Music
This Month in Music: April 2016
April 2, 2016 @ 12:00am
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
King Soul and Texas Chainsaw Horns
Retro, Southern-fried soul gets an energetic update when local eight-piece outfit King Soul hits the stage. Sporting matching suits and a who’s-who of DC area musical all-stars, King Soul routinely gets DMV dance floors jumping. The band includes dynamic lead singer Tom Clifford, guitarist-vocalist Jake Flack of the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, bassist-vocalist Mark Noone of the Slickee Boys and tenor saxophonist Matt Rippetoe, who has played with Funk Ark and Thievery Corporation. Also on the bill at Bethesda Blues are the Texas Chainsaw Horns, inspired by the soulful sounds of Tower of Power. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club: 7719 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD; www.bethesdabluesjazz.com
SUNDAY, APRIL 3
Carrie Rodriguez
A singer-songwriter and accomplished fiddle player from Austin, Rodriguez is among the leading lights of the ever-expanding genre known as Americana. Her newest project, the upcoming Spanish/English album Lola, offers a Texas-bred twist on Mexican ranchera songs, creating a musical hybrid for a culturally blended world. The album features Spanish songs written by some of Rodriguez’s favorite Mexican composers, as well as original songs written in English, Spanish and that hybrid patois known as “Spanglish.” Tickets are $20. Jammin’ Java: 27 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, VA;www.jamminjava.com
Yacht Rock Revue
If you can’t get enough of 70s light rock, Yacht Rock Revue is for you. This band of merry musicians puts on their 70s threads, and plays the hits of bands like Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald and Steely Dan. They’re all top musicians and they’ll make you get up and dance. $20-$25. The Hamilton: 600 14 th St. NW, DC;www.thehamiltondc.com.
SUNDAY, APRIL 3 – MONDAY, APRIL 4
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
After a nearly eight-year hiatus, Ben Harper’s backing band The Innocent Criminals rejoined him last year, and they sound right at home on Harper’s new record , Call It What It Is. As always, Harper’s passionate amalgamation of rock, soul and reggae is punctuated by his fiery, lap slide blues guitar. Early word on the reunited band says they’re recapturing the bluesy boogie that burned so brightly in the late 1990s and early 2000s on such albums as Lifeline, Burn to Shine and Diamonds on the Inside. $57.50. 9:30 Club: 915 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 7
Gracie Terzian
Though she may now live in New York, Oakton’s own Gracie Terzian is a proud member of the Virginia/DC music scene. The jazz singer grew up going to shows at Blues Alley before studying and performing jazz at UVA and in the Charlottesville area. She released her first EP, Saints & Poets, last year. It’s the stuff of classics. Terzian’s vocal tone is a crisp yet smooth warmth, a filling sound – much like a slice of apple pie. Her writing, which is just as strong, aspires to the kind of charming wordplay and sophisticated romance of Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. She’s still a rising figure in the jazz world, but her star is due to shine. $10. Twins Jazz: 1344 U St. NW, DC;www.twinsjazz.com
Jewel
She may no longer be filling arenas, but Jewels songs persist to fill radio waves and ear canals all across America. Bursting into the musical landscape of America in the late 1990s alongside other blonde-haired pop divas like Britney and Xtina, Jewel quickly lost her “Intuition” for pop and turned to the twang and soul of country music. She’s recorded with Dolly and Merle Haggard, and gone on to still have every one of her albums hit the Top 40, and often Top 10, of the Billboard charts. This is an uncommon opportunity to see one of the stars of the last two decades perform in a more intimate, accessible setting. $55-$75. Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC;www.thelincolndc.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
An Evening with Molly Ringwald
Known for her 80s acting roles in such iconic films as The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candlesand Pretty in Pink, Molly Ringwald is also an accomplished and acclaimed jazz vocalist. Since 2013, Ringwald has been touring with her quartet, supporting her debut album,Except Sometimes. $35-$45. AMP by Strathmore: 11810 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda, MD; www.ampbystrathmore.com
People’s Blues of Richmond
People’s Blues of Richmond, young veterans of the Richmond, Va. hard rock music scene, conjure the spiraling swirl of late 1960s psychedelia in their heavy rock. There are the slamming triplets popularized by Zeppelin’s John Bonham, the classical-aspiring, flamenco-spiced guitar runs and riffs, and the wail of a lead singer broken by drink, drugs and evil women. The group also takes influence from more groove-based music, so expect an occasional reggae-like slow jam to wash over crowds like waves on Jamaican beaches. $13. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 Water St. NW, DC; www.gyspysallys.com
Quiet Life
Quiet Life’s constantly-evolving sound can be hard to pin down. Written over a lazy summer on the coast of Rhode Island, their new album, Foggy, is truly a product of its environment, with songs that sway between verse and chorus with the steady rhythm of a swinging hammock. $12. IOTA Club & Café: 2832 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA;www.iotaclubandcafe.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 12
The Jason Masi Band
A depression-era movie palace renovated as an art deco treasure, the Tally Ho in Leesburg showcases some of the DMV’s best local musical talent. April’s lineup features Jason Masi, a DC-based singer-songwriter with an appealing acoustic soul and R&B sound. Masi has released three solo albums in the past six years, and keeps his live show sharp with more than 250 gigs per year. Teddy Chipouris, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter out of Lovettsville, Va., is also on the bill. $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Tally Ho: 19 West Market St. Leesburg, VA; www.tallyholeesburg.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13
Bleached
Often the most vital, powerful music is born from intense personal tragedy and catastrophe. The members of Bleached have gone through plenty of that in the three years since their first LP, Ride Your Heart. The California-based trio went through hell in their personal lives, but came out resilient in the ferocious new songs on their record,Welcome The Worms. They’re unabashedly a punk band, but more like the first generation with their knack for earworm harmonies and simple, enjoyable power chord riffage. Throw in some sun-kissed keyboards and you have a pretty fun rock ‘n’ roll band. $12-$14. DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; www.dcnine.com
Buddy Guy
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and a major influence on guitar heroes like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy is now 79 and shows no signs of slowing down. The wild man with the polka dot Fender Stratocaster still knows how to play the blues like it means life or death. $67. The State Theatre: 220 N. Washington St. Falls Church, VA; www.thestatetheatre.com
David Lindley
Like many great instrumentalists and accompanists of the rock age – Ry Cooder, Al Kooper or Adran Belew – David Lindley tends to be known more for who he plays with than his own music. But the music he has made with partners is phenomenal. The multi-instrumentalist is best known for his work with Jackson Browne – the pair constructed much of the country rock sound that make Browne’s first few albums required listening. Here he performs his own works, and it’s the chance to see a true master at work. $22-$30. Jammin Java’: 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna, VA;www.jamminjava.com
The Joy Formidable
Welsh alt-rock trio The Joy Formidable is one of those modern rock bands who reach through the history of alternative in their influences. The result is a sound that’s hard to pin down, but you can taste the familiar ingredients. There’s the dark, dance floor vibe and rhythms of Joy Division, the ethereal transcendence of shoegaze, and the hard-hitting distortion of Wire and other punkier groups. The musicianship is also clearly there, making this group just one of those all-around got-to-see good bands. $25. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 14
Waco Brothers
No one melds alt-country twang with punk rock energy quite like the Waco Brothers. Formed by John Langford of Mekons fame nearly 20 years ago in Chicago, the Waco Brothers are as revered as much ( if not more so) for their live performances as their recorded efforts. As author Sarah Vowell recently told Chicagoist: “I’ve never been able to find a live band in New York as consistently thrilling and funny and fun as the Waco Brothers.” The band, touring in support of their new record, Going Down in History, is sure to deliver an incendiary set at IOTA this month. $15. IOTA Club & Café: 2832 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.iotaclubandcafe.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 15
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
You may remember Falls Church native Thao Nguyen from local solo shows, before she relocated to San Francisco, signed a record deal and hit the big time with her band, The Get Down Stay Down. After three critically-acclaimed albums, she’s back with her new one, A Man Alive, and back in town to play live. $20. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com.
SUNDAY, APRIL 17
Har Mar Superstar
Sean Tillman, a.k.a. the indie dance/R&B crooner Har Mar Superstar, aims to create a retro-futuristic dance party every time he hits the stage. Although his persona is jokey, Har Mar Superstar’s exuberant pastiche of late 80s R&B grooves, crisp synth samples and cheeky lyrics make for a seriously booty-shaking live experience. Har Mar is also bringing some major indie rock firepower to his new album, Best Summer Ever, which features production by Julian Casablancas of The Strokes and a duet with Karen O of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. $15. The Black Cat: 1811 14 thSt. NW, DC; www.blackcatdc.com
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
Justin Jones
Justin Jones has been a fixture of the DC music scene for more than 10 years. He’s toured all over North America and played some of the most storied stages in the country. For the release of his sixth album, Prairie Rain, Jones comes to the Hamilton to play old and new songs from his catalog. $10-$15. The Hamilton: 600 14 th St. NW, DC; www.thehamiltondc.com.
SUNDAY, APRIL 24
Ryan Montbleau Band
Ryan Montbleau hails from Massachusetts, but his music drips with New Orleans soul, which isn’t surprising considering how much time he spent honing his musical chops in the Crescent City over the years. Blending rock, funk, soul, folk, psychedelia and even strains of jazz, Montbleau’s sound is fiercely unpredictable but always satisfying. His new album, Growing Light, which drops in April, was produced by Ben Ellman of the New Orleans-based jazz-funk powerhouse band Galactic. Expect a tight, upbeat and accomplished live performance when Montbleau and his longtime band visit Gypsy Sally’s this month. $15. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC; www.gypsydallys.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 26
Creed Bratton
Don’t miss an evening of music and comedy from the one-of-a-kind Creed Bratton, most well-known from NBC’s The Office. But Creed also co-founded the popular 60s band The Grass Roots, and continues to release new music. He’ll be joined by musician Andrew Tufano and comedian Michael Larrick. $20-$30. Jammin’ Java: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna, VA; www.jamminjava.com
Poliça
Over the course of three increasingly impressive albums, Minneapolis-based Polica has honed a mesmerizing synth-pop sound featuring big bass riffs and Channy Leaneagh’s gorgeous, soaring vocals. Polica’s latest record, United Crushers, is at times reminiscent of Depeche Mode, Garbage and even The Eurhythmics, but still sounds intensely fresh and immediate. In recent years, Polica has rocked some of the world’s biggest music festivals, including Coachella and Glastonbury. Now you can watch them work their magic in the much more intimate confines of the 9:30 Club. $20. 9:30 Club:915 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
Bob Mould
Sometime DC resident, former member of Husker Du and Sugar, and little-known pro wrestling aficionado Bob Mould is back in DC with a new album. Mould’s recent work may be considered his “third act,” but it’s widely seen as some of the strongest work of his career. $25. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com.
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
RDGLDGRN
If you still haven’t seen RDGLDGRN, arguably the most prominent of the rising generation of bands to emerge from DC, then this will certainly be an interesting experience. The indie hip-hop/go-go band opens for sun-soaked, California hip-hoppers Dirty Heads at the Fillmore, but they bring an attitude that is all East Coast. And all DC. Their sound is laced with the rhythmic power of go-go, and their rhymes and tunes aim for the heart. $31.50. Fillmore Silver Spring: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; www.fillmoresilverspring.com
The Quebe Sisters Band
Not even most prolific bluegrass musicians these days – even if they were born right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia – can boast harmonies as tight as fiery sister trio from Texas. Their “old timey” music aspires to a different time – a period in American music where dances where still held in barns and the fiddle was the weapon for heroics. Their music sounds like it is fresh out of the time capsule, but in reality it’s just fresh out of Texas. Fresh fiddle music should be enjoyed more regularly. $22-$25.The Barns at Wolf Trap: 1635 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA;www.wolftrap.org/about/venues/barns
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
Fellowcraft
Washington-based power trio Fellowcraft recently released their debut album, Get Up Young Phoenix, a tightly-crafted set of loud, snarling rockin’ blues. High energy, intensely percussive and raucous, Fellowcraft has been featured on NPR and is among the emerging bands to watch on DC’s indie rock scene. Check out the track “West Texas Blues” online to get a feel for this up-and-coming band’s eclectic sound. $12.Rock and Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhotel.com
Maggie Rose and The Morrison Brothers
One of the Washington area’s greatest musical success stories of the past couple years, Maggie Rose, has moved to Nashville and managed to find her place among Music City’s A-list country talent. In fact, she’s already notched more than 30 appearances at the legendary Grand Ole Opry. In April, Rose brings her big voice and genre-spanning songwriting chops home for a gig with fellow hometown favorites The Morrison Brothers, whose unique brand of country rock is also gaining notice well beyond the DMV. $20. 9:30 Club: 915 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com
Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival
Now in its seventh year, this event has become the largest all-local music festival in the National Capital Region, attracting over 13,000 attendees in 2014. Local favorites such as Herb & Hanson, Jonny Grave and Oh He Dead will be the soundtrack to a beautiful day at one of DC’s hidden natural wonders. $20. Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival: 575 Oklahoma Ave. NE, DC; www.kingmanislandbluegrass.com
Photo: Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival, courtesy of festival