9:30 Club

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 23^rd, 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.

Read More »

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 »

Royksopp, the Norwegian experimental electronica band, played a sold-out performance Wednesday, March 23rd at the 930 Club. Happiness abounded. The band came onstage at 11 pm dressed in a wardrobe of bizarre and ever-changing Nordic influenced costumes, including sheer canvas face nets, flashing light-up headpieces with feathery wings, and a full bear costume. An enormous sheet with a print of a boom box graced the back of the stage.

“What day is it? Is it Wednesday? You know we really just don’t care,” opened the lead singer, Svein Berge in funny, clipped, Norwegian-accented English. Thus began a night of carefree giddiness that only Nordic music and animal-inspired dancing can create. Read More »

Photo Credit: Timothy DeVita

Much like the effects of Crystal Castles’ fans’ intoxication, I left the rave-like concert dripping with sweat, my ears ringing, and a nearing morning of “coming down.” The sweat; however, was mostly not from my own body, the ringing was a side effect of the haunting synthesizer, and the sensation of withdrawal, from my reinvigorated admiration for the Toronto-based “Thrash” duo, Crystal Castles.

Read More »

Midway through Jonathan Richman’s set on Saturday at the 9:30 club, a fan yelled “How about some oldies?” Richman responded, “How much older do you want, I’m almost 60.” This exchange illustrated three key things about the singer. First, in 1971-2, he recorded one of the greatest albums of the rock era – The Modern Lovers. Second, that was a long time ago. In fact, he opened the night with a reworked acoustic version of “Old World” (a favorite off The Modern Lovers), which exchanges nostalgia for longing for a break from the past (while still maintaining melody and lyrical structure from the original). Third, he still maintains a constant sense of humor that goes along with a childlike attitude. The latter was most important throughout his performance on Saturday, where his act blended humor, music, and simple lightheartedness into an overall joyous experience.

Read More »