Rampage. His east coast tour promoting the album hits Songbyrd Sunday night with support from MARTYHEEMCHERRY, Yae Prod, Money Four Drugs, Tweetsie Baby, and Akeem Mimiko.

Honorable mentions:

• Sid Satellite & The Ripple and Alex Parez at Galaxy Hut

• The Fanoplane improvisational ensemble at Galactic Panther

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Enjoy the music, friends, and continue making the scene. Showing up always matters. See you next week.

-PV

In the News

Fritz Hahn, still hanging on as a WaPo Going Out Guru, previews the upcoming “Summer in the Parks” weekend of live music at Carter Barron Amphitheater on August 20th to 22nd, despite the lack of a functional stage or bathrooms. Don’t sleep on tickets. [gift link!]

For DCMusicReview, Reagan O’Brien reviewed and Jason Herman photographed last week’s maximalist live set by psychedelic rock band Argo & The Violet Queens at Jammin’ Java, which featured a 14 piece orchestra. Your next shot at this mayhem comes Saturday August 15th at the Black Cat with Massie, Cuni, and Pinkhouse.

DC music writer-at-large Taylor Ruckle highlights the new single “OUCH” from indie pop songwriter Berra for Flood Magazine. Berra’s new EP Bull Rider drops September 4th.

Washingtonian’s morning email newsletter editor Andrew Beaujon showcases the new film Determine to Crank by Karim Mowatt, a fictional story of a go-go band vying for success starring Marcus Wells, who fronts the IRL band Determine 2 Crank.

Don’t Stay Home

Monday July 27th

Pearl Street Warehouse imports actor/musician John Zdrojeski’s full band as Barstow Drive from NYC along with DMV songwriter Dylan Rockwell, sweet indie rock band Bluebelt (formerly Haldi), and moody, mellow and butch band grlztoy.

Honorable mention:

Jazz vocalist Jeff Weintraub at Blues Alley

Wednesday July 29th

Experimental r&b/electronic duo April + VISTA land their first ever headlining tour “Fly on the Wall” back home at Songbyrd Wednesday night. Give ‘em a warm welcome home after an opening set by dark Americana singer Evil.

Honorable mention:

Dear Daria opens for 37 Houses (S.F.) at Pie Shop

Thursday July 30th

Did you go to Prom this year? Yes? Fantastic, then dig that fancy outfit back out, text your summer crush and head to Pearl Street Warehouse Thursday night to groove to indie rock bands Birdcage, Doll Apartments, and erasergirl.

Honorable mentions:

• Red 40, IOSOL, Willowtree, and The Laterals at DC9

• Psyop, Body Farm (Pittsburgh), Vomit Dolls (MA), and Trepanate at Quarry House Tavern

Friday July 31st

Ok, this is weird. Two totally separate Prom events in a row. Why is Prom suddenly a theme at the end of July? Friday night at Pie Shop indie rock band Peak Bloom, darling dolls Somebody’s Daughter, and post-punk/darkwave Cryptid Summer present “From the Pit to the Prom”, a benefit show for MoCo Pride Prom, an annual DMV-wide bash for LGBTQ+ high school students and their allies.

In a piece published by CityPaper, Caroline Liaupsin placed the trio of musicians in Somebody’s Daughter in the continuity of DC’s trans music scene succeeding Pretty Bitter’s Miri Tyler and Guinevere Tully of Rosslyn Station.

Honorable mentions:

• Pete Hayes & The Contradictions, Color Palette, and Jem Wilde at Songbyrd

• Josee Molavi and Kinda Evil open for Shedonist (Nashville) at The Pocket

• XK Scenario and Courage Mother support Film and Gender (Northampton MA) and K.O. Queen (Boston) at Patchwork DC

Saturday August 1st

Riot grrrl punks Mac N’ Toss celebrate the release of their debut full length album and the first night of the “Not-So Str8 Grrl” Tour with Los Angeles-based writer, director, performer, and musician Gina Young Saturday night at the D.C.’s punk homebase Black Cat. Grunge-punks RenRiot open, so don’t be fashionably late!

Honorable mention:

The Pirog Brothers (Kenny and Anthony) at Lubber Run

Sunday August 2nd

You’ll never go wrong wrapping up a killer summer weekend at Clarendon’s Galaxy Hut with tasters of unusual craft beers, generously-sized vegan noms, and sets by dream pop quartet Blood Family Reunion and fuzzy indie rock band Nice Breeze.

Honorable mentions:

• Red Sunflower and Teaming in Chess at Galactic Panther

• Raheem DeVaughn & The Crank Crusaders at Takoma Station

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Friends, we hope you make it out to see a show this week, or just hear a new song you like and share it with friends. We’ll see you next week.

-PV

In the News

The original and remaining members of Ekko Astral, Liam Hughes and Jae Holzman, spoke with Jaeden Pinder at Rolling Stone about their decision to disband and shelve their completed album The Beltway is Burning. They play a farewell show Thursday August 27th at DC9 with Right Chipper and Berra. Hughes plans to move to NYC 😢, while Holzman is already forming a new DC band featuring trans women.

Early 90s indie pop band Velocity Girl announced pre-order of a new compilation 1989-1992, covering the songs they released on Slumberland Records, prior to their 1993 debut album on Sub Pop. Chris DeVille at Stereogum has more details.

Musical comedy duo Griefcat appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show last week to celebrate 50 million views of their feminist mega-hit "I Already Took Off My Bra." Bonus: Kerri Kenney-Silver of The State and Reno 911 fame filled in for Clarkson as guest host, which is an upgrade in our book. Congrats Griefcat!

Don’t Stay Home

Monday July 20th

The 2026 Fort Reno season continues Monday night (wildfire smoke permitting) with “evil grocery store muzak” Saafewaay, garage desert punk band Carrier Wave, and Strangers that Clique, a rare hip-hop/rock hybrid selection for Fort Reno.

Honorable mentions:

• Memphis Gold & the Scrap-Iron Band at Westminster Pres.

• Argo & The Violet Queens and Lena Traynham at Jammin’ Java

• Fallfiftyfeet (WV), Denouement, Palisades, and Fervent Plea at Pie Shop

Tuesday July 21st

Every so often David Combs, head booker at Rediscover Fire Booking, books “power pop think tank” Dim Wizard, fronted by the same David Combs, to play a show. Tuesday night they open for Slippers from Los Angeles at Quarry House Tavern alongside “depressed queer country singer” (with electronic influences) Evil, who’s currently running a GoFundMe to help her family sort out their troubled housing situation. Please help out and share as you are able.

Wednesday July 22nd

Wednesday night’s folk-forward at Galactic Panther in Old Town Alexandria features a solo set from Ella G, who also plays in Old Knife, Dirt Champ and Lud Roes, anti-folk-punk from Thee Trashcan, and queer emo band Stargazer, supporting touring collective Red Tape Friends from Nashville.

Honorable mentions:

• Steadfast (Jakarta), Balisong, Saafewaay, and xheartstillburnsx at Pie Shop

• Bitter Stems, Black Sevens, and Credito at The Pocket

• Jade Weapon (Baltimore), Druid Stone, and Courage Mother at Rhizome

Thursday July 23rd

Barring any weather-related rescheduling, the 2026 Fort Reno concludes Thursday evening with psychedelic rock band Thunderpaw and hardcore punks Loose Leash. Wear your cleanest Fort Reno shirt to be part of the group photo for “night of 1000 shirts”.

Honorable mentions:

• King Soul at Glen Echo

• Black Alley and The Plug-n Band at Sycamore & Oak

• Cal Veatch, Chris App & The Coastliners, and Boy Grapes at Pie Shop

• Lightwatch (AL), Chay Vicious, and Live at Zac’s House at The Pocket

• Buckshot, XheartstillbeatingX, Fervent Plea, Peace be With You, and Discomfort at Simple Underground

Friday July 24th

In advance of a short but awesome tour of Scandinavia, Jake Starr’s fuzzy garage rock supergroup Starr & The Czars play an intimate gig at the Black Cat’s Red Room Friday night, with an opening set by husband-n-wife punk duo Teen Cobra. Some say this one will sell out in advance, but that’s up to you, DC.

Honorable mentions:

• Eastern Standard Time at Creative Cauldron

• Kanysha “Strawberry Sessions” at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

• javawanted, internetbeanie, and lenorisss at The Pocket

• Sacricide, Greenhead, God Called in Sick (Philly), and Lagoon at Simple Bar

Saturday July 25th

Prior to her move to Chicago 😢, Pretty Bitter’s Miri Tyler helped DC grunge dolls Somebody’s Daughter produce their debut EP No Tricks !! Promise. Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring hosts SD’s EP release show Saturday night with two bands from Brooklyn, T0SKA and Atrophy Wife.

Honorable mentions:

• Holy Rollers, Hammered Hulls, and The Owners at Black Cat

• Backyard Band 35th anniversary at MGM National Harbor

• Boy Meets Pearl and Serena Jost (NYC) at The Shipyard

• Dave Kline Band at Creative Cauldron

Sunday July 26th

Double Album Release Show! Four of the finest words ever assembled. Hear the debut full length album Citric Acid by twangy indie rockers The Orange Slices and the debut full length album This Will Never Change by groovy indie rockers Fake Radio Sunday night at Pearl Street Warehouse, plus a hot new single by openers Alex Alavi & The Funky Breakfast.

Honorable mentions:

• Sugar Bear of E.U.’s birthday bash with Push Play feat. D Floyd at Bethesda Theater

• recursion, The Daydreamerz, and Broo Stoo at The Pocket

• Senior Living (Albany), Muhnday, Hungry Bug and Knave at Galactic Panther

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Breathe easy, music friends. See you next week.

-PV

In the News

ICYMI, prior to Jack White’s sold-out concert at The Anthem last Friday night, he stopped by the Dischord House in Arlington to hang with DC punk royalty. He tapped Winchester garage punks Power Pants to open the show.

Speaking of Dischord, Mother Jones’s Anna Merlan interviewed Henry Rollins about his partnership with BFF Ian MacKaye reissuing long out of print music by legendary punk band The Cramps.

In other Dischord news, Spencer Kaufman and Langdon Hickman for Consequence caught up with drummer Brendan Canty to decry the weird collab between Vans and L.A. streetwear brand Fugazi.

For CapitalBop, Jackson Sinnenberg talked with baritone saxophone Leigh Pilzer about working with a smaller group on her new album Keep Holding On and receiving a very troubling medical diagnosis. We here are all pulling for you, Leigh.

For CityPaper, Alona Wartofsky details the nexus between Walker “TRÉ” Johnson of DC go-go legends UCB and producer Tay Keith, who sampled UCB for the song “Sexy Ladies” on Lizzo’s new album Bitch.

Also for CityPaper, Taylor Ruckle interviewed Sabel Jane frontwoman Izzy Burke and slow fashion designer Hannah Hanes about their merch collab for Hanes’s label Via Jadis. You can view and purchase the collection via Etsy now.

Also, huge congrats to Taylor Ruckle on their first place win for Music Writing at the 2026 AAN Awards (formerly the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies). Ruckle’s 2025 article “Local Trans Artists Are Fighting Back Against the Trump Administration. Here’s How You Can Help.” garnered this response from the judges: “Engaging stories about music with a call to action. Your subhead says it all – the scene still stands for more than just music.” Bravo!

Chris Kelly at WaPo profiled the metal/punk/go-go band to watch, Hue, after their unplugged session at last month’s Warped Tour. If you’re near Baltimore, catch them at Baltimore’s Pier 6 Pavilion on Thursday July 16th. [gift link!]

In other go-go news, the Washington Ballet opens their 50th season with a show called Go-Go 50, mixing music by Black Alley with choreography by Chanel DaSilva. The program runs from October 30th to November 1st at the Warner Theatre. Mimi Montgomery at Axios DC has more details.

Don’t Stay Home

Monday July 13th

Songbyrd spotlights indie rock songwriters on their stage Monday night with four DMV acts: Rugan Lewis, Rebecca Berlin, Sid Satellite & the Ripple, and Spaghetti Murphy.

Honorable mentions:

• Lud Roes, D.M.V., and Historically Close Friends at Fort Reno

• Minh Vo Trio album release at Blues Alley

Tuesday July 14th

Original co-founder of Dark Star Orchestra and sideman Phil Lesh and Bob Weir in the band Furthur, guitarist John Kadlecik is required listening for all deadheads. He brings his solo improv guitar and looping show to Jammin’ Java in Vienna Tuesday night.

Honorable mention:

Marshall Keys feat. Phillip Manuel at Blues Alley

Thursday July 16th

Doomgazers Meerwolff and punk rock victims of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” Allstrike welcome Baltimore’s Guest Bed to Wonderland Ballroom Thursday night for the monthly Two Dillweeds In Wonderland showcase.

Honorable mentions:

• Clown Foundation, Half Snake, and A.D.D. Ramone at Fort Reno

• The Laterals, Spilt Milk, Unity for the Outcasts, and Scarlet Kiss at DC9

• Birthday Girl and Somebody’s Daughter join Doolittle (Brooklyn) and Seraphine's Cleaver (NYC) at The Pocket

• Pray to be Saved, Laughing Corpse, Destruct (RVA), and The Varukers (UK) at The Fridge

Friday July 17th

Get synthy and groovy Friday night at the Pie Shop with hometown openers Beam Zillion and Airhead DC, performing with a full live band for the first time, setting the stage for Brooklyn’s Youbet.

Honorable mention:

ERRTH (Philly), Nightmarathons (Pittsburgh), Fond, and Truth or Dare at Galactic Panther

Saturday July 18th

The Living Space Sessions moves from social video to IRL Saturday night at Songbyrd to present Afro-soul/R&B singer Funsho, rapper/songwriter Hameed Idowu, indie pop singer Aden Simone, and Brookyn’s Tony Thames.

Honorable mentions:

• Cecily’s tribute to disco at Creative Cauldron

• The Eric Byrd Trio at the Kreeger Museum at 3 PM

• Go-Go Meets Afro Beats Festival: A Team feat. The First Ladies of Go-Go, DJ Mathias, HUE, and Devin Denzel at Anthem Row, 800 K St NW

• Laced and Sif open for Classic Traffic (NJ) at Quarry House Tavern

Sunday July 19th

Rhizome thinks you’ll still have enough punk energy left over on a Sunday night for this wild lineup of Venezuelan lo-fi duo Teen Cobra, 70s glam rockers The Armors, and supergroup Sex Faces (featuring members of Des Demonas, Stop Worrying & Love the Bomb, Tadzio, and a lot more), capped off by Philly classic punk band Vesuvian. Go forth and mosh!

Honorable mentions:

• Corcoran Holt at Takoma Station Tavern

• Mayonnaise, Black Wolf & the Thief (OH), and Vivian Grey at Songbyrd

• Gigi Marie and the don z scheme at Galaxy Hut

• xmiseryisabutterflyx and Expiration Date open for Catalyst (Providence RI) at The Fridge

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Stay cool, DC music friends. See you next week.

-PV

In the News

To accompany the release of his recent album Music for Existing, electronic musician Martyn contributed a DJ mix and interview for the Substack publication Untitled 909 that goes deep into his love of obscure jazz that he shares on his monthly NTS Radio program The Darkest Light.

Don’t Stay Home

Monday July 6th

The 2026 Fort Reno season begins Monday night around 7 PM with three DC area rock bands: FOND, Incarnation and Unknown Artist. To pre-empt any speculation on the secret identity of “Unknown Artist” (FUGAZI?!?), the fresh-faced garage rockers actually chose to obliterate their SEO and name themselves Unknown Artist, so set your expectations accordingly.

Tuesday July 7th

Eleagnus is a music and art project from Stuarts Draft, VA, that integrates radical land engagement with dance-punk music. They headline DIY hotspot Rhizome Tuesday night with DMV support from post-punks Hatchetface and experimental dark wave act Neon Grlz.

Wednesday July 8th

Wednesday night the DC Punk Archive takes a break from cataloging hardcore ephemera to throw down in the mosh pit on the gorgeous rooftop of MLK Library with three very distinct flavors of punk: Dischord vets Bed Maker; riot-grrl style Buko Buko; and moody indie rockers Pinkhouse. Everything awesome at the library is free, even this show.

Honorable mentions:

• Moondog Revival, Gerf, and Chris App at Songbyrd

• Birthday Girl and Girls On Toast open for Waax (L.A.) at Comet Ping Pong

Thursday July 9th

The next generation of DC Americana hits the Songbyrd stage Thursday night with folk troubadour Sam Elmore & The Ghosts, Bailey Payne’s “doll city honky tonk angels” thisdogllhunt, and songwriter Alexander Gallows.

Honorable mentions:

• Wandering Bird, Jackie & The Treehorns, and Phrases (RVA) at Pearl Street Warehouse

• A Shrewdness of Apes, JJX (Philly), and 5th of Four at Pie Shop

• Flo Petite and Close open for Finger Foods (Nashville) at Quarry House Tavern

• Emotional World, Baby Alcatraz & The Aurelions, Scarab, and 1,000 Cakes at Fort Reno

Friday July 10th

Every month or so The Atlantis presents Deep Dive Live, their series showcasing DC bands for only $10. This Friday night see the twin sister duo Sheila, Maryland midwest emo band Spitball!, and indie rock band Burden’s Landing celebrating the release of their new EP 4 Songs.

Honorable mentions:

• Jane O’Neill (farewell DC show) and Justin Trawick at Union Stage

• Nasar Abadey & Friends at Westminster Pres.

• Ardamus and Night Train 357 open for Alfred Banks & Austin Antoine (New Orleans) at Pie Shop, hosted by Prowess the Testament

Saturday July 11th

Filipino-American pop band Pearse Abbey plays their brand new single “Sabrina” and many others Saturday night at Pearl Street Warehouse, joined by fellow Filipino musicians Muddlehead and Kevin Luna.

Honorable mention:

The Timber Bridges, My Mandy, and The Fretters at Songbyrd

Sunday July 12th

Boston hardcore punks Loser headline the Pie Shop Sunday night, joined by DMV hardcore punks Seeking Samsara, Inbred Coked Up Hippos (band name of the week, obvs), and Gorf.

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Beautiful friends, we’ll see you next week.

-PV

Glenn Echo & Daniel Meinecke - Home Rule / Love Letter (Apr 1)

art.dmg - Power Lines | Party Lines (Apr 1)

Imka - Close Your Eyes / After a Year of No Talking (Apr 3)

Rugan Lewis - Juniper (Apr 3)

Black Tigers - Black Tigers (Apr 3)

Wolves Again - Road of Lost Echoes (Apr 3)

Elijah Jamal Balbed - Fiesta Mojo: The Crab Shack Sessions, Vol 2 (Apr 3)

Let The Dirt Say Amen - The DO IT YOURSELF Version (Apr 4)

Collapsing - (h)Ear (c)Lamp (Apr 4)

glia - apsides iv (Apr 7)

WiFiGawd - Trap Or Die (Apr 8)

Yasmin Williams – Saving Etting Street (original film score) (Apr 9)

Black Saturn & Igor Amokian - NO I.D. Required (Apr 9)

Auto Lola - DEMOLITION 2 (Apr 9)

Ornette Hawkins - Places In Space (Apr 10)

Heather Stebbins & Ning Yu – Spirals (Apr 10)

Terracotta Blue - The Simple Life 2 (Apr 10)

DJ 2-Tone Jones - Light Years Re/PREMIERed (Apr 10)

Censored Image – Headrush (Apr 11)

GARÇON - It Feels Like Everything We’re Doing Is Being Woven In A Collective Tapestry (Apr 12)

Cloudyviewz - OUTERLIMITS (Apr 12)

ddespair - Pretty Little Things (Apr 13)

Corvo - La Gran Plaga (Apr 14)

Power Pants - PP16 (Apr 16)

Analog Tara – Life of the Mother (Apr 17)

M4TR - Reimagination: The Remixes, Vol. 1 (Apr 17)

Grey Jacks - INTERgenerational (Apr 17)

Dionisaf - The Stories of Paper Planets (Apr 17)

Drawn - In a Softer World (Apr 18)

DeadFault - DeadFault (Apr 20)

Davy Fresh - Summer of ‘96 (Apr 20)

Druid Stone - Only for Initiates (Apr 20)

dr. girlfriend - Everyone Is Going Away Forever (Live) (Apr 20)

Humble Poet Wild & Northeast Beast - HumbleBeast (Apr 20)

April + VISTA - Traditional Noise (Apr 22)

Ekko Astral – fuck this band: live at the chapel (Apr 22)

Adé - Always Love (Apr 22)

Tone P & Tha Carry Out - GOGOpunk (Deluxe) (Apr 22)

Ayyee Luv - Life Lines (Apr 23)

WillThaRapper - Kut Like Me 2 (Apr 24)

Superabundance - Up-World EP (Apr 24)

RDGLDGRN - The Gold Album (Apr 24)

Die Feen - A Night At The Golden Nugget (Apr 24)

WiFiGawd - SOULVINCI (Apr 24)

Wytold & Tolk - Voltage (Apr 24)

Astro Val - Movers (Apr 25)

Future Times - FUTURE TIMES CATALOG +++ Compilation (Apr 26)

Kokayi - An Eponymous Jont (Apr 27)

Ayyee Luv - Cool Clientele Connection (Apr 27)

Jon Atoms x ostubash - HBD2M (Apr 28)

Tony Kill - Stand Alone Complex (Apr 28)

Dunia and Aram - Empire of Two (Apr 29)

Evidence of Yesterday - Health - + : Grounded | 5 25 26 (Apr 29)

Berra - Lover’s Virginia : how it was spelled (Apr 29)

Oddisee & Heno. - From Takoma With Love (Apr 30)

FOND - We Can Hang (May 1)

Czars of Leisure – Make Yourself Comfortable (May 1)

Thee Trashcan – Ignore Alien Orders: A Diary (May 1)

Youth in Government - Silhouettes (May 1)

Kemi Adegoroye – BLOOM (May 1)

Immortal Form - Exterminatus Extremis (May 1)

Downscope - Eye Lucid Sky (May 1)

2DCAT - Eat The Rich (May 1)

Grams - Morning Bars (May 1)

Cloudyviewz - HORNETS.NEST (May 1)

Bushmeat Sound System - PreRoll (May 1)

J-Scienide - Blink 3 Times If You’re OK (May 1)

Stygian Mind - The Fear Machine (May 1)

Druid Stone - The Night I Killed my WAH (Extended edition Live Album) (May 1)

Keith Butler Jr. - King of Tobaccoville (May 1)

GXDWAY - FANTASIA MUSIK (May 1)

7 Door Sedan / Rob Moss & Skin-Tight Skin - I’m On a Rocket Ship (Heading My Way Back Home) / Everything in The World/Cement Man (May 3)

Gelatinous Citizen - Rhythm of Entropy (May 4)

Swish Mode – Ghetto Guitar Hero (May 5)

Anemoic - The Greatest Lie (May 5)

Michael R. Bernstein - 97 BPM Dream Chord Prime Number Search (May 6)

Under the Poplar - Outside (May 8)

Croz Boyce - Croz Boyce (May 8)

Nature Boi - BLK XX (May 8)

Something Simple - Something New (May 8)

WiFiGawd - Top Rank Souljah (May 8)

resuming inertia - Fraction of a Moment (May 8)

Tangible Ego - Caterpillar Corner (May 9)

Kara Levchenko - INTUITION (May 11)

Black Saturn & madsrecords - Words Of Vapor (May 12)

weed tree – ///\ (May 13)

Goldbug Revival - Night Two (May 13)

Jackson Ryland (JR2k) - Obsessive EP (May 14)

Nature Boi - Nastay Traxxx Volume 4 (May 14)

Martyn – Music for Existing (May 15)

No/Más – Banned in D.C. (May 15)

Tuck Limbs – Art Greco (May 15)

Jeff Draco – Excess (May 15)

Bobby Thompson Band - Shine (Digi-Deluxe) (May 15)

DESOLUS - Dwellers of the Twilight Void (May 15)

Dionisaf - Blooming (May 15)

Collapsing - *Turn It Off; Live at AMH Records Jan. 4, 2026* (May 16)

Clifford Cartel presents Yaki - BigSexyBeast (May 17)

the Violent Isles - Spirit of 69 All the Time- Demo EP (May 20)

Material Things – Hopper (May 21)

Broommaker - Hourglass (May 22)

NAYAN – in the dirt (May 22)

Pseudo Variant - 4th Dimensia (May 22)

Javier Starks - The Boy Savior (May 22)

Power Pants - PP17 (May 26)

radish. - radish. (May 28)

Kenny Rittenhouse Quintet - Anthem for the Elders (May 29)

Tosser – Mechanism (May 29)

HUE - Highly Under Estimated (May 29)

DJ Nativesun - RETRO REFIX (May 29)

David Barker - Ghost EP (May 29)

Night Hawk – Somewhere, Anywhere (May 30)

The Guitar Renegades - How many guitarists does it take? (Jun 1)

BlauDisS - A New Reality (Jun 1)

Tangible Ego - Not Forever (Jun 1)

Colossus DC – This Time Might Be the Last Time (Jun 5)

WiFiGawd - The Dynasty (Deluxe) (Jun 5)

GXDWAY - GXDWRLD FM, Vol. 1 (Jun 5)

Lifted - Movie (Jun 5)

Vivian Oblivion - Oblivianka EP (Jun 5)

Muhnday - Soft Collapse (Jun 8)

layne garrett & nate scheible – demonstration (Jun 10)

WA-4 – Community Letters (Jun 10)

art.dmg - Departures (Jun 10)

GXDWAY - WORD 2 DA CODE (Jun 10)

Will Kobus & Mettaworldzeke – It’s Only As Deep As You Make It (Jun 11)

Druid Stone - Prelude to the Scars of Dracula (Jun 11)

mend. - Let You Down / Garden (Jun 11)

Goetia - Mortuary Cult (Jun 12)

Neon Habits - Big Things (Jun 12)

Sarah Marie Hughes, Joe Lally & Jerry Busher - Different Planets (Jun 13)

Krohme - The Magnificent Seven (Jun 16)

Ben Patterson – Stretch (Jun 19)

Leigh Pilzer - Keep Holding On (Jun 19)

Joshua Palace - MAN-O-WOLF: The Axe Wielding Werewolf From Hell (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Jun 19)

New Passengers - Wild Colors (Jun 19)

Lagoon x Lay Waste - Lawful Evil (Jun 19)

Sarah Marie Hughes - Not Me (Jun 19)

Expiration Date - Summer Promo (Jun 21)

Home Remedies - Posers (Jun 21)

Northeast Beast - 43 (Jun 21)

Gemini DC - Nite Times (Jun 23)

Cherub Tree - Death Wish (Jun 26)

Wes Felton - Small Talk on Capitol Hill (Jun 26)

College Hill - Unauthorized 4: Remixes 2023-2025 (Jun 26)

Anemoic - GUF EXSUL (Jun 26)

protogod - culling (instrumental) (Jun 26)

DG the Artist - I Quit My Day Job (Jun 26)

Atrocity Crusade - Crusade I (Jun 26)

mend. - Swimming With A Heavy Stone (Jun 26)

Dionisaf - Fractals, Vol. 2 (Jun 26)

Kudzu - 62726 (Jun 27)

Druid Stone - Further Torments of the Scars (Jun 27)

Power Pants - PP18 (Jun 28)

Orlando Furioso - Friend or Foe? (Jun 28)

Allstrike - Silence Won’t Save You (Jun 29)

Knox Engler Quartet - Were it not for Change (Live) (Jun 29)

Swish Mode - Swish (Jun 30)

In the News

For the CityPaper’s monthly Swing Beat column, Michael J. West sat down with trumpeter Kenny Rittenhouse to talk about his new album Anthem for the Elders with an all-star quintet, and his work directing the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Youth Orchestra.

For Washington Informer, Howard University journalism student Tatiana Allen recapped the scene at the Juneteenth concert at Lincoln Theatre featuring Ariel J, Akinola Pedro, and Cecily Alexa, opening for Tank and the Bangas.

Don’t Stay Home

Monday June 29th

Guitarist Knox Engler trades in his progressive mathrock style from the band Right Chipper for more jazzy instrumental vibes with his eponymous quartet Monday night at Blues Alley, playing original tunes from his upcoming record. Our mutual friend Bryce Taylor Rudow really truly doesn’t want you to miss this one. (Huge thanks to Bryce for minding last week’s newsletter. You all have no idea the grand plans Bryce is organizing behind the scenes.)

Honorable mentions:

• Pain Response and Peel Off Your Skin at Rhizome

• Cryptid Summer, The Shape (NJ), The Treasury (RVA), and Lye Bath at Simple Underground

Tuesday June 30th

Pianist, composer, and educator Dimitri Nassar pays tribute to his hometown on his newest album Dear Cleveland that dropped on streaming services last January. Nassar steps away from his teaching studio Crescent Piano in Waldorf, MD to lead his trio playing classics and originals from the new album Tuesday night at Blues Alley in Georgetown.

Honorable mention:

7 Days in DC presents Rebel Riot Rock Night at Black Cat with Bad Static (NYC), Allstrike, The Resistance Company (NYC), The Maka Sticks, and Petrichor

Wednesday July 1st

July roars in with the debut full band performance from Sabel Jane, the new musical project from Inkwell writer Izzy Burke whose DC music resume includes Cherub Tree, Modest Goddess, Letters to Delphi, Roscoe Tripp, and Venray. Wednesday night at Songbyrd the plugs come out (not literally, but you know) for opening sets by XK Scenario and Grace A. Keller of Hotel Sewing Kit, and don’t miss Burke’s collab with clothing designer Via Jadis (Hannah Hanes) on an exclusive fashion collection.

Honorable mentions:

• Birthday Girl and Massie open for Keaton Schiller (New Orleans) at Pie Shop

• Paul Carr & Sean Jones (Boston) “A Tribute to Miles & Coltrane” at Blues Alley

• CS Cleaners (NYC), Slot (Baltimore), Gorf, and Chill Parents (last show!) at Rhizome

Thursday July 2nd

Catchy bubble-grungers Cherub Tree celebrate the release of their debut full length album Death Wish Thursday night at The Pie Shop with the Amanda Dove-fronted stoner metal group Kinda Evil and Mosh Madness Beekeeper Reid Williams’s indie band Dorinda. Watch the new music video for Death Wish’s title track, directed by Brenna Lea & Ryan Shakeri, featuring the band partying with the grim reaper at (R.I.P.) The Garage at Honey Acre Farms.

Honorable mentions:

• Adele Marie album release show at Songbyrd with The Electric Grandmother and Yellow Velvet

• Bleary Eyed and The Montaines open for Makeout Reef (L.A.) at DC9

• Jazzy Blu at Blues Alley

• Fort Reno maybe??? No rush, Amanda.

Friday July 3rd

The U.S.A. wraps up its 240’s Friday night, and Saturday it turns the big 2-5-0. Party like you’re also ending your 24th decade Friday at Songbyrd with DC punk supergroup Sex Faces, post-hardcore Latin-American fusion band Fantazma, and post-punk shoegazers Burden’s Landing, poised to release their new EP 4 Songs next Tuesday.

Honorable mention:

Rare Essence and EU at The 9:30 Club

Saturday July 4th

Say “No To Nationalism!” at Rhizome in Takoma Park Saturday afternoon with a community solidarity market, concert, and fundraiser. Hosted by the DC Metro chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace and raising funds for Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid and Gaza Soup Kitchen, the music lineup features hip-hop collective Freedom Futures Collective, anarchist folk-punks Trash Boat and the Ambush, “Danube Basin Kriminal Pop” Orchester Praževica, and slacker indie rock band Makeup Girl, with DJ sets from Djoser, Leon City Sounds, DJ Underdog, and DJ Crown Vic.

Sunday July 5th

NPR Music+ journo Daoud Tyler-Ameen’s solo indie pop project Art Sorority and “shoegays” Pinky Lemon host Brooklyn songwriter Oliver Kalb’s band Bellows touring on their new double-LP “Que Bello!” Sunday evening at the Black Cat’s Red Room.

Honorable mentions:

• Emily Fain, Berra, and Shame Shame open for Jack Flowers & The Petal Tones (NJ) at Union Stage

• Trepenate, Hostile Mind, Lay Waste (Harrisonburg VA), and Drugs of Faith at Rhizome

• Outpost 31 and Tidy Demon (Stan Ascher of Sable Drive) at Galaxy Hut

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Heat indices shoot up to 120 later this week, friends. Keep your communities safe. See you again Wednesday for the Q2 2026 DC releases roundup.

-PV

* Bryce Taylor Rudow of the Worthwhile News Fund here. Your regular host, Paul Vodra, is on assignment, so I’ll be Hometowning your Sounds this week. Let’s get to it.

Don’t Stay Home

Monday June 22nd

I’ve been a fan of Cuni — the loud-but-not-too-loud band that takes themselves seriously-but-not-too-seriously — since their bandcamp page simply read: “i recorded guitars through an amp sim, drums are midi, and vocals are recorded in my dad’s honda accord.” Go see them at Pie Shop on Monday, where they’ll be playing with Sextool from Rehoboth Beach (a band I’ve never heard of yet who I have to assume are responsible for many the hilarious SEO mixup by kinky Beach Weekers), Humidifier from Baltimore, and Tissue Culture from the land of incomplete band bios.

Tuesday June 23rd

There are some strong honorable mentions tonight, but the combination of locals Bongo District and Leon City Sounds with headliners Sonido Gallo Negro from Mexico City at Black Cat make for the most complete fare. Not to mention, Mexico made it to the knockout round with one game to spare, so points for making the host countries look good.

Honorable mentions:

• Cal Rifkin opens for Sean Solomon (L.A.) at Pie Shop

• Grace A. Keller / Jem Wilde / Devin Shaffer (NYC) / Ella G at Rhizome

• Abacot and Mieke open for 12 Rods (Minneapolis) at Comet Ping Pong

• Lagoon and D.M.V. open for Gottlieb (L.A.) at Quarry House Tavern

Wednesday June 24th

As of this writing, while the early show for Samuel Prather’s “Summer of ’76 Turns 50” at Blues Alley has long been sold out, there are tickets to the late show still available. If this news is outdated by the time it hits your eyeballs, go see Trashboat & The Ambush sing one of my favorite modern protest anthems, “Later Than You Think,” when they join Fix Your Hearts in opening for Lansing, Michigan’s Rent Strike at Pie Shop.

Honorable mentions:

• The Garage Presents: Farge (PA), Velvet Divide, Spilt Milk (Baltimore), and Scarlet Kiss at The Pocket

• Staring In Spaces and Aidan Leclaire open for Blanket Approval (NYC) at Comet Ping Pong

Thursday June 25th

There is a not insignificant chance that, at some point in the near future, Mac ’N Toss gets, like, really, really big. Go see the riot grrrls (three r’s) in the cramped basement of a Silver Spring tavern Thursday night, when they and fellow locals Ammonite open for Durham’s Bangzz (two z’s), so you can earn that “knew them when” merit badge.

Honorable mentions:

• Sibylla’s Single Release & Birthday Benefit for Gaza at Galactic Panther

Friday June 26th

Let’s walk that fine line between coincidence and irony, shall we? There’s a new band called Diamond Dan and the Hidden Gems playing a backyard show in Mt. Pleasant, and you’re going to have to DM them for the address.

Honorable mentions:

• Celtic Underground with Grace Leckey (NYC) at Jammin’ Java

• Northeast Groovers x DJ Flexx: 30 Years at WPGC 95.5 Celebration at Howard Theatre

Saturday June 27th

Coincidentally, I found myself next to Hometown Sounds’ very own Paul Vodra when Des Demonas played a packed Lymans patio for this year’s Porchfest, and there’s nothing like singing screaming along to “The South Will Never Rise Again” surrounded by a Lyman’s patio worth of people doing the same thing. I’m going to assume a lot of those same people will be at Black Cat on Saturday. The smart ones will be there early for Soroche, and the hip ones will be there even earlier for That This.

Honorable mentions:

• DC Bushwick Book Club presents new works inspired by When The Tides Held The Moon at Georgetown Library with Ari Voxx, Boy Meets Pearl, Safety Bear, Susan

• The String Queens at The Hamilton

• Spark Isle / Sur Cósmico / My Mandy / L☆LY / Sir Cie at Rhizome

Sunday June 28th

Apparently, this week, organizers from across the country are gathering in the nation’s capital for Seven Days in D.C., which “bring[s] together activists, organizers, artists, comedians, musicians, and citizens for a coordinated week of lobbying, voter outreach, protest education, conversations with congressional candidates, and nightly performances across Washington DC.” They’re kicking things off with a “Welcome to DC Gogo Night” featuring TOB and The Honest Politix on Sunday night at Black Cat.

Honorable mentions:

• Unity for the Outcasts, Spilt Milk (Baltimore), and RenRiot at Songbyrd

• Safety Bear and guests at Galaxy Hut

• Veronneau at Blues Alley

• Sarah Hughes / Corey Thuro (Baltimore) / Nate Scheible at Rhizome

*SPECIAL BONUS SMUGGLE* Monday, June 29th

When Paul is away, Bryce will want so badly for you to attend local guitar phenom Knox Engler’s Blues Alley debut a week from today that he’ll stretch the limits of Hometown Sounds’ editorial time-space continuum. Buy a ticket now, thank Future Me when you see him there.

You Rock

Thank you as always to Paul for thinking it was a good idea to let me do this. More importantly, thank you, newsletter readers, for supporting Hometown Sounds, for going to local shows, for buying merch. Should you feel so inclined, you can find me at @myquitecuratedlife.

See you in the pit,
BTR

In The News

For CapitalBop, Kate Kessler interviewed drummer and producer Jack Kilby upon the 10th anniversary of Crab Shack Music, his recording studio in Del Ray.

WAMU producer Jackson Sinnenberg points live music fans (hi!) to highlights in the local jazz scene for the occasional feature Get Out There.

Don’t Stay Home

Tuesday June 16th

Chicago’s Horace Pinker links up with Celebration Summer (“gruffy, melodic, moderately handsome DC punk band you can sing along with”) for an east coast tour with different local openers at each stop. Its midpoint hits at Jammin’ Java in Vienna Tuesday night with anthemic punk sets from Supreme Commander and Rise Defy.

Wednesday June 17th

Between Trump’s UFC fight and Freedom 250’s attempt to destroy the city with fireworks, Juneteenth gives DC something to truly celebrate with a huge weekend of homegrown events and takeovers. Kick off the fun Wednesday night with a screening of Something For The People, a new documentary “on a people powered protest movement using Go-Go music to fight for culture and community” at Angelika in Union Market, then head next door to Songbyrd to crank with Takeova Band (TOB) and “Long Live GoGo” founder Justin “Yaddiya” Johnson.

Honorable mentions:

• Kill Lincoln, Jer (Florida), Bad Operation (New Orleans), and Flying Raccoon Suit (Mississippi) at Black Cat

• Borracho and Druid Stone open for Hashtronaut (Denver) at Pie Shop

Thursday June 18th

From 3-9 PM (we’re calling early happy hour) Harrison Park at 13th & V St. NW hosts Moe Fest! Yaddiya and TOB join New Impressionz, UCB, and Drama Squad for a free celebration of DC go-go.

Honorable mentions:

• The Dave Kline Band album pre-release show at Blues Alley

• Two Dillweeds in Wonderland present Chach and the Safety in Numbers, Dream Punch (Annapolis), and The Rhinestone Hecklers at Wonderland Ballroom

• Dot Dash and The Crowd Scene open for The Jack Rubies (London) at Quarry House Tavern

• Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Paul Bailey (Solstice Edition)

Friday June 19th

The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum is certainly the place to honor and celebrate Juneteenth. In addition to their community building, creative storytelling, and roller skating events, their main stage hosts live music all day from Black Alley, The Chuck Brown Band, Autum Labella, and rapper IDK.

Honorable mentions:

• Veronique (single release show!) with KENDALL! and Miraje at The Pocket

• Laughing Corpse, Vaxine (NYC), and Lower Class Brats (CA) at Comet Ping Pong

• Juneteenth with Proper Utensils feat. Jas. Funk at Takoma Station Tavern

Saturday June 20th

Friday was IDK’s day in Anacostia, Saturday he takes over Georgetown with the help of the French Embassy. Son de l’Amour is IDK’s celebration of France’s Fête de la Musique, or World Music Day, featuring performances by YungManny, Q Da Fool, Shabazz PBG, Hue, and a lot more. Tickets are only $5! Read more about this two-day extravaganza from Desjah Altvater at Forbes. (Forbes?)

Honorable mentions:

• BackYard Band unplugged at The Go-Go Museum (attire: all black affair)

• Telepathic Windows Fest at DC Brau with Bellweather, The Moonbugs, Blood Family Reunion, anocean, and more

• Keegan Del Rio and Fond open for The Snares (Sacramento) at Pie Shop

• Home Rule Fest with Trouble Funk, The Chuck Brown Band, Melanie Charles, Sun Ra Arkestra, Brand Nubian, and Okyerema Asante at The Parks at Walter Reed

• The Grandsons 40th anniversary at Lubber Run Amphitheater

Sunday June 21st

Sunny, breezy Home Remedies wear their many influences (Weezer, Beastie Boys, The Obsessives, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, etc.) firmly on sleeves in their new EP Posers that drops just in time for the release show Sunday night at DC9, with opening sets from Baltimore’s Local Orange, folk rockers Hotel Sewing Kit, and emo/post-hardcore band Courage Mother.

We’ve got space for one more important pick. Catchy, poppy Neon Habits make a bold statement by dubbing their debut album Big Things. They headline Jammin’ Java Sunday night for a femme-forward, all-DMV album release show featuring disco goddess Shelley Star & The Galaxy, dream princess Ari Voxx & The Sad Lads, and alt-rockers Sol Reactor.

Honorable mentions:

• Dad Noise: Amptext, Perfectly Reasonable People (Baltimore), Jeff Surak, Tag Cloud, James Wolf, Francesca H & Alex McGrath at Rhizome

• Tosser, Canaries (RVA), Star Sign (RVA), and Evil at Il Supremo

• The Sara Curtin Band at St. Columbia’s Episcopal Church

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Thanks for making room in your inboxes for DC music, friends. See you next week.

-PV

In the News

Pitchfork went above and beyond in this long feature “The New DMV” by Olivier Lafontant about two crews of street drill rap/”free car” music: Too Many Strikers and Deep & Powerful Music.

For his Substack The Future Is Ours To Make, Chris Richards chatted with the experimental duo Lifted, Andrew Field-Pickering (Future Times, Beautiful Swimmers, Maxmillion Dunbar) and Matt Papich (Co La, Ecstatic Sunshine), about their new release Movie on the always interesting DC label Outside Time.

Last year, mid-90s post-hardcore Dischord band Regulator Watts emerged from history with the release of odds-and-ends collection The Mercury LP. Now, after 29 years!, the reunited trio announced a new 5 song EP called kWh coming out on August 14th on vinyl that you should pre-order now. Listen to the advance song “It’s Gonna Happen” while you read more from Tom Breihan at Stereogum.

On the subject of vintage DC punk, Matt S. Siblo at CityPaper asked musicians in GWAR, The Dollyrots, Teen Mortgage, MxPx, and more about their favorite DC punk records. Spoiler: it’s mostly Bad Brains and vintage Dischord, with a few surprises.

Paul Atkinson at I Dream Of Vinyl caught Caroline, Danny, and Massimo of classic pop band Cinema Hearts back at SXSW 2026 for a thoughtful interview that just got posted online.

In case you missed it on your way to happy hour Friday evening, DC Superior Court judge Tanya Jones Bosier tossed the lawsuit filed by the Kennedy Center against jazz musician Chuck Redd for canceling his Christmas Eve Jazz Jam last year. Rebecca Ritzel has the story for Washingtonian.

Don’t Stay Home

Tuesday June 9th

For fans of international and unusual musical styles, the Noli Korean Jazz Ensemble featuring Bobby Muncy on tenor sax, Alfred Yun on piano, and Sebastian Wang and Robin Axel on Korean percussion instruments, takes the Blues Alley stage in Georgetown Tuesday evening for two sets.

Wednesday June 10th

Wednesday is a big day for R&B singer and performer Kanysha: the first of her 3 weekly concerts as part of the Strathmore Artist-In-Residence program for June; the release show for her new album Come ALIVE; and her birthday! Grab tickets to her party now before they sell out.

Honorable mention:

Lagoon, Dissipate, and Hostile Minds open for ICK (Modesto CA) at Pie Shop

Thursday June 11th

BlueBeat DC always gather the ska faithful at Wonderland Ballroom on the second Thursday of every month, but this month is extra special. “Earlier this year our friend and beloved door guy, Drew, was diagnosed with cancer. We at BluebeatDC wanted to give back to him after all he’s done for us so we put together this super special benefit show! Please join us as we party and help Drew fight this awful disease.

And in that effort, we are so lucky to have… THE PIETASTERS!! A rare treat! And joining us from MD’s eastern shore, Old Dogs kick things off.”

Honorable mentions:

• Pinkhouse and Mancala (Frederick, MD) open for Whiskey Ginger (NYC) at Comet Ping Pong

• Makeup Girl and Night Hawk open for Dinner Time (Atlanta) at Quarry House Tavern

Friday June 12th

Happy Pride Month, DC. Take a night off from corporate-friendly events sponsored by hoity-toity law firms and bloated defense contractors to help raise funds for a local, necessary charity. SMYAL DC supports queer and trans youth with affirming mental health counseling, housing support, and scholarships, and Songbyrd’s Friday night lineup featuring new riot grrls Mac N’ Toss, groovy grungers Shame Shame, and “shoegays” Pinky Lemon supports SMYAL. Everyone wins 🏳️‍🌈

Honorable mentions:

• Czars of Leisure album release show at Evening Star Cafe

• Punk Rock Parking Lot #52: BOAYT, Holtfaction (Spotsylvania Courthouse VA), and Joy Destroyer at Backyard Grill in Chantilly

• Static & Starlight: Final Images, DIONJALA, Some Nobodies, and Sentiment at The Pocket

Saturday June 13th

Folk singer Grace A. Keller’s full band Hotel Sewing Kit headlines Songbyrd Saturday night, and they’ve tapped indie rock band bluem (“if you ain’t bloomin’, you’re doomin’”), VA folk rockers Big Fat Monday, and Spoonfed frontman Will Sevy to fill out the all-locals bill.

Honorable mentions:

• DMV SEEN feat. KA$HAUN, Peace.Godz, Lyl Aytron, Psychosis, and Playsiren at The Pocket

• Seventh Stanine Festival: The Caribbean and Paleography (Hugh McElroy from Black Eyes) at Rhizome

• The Duskwhales open for Tristen (Nashville) at Quarry House Tavern

• Vivian Grey and ViRG open for Ether.Net (Denver) at Galactic Panther

• Lagoon, Dissipate, and D.M.V. at Hung Tao Choy Mei (new + sober venue!)

• Backlash, Seclusion, and mystery headliner at Bukom Cafe free!

Sunday June 14th

DMV hardcore punk bands D.M.V. (“locally sourced hearing damage”), Chunder (“teeth shattering hardcore”), and Several Arms (“post-hardcore for burning a data center”) roll out The Fridge’s red carpet for Louisville’s Tipper Gore (a band, not the actual Tipper Gore) Sunday night. The flyer indicates advance tickets are on sale somewhere, but we couldn’t find it, so drop a link in the comments if you know the secret.

Honorable mentions:

• Rogue Kings feat. Yansaneh, Mitchi, DG the Artist, and Avngme at The Pocket

• Tell Me More, Mina, and Sheila open for Outside Dog (Nashville) at Galactic Panther

• WPFW 2nd 50th Year Benefit Concert: An Afternoon of Jazz & Justice feat. Amy K. Bormet and Elijah Jamal Balbed Quartet at Palisades Hub

The Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

Friends, thanks for reading and listening and supporting the scene. See you next week.

-PV

In the News

RIP to jazz pianist and Blues Alley house band leader John Eaton. [WaPo gift link]

In advance of last weekend’s 50th anniversary show at the 9:30 Club, proto-punk band The Slickee Boys got a nice retrospective in the CityPaper by Steve Kiviat, including the crucial trivia that they have played the 9:30 Club more times than any other band.

Also at CityPaper, Alona Wartofsky chatted with the three members of HUE, combining elements of go-go, post-hardcore, and djent, digging into the backstory of each track on their new EP Highly Under Estimated.

Even more at CityPaper! Taylor Ruckle provides more details on the forced closure of The Garage in Boyds, MD that we shared with you last week.

Sylvie McNamara at Washingtonian interviewed author Benny Peterson about their debut novel The Maidenheads, set in the early-aughts DC music scene.

For the punk die-hards, Ian MacKaye and BFF Henry Rollins continue their side-hustle restoring lost punk music, this time working with guitarist Poison Ivy Rorschach to release a whole album of music by The Cramps produced by Big Star frontman Alex Chilton called Gravest Gravy. Read all about it from Tom Breihan at Stereogum or Nina Corcoran at Pitchfork.

For the footy die-hards, 4AD released a special 7” of alternative World Cup anthems, including the 1995 song “World Cup Fever” by Arlington-based Mark Robinson-fronted band Air Miami.

Don’t Stay Home And Miss Out On These Shows

Wednesday June 3rd

Funky, groovy jazz trombonist Ben Patterson, formerly the music director of the USAF Airmen of Note, celebrates the release of his newest album Stretch with his full quintet Wednesday night at Blues Alley in Georgetown with two sets, early and late.

Honorable mention:

Sacricide with Chronic Wasting (Baltimore), Hanahaki (RVA), and Chunder at Pie Shop

Thursday June 4th

Ethiopian-born, DMV-based rapper Sideshow dropped his latest album TIGRAY FUNK, comprising a whopping 32 tracks, in four “discs” on Spotify to mirror its layout on the now sold-out vinyl edition. The album is “a wide-spanning denouncement of the reductive labels that fans and critics place on artists”, so we will let the music speak for itself, and direct you to his interview with Pitchfork’s Paul A. Thompson to learn more. Catch the album release show Thursday night at Pearl Street Warehouse with El Rocco and Falamoun.

Honorable mention:

Sundyr, De4dset, and Undoll at The Pocket

Friday June 5th

Prolific rapper WiFiGawd hosts a record release party Friday night at Black Cat, but is it for TOP RANK SOULJAH, his new mixtape with producer GAWD, or is it for SOULVINCI, the full length project with Dylvinci on production, or the deluxe version of last year’s album The Dynasty as the flyer suggests? Find out Friday night at Black Cat with support from Atlanta’s Key!, Soul Glo from Philly, and DC hardcore band Sluggo, plus a DJ set from Amal of Black Rave Culture.

Honorable mentions:

• Queering Sound at Rhizome: Ari Voxx, Ashanti, Marcus Webb (Minneapolis), Erin Frisby, Cacie, and Professor Goldstein

• Upholstery (NJ), DJ Doomsday, Endlings, and Sable Drive at The Artemis

• The Sebastions, Boy Grapes, and Tangible Ego at The Pocket

• Discomfort, Bile, Stafford, and Torn Memory at Galactic Panther

• D.M.V. and Peace Be With You open for Pollute (NC) at Transmission early

• Pinkshift (Baltimore), Courage Mother, and Toro at Transmission late but still overlapping with the early show?

Saturday June 6th

Goodbye May porchfests, hello June avant-garde music festivals in Takoma Park. Queering Sound kicks off the season Friday night at Rhizome (see above), but Saturday’s sets are elsewhere. Start your Saturday morning at the Takoma Park Gazebo with experimental composer Té and Maddie Cardoza from Providence, then head to Takoma Spark (a.k.a. School of Musical Traditions) in the evening to see Hi-NRG Safety Bear, Bev Stanton’s lo-fi ukulele project Sad Veiled Bride, and Ella Gallogly, who plays in DC bands Lud Roes and Old Knife.

Honorable mentions:

• Go Mod Go! at VFW Post 350 “Hell’s Bottom”

• Shelley Star, Ari Voxx, grlztoy, and Niiasii (SE VA) at The Pocket

• Time in the Wilderness at McGinty’s Public House

• Domestic Terror Productions and Goomba Productions present Reign of Summer 2026 with Death Before Dishonor (Boston), Gasket (Baltimore), Junkhead, Controller (PA), Mortal Ground, Fit Check (RVA), and Fade to Nothing at Songbyrd

• Birthday Girl, Slot (Baltimore), Undoll, and Bodied at Galactic Panther

• Fort Reno benefit show at Washington Waldorf School with Bed Maker, Cash on the Nail, and DJ Leon City Sounds

Sunday June 7th

Queering Sound gets Noizy Sunday afternoon at Rhizome with: Jeff Barsky’s drone guitar project Insect Factory in collab with Depression Cherry’s Markus Meier as Depression Factory; screamo-core Bodied; harsh noise from Eyerolls; and dark ambient project THAT CLOUD providing sounds to accompany visuals from Jan Swinburne from Canada.

The 2026 Queering Sound festival wraps up live performances Sunday night at Rhizome with sets from Chris Mathews-Larsen’s space-rock band Youth in Government, acoustic trio Mysteryband, carousel punk cabaret Boy Meets Pearl, new waver Glorian from Baltimore, and spoken word storytelling from Adrian Gaston Garcia (aka AGG) and Kerri Sheehan.

Honorable mentions:

• Guttered and Bellweather open for Doused (Philly) and Sparkler (San Diego) at Pie Shop

• Backyard Band and DJ Remii at MLK Library free matinee show!

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

We are following closely the developments with the Kennedy Center after Friday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper blocking the impending shutdown and removing Trump’s name from the facade, and the President’s social media tantrums in response. After a weekend of hopeful optimism on social media, culture critic Philip Kennicott at the Post [gift link] remains muted in his outlook for the venue’s possible restoration. We will note, when and if the time is right, that memberships to the Kennedy Center are only $75 a year.

See you next week, friends.

-PV

In the News

Bummer news from organizers of The Garage at Honey Acres in Boyds, MD: Montgomery County officials ruled that their land zoning requirements do not permit live music on the property, so all remaining shows they had booked are in flux and will hopefully get rescheduled elsewhere. Visit their website to find out what you can do to help them fight the ruling.

At Guitar World, Jim Beaugez chatted with Anthony Pirog about how the addition of saxophonist James Brandon Lewis changed the sonic formulas in the new jazz-rock tunes by The Messthetics.

Brenda C. Siler at The Washington Informer runs down the musicians involved in the Centennial Celebration of trumpeter Miles Davis at Blues Alley. May 26th marks 100 years since the jazz legend’s birth, and the live tribute shows in Georgetown continue through the week ahead.

Don’t Stay Home This Week

Tuesday May 26th

Fresh off celebrating gender liberation at last month’s Liberation Weekend festival, Vivian Grey (“sad queer music for sad queer people”) and noisy dolls Somebody’s Daughter return to DC from a Northeast tour together to headline the Pie Shop Tuesday night, welcoming alt-soul singer Organized Khaos and folk singer Erin Frisby of Ammonite, here with new rotating support group The Little Wilds.

Honorable mention:

Sarah Marie Hughes, Gerswyn Foster, and Michael R. Bernstein at Rhizome

Wednesday May 27th

The night: Wednesday. The venue: Galactic Panther in Old Town Alexandria. The first act: garage rockers Broken Men & The Fixer. The second act: “garage glam punkette” Gigi Marie. The headliners: dramatic and psychedelic Jackie & The Treehorns. The charity benefitting: The National Organization for Women. The other charity benefitting (courtesy Punk It Forward): DC Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid. The verdict: yes yes yes.

Honorable mentions:

• The Montaines and MAYSUNS open for DUUNES at DC9

• Chuck Redd at Blues Alley

• Greenhead, Cemetery Sex, and Tired All The Time open for Uga Uga (Germany) at Pie Shop

Thursday May 28th

Slowing the tempo without losing a bit of pathos, slowcore band Mothlights joins anthemic folk-rocker Rugan Lewis at 7DrumCity’s The Pocket supporting NYC’s Gio on his “pre-release” album tour Thursday night. (For the lyrically curious, Maya Deren was an avant-garde filmmaker in the 40s and 50s who hung out with Marcel Duchamp and John Cage.)

Honorable mentions:

• Yaya Bey, Nourished By Time, Hamilton Leithauser, Bartees Strange, Deakin, and Cherub Tree at 9:30 Club for Burger Sounds’ My Body My Festival

• Ostinato and Joe Lally / Jerry Busher / Yanni Papadopoulos (Philly) at Galactic Panther

Friday May 29th

Frontman Andrew Grossman makes way for powerhouse singer Margot MacDonald to take lead vocals on the new single “Once The War Has Ended” by indie pop supergroup The North Country, featuring shimmering production by Jay Nemeyer and Kyle Downes of Sunday Coffee. Celebrate at full volume Friday night at Songbyrd with the all-DMV lineup of folk-rocker Dylan Rockwell and Kinda Evil.

Honorable mentions:

• Buko Buko, DMV, and Gorf at Black Cat

• The Exchange Project, Redline Addiction and Leannán Shi at Pearl Street Warehouse

• The Overlook, Camisole (Charlotte NC), and Hotel Sewing Kit at Pie Shop

Saturday May 30th

Delicious indie synth-pop duo Something Simple throw a party for the long-awaited release of their debut full length album Something New Saturday night at Comet Ping Pong, with up-and-coming singer/songwriter Cole Larravide opening shortly after the last stray ping-pong balls are safely stowed.

Honorable mentions:

• Petworth Porchfest! Here’s Kaela Cote-Stemmermann’s guide for CityCastDC

• The Slickee Boys 50th Anniversary Party with The Beatnik Flies & Birthday Girl DC at 9:30 Club

• Tosser (EP release!) with Dosser (Baltimore) and Close at Pie Shop

• Ari Lennox at MGM National Harbor

• Film & Gender (MA), XK Scenario, and Rosslyn Station at Quarry House Tavern

• Bohemian Waxwing, Kevin Knight (Staunton VA) and NAYAN at Rhizome

• Kids Table with Kara Levchenko and Spoonfed at Pearl Street Warehouse

• Fields & Forests, AB Williams (VA Beach), and Koshari at Galactic Panther

Sunday May 31st

Sunday night, twice in the same week, we point your attention to Erin Frisby and The Little Wilds at The Pie Shop. Perhaps this will be a totally different band backing her up! Nobody knows, not dark Americana songwriter Annie Stokes or bluegrass/orchestral/folk trio The Timber Bridges. Emily Blumberg of Capitol Hill community news site HillRag provides this important briefing on the close ties between The Timber Bridges and their neighborhood.

Honorable mentions:

• Tayls (Nashville), Gigi Marie, and Karen Culi at The Pocket

• The Lone1est Number (Dave Mann of No One Sphere), Early American (Baltimore), and Anocean at Galaxy Hut

Your Weekly Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Nothing Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

We hope your holiday weekend wasn’t totally washed out. See you next Monday, beautiful readers and listeners.

-PV

In the News

After 8 years, Washington CityPaper managing editor Mitch Ryals says farewell to DC proper, as he moves to a new position with the Baltimore Banner covering Prince Georges County. Current arts editor Sarah Marloff moves into the vacant role, leaving the position of covering DC’s theater, art, literature, and music open for someone new who wants to make their mark on DMV culture. Touch up your resumes, readers.

For Vibe, Preezy Brown interviewed members of Rare Essence, including Andre “Whiteboy” Johnson, James “Jas Funk” Thomas, Mike “Funky Ned” Neal, and John Jones, about the history of the band, the controversy around Jay-Z’s song “Do It Again”, and the state of go-go as it celebrates 50 years since Chuck Brown’s chart-topping hit “Bustin’ Loose” gave it its moniker. [Thanks to friend of the newsletter and dutiful DC concert calendar maintainer Steve Kiviat for this tip!]

For his Substack The Future Is Ours To Make, critic Chris Richards walks and talks with electronic producer Martyn about the craft behind his new album Music for Existing and how it was shaped by his monthly jazz show Martyn’s Darkest Light on NTS.

Don’t Stay Home

Monday May 18th

HarDCore promoters Domestic Terror and Mind Sculptor team up to welcome Start Today from Los Angeles to DC’s Transmission Monday night, with Grudge coming down from Baltimore and our own Posición Unida and Retain bringing the hometown crowds.

Honorable mention:

• Ryan McGeorge at Blues Alley

Tuesday May 19th

Takoma Park’s Rhizome hosts three bands offering a wider than usual range of genres Tuesday evening: psychedelic shoegazers Knave, folky/ambient/alt-country Rain Shears, and funky, brassy Big Government (oh what a DC band name!).

Thursday May 21st

The new DMV bands fusing go-go beats with rock, hip-hop and electronic production invite you to dive into the Go-go Moshpit Thursday night at Transmission with Yaddiya & The Hoest Politix, HUE, and Breezy Supreme.

Honorable mentions:

• All That Is Seen & Unseen: A Night of Flash Zine Readings at Joint Custody Takoma

• Chicha Morada at Bossa

Friday May 22nd

From the up-n-comers to the cream of the crop. Go-go “hood rock” band Black Alley and veteran ambassadors Northeast Groovers double-headline The Fillmore Silver Spring Friday night.

Honorable mentions:

• Midnight Sun (Baltimore), Janel Leppin & Anthony Pirog at Comet Ping Pong

• Chay Vicious, Bitter Luck, and Velvet Divide at Songbyrd early

• Amal (of Black Rave Culture), Taylor Spenxer, and Hunch of Hochi Runs at Songbyrd late

• No Second Troy and GXB at Pearl Street Warehouse

• Dialsx3 (RVA), This Man May Die (RVA), Knave, and Ugly Pageant at Marx Cafe

Saturday May 23rd

Two notable release shows on the same night! You probably can’t do both! First up, indie rocker Nayan Bhula, of Gist and The NRIs, releases a new EP in the dirt with his current band NAYAN, recorded with J. Robbins and full of pounding beats and soaring vocals. Quarry House Tavern hosts the release show Saturday night with supporting sets by grungy alt-rock bands The Laterals and Burden’s Landing.

Or! Sing along with dreamy bedroom indie pop star Jeff Draco to his new full length album Excess Saturday night at Songbyrd. Opening sets come from Housing Co. of Salisbury MD and indie folk group Night Hawk, who are also celebrating the release of their new EP Somewhere, Anywhere, officially dropping on streaming services May 30th but Bandcamp’s got it right now.

Honorable mentions:

• Safety Bear and Sad Veiled Bride at The Shipyard

• Shy Glizzy at Throw Social

• Femi & The Foundation and Rock Creek Kings at DC9

• Steel City farewell show at Pearl Street Warehouse with Süper Tuesday and The Backing Tracks

• Nice Breeze and Freq Flag open for Minibeast (Providence RI) at Rhizome

Sunday May 24th

Joining in the month-long celebration of the 100th birthday of Miles Davis, trumpeter Muneer Nasser leads his straight-ahead quintet for a special early Sunday evening set at Wesley United Methodist Church.

Honorable mentions:

• Chopteeth at Takoma Station

• Sec Anders, Yellow Velvet, and Abby Skye at Pie Shop

• Ajola and Two Thumbs Down open for Dino Gala (Boston) at Comet Ping Pong

Monday May 25th

Memorial Day means one more day in the weekend for letting loose. We’ll let this lengthy Instagram caption speak for itself to tell you about Monday night’s lineup at Rhizome with Charlote NC’s Fixations, Everything from Baltimore, and DMV speed-punks Glycine and Rocky IV (first show, only show!).

Playlists

Bandcamp via Buy Music Club | Spotify | YouTube Music

We adopted a couple of changes in the newsletter this week, with Instagram embeds returning and Buy Music Club now providing our Bandcamp playlist. Let us know what you think in the comments or by smashing that reply button, as well as what else you’d like to see, or who we’re missing out on. Stay cool and well-hydrated, and we’ll see you again after the holiday weekend.

-PV

Sorry, No DC Music News For You This Week

:(

Let’s Don’t Stay Home

Monday May 11th

Start your week with a unique musical fusion. Qi Yu, originally from Inner Mongolia, brings her sublime expertise on the guzheng, a Chinese zither, to the realm of jazz leading her quintet playing two sets Monday night at Blues Alley in Georgetown.

Honorable mentions:

• Overton Widow, Pastor Bob & the American Taliban (Kansas City), and Allstrike at Galactic Panther

• Cuni and Rosslyn Station open for Kali Masi (Chicago) at Pie Shop

Tuesday May 12th

"How many guitarists does it take?" Cristian Perez decided to find out, and rounded up Parker Speirs, Jan Knutson, Tommy Holladay, and Connor Holdridge to form The Guitar Renegades. Their debut album indulges in rather well-known covers, through mellow classical and jazz styles. In advance of the album’s release on June 1st, catch the quintet live Tuesday night at Blues Alley.

Honorable mentions:

• Light Beams open for Puuluup (Estonia) at Songbyrd

• Hit Like a Girl (Philly), thisdogllhunt, and Peak Bloom at Quarry House Tavern

• Railsplitter, Endorphins (L.A.), and Celebration Summer at Galactic Panther

Thursday May 14th

Transparent Productions, those stalwarts of “non-commercial, uncompromising music in interesting spaces”, host a Thursday night showcase at Rhizome featuring bassist Zoë Jorgenson and her trio with Marty Riesemburg on drums and Parker Speirs on guitar, presenting her new project Fountaine. Plus hear an intruiging new collab between avant-garde bassist Luke Stewart and UVA professor and percussionist JoVia Armstrong.

Honorable mention:

Pictoria Vark (Chicago), Flo Petite, and Cuni at Quarry House Tavern

Friday May 15th

Indie pop singer-songwriter Kara Levchenko went full DIY to self-produce her sophomore album INTUITION, the follow-up to her 2023 debut letters to myself. The album drops later this summer, but Levchenko and her full 8 piece live band are ready to go now! Head to The Pie Shop Friday night to hear all the songs at full volume, with opening sets from jazzy indie rockers Miss Moon and jazzy pianist/vocalist Sean Custer.

Honorable mentions:

• Cash on the Nail, NEON GRLZ, and Lud Roes at The Pocket

• Noochie’s Front Porch at MGM National Harbor

• Perennial (New England), Dim Wizard, and Club U.S.A. at Comet Ping Pong

• Spark Isle, Spare Hearts, The Morelias, and Employee 1 at Rhizome

• Making Friends As Adults (Baltimore), Quiet Room, Not Now (Baltimore) and Anxiety Monster at Galactic Panther

Saturday May 16th

Some of the cast of the recent smash-hit rock opera The Haunted Boy reunites at Ernie’s Place Saturday night, featuring folk songs by Margaret Wasaff backed by Noah Bein, Lauren Calve, Kelly Dillon, and Enrique Dominguez. Opening the night is the duo of Will Greenleaf and Sam McCormally, previously of some of our absolute fave bands Fellow Creatures and Ugly Purple Sweater, and we are thrilled they are back in action.

Honorable mentions:

• Lagoon, Fear Agent, Dared2Live (Baltimore), Mercy Mission (Suffolk VA), and in-sight. at Simple Underground

• Megazillion (Baltimore), Different Plants (NYC), An Invitation, and D.M.V. at The Artemis

Sunday May 17th

Finish the week Sunday night hearing the intimate space at The Pocket filled with heavy prog rock by Howling At The Earth from Charles Town, WV, and our own bands Careless Flight and A Shrewdness of Apes.

Honorable mention:

Caution (Birmingham AL), Thrill House, and Ducts at Comet Ping Pong

Playlists

Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube Music

For all you Spotify lovers, your DC music friend Chris Naoum of Listen Local First fame posted an exhaustive new 10-hour playlist of his music picks.

That’s all we got for you, dear friends. Stay safe, buy some new music, and as always we’ll see you next week.

-PV

In the News

For Idioteq, Karol Kamiński from Warsaw dives deep into the construction of “Richest Witches of the West”, the newest single by DC teen punk band Petrichor.

Mariel Ferragamo at the CityPaper profiles Nigerian American vocalist iothesinger, a.k.a. Ayodele Owolabi, and the traumatic backstory behind her journey to create her new album Severed. It debuted April 30th but because of Owolabi’s concerns about AI and streaming platforms, it’s only available for purchase at her shows, not even on Bandcamp (yet). Owolabi next hosts a listening party for the album Friday May 15th at Big Bear Cafe.

Over on his Substack From Out the Bubble, Grammy-nominated producer Kokayi provides deep context on the creation of his improvisational jazz record An Eponymous Jont that dropped late last month for International Jazz Day.

Speaking of Substack, over on The Future Is Ours To Make, Chris Richards chatted with Jonathan Williger about his experimental label Outside Time and organizing a (free!) showcase at the University of Maryland’s Minimalism Conference Saturday May 9th featuring TALsounds, Alma Laprida, and Rachel Beetz from Los Angeles.

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann at CityCast DC created guides to May’s biggest porchfests in DC, last weekend’s in AdMo and Petworth’s on May 30th.

Don’t Stay Home

Monday May 4th

Get hard-post-metal-punk-core Monday night at Rhizome with Falls Church VA’s Bodied, DogFoodChain from Springfield, DC’s Gifts Ungiven, Green Forest from Fredricksburg, and newcomers Lye Bath from MD.

Wednesday May 6th

Smooth R&B and jazz songwriter Kemi Adegoroye celebrates the release of her sophomore EP BLOOM with two sets at Georgetown’s storied Blues Alley Wednesday night.

Honorable mentions:

• THE CO//ECT!V CREW at Songbyrd for Mars Arts DC

• Gerf and G2K open for Twisted Teens (New Orleans) at Comet Ping Pong

Thursday May 7th

The Two Dillweeds (Mary Alice and Pete from The Electric Grandmother) always know what’s coming up in the music scene. Their monthly showcase at Wonderland Ballroom hits Thursday night featuring Arlington 90s-flavored indie rockers SleepMarks, dream-poppy Blood Family Reunion, and Gaspers from Frederick MD.

Honorable mentions:

• Mystery Friends and Irish Basement open for Ultra Sunn (Belgium) at Black Cat

• Dorinda (acoustic), My Mandy, Cicada Theory, and Adele Marie at The Pocket

• The Gravel Road Band at Quarry House Tavern (free bluegrass night!)

Friday May 8th

Westminster Presbyterian’s Friday Night Jazz showcase is a true homegrown DC institution. This Friday’s set features Alison Crockett, accomplished vocalist across jazz, neo-soul, R&B, downtempo and more.

Honorable mentions:

• Pocket Bells (Baltimore), Kill the King, and Doll Apartments at The Pocket

• Time in the Wilderness, PsychoPomP, and BLAUDiSS at Galactic Panther

Saturday May 9th

The instrumental jazz-rock band The Messthetics and saxophonist James Brandon Lewis wrap up the first leg of their tour for their newest album Deface the Currency Saturday night at The Black Cat, and we expect to give them a sizable hometown welcome. Warm-up sets come from Boston’s Trinary System featuring Roger Clark Miller of Mission of Burma, and the psychedelic rock band Thunderpaw featuring members of Sunwolf.

Honorable mentions:

• Goomba Productions presents DC Metalcore at Songbyrd with Balisong, Denouement., Sluggo and Brawler Unit

• JVK (Boston), Soul Meets Body, and Mac N’ Toss at Pie Shop

• Fryenation, Airospvce, Brandon De’Sean, Ayr, and DJ Bri Mafia at The Pocket

• Gifts Ungiven, Gorf, Torn Memory, and Grail (Baltimore) at Simple Underground

• Crowd Scene, Freq Flag, and Dennis Kane at Ernie’s Place

Sunday May 10th

You may remember Christopher Mathews-Larsen from his solo ambient/post-rock moniker Grave Nature. He’s teamed up with drummer Trae Tomko and an array of other collaborators as the space rock band Youth In Government, and their debut album Silhouettes is out now. Sunday night at Galactic Panther you can hear it live and loud, as intended, with King of the Moon, the “retrofuturist psych-folk” duo of Sam Cooper and Michael Stettes, and the aforementioned Blood Family Reunion, filling out the bill.

Honorable mentions:

• Jade Omari, Omar Vacel, and Forest Gabriel at Pie Shop

• Will Kobus & Mettaworldzeke (album release show!) with NVSV (Baltimore) at The Pocket

Choose Your Playlist

Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube Music

Thanks for reading and listening. See you at a show this week, or in your inboxes next Monday morning.

-PV

In the News

For Stereogum, Chris DeVille compiled a full track-by-track commentary for Traditional Noise, the debut full length album by art pop duo April + VISTA.

In this month’s Swing Beat column at the CityPaper, Michael J. West interviewed cellist Janel Leppin about her journey from classical training to jazz experimentation.

On his podcast The Musicscope, Mike Grubb welcomed critic Chris Richards to discuss the musical influence of DC and his early 00’s post-hardcore band Q And Not U.

ICYMI, Mac N’ Toss got some good press from their daylong Riot! DC Festival last weekend from Sophia Solano at WaPo [gift link!] and Juilana Valencia at NBC4.

Don’t Stay Home

Monday April 27th

Have yourself a Very Gay Monday night at the Pie Shop with the debut of glitter punks Good Judy, Historically Close Friends (tagline: What if “All Things Go” was a band?), and twangy rock headliner Ammonite.

Honorable mention:

Dot Dash opens for The Convenience (New Orleans) at Pearl Street Warehouse

Tuesday April 28th

Venezuelan songwriters Genesis Arocha and Simon Santodomingo’s psychedelic rock duo Eyefish Ink and Skate Draco, an acoustic mashup of indie garage rockers Jeff Draco and Skate Stance, play Rhizome Tuesday night to benefit The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights. Hell yeah.

Wednesday April 29th

Relentlessly-touring act Modern Natives from Hudson Valley NY anchor Wednesday night’s four band bill at Jammin’ Java, with DMV natives Old Knife, Gigi Marie, and Shelley Star & The Galaxy dishing out glam punk rock. The show benefits Survivors.org, who support individuals recovering from sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as the DC Migrant Mutual Aid Action Network. Read more in the preview from Parklife DC.

Honorable mention:

Weed Tree and Naoco Wowsugi open for Peni Candra Rini (Indonesia) at Rhizome

Thursday April 30th

“Denim Day” memorializes a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court that overturned a sexual assault conviction because the survivor wore tight jeans, declaring she “must have helped the assailant remove the jeans”. Wear your best jeans to the Pie Shop Thursday night to benefit Volare (formerly Network for Recovery Victims DC), a nonprofit supporting all survivors of crime across legal, therapeutic, and advocacy services. The musical lineup declaring “We Deserve To Party” features R&B singer Debórah Bond, cheeky comedy duo Griefcat, and “soft grunge” band RenRiot.

Honorable mention:

IOTHESINGER, Sadia, Your Trusted Officials, and WALKING EAGLE at Songbyrd

Friday May 1st

Beloved go-go icon Anwan “Big G” Glover (a.k.a. Slim Charles on HBO’s The Wire) needs a space the size of Echostage to celebrate his birthday. The whole Backyard Band joins DJ 808 and Kapri “Voice of the People” Monique to crank it and pop bottles all Friday night long.

Honorable mentions:

• QUEERING SOUND fundraiser: Glorian (Baltimore), Bushmeat Sound System, Novparolo, JA$$IE, and Charlee Scythe (Baltimore) at Rhizome

• Jackie & The Treehorns, Dougie, and Black Rails at Pie Shop

• Ugly Pageant, Torrents, and Milkbath (College Park) at The Pocket

Saturday May 2nd

Formerly an art gallery called Treehouse, 4722 14th St. NW, between Crittenden and Decatur, is now a new arts space called Milkcrate. Saturday night they host the album release show for Soggy Stupid Thing, the debut by silly grrl punk band Girls On Toast (produced by Howard Rabach and recorded by Ben Tufts! Shout out!), joined by Baltimore’s Ragdollz and Ammonite, now featured twice in the same newsletter, as well as last week’s. Respect!

Honorable mentions:

• Junkhead, Sluggo, DMIZE (NYC), and The S.E.T. (Baltimore) at Pie Shop

• Climb On, Dowrong, and American Promise at The Pocket

• The Mostly Dead, Torino Death Ride, Hot Mañana (Philly), and Ligatures at The Artemis

Sunday May 3rd

Just when we reached baseline comprehension of the post- music genres (post-punk, post-rock, post-hardcore, post-classical), now ¡FIASCO! dubs themselves “not jazz”. Will we soon discover “not-rock” bands? What does “not hip-hop” sound like? And what does Hardcore Ambient sound like? Check out Baltimore’s Alyson Kanne & Local Adult Males for that riddle, playing with ¡FIASCO! and experimental rock band Red Sunflower Sunday night at too-cool-for-Old-Town art gallery Galactic Panther.

Honorable mentions:

• No Regards and The Don Z Scheme at Galaxy Hut

• Tahlele and Knyves Escobar open for Sinkane (NYC) at Comet Ping Pong

Playlists

Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube Music

One more note before we go. Lurking on the subreddit /r/avesDC last week, we discovered a new newsletter called The Capital City Raver, delivered weekly by “Your DC Dance Music Gremlin”, PLURtatoChip. The publication rounds up the big weekend DJ dance parties with links, commentary, and recaps. A bit of the same ethos to what we do here, with a totally different focus and style. Subscribe or add dcraver.com to your bookmarks if you like the glow sticks and bass. See you next week, friends.

-PV