Week Of:  February 12-18, 2018 -

Special Valentine's Day Edition

Summary:

Whoa nelly, what a week coming up! Clone yourself, plan to call in sick at work, have your morning coffee at 8pm, figure out a way to get to all of these shows (especially because the more you go to, the more likely you are to win an awesome DC Music Review t-shirt).

See "All Featured Events" highlighted below for some great jams for the week ahead!

Must See Shows:

The coming week has an amazing and diverse confluence of musicians coming through the area.  

In our latest Scene-In-Review interview with Rudi Greenberg, Managing Editor of the Washington Post Express, he aptly indicated that February is "stacked with shows to go to." Here are some of the incredible opportunities to check out : 

• If you were lucky enough to get a Valentine's Day ticket to Trey Anastasio "Happy Valentrey" show at 6th & I, get ready for an intimate night of sonic pleasure. Trey is best known as Phish's lead guitarist/vocalist and all around amazing human. If you don't have a ticket, consider going to the venue to meet up with other like-minded people looking for the same kind of aural love. Makes for a great "here's how we met"  story. 
• Have yet to see George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic? What are you waiting for? They're playing at on February 15 at DC Howard Theater and on February 16 at Baltimore's Frozen Harbor Music Festival. Catch one or both shows because no two P-Funk shows are ever alike. 
• DC Music Review staff are abuzz about Umphrey's McGee with the Marcus King Band at The Anthem on February 15. Beloved Umphrey's McGee has been playing together for more two decades and their devoted fanbase are excited for what's yet to come from this cutting-edge band. 
• You prefer funk and your partner is more of a bluegrass lover?  Need a reason to fight just so you can make up later? After Umphrey's McGee at the Anthem, here's the perfect midnight afterparty show for you to catch: Funk vs. Bluegrass featuring Of Tomorrow and The Dirty Grass Players at Union Stage.
• If you missed last week's incredibly Tedeschi Trucks shows you're still in luck. The Tedeschi Trucks are playing two more shows this week on Feb 16 and 17 at the Warner Theater and this time, you REALLY don't want to miss it.   (And after the Feb 16 show, be sure to hit the not-to-be-missed Tedeschi Trucks Band Afterparty featuring the Ron Holloway Band at the Hamilton. It's so good, so raw, so in-your-face fun that you'll wake up the next morning sore from dancing and wonder if it was all a fantastic dream.)
• On February 17, do yourself a favor and catch the legendary Arlo Guthrie at The Birchmere.  Because his is the music that touched a generation and will continue to touch generations to come. Plus, you can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant.

Hidden Gem Shows: 

So many great musicians and shows, these are the super cool ones to impress your date and maybe even yourself: 

• Why not celebrate Mardi Gras the right way? On February 13 check out the Cris Jacobs Band Mardi Gras Party at Union Stage with opening band Magnolia Blue. DC-based Magnolia Blue will lay down the funk, and beloved Baltimore artist Cris Jacobs and his band will drive it home. 
• Want the best wintery mix mash-up? Returning to Gypsy Sally’s on February 16, Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads prepare to bring some of those incendiary summer vibes on a cold night. Talking Dreads began as a project born from the audacious notion that mixing amazing bands and styles is magic. Plus, they'll be debuting a new single at the show, so check it!
• Shhhh. Want to know the best party in town? February 16 at midnight. Here you go. 
• On February 16 and 17, the amazing band Litz are hitting Baltimore's 8x10 for funky jams in a two-night, two-part album release extravaganza. There will be more than twenty original songs recorded live and you can be a part of it.
• The Beirds (with special guest Skaii) are playing a blistering set of atmospheric dance rock at Songbyrd on February 18 in honor of the release of their upcoming Taking Flight EP.  These two local bands are up-and-coming with a growing fan base. Monday is President’s Day Holiday, so no excuses!

Where to take your Valentine or your own bad self on February 14: 

Got a date? Got yourself? Don't care? Whatever way you flow, here are some additional menu options of tasty morsels for Valentine's Day: 

• Want to impress your date by showing your chops? Check out the Inaugural Open Jam/Workshop hosted by Neel Singh at Villain & Saint with special guest house-band: Skaii. Walk in, sign up, and be paired up with other musicians for an impromptu jam. Or if you and your band (or your sweetie) have something already prepared you want to try workshop on stage, this is the place. Nothing brings people together like taking a risk together. 
• Your Valentine is not your romantic partner? Check out noise pop duo Sleigh Bells with Sunflower Bean at the 9:30 club.  Sleigh Bells guitarist and songwriter Derek Miller met vocalist Alexis Krauss when he was waiting her table at a bistro in Brooklyn. Love takes many forms, one of them being two people who meet and become a creative force to be reckoned with.

Here are our recommendations for shows throughout the DMV.