Walking into Jammin’ Java Friday night, here’s what I knew about Philly rockers Marah: 1) High Fidelity and About a Boy author Nick Hornby, a man who has documented his musical preferences at least enough for me to know I largely share them, loves on this band so much he devoted one of his book columns in Believer magazine a couple of years ago to their largely unsung magnificence. 1a) Stephen King –Josh Ritter…
>> In case you missed our full interview with Josh Ritter this morning, check it out before heading over to see the singer/songwriter at 9:30 club, with Old School Freight Train. $20 tickets are still available, doors 7:30 p.m. >> Renowned poet Simon Armitage is at Olsson’s in Old Town for a free reading of his latest translation of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”. 7 p.m., read all about it in our preview….
Versatile instrument, the piano. The primarily guitar-based P.J. Harvey turns to it to help her write an album of sober, somber chamber music, while the Idaho-bred, Oberlin-educated, equally guitar-centric Josh Ritter uses it to help him loosen up. At least that was the way he made The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, his fifth album since 2000, but his first since 2006’s The Animal Years elevated him from being just another huge-in-Ireland singer-songwriter to someone…
Monday >> It’s been quite a while since Czech avant-rockers Už Jsme Doma have toured the U.S. If you’ve never had the chance to see them live over the course of their 22-year career, tonight at the Black Cat backstage is your chance. The band has defied easy categorization with its loud, chaotic and proggy punk sound, but it matters little what you call it. It’s amazing stuff, and takes on an even more intense…
Last January, as my girlfriend and I were making our way down towards U Street en route to see some Unbuckled alumni play the 9:30 Club, she talked me into checking out Nethers, the opening band, instead of grabbing a few drinks at DC9. “You never know, they might become your new favorite band.” Little did she know how right she would be. I was immediately smitten with the laid back, psychedelic folk rock…
It’s been a…weird week for D.C. music lovers. Fur flew over the dos and don’ts of ticket sale announcements. Strange things were afoot with venue booking. We all got twitterpated about Unbuckled. Before we move on to telling you about some things to look forward to, may we just say how much awesome Nethers brought to the Black Cat’s back stage last night? This is a truly great band, D.C. or otherwise. They’ve got well…
