The Scene » Ft. Reno

Review — The Final Fort Reno Show of the Summer

Richard — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:02:22 +0000

Although weather wreaked havoc on the shows the week before, rain helf off last Thursday. Instead, the large crowd, some with incredibly well-behaved dogs, who came out for the final Fort Reno show of 2009 were treated to tropical breezes and an eclectic mix of music by Grendel Babies, Casper Bangs, and Title Tracks. The sign painted on the front of the stage coyly said “maybe next year,” but the Fort Reno website promises news about next year’s concert series. I’m certainly looking forward to it. A review of last week’s season finale follows after the jump.

The Grendel Babies started the evening off with a unique set. Athough I am almost certain that this impression is incorrect in formal terms, Grendel Babies seem like 21st C. madrigals, balanced with vaudevillian humor. Marilena fronts this two-piece lilting voice and deft work on the keyboard, while Jennifer the accompanying violinist may be the most virtuoso performer to ever step onto the Fort Reno Stage. Watching Grendel Babies perform I felt like I was at Lilith Fair’s second stage, and I mean that in the best possible way, singing songs about objectified damsels who may or may not be in distress. While I have no idea whether or not this would be their inclination, I can imagine the humor of their act really coming through if they performed with one of the area’s avant garde burlesque acts at a venue such as the Palace of Wonders.

Casper Bangs took the stage next. Considering frontman Rob’s sense of fashion, clearly displayed on his website, it is odd that he took the stage in a white t-shirt and white jeans, joking between songs that he resembled a house painter. The Casper Bangs repertoire offers an intellectual take on relationship songs; anybody with a Hamlet complex can identify with the plea, “I need somebody to turn me off / I’m always on.” Perhaps their songs could be more daring, mostly fashioning psychedelia out of simplified Radiohead and Coldplay riffs, but I really liked their set, and I expect to enjoy their evolution.

I came to the park really looking forward to seeing the Title Tracks, and I was not disappointed. I’ve been missing frontman John’s band Q and not U since they broke up several years ago, but not so much now that I’ve seen what he is doing now. The Title Tracks are clearly a product of a wide range of influences, but I mostly hear early Britpop, as if Elvis Costello and Paul Weller formed a band in Liverpool in 1965. Their tight, catchy set was over in less than 30 minutes, and I definitely wanted more. I’m sure the teenagers skipping and dancing in front of the stage agreed with me.

Thanks to Ron Akins, whose pics are available on Facebook.

Review — An Evening at Fort Reno

Richard — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:56:58 +0000

On Monday evening I attended the third Fort Reno show of the summer. Fort Reno is one of those “real DC” experiences that anybody living in the area needs to at least check out. Part of what makes it great is that the bands seem to be chosen specifically because they would not normally be scheduled to play togehter. Does pretty much any club in the area offer a superior concert experience? Yeah, probably. However, they have an excellent sound system run by a professional engineer. The main difference is that the crowd is not necessarily there to see the bands as much as they are just there because it is the summer, so they have to go to Fort Reno A description of the experience and review of the entertaining shows by Batala, the Small Doses, and Cigarbox Planetarium follows after the jump.

View Larger Map
The park takes its name from Fort Reno, a Civil War-era sandstone fort constructed on the highest point in the District. The main tower really looks like something one expects to find in Europe, not America, as it looms over the park. The stage, simple but permanent, allows for a crowd of a few hundred to arrange itself a few steps from Chesapeake St., where a very smart ice cream man had parked his truck. If only a vendor with a hot dog cart would join him. I would have enjoyed a soda and a couple of halfsmokes during the show.

Christian Lander could find inspiration for several Stuff White People Like entries at Fort Reno. I have to admit that the ethnic demographics of Fort Reno are no more diverse than any indie rock show, but that folks who come out for the shows do otherwise represent a broad spectrum. People of all ages, including parents with very small children, arranged themselves on blankets. Most ate some form of picnic dinner, many dining from Whole Foods shopping bags. Dozens of younger folks, most teenagers, threw frisbees on the hillside behind the stage. They reminded me of my friends growing up, as we spent Summer Sunday evenings at the drive-in theater, usually ignoring the movie. We had the drive-in and they have Fort Reno. I think they win.

As I arrived, Batala, an all-female Afro-Brazillian percussion band, had just begun to perform on the grass in front of the stage. I’m definitley a layman here, but it seems to me that what separates them from any other drumline has less to do with their playing and more to do with their selection of instruments and their presence. The ladies all wear loose-fitting patterned chaps that look like skirts from a distance with emblazoned t-shirts. Batala’s set consisted of three ten-minute songs, each featuring poly rhythms that rise and fall. Their sensuous rhythms and movements are infectious, but did not inspire dancing among this crowd. Batala offered an excellent aparatif, something that few attendees probably expected leading off an evening that would generally consist of flavors of indie rock.

That is exactly what we got with the Small Doses, who took the stage, which had the names of the evening’s three bands spray painted on its front. Perhaps I’m naive, but I expect a three-piece band to be more bluesy, while the Small Doses bring more of a pop-punk sound. Their songs are very fun and catchy. However, the only attendee dancing was an adorable little girl down front who formed a one-toddler circle pit. These Aussie emigres are an excellent addition to the DC music scene, and I look forward to seeing them again. “Purple Lipstick,” which I have listened to over and over on their MySpace, may be their best song, but I cannot wait to hear their full-length release that they claim is in the works. Thanks to the kids who set up a bake sale by the stage, as their brownie really hit the spot during this set.

As the sun set and the line of streetlights that run through the park, with one right over the stage, took effect, Cigarbox Planetarium hung a sign that looked like a list of available ice cream flavors but which was actually their setlist. It is odd that only one of the evening’s three bands included a vocalist, and that one of the instrumental bands was the headliner. Cigarbox Planetarium blend very modern sounds with bossonova and other well-aged elements. The darkness chased dozens of teenagers down off the hillside and they gleefully danced in big group in front of the stage. I planned to leave a couple of songs into their set, but Cigarbox Planetarium held my interest.

Check out the Fort Reno schedule. You probably won’t be blown away by all three bands on any night, since each show offers such variety. However, if you find one band you really want to see I bet you will find that whole evening delightful. Amanda Mackaye, wife sister of Ian, and the other volunteers do a great job of organizing the series (though a few Port-o-Johns would be nice). In addition to accepting donations by PayPal and check they sell t-shirts at the side of the stage. Even though the shirts themselves are cheap and they only go up to XL (I wear a XXL), they do have neat designs to them, and I considered the $10 purchase my donation to the cause.

I will definitely attend and review the finale at the end of the month, as I cannot wait to see Casper Bangs and the Title Tracks. Is there another night that I would be a fool to miss? If you think so, let me know in the comments.

Thanks to Brian Smith for the pictures, which I swiped from Facebook.

Fort Reno Summer Concert Series Starts Next Week — UPDATE — Full Schedule Announced

Richard — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:10:06 +0000

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. Event organizers relase information through a website and a Facebook group. Here is that schedule:

MONDAY, JUNE 22ND
Pash [Artist Info]
Funk Ark [Artist Info]
The Sweater Set [Artist Info]

THURSDAY, JUNE 25TH
The Electricutions [Artist Info]
Meow Vs. Meow [Artist Info]
NOON:30 [Artist Info]

MONDAY, JUNE 29TH
Cigarbox Planetarium [Artist Info]
Small Doses [Artist Info]
Batala [Artist Info]

THURSDAY, JULY 2ND
Caverns [Artist Info]
Aerialist [Artist Info]
TBA

MONDAY, JULY 6TH
Go Home Robot [Artist Info]
Seamonsters [Artist Info]
Power Pirate [Artist Info]

THURSDAY, JULY 9TH
TBA
Imperial China [Artist Info]
FFFever [Artist Info]

MONDAY, JULY 13TH
Poor But Sexy [Artist Info]
Laura Zax [Artist Info]
Formers [Artist Info]

THURSDAY, JULY 16TH
Godisheus [Artist Info]
Girl Loves Distortion [Artist Info]
Laughing Man [Artist Info]

MONDAY, JULY 20TH
Meredith Bragg [Artist Info]
Hey Arbore [Artist Info]
TBA

THURSDAY, JULY 23RD
Soft Power [Artist Info]
Benjy Ferree [Artist Info]
TBA

MONDAY, JULY 27
TBA
Stoney Lonesome [Artist Info]
Pree [Artist Info]

THURSDAY, JULY 30
Title Tracks [Artist Info]
Casper Bangs [Artist Info]
Grendel Babies [Artist Info]

The first band each night will go on at 7:15 and the last band should go off stage about 9:30.

These shows rely upon volunteers and donations to make everything go. See the Fort Reno site if you wish to donate by check or PayPal. There are a few specific bands I would like to see added, but I will refrain from sharing my wishlist here to avoid pissing on the whole schedule, which looks great. As I may learn what bands fill those “TBA” slots I will pass along the news here.