Category Archives: Entertainment

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Serena Maneesh @ DC9 4/7/10

Serena Maneesh
courtesy of Serena Maneesh.

Norwegian, neo-shoegazer, wunderkinds Serena Maneesh (finally!) returned to the DC area on Wednesday night when they played a painfully short but brilliant set at DC9. It has been four long years since Serena Maneesh first brought their mammoth live sound to our area; when they played to an embarrassingly small crowd at the State Theater in 2006. I was one of the lucky few in attendance that night and I have been a babbling fool about this band ever since; singing their praises every time the shoegazer revival is up for discussion and playing just about every track off their first self-titled debut at my DJ nights over the years. If you read my original review and then their #2 spot on my 2006 best shows list, it is obvious how taken I was by their My Bloody Valentine-esque approach to live performance. The State Theater show is one of the best shows I have ever attended. Hence my many years of agony awaiting their return.
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Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ 9:30 Club 4/5/10

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
courtesy of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club rumbled into town on Monday night to subject a sold-out 9:30 Club to a shock and awesome display of rock-n-roll annihilation. Touring in support of their latest long-player, “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo“, BRMC embraced that album’s raw power style to play a set that was fast, loose, and loud. So loud that it often felt like the band was testing the audience’s commitment to BRMC’s maximum rock approach. The noise assault drove fans out in staggered waves through the set but left behind a sizable core of diehards to truly enjoy the display of sonic audacity and seemingly-effortless talent being unleashed on stage. Being a long-time BRMC fan, I was a bit shocked at the levels with which they could still manage to surprise and impress. After many years of watching Black Rebel Motorcycle Club perform, their Monday night, aural brainwashing made me feel like I was seeing the band for the first time all over again.

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Adventures, Entertainment, Fun & Games, History, Technology, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors, The Hill, The Mall
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DC Podcast Tours Led By Middle Schoolers

Photo courtesy of
‘Ksenya 06’
courtesy of ‘yospyn’

WOW!  Alexandria’s Sandburg Middle School has developed ten awesome DC podcast tours that offer fabulous insights into our city’s neighborhoods, monuments, museums and local shops/restaurants.  Each podcast is accompanied by a informational guide that includes the closest metro stop, address, entrance fees and relevant website. How useful! The tours and voice overs are all performed by Sandburg students, and can be easily downloaded to your ipod or mp3 player. What a stellar find and what a stellar way for students and DCers to learn about our nation’s capital.

Entertainment, Fun & Games, The Daily Feed
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Sports Cartoon Offers The Nats Some Pitching Advice

Opening-Day-With-Obama

He might’ve thrown the ceremonial first pitch wide and high for a left handed hitter on Opening Day at Nats Park, but after today’s clobbering of the Nationals by the Phillies (I’ll put it to you this way, the score is 11-1 at the end of seven innings) this cartoon originally posted by sports comic site nbspn.com might be something for Riggleman to consider.

See an enlarged version of the cartoon after the page break. Continue reading →

Downtown, Entertainment, Special Events, The Features
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National Geographic Live: April 2010

2501 Migrants: A Journey, courtesy of the filmmakers and National Geographic

The 2010 National Geographic Live series continues in April with a mix of music, movies, and food. The National Geographic Museum is offering up another two pairs of tickets for WeLoveDC readers, unless otherwise noted. Simply comment below (PLEASE use a legit email address and your first name) with what two events – in preferred order – you’d like to attend. We’ll do a random drawing on Wednesday, April 7 at 10 a.m. and get the winners set up with their first (or second, if your first choice is full) selection. Keep in mind that tickets are for single events only.

2501 Migrants: A Journey ($10)
April 7, 7 pm

This 2008 Mexican film documents Oaxacan artist Alejandro Santiago’s creative response to the impact of migration on rural Mexico. A discussion with the filmmaker, seven-time award-winning director Yolanda Cruz, will follow the film. Washington, D.C. premiere.

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All Politics is Local, Entertainment, Music, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine @ Ottobar 3/28 & The Black Cat 3/30

courtesy of martindd23

Jello Biafra will turn 52-years old in June but you wouldn’t know it from listening to his new album “The Audacity of Hype” or by watching his punk-as-f*ck live show. Fueled by a combination of unyielding political outrage and a bottomless reserve of poetic wit, Jello Biafra has been calling it like he sees it to anyone and everyone who will listen (and sometimes to those who refuse too) for over 30 years. Biafra’s various political platforms have included his legendary, California, punk band, The Dead Kennedys; numerous musical collaborations, several spoken word tours, and most recently his first ‘official’ band in 25 years, The Guantanamo School of Medicine.
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Entertainment, Music, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Go Appreciate Some Jazz This Month

Photo courtesy of
‘Live Jazz’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) starts today as a part of the Smithsonian Institutes’s effort to keep the art of Jazz alive and well here in its birth country.

JAM started in 2001 as an annual event that paying tribute to jazz both as a historic and living American art form. Since then, it has grown into a nationwide celebration in all 50 states plus a worldwide month of mention in 40 countries.

Events include master classes with professional Jazz musicians and composers, film screenings, jam sessions, concerts, and many more interactive activities.

Click here for a full list of the month’s events.

Entertainment, Music, Night Life, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Midnight Spin

MS Piano
Photo by Rachel Levitin

The Cubs came to town to play the Nationals last July. As a Chicago North Sider by birth, I refuse to miss any Cubs-Nats games played inside the Beltway. As luck would have it, I showed up at the Bullpen beer garden outside Nationals Park before game two of the Cubs-Nats series; the same night Midnight Spin happened to be the entertainment on tap.

I remember it like it was yesterday. A friend of mine and I were a few lite beers into our evening about an hour before game time when out of the loud speakers rang the opening chords to Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride” à la Midnight Spin. It was love at first listen.

Beer induced love is a pure love, at least in my experience. My friend bet me that I wouldn’t remember the band’s name in the morning. That friend was wrong. Unlike a beer induced one-night stand, not only did I remember their name, but I wanted a second date. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Fun & Games, News, People, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Newest Wax Statue Elicits “Who The F*^k Is That?”

Photo courtesy of
‘Free S. Gomez’
courtesy of ‘PicturesAllDisney’

Today, Madame Tussauds in Washington DC revealed the newest addition to their wax museum, Selena Gomez. Who’s that? You logically ask. She’s one of those tween Disney Channel stars, like the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Zack Efron, etc., that gets swarmed everywhere she goes by screaming 13 year olds and she likely makes more money than God. Unfortunately, the “actress” was unavailable to attend the unveiling of her statue as she’s on tour promoting her band’s latest album.  So disappointing. I hope they place her right next to the figures of Babe Ruth, Buzz Aldrin and Winston Churchill.

Entertainment, Music, The Daily Feed
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Puns Are Fun When Mixed With Music

Photo courtesy of
‘DC9’
courtesy of ‘Chris DiGiamo’

Ever felt like going to a concert that your “kindly pun-loving English teacher would love“? While the answer to this question is, “Um….probably not,” I urge you to change that answer.

Three piece band Phil and the Osophers are a group of indie rockers who lend a great deal of thought to each word chosen while crafting their song lyrics. They can be found opening for A Sunny Day in Glasgow with Faux Slang this Sunday night at DC9 for an 8:30 p.m., 18+ show. Tickets are $10.

Alexandria, Entertainment
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Requiem for a Video Store*

Photo by author.

On April 30th the DC metropolitan area loses one of its truly unique businesses when Video Vault in Old Town closes the door on its astonishing collection of movie rental rarities for the last time. Like so many long-running, specialty businesses in the area, Video Vault has finally succumbed to the perfect storm of online competitors and the economic downturn. Add to that Video Vault’s main business being the renting of out-of-print movies on VHS in an age when VCRs are quickly becoming collectors’ items in their own right, and their closing seems almost inevitable.

Like so many of their incredibly rare movies, after April 30th, Video Vault will soon be impossible to find. For the next month however, Video Vault is still open, still renting, and is now selling off their inventory of thousands of ultra-rare movies. If you are a movie fan and have never experienced Video Vault, I highly encourage you to go before the store is gone. Browsing Video Vault is entertainment in itself. They feature specialty sections full of eye-catching oddities, themed displays that are movie-geek mana such as Extreme Asian Horror or the Blind Dead collection, and of course the infamous Cult room; a vault within the Vault that features the titillating and taboo, a wonderful tribute to shock and schlock cinema that is unlike anything DC will ever see again.
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Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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9:30 Club To Host U.S. Air Guitar Championship Regionals

Photo courtesy of
‘The Fro, Finals (finished 5th place)’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

For those about to rock … here’s your chance! The D.C. Regional Air Guitar Championships are being held this April at the 9:30 Club.

The Official U.S. Air Guitar Championship website reports that entry slots for D.C. are nearly full. If you want to enter — prop up the digital camera, throw together your most rockin’ of rockin’ fits (and by “fit”, I mean “outfit”), and convince those judges you’ve got what it takes to compete by sending in an audition video via YouTube.

All videos must be under a minute long and sent to list_serve@930.com by Sunday, March 21.

Winners will be announced March 31 and regionals will be held on April 10.

Rock on!

Entertainment, Music, Night Life, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: GroundScore

groundscore

All GroundScore wants is to have a good time and watch you dance. And no – that isn’t creepy. It’s freakin’ awesome.

This trio of DC metro-area jammers debuted their first full-length record late last year and is now determined to bring that “feel good” feeling back into people’s lives one east coast town at a time. They’re a group of self-proclaimed reggae rocking, blues driven, jamming machines who rehearse with the recording tape running at all times. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Music, Night Life
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New Venue: U Street Music Hall

photo by Sam Vasfi.

Two of the hardest working DJs in DC, Will Eastman and Jesse Tittsworth, are about to drop a bomb on U Street in the form of their new 300-capacity nightclub, U Street Music Hall. Destined to become one of DC’s best dance destinations, U Street Music Hall is located at 1115 U Street NW in the very cool, basement space vacated by Cue Bar.

Eastman and Tittsworth have taken over the space and cleared everything out to make room for a massive, 60-foot long, wooden dance floor (built over cork for extra bounce and comfort), a gigantic DJ booth that is “larger than some venues in DC”, and a 40,000 Watt sound-system that is designed to “physically compel you to dance”.
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Entertainment, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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The Eagles Announce June Tour Stop At Nationals Park

Photo courtesy of
‘03106-17Crop’
courtesy of ‘furcafe’

Dave Matthews Band aren’t the only headliner’s planning to rock out at Nationals Park this summer.

Satisfy your craving to bust out into random song (i.e. scream classic karaoke tunes like “Hotel California” at the top of your lungs … in public … without shame) when The Eagles  stomp through town during their upcoming tour on Tuesday, June 15.

Tickets go on sale next Monday, March 29 at 10 a.m.

The Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban will join The Eagles as special guests on this tour stop.

Entertainment, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Here We Go Magic

HWGM Photo Courtesy of Tell All Your Friends

It takes two words to describe Here We Go Magic – an experience.

The second their melodies creep into your ear, a musical journey begins and there’s no stopping it until you’ve arrived at the final destination. Their sound is a lot like the freaky tunnel scene in the original Willy Wonka movie. You don’t know where you’re going until you get there.

Where do they take you? A layered, hypnotic trance of swirling nirvana featuring an acoustic guitar pulse paired with Luke Temple’s high-pitched voice. Sound’s confusing, doesn’t it? Here’s a suggestion: don’t get bogged down in the details. Just listen. Continue reading →

Downtown, Entertainment, Essential DC, Special Events, We Love Arts
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National Geographic Live: March 2010

America's Endangered Species, ©Joel Sartore; courtesy of the National Geographic Museum

The spring season of National Geographic Live – a series of dynamic lectures, concerts, films and more – continues this month, with more great offerings.

Thanks to the awesome response from last month, the National Geographic Museum is offering up two pairs of tickets to our readers for any of the following events. Simply comment below (PLEASE use a legit email address and your first name) with what two events – in preferred order – you’d like to attend. We’ll do a random drawing on Friday (March 12) at 10 a.m. and get the winners set up with their first (or second, if your first choice is full) selection. Keep in mind that tickets are for single events only.

Note that the photography exhibitions that open this month do not require tickets and are free for visitors to enjoy.

Okay, enough about rules. Check out the March offerings after the jump.

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Entertainment, Fun & Games, Night Life, People, The Daily Feed
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H Street Country Club Offers Competitive Skeeball – Sign Up Now!

Photo courtesy of
‘Skeeball League – Score! – 01-10-10’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Registration for the spring “skeeson” of competitive Skeeball at H Street Country Club is now open! Rally the troops (aka your closest pals and drinking buddies) or sign up on your own (the Skeeball folks are happy to place you with a group that has an open spot) for a rousing 8 week round of  head-to-head Skeeball combat in NE DC.

What better way to bring you back to the glory days of your youth than with Sunday and Tuesday night Skeeball challenges starting April 11? Dave & Buster’s might be a close second, but really … come on … SKEEBALL? Sounds awesome.

Plus – there’s $3 Bud Lights, $5 Margaritas and discounted food!

8-12 players make a team, but 12-15 is recommended.

Visit the United Skeeball Association (yes, there is such a thing) webpage for more details.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Muse @ The Patriot Center 3/1/10

Photo courtesy of
‘Muse – Patriot Center – March 1, 2010’
courtesy of ‘Mrs. Gemstone’

Even though I consider Muse one of my favorite bands, I have written very little about them over the years. The majority of the 6 times I have seen them perform took place far away from DC and therefore the majority of their shows did not end up reviewed on any of the DC sites I write for. It is fitting that Monday night’s show at George Mason University’s Patriot Center is the one to finally get a feature review out of me. Fitting because it was without question the best performance of theirs that I have seen. Fitting too because I have followed this band since they first washed up on American shores and have witnessed their progression as a live act. Over the seven years or so they’ve been touring here, Muse have not so much shown an evolution as performers as they have consistently demonstrated their massive power as a live act; an act so huge that whatever stage I saw them on seemed tiny in comparison to their unbridled, power-pop fury. With each tour, each stage got a little larger, and Muse seemed one step closer to realizing their master plan of becoming the best live band on the planet. Having seen them on Monday night, I think it is safe to say that they have finally realized that master plan.
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