Longevity is key!
In that vein, DC9 is celebrating 20 years of music excellence by showcasing some very fine artists in the month of February. Also, I just happen to share the 20 years living in DC with DC9 – they opened two months before I moved to DC in 2004.
The Runaway in Brookland was on the verge of closing after a recent announcement, but the landlord reduced the rent to save the day (source: Washington City Paper). The sister bar of Slash Run has been open nearly two years, and I’ve gone a few times for their burgers and to see a couple shows. Great news, I can keep going! And so can you!
And, as always, find local bands in yellow. Hint: Go see local music at DC’s small venues. You’ll be helping those businesses and artists in a big way, and you’ll most likely enjoy yourself as well!
Top 20 Concerts for February
Sarah Jarosz @ Sixth & I (2/1/24) (Sarah Jarosz is a folk, Americana singer-songwriter based in Nashville and just released her seventh album, Polaroid Lovers (via Rounder Records), on January 26th. The latest single “When the Lights Go Out” includes the lyrics that spawned the title of the album; ‘In a dream we were Polaroid lovers, in the deep where the edges don’t lie.’ She has also won four Grammys.)
Scythian w/ Ben-David Warner @ The Hamilton Live (2/2/24) (The return of your favorite DC Celtic rock band!)
Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble @ Rhizome (2/6/24) (In honor of Black History Month, Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble is embarking on their 50th annual February North American tour. Their new album, Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit, lands March 8th on Spiritmuse Records, and was praised for its “soulful vocals [and] frankness” (48Hills). The upcoming tour will see the trio — El’Zabar (vocals/percussion), Alex Harding (bass), and Corey Wilkes (trumpet) — preview the record as they continue to expand on their half-century contributions to the canon of Great Black Music.)
DiToro w/ KINDA EVIL + Chasing Straights + Griefcat @ Pearl Street Warehouse (2/8/24) (A 3/4 local band situation you don’t want to miss! Griefcat has an album coming out on April 19 titled Late Stage Capitalism, and they have been nominated for five Wammie’s in 2024. They have their own blend of music styles, as they are nominated for both Country/Americana and Pop categories, and have three videos vying for a Wammie win. KINDA EVIL is always kinda great when they perform live. And DiToro will headline with her music heavily influenced by 90’s and early 00’s music.)
Girlgenius Showcase w/ Velvet Grace + Flairity + Ok Ivy + Veronica Faison + Devon Williams @ Songbyrd Music House (2/8/24)
BAILEN @ The Atlantis (2/9/24) (This alternative rock band is comprised of siblings, including fraternal twins. Their latest album was last year’s Tired Hearts (via Fantasy Records).)
Kara Levchenko w/ Taisha Estrada + Eyefish Ink @ The Pocket (2/10/24)
Margaret Glaspy @ DC9 (2/10/24) (I last witnessed Margaret Glaspy opening for Spoon in 2022, and her set abounded with glorious guitar shredding. Read the review of that show.)
Greensky Bluegrass @ The Anthem (2/9 & 2/10/24) (Two possible options for your bluegrass jam fix. They’ve been around since 2000, and have amassed a huge catalog of music – eight studio albums, including 2022’s Stress Dreams, and a bunch of live albums.
Snail Mail @ DC9 (2/13/24) Sold Out (Part of DC9’s 20th Anniversary celebration, they invited Maryland’s favorite indie rocker Snail Mail and no surprise that show sold out immediately. Read a review of a previous show.)
Deap Vally @ Black Cat (2/14/24) (Deap Vally, an alternative rock band from LA, is touring for the last time after 10+ years of being a band. Their current lives don’t fit with the recording and touring cycle, as Lindsey Troy states, “That model isn’t compatible with our current lives. We found we just can’t function as a traditional band anymore.” Julie Edwards continues, “It’s time for both of us to explore motherhood and other avenues of our lives properly, rather than squeezing them into our artist’s hustle.” They will play their debut album, SISTRIONIX, in its entirety. Don’t miss their farewell show in DC!)
Matt Pond PA ft. Alexa Rose @ Jammin Java (2/16/24)
Keep Your Secrets w/ Free Friends + Hungry Bug + We Are Not Spies + Kings of the Wild Things @ Atlas Brew Works (2/17/24) (Hot ticket full of great local bands! Can confirm that Keep Your Secrets is a great DC-based pop punk band. Do it.)
Cat Power @ Lincoln Theatre (2/20/24) (Later this year, Cat Power will tour with Modest Mouse and The Pixies – at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 14th, but until then she’s celebrating her acclaimed new live album, Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert, with complete performances of the 15-song concert around the world.
Tyler Ramsey @ Pearl Street Warehouse (2/20/24) (Tyler is the former lead guitarist for Band of Horses, and the vibe of his music is very much still in that vein. Count me in.)
Jess Williamson @ The Atlantis (2/23/24) (Jess Williamson, a country artist based in LA, is touring in support of her 2023 album, Time Ain’t Accidental (via Mexican Summer) that is said to revel in the earthly and carnal – inspiring images of prairies and oceans, the traveling the highway, dancing, sex, and physical desire. So, good things.)
Portugal. The Man w/ SNACKTIME @ The Anthem (2/24/24) (SNACKTIME gets their moment to shine in DC opening for Portugal. The Man. This Philly-based soul-funk-alternative band formed during the pandemic in 2020, and became a local symbol of positivity during that trying time. They have become fixtures in Philadelphia, performing at 76ers and Phillies games, and they also performed at Eric Andre’s 40 Birthday Party.)
Madi Diaz @ The Atlantis (2/27/24) (Singer-songwriter Madi Diaz is touring in support of her new album, Weird Faith (via ANTI-), coming out on February 9th. She recently released a new single/video, “Everything Almost” from the album.)
The Kills @ 9:30 Club (2/28 & 3/1/24) (Two shows! They will knock the rock and roll out of you, but you’ll recover. Probably. The Kills just released their sixth album, God Games (via Domino), and I need to get my ass in gear and have a listen.)
Hurray for the Riff Raff @ The Atlantis (2/29/24) Sold Out (In 2023, I was able to catch Alynda Segarra (aka Hurray for the Riff Raff) live at a free Millennium Stage concert at Kennedy Center. That was only an hour, and it was great. And it’s on a Leap Year Day!)
Bonus!
(For when 20 concerts doesn’t quite feel like enough.)
Work Wife w/ Renny Conti + Glosser @ Pie Shop (2/1/24) (Glosser is from DC!)
Jamie Wyatt @ The Atlantis (2/10/24)
The Prize Fighter Inferno @ The Atlantis (2/16 & 2/17/24) (Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria embarks on a tour for his acoustic/electrica solo project with two shows at The Atlantis!) Sold Out
Pretty Bitter w/ Massie + griztoy @ Union Stage (2/17/24)
Bat Boy w/ Flowerbomb + Last Wednesday @ Quarry House Tavern (2/22/24)
Raffaella w/ Why Not @ Songbyrd Music House (2/26/24)
Bonus Preview
(Get ready for March!)
The Kills @ 9:30 Club (3/1/24)
Maddie Zahm @ 9:30 Club (3/3/24)
Porno For Pyros w/ Tigercub @ The Fillmore Silver Spring (3/3/24)
The Beaches @ The Howard Theatre (3/4/24) Sold Out
The Dandy Warhols @ 9:30 Club (3/4/24)
Cold War Kids @ 9:30 Club (3/5 & 3/6/24) 3/5 Sold Out
Tedeschi Trucks Band @ Warner Theater (3/5, 3/6 & 3/7/24)
A DC Journey 