Review: Yo La Tengo at the Lincoln Theatre
I like to think it’s because of Ira Kaplan’s origins as a rock writer for the Village Voice and the old New York Rocker, that he and his wife Georgia…
Rock Review: The Fratellis at The 9:30 p.m.
It might have been fitting that the Fratellis’ big sold out show at the 9:30 Club Monday came on the same night preseason hockey started. It is their anthem “Chelsea…
Sutton Foster on Doing TV and ‘Gravy’
It was a busy time to try to catch Sutton Foster for a Washington Post Q&A in advance of her appearance last weekend with the National Symphony Orchestra for their…
Sheer Mag, Downtown Boys Rock DC9
Sheer Mag is one of the coolest band names you could think of, conjuring up both the term “sheer magnitude” as well as an image of shiny, sheared-off magnesium wheels…
Review: Modest Mouse at Echostage
Nineties bands, like the bands of the decades that preceded them, are learning that it’s better to retain the name of the beloved old outfit even if everything changes rather…
Miley Takes Over VMAs; Puppies Too
Just two years after he tweaked her little behind into her own moment at the event, Miley Cyrus is back at the MTV Video Music Awards (MTV, 9 p.m.), invited…
Richard Thompson at the Birchmere
In his black jeans, shirt and beret, Richard Thompson takes the stage with an almost military look; his guitar strap could almost be mistaken for an ammunition belt. Though is…
Other Things I’ve Written Lately
Here are some links to some other pieces I’ve written lately: Recalling a local legendary DJ who steered the Soul Train tracks to Annapolis gets some attention in the Smithsonian’s…
Courtney Barnett at The 9:30 Club
How can a sneer, a riff and a witty turn of phrase sound so fresh? They’ve been crucial ingredients for great rock for decades but Australia’s Courtney Barnett makes it…
Paul Weller at The 9:30 Club
Paul Weller kicked off his North American tour with a little bit of jet-caused dry throat. At least that’s how he explained downing a liter or so of bottled water…