Band of Friends featuring Davy Knowles and Gerry McAvoy pay tribute to the late Irish guitar phenomenon, Rory Gallagher, on Thursday evening at Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, VA. Photo by Josh Brick.
Week Of: December 2 - 8, 2019
Summary: Jazz, Icons, Gems, and Jams
A lot of DCMR readers love the JAM scene, and this week offers bands and artists that know who to bring it, like:
- Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (Only available as part of 2-day pass) - Night 1 with LeSpecial at 9:30 Club
- Dark Star Orchestra at The Anthem, Dark Star Orchestra at The NorVa, Dark Star Orchestra at The Jefferson Theater
- Dark Star Orchestra After Party with Better Off Dead! at Union Stage
- The Allman Others Band, Born Cross Eyed at Gypsy Sally's
- Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at The Anthem
- The Marcus King Band at the 9:30 Club
There's also a lot of really exciting JAZZ listed below, including:
- Tuesday's 2019 Competition Finals & Gala Concert - jazz world's most prestigious competition returns with three brilliant guitarists competing for top honors, plus a moving tribute to jazz legend Terence Blanchard and an All-Star Gala Concert featuring performances by Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bobby Watson, Musical Director John Beasley and many other jazz greats at The Kennedy Center
- Blues Alley Youth Orchestra (Tomorrow's Jazz Stars) on Monday at Blues Alley
- Islam and Modern Jazz at National Museum of American History
- (and more, listed below!)
And other ICONS? How about:
- Béla Fleck & The Flecktones at The Strathmore
- Anita Baker at MGM National Harbor
- Ben Folds: An Unconventional Icon - Evening Program & Book Signing at Rasmuson Theater at National Museum of the American Indian
- Debbie Harry with Chris Stein and Rob Roth at Sixth & I
- Erykah Badu & Nas at EagleBank Arena
- Judy Collins "Winter Stories" feat. Jonas Fjeld w/ Chatham County Line at The Birchmere
- Del McCoury Band at Gordon Center for Performing Arts
- Patti LaBelle at MGM National Harbor
- Bob Dylan and His Band at The Anthem
And so many other incredibly COOL SHOWS out there like:
- 2019 Guitar Competition Semifinals at Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian
- DC101-derand featuring Cage The Elephant at The Anthem
- Mac Ayres at 9:30 Club
- Modell, Soderstrom, and James at Gypsy Sally's
- Of Monsters and Men at The NorVa
- Band of Friends: Celebration of Rory Gallagher Ft. Davy Knowles at Tally Ho
- Gina Sobel at Gypsy Sally's
- Haley Fohr / JAB / Clarice Jensen: Awareness Through Absence - Awareness Through Absence will explore the ideas of quietude and silence in music and sound at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- Guided by Voices at Black Cat
- Lucy Dacus with Haley Heynderickx (Solo) // LATE SHOW at 9:30 Club
- Devendra Banhart with Black Belt Eagle Scout // EARLY SHOW at 9:30 Club
- Chadwick Stokes & The Pintos with Mihali at Sixth & I
So get out there and check out our vibrant scene— MORE shows are listed in the links below, with personal choices in bold, along with a list of the DCMR staff top picks and cool "gems" that you don't want to miss.
Mon — December 2
DCMR Staff Picks
- Béla Fleck & The Flecktones at The Strathmore
- Anita Baker at MGM National Harbor (Oxon Hill)
Jams, Mics & Such
- JAMonday at Epicure Café (Fairfax)
- Crank Jam (Monthly Go - Go Jam Session) at City Winery Washington DC
- OPEN MIC at The Village Cafe
- Songbyrd Music Trivia at Songbyrd
Sparkling Gems
- The Neuro Farm / Bite Marks at Galaxy Hut (Arlington)
- 2019 Guitar Competition Semifinals at Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian
- Blues Alley Youth Orchestra (Tomorrow's Jazz Stars) at Blues Alley
- Messiah Sing-Along at Georgetown University Department of Performing Arts
Tue — December 3
DCMR Staff Picks
- Ben Folds: An Unconventional Icon - Evening Program & Book Signing at Rasmuson Theater at National Museum of the American Indian
- DC101-derand featuring Cage The Elephant at The Anthem
- Mac Ayres at 9:30 Club
Jams, Mics & Such
- Gordon Sterling Presents: The Gypsy Sally's Jam at Gypsy Sally's
- Vinyl Lounge Open Mic Night w/ Silky Dave at Gypsy Sally's Vinyl Lounge
- Open Mic feat. Robert Ax at Sauf Haus
- SAW Open Mic Night! at Mark's Pub (Falls Church)
- The Tuesday Jam at Tabor (Baltimore)
Sparkling Gems
- 2019 Competition Finals & Gala Concert - jazz world's most prestigious competition returns with three brilliant guitarists competing for top honors, plus a moving tribute to jazz legend Terence Blanchard and an All-Star Gala Concert featuring performances by Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bobby Watson, Musical Director John Beasley and many other jazz greats at The Kennedy Center
- Mourning Dove / Thin Pigeon / Human Person / A Deadly Orchestra at Rhizome DC
- Concert | Clara Schumann's Life and Love at Austrian Cultural Forum Washington
- Dilemastronauta y La Tripulación Cosmica at Songbyrd Vinyl Lounge
- Davina & The Vagabonds (Keys/Vocals/Rhythm & Blues) at 8p and 10p at Blues Alley
- The Arcadians at King's Tavern and Wine Bar (Leesburg)
- Ebban and Ephraim Dorsey at Keyston Korner (Baltimore)
Wed — December 4
DCMR Staff Picks
- Debbie Harry with Chris Stein and Rob Roth at Sixth & I
- Modell, Soderstrom, and James at Gypsy Sally's
- Dangerbird, Gettin' Weir'd at Gypsy Sally's
- The Menzingers, Tigers Jaw, Culture Abuse at Black Cat
- Of Monsters and Men at The NorVa (Norfolk)
- Dark Star Orchestra at The Jefferson Theater (Charlottesville)
Jams, Mics & Such
- Capitol Hill Jazz Jam at Mr. Henry's
- Open Mic hosted by Alex The Red Parez aka El Rojo at Rhodeside Grill (Arlington)
- Open Mic at the Cocktail Lab at Tenth Ward Distilling Company (Frederick)
Sparkling Gems
- Say Sue Me / Lobby Boy at Songbyrd
- Palberta, KAG, Knife Wife at Rhizome DC
- Griefcat / Jason Ager/ Justin Trawick at DC9 Nightclub
- Dan N' Friends at The Vinyl Lounge at Gypsy Sally's
- Ingrid Andress at City Winery DC
- Roselove/StepheN Ferm/Panini Girlfriend/Weston Smith at Slash Run
- Pamela Frank and Stephen Prutsman play Bach Sonatas at The Kennedy Center
- Big Hillbilly Bluegrass rides at Madam's Organ
- Swing Underground at Rye Fells Point (Baltimore)
- Greg Hatza Birthday Concert with Enayet Hossain, tabla at An die Musik (Baltimore)
- Letitia & David Last Minute Gig at Waverly Brewing Company (Baltimore)
Thu — December 5
DCMR Staff Picks
- Band of Friends: Celebration of Rory Gallagher Ft. Davy Knowles at Tally Ho Theater (Leesburg)
- Djangolaya at Brookside Gardens
- The Fritz at Gypsy Sally's w/ Definition of One at Gypsy Sally's
- Gina Sobel at Gypsy Sally's
- Dark Star Orchestra at The National (Richmond)
Jams, Mics & Such
- Haley Fohr / JAB / Clarice Jensen: Awareness Through Absence - Awareness Through Absence will explore the ideas of quietude and silence in music and sound, featuring performers on the vanguard of contemporary composition and exploratory music at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- Shaolin Jazz presents "13 Assassins" - DJ 2-Tone Jones creates a live score to classic martial arts movies using turntables. He spins a curated mix of hip-hop, soul, rock, and more, scene by scene at Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
- Sweet Soul Music (Soul Jam Session) at 2218 18th St., NW DC
- Live Music Thursday at The Brixton
- Thursday Night Jazz Jam with Landon Paddock at Columbia Station
- Live Art - Live Music at Spacylounge DC
Sparkling Gems
- Luce Unplugged: Washington Social Club at Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery
- all boy/all girl + buddie w/ bal boheme + babbling april at The Dew Drop Inn DC
- A Shrewdness of Apes / Color School / NOE at The 7DC's The Pocket
- Sparks From Paper at Songbyrd
- MUSIC Without Borders at The Green Zone
- Sonic Kaleidoscope at ALOHO
- Bridget Kibbey, Harp at Strathmore
- Stacey Kent (Award Winning Vocalist) at Blues Alley
- By & By at Mr. Henry's
- Celebrating Slatkin at 75 / Kern plays Rachmaninoff at The Kennedy Center
- Flowerbomb, So Sensitive, Spring Silver, The Countess at The Velvet Lounge
- Jazz Camerata FREE at Phillips Hall
Fri — December 6
DCMR Staff Picks
- Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (Only available as part of 2-day pass) - Night 1 with LeSpecial at 9:30 Club
- Erykah Badu & Nas at EagleBank Arena (Fairfax)
- Dark Star Orchestra at The Anthem
- Dark Star Orchestra After Party with Better Off Dead! at Union Stage
- The Allman Others Band, Born Cross Eyed at Gypsy Sally's
- Patti LaBelle at MGM National Harbor (Oxon Hill)
- Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at The Modell Lyric (Baltimore)
- The Hip Abduction with Single Fire at The Southern Cafe and Music Hall (Charlottesville)
Jams, Mics & Such
- Open Mic at Dive Bar
- Maya Beiser, Wendy Whelan, Lucinda Childs & David Lang: The Day — a new music/dance work by cellist Maya Beiser, dancer Wendy Whelan, and choreographer Lucinda Childs, with music by David Lang at The Kennedy Center
- The Takoma Sessions — three part live in-studio concert series showcasing new and original works by the Nicole Saphos Band at Tonal Park (Takoma Park)
- Purple Raign Productions Presents The Prince CD Release Party at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club (Bethesda)
Sparkling Gems
- Judy Collins "Winter Stories" feat. Jonas Fjeld w/ Chatham County Line at The Birchmere
- Reginald Cyntje at Twins Jazz
- Handel's Messiah at Washington National Cathedral
- Black Masala/Eastern Standard Time/Leon City Sounds at Union Stage
- Zen Warship/Higher Numbers/Space&Time at Public Bar Live
- Clara Schumann at 200: Anne-Marie McDermott and Friends at Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium
- Lyuti Chushki at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
- Performance: Shanghai Quartet at Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
- Friday Night Live Unity Band at Tropicalia
- You, Me, Them, Everybody Live 11 Year Anniversary Show at The Wonderland Ballroom
- Stacey Kent (Award Winning Vocalist) at 8p and 10p at Blues Alley
- Blood Cultures | Modern Nomad + Mystery Friends at Songbyrd
- Tallies at Songbyrd Vinyl Lounge
- Safer, Light Beams, Lohesh at Comet Ping Pong
- Bluegrass at Haydees
- Bon Air / The Mostly Dead / Brickwall Monty at Slash Run
- Dial 251 at Mr. Henry's
- Sweet Something Jazz Duo at Lake Anne Coffee House & Wine Bar (Reston)
- Eddie Palmieri feat. Joe Locke at 7:30p and 10p at Keystone Korner (Baltimore)
Sat — December 7
DCMR Staff Picks
- Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at The Anthem
- Guided by Voices at Black Cat
- Del McCoury Band at Gordon Center for Performing Arts (Owings Mills)
- The Hip Abduction w/ Signal Fire at The Broadberry (Richmond)
- Dark Star Orchestra at The NorVa (Norfolk)
- Handel's Messiah Family Concert at Washington National Cathedral
Jams, Mics & Such
- New Deal Cafe Community Drum Circle - Holiday Hat Jam! at New Deal Cafe (Greenbelt)
- Maya Beiser, Wendy Whelan, Lucinda Childs & David Lang: The Day — a new music/dance work by cellist Maya Beiser, dancer Wendy Whelan, and choreographer Lucinda Childs, with music by David Lang at The Kennedy Center
Sparkling Gems
- Lucy Dacus with Haley Heynderickx (Solo) // LATE SHOW at 9:30 Club
- Devendra Banhart with Black Belt Eagle Scout // EARLY SHOW at 9:30 Club
- Damien Sneed // Joy to the World at Sixth & I
- DC LatinSound, Sonic Castaways & Bongo District at Tropicalia
- Piramid Scheme / Teething Veils / We Capillaries at Slash Run
- Avey Tare, Geologist (of Animal Collective) at Comet PIng Pong
- Reginald Cyntje at Twins Jazz
- Proper Utensils Cranks at Ivy City Smokehouse
- Kevin Ross - The Mash|Up Experience at City Winery DC
- Downtown Tumbao at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
- 9:30 Presents Thurston Moore Group at U Street Music Hall
- The Suspension album release with Iron & Thistle at 7DC's The Pocket
- Celebrating Slatkin at 75 / Kern plays Rachmaninoff at The Kennedy Center
- Stacey Kent (Award Winning Vocalist) at 8p and 10p at Blues Alley
- NPR's A Jazz Piano Christmas at The Kennedy Center
- Rhizome Country Benefit Extravaganza! at Rhizome DC
- One Way Out/Unsullied/The SuperChargers at Rock & Roll Hotel
- Current Swell w/ Seán Barna at DC9 Nightclub
- Afro Soca Love : DC at Karma DC Live Music Venue
- An Evening with The U-Liners at The New Deal Cafe (Greenbelt)
- Metropolis at Epicure Café
- NarkotroniK / Chester Hawkins / Implicit Bias at Spacycloud
- Single Release: Hannah Jaye & the Hideaways / Melk / Ryan Johnson at The Velvet Lounge
- Eddie Palmieri feat. Joe Locke at 7:30p and 10p at Keystone Korner (Baltimore)
- Folkal Point Series with Mike Barth and the Okay Boomers, Folkal Point presents Mary Battiata, and Mike Barth at An die Musik (Baltimore)
Sun — December 8
DCMR Staff Picks
- Bob Dylan and His Band at The Anthem
- The Marcus King Band at the 9:30 Club
- Chadwick Stokes & The Pintos with Mihali at Sixth & I
- The Cult at the Fillmore Silver Spring (Silver Spring)
- Handel's Messiah at Washington National Cathedral
Jams, Mics & Such
- Workshop: Turn Anything into a MIDI Controller at Rhizome DC
- Record Fair at Right Proper Brewing Company
- I,Star CacaoChemy Jam & Grateful Kirtan at Haute Bodhi Hot Yoga & Pilates
- Celtic Jam Session at Colonial Tavern Home to the Irish Brigade (Fredericksburg)
- Crooked Run's 1st annual Vinyl Swap & Jazz Festival at Crooked Run Brewing (Sterling)
Sparkling Gems
- Islam and Modern Jazz at National Museum of American History
- Holiday Traditions Concert at National Museum of American History
- Sol Roots at Jojo's
- Downhaul / Nonfiction / Casual War at &DC's The Pocket
- Howard Hewett at City Winery DC
- Gia’s Maximum R’N’R w/The Nuclears :HBD Gia at Slash Run
- Birds For Eyes | Cal Rifkin & Matt Fusiek at Songbyrd Vinyl Lounge
- Stacey Kent (Award Winning Vocalist) at 8p and 10p at Blues Alley
- Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Musicians Brunch at 5p at Keystone Korner (Baltimore)
- Eddie Palmieri feat. Joe Locke at 5 and 7:30p at Keystone Korner (Baltimore)
- The Thurston Moore Group with Devin Brahja Waldman at Ottobar (Baltimore)
