Kudos to DeMatha Catholic High School band founder/director John Mitchell, who was profiled by the New York Times yesterday. more ›

It’s almost impossible to discuss the state of punk and hardcore music in this town without someone making a grand pronouncement like “the D.C. scene is dead”. Ask any of the old timers and they’ll tell you that the kids in Washington just don’t care about punk rock anymore. It’s not hard to understand where these folks are coming from; given the vital role that our city played in the evolution of hardcore music, it’s surprising that relatively few bands in the District carry the torch to this day. However, declaring the scene “dead” is a tad hyperbolic — a punk community does still exist in D.C., it’s just a little harder to find nowadays. more ›

A band name like Garaj Mahal triggers certain expectations when one first hears it. It could be an adventurous group, fusing punk, rock, blues, or jazz, with an exotic variety of world rhythms. This expectation only grows after learning that the group includes a Pakistani/Chilean guitarist and a German/Liberian bassist. That is what we expected just before last night's early set at Blues Alley, but that is not exactly what the band delivered. Instead of contemporary music infused with global elements, the energetic five-song set showcased eighty minutes of classic uptempo jazz-rock fusion that time warped the audience back to the electric jazz of the 1970s. more ›

Most unsigned bands are lucky to have a few dozen fans at their concerts. Now there’s a chance for local artists to bring their music to a much larger audience—the greater D.C. metropolitan area. more ›

CBS finally released video to YouTube today of that terrifying Battle of the Bands between Tony Snow and Bob Schieffer we previewed late last month. It's just exactly as scary as you might imagine.... more ›

We love D.C., but we know it's not perfect. Is there something you think we're missing? Let us know. I don't want quibble to with Graham's review of last Friday's Arcade Fire show, or the generally positive blogospheric reaction to the concert. I was in attendance, too, and thought the band put on a solid performance of its impressively powerful catalog. I left satisfied, if a little disappointed that the night hadn't been as awe-inspiring... more ›

Good chilly morning to you, Washington. Our neighbors to the north have officially got themselves a new rock-star Governor, as Martin O'Malley was sworn in yesterday afternoon in Maryland to the sounds of the Saw Doctors, an Irish rock band that flew from Dublin for the event, and later to his own band, O'Malley's March, at his inaugural ball. Not that we're jealous or anything, but does anyone know if Mayor Fenty plays an instrument?... more ›

Despite the multiple accolades some of us have given Death Cab for Cutie's live shows in the past, sometimes, the band's lo-fi stylings and muted yet upbeat melodies just don't quite do it for all of us. A lot of times, their albums -- though plenty and successful -- always seem to leave us wanting a little something more. Last night however, not only did we get that little bit more, we were converted into... more ›

If former Pink Floyd brainchild Roger Waters and Black Sabbath guitarist Tommy Iommi were to contribute to a joint musical project, the result would sound a lot like Tool. Alternatingly heavy and haunting, Tool has mastered the art of being a metal band without falling into the usual traps associated with the genre. While their music chugs along like many of their metal contemporaries, it often bucks convention by employing complex rhythms, odd structures, stark dynamic shifts, and soothing vocal melodies. Moreover, the band has remained mysterious and above the usual musical fray, releasing only five studio albums in 15 years, only rarely granting interviews, and featuring lyrics, artwork, and videos so cyptic that philosophical debates exist as to their meaning and purpose. more ›

MONDAY >> If you like your electroclash sample-free, head to the 9:30 Club for Liverpool's Ladytron. $20 >> Not quite sure what to make of it, but the Bodog Battle of the Bands rolls on this Monday and Tuesday at DC9. $15 each night >> The last time Architecture in Helsinki came to the Black Cat, they tested the stage's human-holding capacity. Though Lambchop and the Tosca String Quartet may have given them a run... more ›

FRIDAY: more ›

We've been waiting for the official V Fest details for a little while now. We'd gotten hints that the September 23 affair at Pimlico would include The Raconteurs, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and more. All of those: confirmed. Here's the full lineup: Bands The Red Hot Chili Peppers; The Who; The Killers; Flaming Lips; The Raconteurs; Gnarls Barkley; Scissor Sisters; Keane; Thievery Corporation; Clap Your Hands Say Yeah;... more ›

Bands driven by female harmonies often bear the burden of their Lillith-esque predecessors too heavily. You know the type – bands where the strongest positive adjective you can think of is “pretty.” Arlington-based 5 piece The Hickories don’t fall prey to that malady. Helmed and founded by lead vocalist Michelle Volpe, the band released their 5-song EP, Lost In Pennsylvania, last fall. I was all set to review their show on the 18th at Iota, but a touch of the bird flu limited me to reviewing this impressive debut instead. more ›

This week's agenda written by DCist Contributor Chris Snyder. With the arrival of the new year comes a reflection on the past and the anticipation of what lies ahead. Similarly, this week in music offers both a chance to experience some classic rock remixed and a sneak peak at some rising stars. MONDAY: >> Start your week off on a high note by catching former Yes bassist , Chris Squire, and newly added drummer Alan... more ›

The music world is frequently awash with news that this or that johnny-come-lately hit band got where it's at due to the tectonic bluzz of the music blogosphere. Many music fans including, until recently, us, assume this means Pitchfork and NME and go along their merry way, never knowing the frightening music underworld, dank with incestuous linkage and the often licit posting of mp3s, dirty with the latest mashups and double secret background band gossip... more ›

We here at DCist go to a lot of concerts. A trip to the 9:30 Club is usually less "event of the season" and more "Wednesday." Last night's Stars and Death Cab For Cutie show was a resounding exception. This is one we're not gonna forget anytime soon. Both bands put on nearly flawless shows that really raised the bar. more ›

, and you can catch them Sunday night at Iota in Arlington with openers King of France. Doors are at 8:30 and tickets are $11. In advance of the show, lead singer Ben Trokan was nice enough to answer some of our questions via email. more ›

(Interview by DCist contributor Justin Kielsgard) In the late 70s, through forces still unknown, six different mothers on the East coast gave birth to six different babies, all somehow imbued in the womb with the influences of Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, the Beatles, and Dave Brubeck. The children, all boys, were raised on Voodoo Economics, Marvel Comics, RUN DMC records, and the public school system of the 1980s. Later on in their lives, they somehow... more ›

TUESDAY: >> The Sea and Cake’s Sam Prekop does solo post-rock at the Black Cat. $12. Local singer Brandon Butler (formerly of Canyon) opens. WEDNESDAY: >> Get a huge dose of hipsterness when The Killers (at right) play Merriweather Post Pavilion. Bands-of-the-moment Keane, Louis XIV, Regina Spektor, and Maximo Park all open. Lawn tickets at $25 are still available at Ticketmaster. >> If you don't feel like making the trek out to Merriweather, you can... more ›

Here's a quick sampling of what's going on around town this weekend. Stay dry! TONIGHT: Music. Local bands you probably haven't heard of: The Routineers, Two If By Sea, People Who Know People 9:30 @ Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW Movie. Monty Python and the Holy Grail Midnight @ Visions Cinema Bistro (repeats Saturday at midnight) Help Visions kick the keg. $10. SATURDAY: Book Sale Starts 9 a.m. @ Radisson Barcelo Hotel, 2121 P... more ›