concert review

The entire idea of a stage vanished.  Or you could say the audience became the stage for this militant Israeli garage punk band. At the very moment the Monotonix began their set, the lead singer leapt onto the crowd and proceeded to rock out and walk over the moshers while using the ceiling’s metal bars as support. Not only the lead singer, but the guitarist, the drummer, and the entire drum set spent most of the set suspended by the audiences hands and heads, travelling back and forth across the intimate venue. No drink in the crowd was safe; beers were stolen, thrown onto the drums, and splattered onto unsuspecting hipster’s vintage leather and ironic tees. These long curly haired, wild, jungle men exuded unparalleled charisma that kept the young crowd moshing, rocking, and sweating all night. Read More »

After two years of following The Morning Benders’ music since their 2008 tour with The Kooks, I would finally get to see the California foursome again. This time the encounter would not be in New York City, but instead Washington, DC. While the band may have opened for British Pop/Rock band the Kooks then, they headlined at the Black Cat on a Friday night after two opening bands, Oberhofer and Twin Sister. Did I mention it was a sold out show?

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On Nov 16 two rising stars on the indie music scene, Glasser and Twin Shadow, played a sold-out show at the Black Cat Backstage. The disparate yet equally charismatic acts captivated the audience and threatened to burst the small venue at its seams. Read More »

Smoke swirls. A blurry forest of softly lit trees gleams on the backdrop. The lights dim. A reverent hush and eerie stillness falls over the sold-out 9:30 Club. A strangely dressed, shadowy figure crosses the stage to the center mike like a mythical creature, feathery. A lone falsetto, pure and natural, slices through the suspension, wavering ever so slightly, gaining strength till it rings out. An acoustic guitar joins in harmony. Together they echo off the walls and envelop the room.

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Whipping your hair back and forth is totally in these days.  Whether you are the ten-year-old daughter of the French Prince in long braids slinging paint across the lunchroom or the singer in an electro-pop duet with a vintage bob, hair whipping seems to be the way artists are captivating audiences in 2010. Just ask Phantogram.

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After a lot of speculation, mystery, and doubt, Lupe Fiasco is finally releasing his third studio album, Lasers, his first release since 2008.  Just two weeks ago, Atlantic records announced the release date in March 2011.  In front of an electrified Georgetown crowd, dressed in the appropriate attire for a Halloween bash, Lupe announced the upcoming release of Lasers, not only calling it the most anticipated album of 2009, 2010, and 2011 but prematurely deeming it the best album of 2011. That’s a pretty high bar to set, but, after his remarkably energetic performance, I expect nothing less than the best from his soon to be hit album.

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