Post Rock

Six questions for... Pleasure P

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:11:49 -0500

As R. Kelly's opening act, Pleasure P rewards prompt concertgoers. (Photo by Patrick Hoelck) Renowned for its don't-miss-a-single-crazy-second urgency, R. Kelly's live show has never catered to the fashionably late. But on his current tour, Kells has given fans even less reason to dawdle by inviting ascendant R&B singer Pleasure P to open the tour. (Tonight, P is set to take the stage at DAR Constitution Hall at 8 p.m. sharp.) Having recently defected from Pretty Ricky -- arguably the freakiest boy band to walk God's green Earth -- P's new album, "The Introduction of Marcus Cooper" finds the singer taking a more measured approach. We spoke with P from the road last week, as the tour crept toward Washington. You've said one goal of this album is to give fans a real glimpse into your life. On that note, what's the most unglamorous part of being on a massive

Six questions for... Devendra Banhart

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:09:38 -0500

Devendra Banhart (shirtless) enjoys collaborating with Beck, D.C's Ethiopian restaurants and dagger dancing. (Photo by Neil Krug) I was 10 minutes late calling Devendra Banhart for our interview because, like an idiot, I got on the Blue Line instead of Orange Line on the way to the office. I explained this to him and asked if he'd ever gotten on the wrong train. "I've been on the wrong train my whole life, my friend!" he responded. It might be more accurate to say that he's just been on his own track. His earliest albums were filled with weird little ditties that helped kick-off the unfortunately named "freak folk" explosion (more on that later). Since then, the prolific Banhart has expanded his sound to full-bodied folk-rock that encompasses every genre he feels like attacking. The 28-year-old free spirit plays a Thanksgiving-eve show tonight at 9:30 club, and we talked to him

R. Kelly: Live last night

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:37:47 -0500

R. Kelly toned down the X-rated shock tactics and allowed his historically great songbook to be the focus Tuesday night at Constitution Hall. (Photos by Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) By Chris Richards Could R. Kelly's freakiest, deakiest days be behind him? So it seemed as the R&B lothario's "Ladies Make Some Noise!" tour landed in Washington Tuesday night, Kelly swapping his usual X-rated shock tactics for a toned-down, NC-17 playfulness. The concert was the first of a two-night stand at DAR Constitution Hall and the singer's first appearance in Washington since being acquitted on child pornography charges last year. Compared with the visual pomp of Kelly's recent tours, Tuesday's offering seemed almost spartan: No pyrotechnics, no smoke machines, no cannons blasting rolled-up T-shirts into the crowd, no weird masks or silly capes. This is, after all, a recession. What was left was the man, his band, a few dancers and what will

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Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:37:47 -0500

Indian composer A.R. Rahman to perform at state dinner

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:34:26 -0500

Wanna sing at tonight's state dinner? Better have an Oscar. Jennifer Hudson won't be the only Academy Award-winner appearing when the Obamas honor Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at this evening's White House state dinner. Indian composer A.R. Rahman is also confirmed to perform, according to his spokesperson. Rahman is a celebrated figure in Indian music, but his global popularity spiked after his soundtrack work for the 2008 film "Slumdog Millionaire" won him Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for "Jai Ho."

Jennifer Hudson to sing at White House state dinner

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:56:51 -0500

The Oscar-winner is scheduled to return to Washington. Soul singer and Chicago native Jennifer Hudson has been confirmed to perform at the White House state dinner Tuesday evening, according to a representative at the singer's label, Arista Records. Amid the glitz and glamour, the 28-year-old Chicago native should feel right at home. Hudson first rose to fame as a contestant on the 2004 season of "American Idol" and went on to star in the 2006 film "Dreamgirls," snagging an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the process. The state dinner appearance will be Hudson's first in Washington since a powerhouse performance at Constitution Hall in April. And it won't be the entertainer's first time singing in front of the Obamas. She belted out the the national anthem at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Lambert goes to the extreme

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:07:19 -0500

Adam Lambert's sexually charged performance is all anybody wants to talk about from last night's American Music Awards. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Leave it to Adam Lambert to shake up the traditionally drab American Music Awards. After the late Michael Jackson and award-queen Taylor Swift traded off victories and medley performances from the likes of Janet Jackson and Black Eyed Peas dominated the evening, Lambert showed the country his own type of domination. If you know what we mean. During his show-closing performance of "For Your Entertainment" a male dancer simulated oral sex on the "American Idol" alum. Moments later, Lambert grabbed one of his backing musicians by the nape of the neck and gave him an open-mouthed kiss, all while a gaggle of scantily clad dancers in S&M get-ups writhed behind him. I was at Survivor Series at Verizon Center last night and it was downright tame compared to all

tobyMac: Live last night

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:40:53 -0500

By Mark Jenkins Remember when so-called Bible thumpers considered rock-and-roll the devil's music? That rebuke was inoperative Saturday night at the Patriot Center, where Christian performer tobyMac delighted a sell-out crowd with a different sort of thumping. He calls his style "urban rock," and it blends brisk rapping and slamming guitar with strands of funk, reggae and pop-gospel. (Dropping a joy bomb and "wearing tighter jeans than Elvis ever dared," after the jump.)

The Jesus Lizard: Live last night

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:48 -0500

The Jesus Lizard, in earlier days. The band -- if not the crowd -- brought it just as hard Thursday at 9:30 club. By David Malitz Maybe this current run of concerts by '90s hell-raisers the Jesus Lizard isn't simply the latest in a long-string of alt-rock reunions that have overrun the concert landscape the past few years. Maybe it's just that after 10 years of full-contact, sweat-and-blood-stained shows that rightly earned the band a spot in the Best Live Act pantheon, the four dudes simply needed a decade off to catch their breath before resuming their bone-crushing ways. If so, it worked. Thursday night's show at 9:30 club was as good an argument you'll find in favor of turning back the rock clock. Through sludgy power chords and a barrel-chested rhythmic brutality there was a sinister, sonic clarity that rang through the band's songs. And even at 49-years-old (and

Daughtry: Live last night

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:53:40 -0500

Don't let the mean look fool you; Daughtry's a softy at heart. By Dave McKenna Chris Daughtry tries to play rough. At the Patriot Center on Thursday, the former American Idol contender led a band that bears his surname through a set of hard pop that mostly fell somewhere between Nirvana and Bread. Like Vancouver-based Nickelback, Daughtry takes a lot of tough guy poses, but is too sweet to pull off that shtick. It's sort of a reverse Lipstick on a Pig syndrome: No matter how much leather, chains, flashpots or heavy metal accoutrements a nice boy throws into his show, he's still a nice boy. (From "American Idol" to "Cougar Town," after the jump.)

Baroness: Live last night

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:58:15 -0500

John Dyer Baizley of Baroness roars at Rock and Roll Hotel. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) By Chris Richards Head-bangers have Georgia on their minds. Two of this year's most exciting rock albums come from Savannah's Baroness and Atlanta's Mastodon, positing the Peach State as the new locus of American heavy metal. The former brought some colossal riffage to Washington's Rock & Roll Hotel Wednesday, kicking off its U.S. tour for a throng of fans so tightly packed, you could detect distinct brands of shampoo (or lack thereof). The only thing more piquant than the clashing body odors wafting through the crowd was the voluminous din emanating from the stage. ("Screaming his larynx into ribbons," after the jump.)

Rock-and-roll, no clothes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:39:29 -0500

The Jesus Lizard, fully clothed. (Photo courtesy Joshua Black Wilkins) Hey, ladies! Looking to pick up a dude in his late-30s who values his Touch & Go 7-inch singles more than personal relationships? If so tonight's your Super Bowl, World Series and Stanley Cup all rolled into one -- the Jesus Lizard reunion comes to 9:30 club! Back in the day the band's live show was the musical equivalent of witnessing a bomb explode and then rummaging through the wreckage for an hour or so. Reports from the current tour indicate no change. One thing that has been missing (thankfully?) is a certain part of yelper/stagediver/madman David Yow's anatomy which used to make a very special appearance at some Jesus Lizard shows. That got me to thinking about other rock shows I've attended that could have been R-rated -- or even X-rated. L7 - Constitution Hall - 1995 The L.A.

Local rappers take it to the stage couch

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:53:08 -0500

Local rapper XO, shown here at 9:30 club in September, teams up with other area MCs for the Capitol City Music Tour. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) The Capitol City Music Tour -- a revue of local rappers that crosses back and forth between the District and Northern Virginia through mid-December -- landed downtown at Eyebar, Tuesday. But the MCs never actually jumped on stage; they jumped on couch, spitting emphatic verses from a VIP booth near the bar. Despite the odd set up, the quick performances still felt intimate and inspired. K-Beta and Angel Lola Luv each delivered poised rhymes from their VIP perch, along with Kingpen Slim, who was pushing his new mixtape "Clark Kent is the Capital City Kingpen." XO provided the nightcap with the unflappable cool of "Time Out" while a not-so-subliminal message flashed on a nearby video screen: "YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER'S FAVORITE RAPPER! UPTOWN X.O." Consider

Public Enemy to perform on flatbed truck

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:18:12 -0500

If Flava Flav jumps like this while on a moving flatbed truck, will he land on the truck or on the street? (We were bad at science.) (Photo by Kyle Gustafson/FWTP) It will take a traffic jam of millions to hold them back: Tomorrow night, hip-hip icons Public Enemy will perform in the streets of Foggy Bottom, rapping on a flatbed truck en route to a headlining concert at Lisner Auditorium. It's an effort to promote National Homeless Youth Awareness month and the reunited rap group, featuring Chuck D and Flava Flav, will be touring the Sasha Bruce House in Southeast Washington earlier in the evening. Around 7:45 p.m., they'll arrive in Foggy Bottom to bring the noise. At the concert, fans who donate a new or gently used winter coat will be eligible for a free VIP ticket upgrade with all proceeds from concert's ticket sales benefiting the Sasha

Is Dave Grohl the best rock drummer alive?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:19:38 -0500

Grohl -- the greatest? We say yes! Them Crooked Vultures' eponymous debut disc, reviewed in today's Post, proves that Dave Grohl is the undisputed king of 21st century tom-smashing. The supergroup -- comprised of Grohl, Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Queens of the Stone Age front-dude Josh Homme -- has produced an album that hits HARD. It's an air-drummer's dream come true! But let's open the floor. Who's a better living rock-and-roll drummer than Grohl? (If you nominate afro-beat time-keeper Tony Allen on the technicality that he's drummed for British rock supergroup The Good, the Bad and the Queen, you will earn our respect, but you will still be wrong.) Cast your nominations in the comments section.

The xx: Live last night

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:29:39 -0500

The xx -- now a trio -- stayed at their own pace at DC9. By David Malitz The xx must be commended for a dogged devotion to aesthetic. The babyfaced, buzzed-about British trio (its members can drink legally back home but not in the U.S.) never strayed from its slow tempos and sensual sounds over the course of nearly an hour at a sold-out DC9 Sunday night. Most bands so young rely on the old-standbys of energy, bravado and attitude in a live setting. The xx, on the other hand, was a perfect picture of restraint. It may not have made for the most thoroughly engaging performance but that's almost the point -- the band plays perfect mood music, not necessarily meant to be the listener's main focus, but instead ideal background fare. (DC9 = make out club, after the jump.)