The Scene

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

Now that Turkey day is behind us, hopefully you are almost done digesting all that food that you shouldn’t have eaten. Those of you who went shopping today are crazy. I know you want your 10% discount or the thrill of being the first one in a store at 5am, but can’t it wait? November 29th is one of the best days of the year (except when it falls on Black Friday . . .) and this year it happens to be the same day as the fabled Virginia Tech – U. of Virginia football match-up.

Great football, food digesting and shopping is all that’s going down Saturday . . . there’s also some live music. I guess everyone is still sufficiently ready to celebrate on their long (in many cases 5 day) weekend. First on that list of music to see should be local favorites Everyone But Pete. EBP will be rockin’ the Blue Water Grille in Centreville, VA Saturday night at 9pm.

Also playing is the great environmentally friendly genetics guy, Mr. Greengenes, at Clarendon Ballroom. Pink Floyd covers by The Machine at the State Theatre. The Clarks and The Spring Standards will be playing at the 9:30 Club.

Last night, I decided to give live music a chance at Whitlow’s. Don’t get me wrong, I love Whitlow’s as a bar, but their general music line-up supports bar bands (cover and tribute bands) better than innovative original groups. DJ Williams Projekt was playing last night and it seemed like a good idea to go check them out again. I saw them several years back at the Blacksburg Steppin’ Out street festival and thoroughly enjoyed myself dancin’ in the streets of Blacksburg, VA. However, Blacksburg has something that Whitlow’s (and Arlington-Northern VA in general) doesn’t have: Hippies.
The DJ Williams Projekt has developed a reputation on the “Jam Band Circuit” playing at events like Bonaroo. The band exists somewhere between Jazz Funk and a Jam Band; my Dad likes to call it Modern Jazz (I try to distance myself from that term for multiple reasons, but it is somewhat fitting here). Whatever you want to classify them as, they rock it . . . and Whitlow’s is growing on my list of music venues.

While the Hippies were still lacking at Whitlow’s, people were having an all-out good time. The DJ Williams Projekt’s funky beats and improvised jams built the tension and release needed to get people dancin’. The crowd could feel the good time that the band was having on stage. DJ Williams’ style on guitar is both original and melodic. Often times, Williams’ playing paired with the sax and keys filled out like a horn section to give the band a very full sound.

The good news is that the DJ Williams Projekt is coming back to town soon. They’ll be playing at Whitlow’s again on Saturday, December 13th. This show was only $5, you seriously can’t be that. Check them out next time around.

Its been a while, but that doesn’t mean that we’ve been missing music. We have had some serious server problems and now we’re good to go (by the way, FIOS fast connection . . . interesting server restrictions). Too many shows have gone by without any input.

This Saturday,November 22nd, Redshift is playing at Firehouse Grill in Fairfax. They’re playing as a power trio now and are ready to rock even harder. Also playing, Kamura, Madrone, and Iris Divine. Shows starts at 9pm.

Also this Saturday, the Speaks are playing at PJ Skidoos in Fairfax.

After a 3 month hiatus, musicdetour is back, and well, maybe better than ever.  Alot has changed since we last left you.  The local scene has been living PT (Post-TT’s), and change is in the air.  Pull up a chair, and let me know what I’ve missed since we last spoke?