Category Archives: Music

Like the White Stripes before them, Shovels & Rope bring the two person, man and woman, guitar and drums lineup to life. The exception is that they dwell more in country roots, with Appalachian gospel seeping through their down-home harmonies and lots of wistful tales of traveling on the road. But there’s more: In addition [...]

On the various Luna tours the band has done since it reunited in 2015 following a 10 year pause, they almost seemed miffed to have to play the old stuff fans wanted. Not that they had much new stuff — just an album of covers and another of instrumentals. But now, embarked on one of [...]

Before there were labels like alt country or Americana, The Long Ryders were providing the connection between country and rock with a punk punch through their very limited recording years of 1984 to 87. They proved the thread between the pioneering work of the Byrds and Gene Clark (who lent vocals on the first Long [...]

“Welcome to the 7:30 Club!” Billy Bragg said, at the outset of his three-night residency at The Birchmere. He was both poking fun of the Alexandria club’s famously early nights, while name checking the D.C. area’s other famous club, the 9:30. It was the first of several residencies he’ll also do in New York and [...]

The B-52’s are marking their 40th anniversary the same way they might have celebrated their 20th, their first or a random Tuesday – with a party. True to their skull ’n’ beehive colors that declare “Born to Party” they got a big crowd at D.C.’s Anthem riled up with a freewheeling set of their catchy, [...]

Peter Frampton supercharged his career with a live album decades ago, so he’s going out playing live as well. In a stop at the Anthem in D.C. Wednesday, he seemed to have the kind of bouncy energy and joy in performance that doesn’t usually come on anything titled “Finale – The Farewell Tour.” Frampton at [...]