Happy Funtime Friend Service

If you’ve been near me lately, you’ve been subjected to hearing me talk about the movie Once, the soundtrack, the Frames, how much I miss Dublin, etc.  But thanks to the eagle eye of AMK, I just found out that our happy couple from Once are touring under the name The Swell Season and coming to the Lincoln Theatre (U Street, next to Ben’s Chili Bowl) on Sunday, 18th November.  Tickets are available as of today at Ticketmaster and are somehow General Admission.  I’m not sure how that’s going to work at the Lincoln Theatre, but we’ll see.  If you’re going, post a note here or over on iLike at Facebook.  We’ll be at Ben’s for dinner before the show.

I was just at the Lincoln Theatre for the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival and it’s beautifully redone and I had just decided I wanted to attend more events there, so if that’s extra incentive (like the soundtrack from the movie shouldn’t be enough) we’ll see you there.

If you’ve got a craving for fried things - noodles, rice, and funnels - then make a note to chug on out to the Adams Morgan Day Festival on Sunday, September 9 from noon to 7 p.m. Just be sure to put on some sunblock so you don’t fry your face (still waiting for Lisa to write her memoir My Life in the Shade. Hello? Did you not know the sun lurks just waiting for an opportunity to burninate you?)
Right in my beloved ‘hood, Adams Morgan Day features fest food and two (maybe three?) stages with local performers entertaining drunkards all day. You can catch anything from Chinese dragon dancers to African drummers to bluegrass musicians. Belmont Street is usually dedicated to local artists and craftspeople hawking their cool, but sometimes pricey wares. If the weather’s warm, walk the street, grab a lemonade and some doro wat from an Ethiopian vendor, find a shady spot and dig in.

You know there’s nothing I love more than free concerts. And good concerts in places built for outstanding musical sound - all for free… this is why I love Washington. The Library of Congress has announced their 2007 - 2008 series of concerts, and I’m impressed. The 50th birthday of West Side Story, Allen Toussaint and Henry Butler, the Beaux Arts Trio and the Orion Quartet. If you don’t know the drill, tickets are free, you just have to pay Ticketmaster service fees. You can reserve a maximum of two tickets in advance and they go quickly - sign up for Ticketmaster alerts. If you don’t get there in time and it’s sold out, go anyway. The Library of Congress is right by the Capitol South metro station and they release all unclaimed seats about 15 minutes before the show begins. I’ve seen amazing concerts here and people that I’ve paid much more to see at the Kennedy Center at other times including Jimmy Scott and Joshua Bell. This is a great resource for anyone who likes good music of all kinds (classical, jazz, chamber, etc.) on a budget.

I keep forgetting that the Carter Barron Amphitheatre is in my backyard (well, if my backyard were really, really, really big). But there it is, and with a Schedule of Events no less - a schedule which is culminating with this Labor Day weekend’s 19th Annual DC Blues Festival on September 1 from noonish to 7:30. Man, am I a sucker for fests or what?
So grab a blankie, some snacks, doctor up a bottle of lemonade with a little something-something, and head on over to listen to Clarence “The Bluesman” Turner and Band, Mary Shaver and the Smokin’ Polecats, The Orioles, The Nighthawks, and more.

Can you resist a band called the Smokin’ Polecats?

If you missed Honor by August’s 2 nights at Iota in June, or it was sold out before you got there, then you have another chance when they play on Saturday, July 28.  If you want to be sure to get there in time, go to the Cafe side of Iota for dinner - the chef is great, the beer selection is solid, and they come around to make sure you get a ticket for the show.  Again, I’ll be out of town, but say hi for me.

Speaking of good local restaurants (especially my favorite - non-chain restaurants), Vermillion in Alexandria is hosting Justin Trawick on July 25th.  The food at Vermillion is just great, the staff and atmosphere are welcoming, and Justin sings a good song so get there early and enjoy.  (Unfortunately I’ll be out of town otherwise I’d be there.)

I know it’s only the middle of July but you’re already starting to see those back-to-school ads, and that makes me think “fall tickets.”  Okay, that’s probably just me, but that’s why I have tickets to the show, and you want to be my friend.  Tickets for the Cure at the Patriot Center on September 19th and Maroon 5 at Verizon Center on October 16th are now on sale at Ticketmaster - both come with free samplers from iTunes, and I actually really like some of the new music I’m hearing.  Nice touch and good use of a marketing partnership.  Right now it looks like the Police, Interpol and Smashing Pumpkins are only in the area at Virgin Festival so don’t delay if any of those are important to you.  Anyone else coming to town that shouldn’t be missed?

My favorite local Celtic music played by Ukranian boys - otherwise known as Scythian - are the Thursday night regulars at Fado in Chinatown.  And they draw a regular crowd each week.  But this week marks their third anniversary at Fado, so try to get out and raise a glass with them.  And if you can remember “a flea on a feather, a feather on a bird, a bird in a nest, a nest on branch, a branch on a limb, a limb on a tree, a tree in a bog, and the bog down in the valley-o, you might win a prize.

(Just a hint - they are a lot of fun if you buy them a round of shots.)

I’m just back from Iota and the Autism benefit - my esteemed co-author joined me as well and we had a nice dinner and enjoyed some live music.  One of the things I like best about going out to see the local bands I’ve come to enjoy is also seeing who else is playing that night and learning about other local artists.  After all, Honor by August playing at the State introduced me to Daniela Cotton.  And tonight, we were introduced to Eva Castillo.

I don’t know why I don’t usually listen to girls (musically) except jazz but I admire anyone who gets up on stage with just a guitar and sings words they wrote themselves.  And Eva has a good stage presence and good words - as she said 80% about boys she couldn’t have for one reason or another and 20% about world peace.  We’ve all been there.

Eva’s at Chief Ike’s on 18th Street in DC on Thursday if you’d like to catch here there later this week.

Okay, this gets complicated so you have to pay attention - there’s a lot good stuff going on this week.

Justin Trawick is at Iota tonight in Clarendon.  That’s where I’ll be.  If you can’t see him there tonight, catch him at the 930 club on Friday.  It’s a big deal for him, and if you like supporting local artists (and if you’re here I’m guessing you do), he’s definitely worth listening to.  Buy a t-shirt, it was designed by a friend.

Unfortunately, I won’t be at the 930, because I’l l be back at Iota for Honor by August (with Crash Boom Bang opening).  But if you choose to go to the 930 on Friday, I forgive you, as long as you present yourself at Iota on Saturday evening for the second night of Honor by August. 

I gotta talk to Iota about a season pass…