As a loyal follower of STRFKR, I have worshipped every moment of the band’s existence, starting with the first time I heard “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second,” and continuing into the release of “Miracle Mile,” despite its undeservedly mixed reviews.
Walking into the 9:30 Club on a crisp Thursday night, I had high expectations for The Punch Brothers’ live show. The bluegrass/acoustic group’s latest record, Who’s Feeling Young Now? had been on my most-played list for the preceding weeks and my dad, not easily impressed by new bands, claimed their St. Louis show to be among one of the best he had ever been to. Thankfully, in the course of the roughly hour and a half set the band met my high hopes and put on virtuosic display I won’t soon forget.
Opener Pacific Air clinched that coveted indie-Cali-dance-pop-rock sound. The vocals were courageously exposed and never off pitch. Their most impressive moments came, however, when they fell into some scuzzier jams. A new track offered up from their record to be released in April was nothing special until they closed it out with some delicious, heartfelt, grungy noise. If Pacific Air can continue to fill out their sound, they’re headed in the right direction.
A concert that could be described as “experimental” doesn’t exactly insinuate a sold-out venue, but Portugal. The Man‘s show at the 9:30 Club this past Tuesday was exactly that. Complete with psychedelic rock music, fog machines, strobe lights, giant balls of light, and a crazy, enthusiastic–and completely packed–crowd, many people took it upon themselves to do a little experimenting of their own. To avoid going into graphic details, I will focus on how the progressive rock group from Wasilla, Alaska portrayed their creative musical talent through their experimental rock instrumentals and unique vocals paired with an incredible light show that I will not soon forget. Read More »
The Head and the Heart
Last Friday, September 23rd, I was fortunate enough to catch The Head and the Heart at the 9:30 Club. After seeing them for the first time at Bonnaroo this summer and missing them at Newport due to a scheduling conflict with Middle Brother, I was determined to see them again, and this second performance did not disappoint. The first opening band, Salt Lake City’s The Devil Whale, brought the energy to start off the night. Unfortunately, after studying in the library until 4 AM the previous night, I was not quite bringing the energy yet. Still, their spirited rock got my feet moving and inspired me to look them up after the show. I did perk up quite a bit when Thao with the Get Down Stay Downcame onstage. Their catchy tunes were a lot of fun live, and I knew it was going to be a good night when they launched into one of my favorite songs, “Bag of Hammers.” I felt a bit spoiled with these great acts in addition to The Head and the Heart. Read More »
Holden Caulfield, J.D. Salinger’s beloved, profane protagonist in the 1951 American classic Catcher in the Rye, has come to represent the struggle to balance innocence and maturity in a very teenage-angsty sort of way. Neo-folksy singer-songwriter Colin Caulfield, who goes by the moniker Young Man, shares more than a name with Salinger’s fictional young man. His first full-length album, Ideas of Distance, was released on September 27 by Frenchkiss Records and is hauntingly woven with contemplative lyrics about growing up and finding identity. Read More »
This Sunday, DC locals Ra Ra Rasputin (along with the Pietasters and Trouble Funk) will be helping out the hungry by playing the DC Central Kitchen Benefit show Soundbites at the 9:30 Club. We’re big fans, tickets include FREE all you can eat food from 20 local eateries including Jaleo, Dangerously Delicious Pies, and Mandu, as well as five of the area’s hottest food trucks, and it’s all for a good cause! Get your tickets now at Ticketfly.com for 40 bucks a pop.
On March 14 at the 9:30 Club, I covered my very first concert for WGTB. I was fortunate enough to get to review one of my favorite artists, Ben Kweller, alongside a possibly more famous co-headliner, Pete Yorn. The two share a grungy acoustic-semi-alternative kind of sound that I find infectious, but that made my dear father giggle with mirth when I played it for him: “I love the voice cracks!”
Before the concert began, I was lucky enough to sit down to talk with Mr. Pete Yorn. When I asked about themes that have appeared throughout his repertoire, he was quick to answer. “A lot of people miss where they’re at, ‘cause they’re just trying to get to the next place,” he told me. “That’s a theme that I’ve seen come up since my first record, since I’ve been writing songs… just being present—if you’re present, you can really get the most out of every moment.” Read More »
