Katie Tobin
@ Tattoo
Q:How do you keep your life clean?
A:"I don't own any cars and I do almost all my shopping from farmers markets."
THE MAIN ATTRACTION on the Fourth of July is the most obvious one: Saturday night's fireworks on the Mall. You knew about those; they're hard to miss.
The snapping, crackling and popping usually starts at around 9:15 p.m., so make sure you're someplace — on the Mall, on a roof deck, plopped down in front of the tube — where you can ooh and aah to your heart's content.
But while pulse-pounding 'splosions might satisfy your inner Michael Bay for an evening, they don't provide an entire three-day weekend's worth of entertainment. So here are a few events and destinations that'll help spangle your stars.
FRIDAY NIGHT:
The Blisspop Summer Extravaganza at the 9:30 Club — at which you can be yoked by the tyrannical beats of Tittsworth, Will Eastman, Dmerit and more — is the only place to be. Read more about the show here.
If a more low-key experience is more your speed, go for Jazz in the Sculpture Garden at 5 p.m. or go see a free outdoor screening of "Top Gun" at Gateway Park in Rosslyn. Maverick, Goose and the gang take off at dusk.
Continue Reading "Independent Movements: Fourth of July Events" »
THIS WEEKEND: The exuberant Broadway classic "Ain't Misbehavin'" is coming to town to wow audiences with its musical wit and nonstop energy. A tribute to piano man Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller, the 1978 Tony Award-winning musical revisits the Harlem Renaissance and its unforgettable cultural impact with 30 striking numbers and a whole lotta shaking.
» Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md.; opens Wed., through Aug. 2, $26; 301-924-3400, olneytheatre.org.
Photo courtesy Stan Barouh
SUNDAY: Still tired from Fourth of July festivities? There is no better way to cure your patriotic hangover than the sultry sound of Gladys Knight. Though she will be sans Pips, expect a full range of Gladys Knight classics, from her 60s hits up to her more current solo career.
The Motown star, also known as the Empress of Soul, has seen much success in her post-Pip career. From music to philanthropy and even owning a small chain of Chicken and Waffle shops, Mrs. Knight is still as much of a soul figure now as she was during her Motown years.
» Wolf Trap National Park; 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna; Sun., July 5, 8 p.m., $25-$45; 703-255-1868.
Written by Express' Brian Austin
Photo courtesy Wolf Trap
SUNDAY: Want some Flying V guitar riffs, unruly hair and headbanging to finish off your week? Man, the universe was looking out for you.
With simple lyrics and a Ramones-inspired breakneck drive, Jay Reatard brings sweaty garage punk back to D.C. in just the right way — loud, fast and hard. Just listen to his hit "See Saw" off of "Matador Singles '08." Honestly, it's nothing you haven't heard before from the kids down the street, but it's still a rush.
His latest album, "Watch Me Fall" is due out August 18, his first actual album release since 2006's "Blood Visions." You can download the first single off of his lastest, "It Ain't Gonna Save Me," off of his Web site.
» Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW; with TV Smith, Sun., July 5, 9 p.m., $12; 202-667-4490. (U St.-Cardozo)
Written by Express' Nicole Ocran
Photo courtesy Jay Reatard
MONDAY: Vandaveer is taking over the music scene with leading man Mark Charles Heidinger's plan, "Divide and Conquer," also the title of the band's upcoming album. The sophomore record ("Grace and Speed" was released on Gypsy Eyes in 2007) boasts of polished vignettes that wander into a quieter, more melodic sound that has fans flocking.
» Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW; Mon., July 6, 8 pm, $12; 202-667-4490, blackcatdc.com. (U St.-Cardozo)
Photo courtesy Shervin Lainez
SATURDAY: Jimmy Smits hosts a night spent on the nation's front lawn at this year's Capitol Fourth celebration, the climax of which is, of course, a sky full of fireworks. Grab a spot on the Mall, and prepare to get cozy with many, many of your fellow citizens as acts including Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, the cast of "Jersey Boys" and others entertain.
» The National Mall between the U.S. Capitol & the Lincoln Memorial; Sat., July 4, 8-9:30 p.m., free; 202-619-7222. (Smithsonian)
Photo courtesy City of Alexandria
FRIDAY: Forget the fact that North Korea might be attacking Hawaii this weekend. It's time to dance, and the Blisspop Summer Extravaganza is just the thing.
Washington, D.C., party thrower/DJ stalwart Will Eastman is combining his popular Blisspop party with renowned DJ tag team Nadastrom and international dance-floor titan Tittsworth.
Eastman himself will helm the DJ booth along with District up-and-comers Dmerit, Ken Lezee and Bobby Jae. Bliss parties are wild enough, but combined with some of the hottest disc spinners in the country and the Fourth of July looming the day after it almost seems like gilding the party lily.
» 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW; Fri., July 3, 9 p.m., $10; 202-265-0930. (U St.-Cardozo)
Written Express' Brian Austin
Photo courtesy The Washington Post
FRIDAY: Sheryl Crow strolled into our lives back in the '90s, achieving mainstream success with her sultry voice and bluesy guitar.
With hits like "My Favorite Mistake" and "The First Cut is the Deepest," this nine-time Grammy award-winner seems to be staying on top. She arrives at Wolf Trap Friday with fellow singer-songwriter Ari Hest.
» Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA; Fri., July 3, 8 p.m., $48; $30 lawn; 703-255-1900.
Written by Express' Nicole Ocran
Photo courtesy Universal Music Group
PETER MURPHY'S GRAVELY resonant voice and gauntly androgynous appearance made him an iconic presence in the influential goth bands Bauhaus and Love & Rockets, earning him the nickname the Godfather of Goth.
In recent years, however, he seemed intent on overturning any expectations raised by his gloomy reputation. While he rarely tours America as a headliner, he has launched the Secret Cover Tour, playing more intimate venues and highlighting material from his upcoming solo album.
In between new songs, he runs through old hits like "Cuts You Up" and the evergreen "Bela Lugosi's Dead," fan favorites like "Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem" and "Deep Ocean, Vast Sea."
Continue Reading "Vibrant Godfather of Goth: Peter Murphy" »
NEVERLAND DOESN'T EXIST for punk rockers — but Memphis does.
Even though longtime garage-thrasher Jay Reatard may have been fighting the onslaught of maturity since he first took the stage at 15, Peter Pan never grew up in the depressing poverty of the heat-scorched South, never dropped out of high school, and never binge-drank himself to the point where planting a foot-longish flower in his lower extremities seemed like a good idea — onstage in front of 20,000 people.
Call it a punk-rock move, but the spectacle in Chicago at Pitchfork Fest '08 provided a retina-scarring onstage climax for the rocker from Tennessee, and another violent chapter in the legend of his live performances.
Addison Road