The Scene

MusicDetour.com’s commentary on music, performances, and the DC metro area music scene

If you can’t make it to Mardi Gras and you live in the DC area, don’t worry, head to Fat Tuesday’s in Fairfax, VA. In DC, there is no better place to celebrate Fat Tuesday than Fat Tuesday’s. Located across the street from George Mason University, it’s sure to have its fair-share of wannabe Mardi Gras revelers. While there’s no replacement for New Orleans in mid-February, Fat Tuesday’s will have ten bands playing all day (starting at 3pm!) including:  (more…)

Poor Man’s Lobster (Photo: Courtesy Mike DiBella)

Don’t miss Poor Man’s Lobster’s Cd Release Party this Saturday February 13th at Fat Tuesday’s in Fairfax, VA. The Fairfax-based quintet has been jamming together for three years and has finally put together an album that’s sure to be funky. Poor Man’s Lobster is one of the few original bands in the northern Virginia area worth checking-out. I’ve jammed to their music several times at Fat Tuesday’s and have never been disappointed. Hopefully if they know how to push the album right, they can expand their territory – it would be a good thing for the DC area and Mid-Atlantic region to get more funky jam bands playing at the bars. It’s only $5 to get-in so don’t miss this show.

Charlie Hunter is bringing his unique guitar style back to Jammin’ Java this Saturday, January 30th at 9:30pm. He’s out touring to promote his new album “Gentlemen, I Neglected To Inform You, You Will Not Be Getting Paid“.  This time around Hunter will be playing with Eric Kalb on Drums and Curtis Fowlkes on Trombone. If you’ve never seen or heard of Charlie Hunter before, he’s best known for playing guitar and bass at the same time – it’s a really unique style and he’s funky as hell. Check this show out! Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, but make sure you get tickets before they sell-out.

This Saturday don’t miss the funk while you celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The Monster Band will be bringing it’s funky cover tunes to Whitlow’s on Wilson this Saturday, January 16th. The show should start around 10pm, but be sure to come early and enjoy Whitlow’s happy hour. It’s usually 5 bucks to get in to Whitlow’s, so it won’t break the bank.

Ethnic Detour is an instrumental trio that got started as a Quartet in the Spring of 2003 at the Virginia Tech International Street Fair. While the group’s three core musicians (Gjergji Theka, Cameron McLaughlin and David Arditi) focused on other projects, they continually came back to play the VT International Street Fair each Spring. This is a video of Nato Jenkins at the International Street Fair in 2005 when Ethnic Detour began to focus on original music. Browse the videos from that show that are also posted on YouTube, also check-out more of Gjergji’s videos while you are there.

True Sound returns to Blacksburg, Virginia during Virginia Tech’s homecoming weekend. The band will be playing at Awful Arthur’s in Blacksburg for the first time since their 2009 New Year’s Eve party. Band members are sure to bring their original blend of Hip-Hop, Soul, Rock, R&B and Reggae with extended jams to town that night. The show is Saturday, October 10th at 10pm with special guest DJ Sprigs spinning before the show and between sets. If you are in Blacksburg for Homecoming, be sure to catch this show. Tickets are $5 at the door, admission is 21+.

New Orleans has been struggling since Katrina, but unfortunately New Orleans has always been struggling. One of the ways people dealt with problems was to develop some of the only music that America can claim as its own. After the hurricane, there were many people that feared that the culture would be lost as the city is rebuilt with mansions, casinos and expensive condos. The Big Easy remains a place in desperate need of the thriving music culture that made it world famous. Rebirth Brass Band drummer Derrick Tabb is trying to do something about it. When Tabb is in town, he’s hard at work keeping kids off the street by teaching them to play music. One way to keep kids motivated is to keep them playing music every weekday from 4-7pm in the band room. No band geeks here – just kids gettin’ funky! Check-out Tabb and the Rebirth Brass Band this Thursday at The State Theatre. Doors open at 7pm – Show starts at 9pm.

Free concerts at Fort Reno Park, near the American University campus, have been a staple of muggy DC summers for more than three decades.  Beginning next week, there will be a show each Monday and Thursday evening through the end of July at 7:15.  Fort Reno Park is near the AU-Tenleytown Metro.  Fort Reno shows are still embued with the spirit of the DC straight-edge punk scene, though a variety of local bands will play.  Dogs and kids are welcome; drugs and booze are not. Crowds can be large, with a wide range of ages represented, though most who come are teenagers who are very lucky to grow up in DC.

The full schedule has been anounced, with a few “TBA” slots.  Expect more news, and at least one or two show reviews, in the coming weeks.  More after the jump.  (more…)

After getting out of a bad record contract (more on the point of bad record contracts another time), Politicks is happy to be realeasing its new album this weekend. Politicks will be performing with The Influence and Atom Strange at Iota Club on Friday, June 12th starting at 9:00pm. Tickets are $10 at the door for those 21+. The album, Paint It in Color, will be sold for $10 at the show, so go and get your copy. The album was mainly produced by the band and has given them the freedom to harness their original blend of Rock and Funk.

It seemed like The State Theatre in Falls Church, VA was beginning to lose touch with good music, but they are getting back to the funk on Thursday, April 30th. Garaj Mahal is coming to The State Theatre to play their eclectic mix of jazz, funk and jam band music. They are stopping in town before they get deep into their summer festival tour. They’re going to be jammin’ with the Midnight Spaghetti and The Chocolate G-Strings. Show starts at 8:30pm and doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 at the door or $12 if you order here.