November 23 Monday: Jeremy Kittel World Band CD release at St. Mark Presbyterian Church. Jeremy Kittel World Band plays music from around the world with special emphasis on Scottish and Irish music. Show is at 7:30. Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door. St. Mark's Presbyterian Church is located at 10701 Old Georgetown Road in Rockville.
November 25 Wednesday: Devendra Banhart plays the 9:30 Club. Devendra Banhart plays folk and Americana. Tickets are $30.
November 25 Wednesday: Tommy Castro plays the Birchmere with Coco Montoya. Both Tommy Castro and Coco Montoya play blues guitar. Tickets are $25.
November 26 Thursday: Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam play Recher Theatre. Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam play blues rock. Doors open at 8. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of show. This is Thanksgiving night.
November 27 Friday: Meat Puppets play the Ottobar with landspeedrecord. Meat Puppets are an alt punk band. The current band is original members Curt Kirkwood and Cris Kirkwood along with drummer Ted Marcus. landspeedrecord plays punk. Doors open at 8, show is at 8:30.
November 27 Friday: Tommy Castro plays the Rams Head On Stage with Coco Montoya. Both Tommy Castro and Coco Montoya play blues guitar. Shows are at 6:30 and 9:30. Tickets are $26.50.
November 27 Friday: Brian Setzer Orchestra comes to the Music Center at the Strathmore with their annual Christmas Rocks Extravaganza. Show is at 8 pm. Tickets go on sale to the general public May 1.
November 27 Friday: Mountain Goats play the 9:30 Club with Final Fantasy. The Mountain Goats play folk rock. Final Fantasy plays indie pop.
November 27 Friday: Jah Works plays Rams Head Live with Big Vizion, Three Legged Fox and Coastal Vibrations. Jah Works plays reggae. Three Legged Fox combines rock and roots reggae. Big Vizion is Jesse Campbell, a crossover hip-hop/reggae artist. Coastal Vibrations plays a mix of surf, rock and reggae.
November 28 Saturday: Chuck Brown plays Rams Head On Stage. Chuck Brown is the godfather of go go. There will be a dance floor for these shows. Shows are at 8 and 11:30. Tickets are $35.
November 28 Saturday: Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam play the Rock and Roll Hotel with Rob Drabkin. Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam play blues rock. Rob Drabkin is a singer songwriter. Doors open at 9, show is at 10. Tickets are $16.
November 28 Saturday: Chopteeth plays the Black Cat with Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa. Chopteeth is a large Afrobeat Band. Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa play traditional Ugandan music. Show is at 9. Tickets are $15.
November 28 Saturday: Thankyou plays Floristree with Future Islands, Art Department and Jared Paolini. Thank You plays noise rock. Future Islands plays synth pop. Art Department plays indie rock. Jared Paolini plays experimental music. Floristree is located at 405 West Franklin Street.
November 28 Saturday: Bowerbirds play the Ottobar with Man&Dog and guests. Bowerbirds play acoustic folk. Man&Dog play indie folk. Doors open at 9, show is at 9:30.
November 28 Saturday: The Nighthawks plays Old Bowie Town Grille wity Bobby Radcliff. Retro Deluxe opens. All play blues and blues rock. Tickets are $25 and will be on sale soon. Call 301-464-8800. Old Bowie Town Grille is located at 8604 Chestnut Avenue in Bowie, Maryland.
December 2 Wednesday: Sonny Rollins plays the Concert Hall at Kennedy Center. Sonny Rollins is a remarkable jazz saxaphone player. Show is at 8 pm. Tickets range from $35 to $78.
December 3 Thursday: Los Straitjackets play the 9:30 Club with El Vez. Los Straitjackets play instrumental surf rock. El Vez is a Mexican Elvis impersonator. Not completely clear if they are playing separately, together, or both. Tickets are $20.
December 3 Thursday: Hot Tuna plays the Birchmere. Hot Tuna is a blues rock band with Jorma Kaukonen on guitar, Jack Casady on bass and Barry Mitterhoff on violin. This is an acoustic show. Show is at 7:30. Tickets are $35.
December 3 Thursday: John Brown's Body plays the State Theatre with Lionize. Tickets are $15.
December 4 Friday: Pelican plays Rock and Roll Hotel with Black Cobra and Disappearer. Pelican is an instrumental rock band. Black Cobra plays doom and sludge metal. Disappearer plays metal and hardcore. Doors open at 8:30, show is at 9:30. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door.
December 5 Saturday: Johnny Winter plays the State Theatre. Johnny Winter plays blues rock guitar. Tickets are $26.
December 7 Monday: Claudia Quintet somewhere on Towson University Campus. Claudia Quintet plays experimental jazz.
December 7 Monday: Don Flemons plays Jammin' Java. Don Flemons plays banjo. Show is at 8. Jammin' Java is located at 227 Maple Avenue in East Vienna, Virginia.
December 9 Wednesday: Asleep at the Wheel at Rams Head On Stage has been postponed.
December 11 Friday: Preservation Hall Jazz Band plays the Avalon Theatre. Preservation Hall Jazz Band plays traditional New Orleans jazz. Show is at 8. Tickets are $40. The Avalon Theatre is located at 40 East Dover Street in Easton, Maryland.
December 11 Friday: Railroad Earth plays the 9:30 Club. Railroad Earth is a bluegrass-based jam band.
December 14 Monday: Rory Block plays Jammin' Java. Rory Block plays Mississippi delta country blues. Show is at 7:30.
December 14 Monday: Lee "Scratch" Perry plays the 9:30 Club with SEE-I. Lee "Scratch" Perry is a pioneer of reggae and dub. SEE-I is an 9-piece funk and soul reggae band. Tickets are $25.
December 18 Friday: Greyboy Allstars play the 9:30 Club. Greyboy Allstars play funk and jazz. Tickets are $25.
December 20 Sunday: O'Malley's March plays Rams Head On Stage. O'Malley's March plays Celtic rock. Show is at 7:30. Tickets are $25.
December 21 Monday: Garage a Trois plays the 8X10. Garage a Trois is Stanton Moore on drums, Marco Benevento on keys, Mike Dillon on percussion and Skerik on saxophone. They play jazz and craziness based jams.
December 26 Saturday: All Mighty Senators play the 8X10 with Stone's Throw. All Mighty Senators play rock and soul music. Stone's Throw plays funk and soul.
December 26 Saturday: SOJA plays two shows at the State Theatre. SOJA plays reggae. The early show doors open at 4, show starts at 5, no alcohol, all ages. Late show doors open at 8:30, show at 9:30, 21+. Both shows are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
December 28 Monday: Clutch plays 9:30 Club. Clutch plays fairly heavy blues based rock.
December 29 Tuesday: Rebirth Brass Band plays the 8X10 Club. Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans funk band.
December 31 Thursday: Little Feat plays the Recher Theatre. Little Feat plays New Orleans style rock. Tickets are $60 if purchased before October 31 and include hot and cold gourmet buffet and champagne toast. Doors open at 8.
January 2 Saturday: Rebirth Brass Band plays the State Theatre. Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans funk band. Tickets are $18.
January 2 Saturday: Caribbean Jazz Project - Afro Bop Alliance play Rams Head On Stage. Dave Samuels and Afrobop Alliance play Afro-Cuban jazz together. Show is at 8. Tickets are $29.50.
January 7 Thursday: Asylum Street Spankers play Jammin' Java. Asylum Street Spankers play acoustic roots music. Show is at 8. Jammin' Java is located at 227 Maple Avenue in East Vienna, Virginia.
January 8 Friday: Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Blind Boys of Alabama play the Warner Theatre. Preservation Hall Jazz Band plays traditional New Orleans jazz. Blind Boys of Alabama sing gospel.
January 8 and 9 Friday and Saturday: Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder play the Birchmere. Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder play bluegrass.
January 15 Friday: Zappa plays Zappa at Rams Head Live. Zappa plays Zappa is Dweezil Zappa and a large band playing the music of Frank Zappa. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $29.50 general admission, $49 VIP, and $59 in the bleachers.
January 18 Monday: Carolina Chocolate Drops play the Birchmere with Red Molly. Carolina Chocolate Drops play string music. Red Molly plays acoustic folk.
January 19 Tuesday: Carolina Chocolate Drops play the Ramshead Tavern. Carolina Chocolate Drops play string music. Show is at 8. Tickets are $20.
January 22 Friday: Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans play a general admission dance at the Barns at Wolf Trap. Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans play roots and world music, or is that world roots music? Show is at 8 pm. Tickets are $20.
January 26 Tuesday: Allan Holdsworth plays the Birchmere. Alan Holdsworth is a guitarist and composer in a variety of genres, but predominately jazz fusion. With him will be Jimmy Haslip on bass and Chad Wackerman on drums.
January 28 Thursday: Al di Meola plays the Barns at Wolf Trap. Al di Meola plays jazz guitar. Show is at 8. Tickets are $35.
January 30 Saturday: Charlie Hunter plays Jammin' Java. Charlie Hunter is an amazing guitar player. I believe that he is playing solo. Show is at 9:30.
February 5-6 Friday and Saturday: Corey Harris plays Blues Alley. Corey Harris plays blues, West African music, reggae and any combination of the above.
February 6 Saturday: Allan Holdsworth plays Rams Head On Stage. Alan Holdsworth is a guitarist and composer in a variety of genres, but predominately jazz fusion. With him will be Alan Pasqua on keys, Jimmy Haslip on bass and Chad Wackerman on drums. Tickets are $25.
February 10 Wednesday: Tab Benoit plays Rams Head On Stage. Tab Benoit plays a mix of swamp and Chicago blues. Show is at 8. Tickets are $26.50.
February 11 Thursday: BB King plays DAR Constitution Hall with Buddy Guy. Both BB King and Buddy Guy are blues guitar legends. Show is at 8. Tickets are $70.
February 14 Sunday: Tab Benoit plays the State Theatre. Tab Benoit plays a mix of swamp and Chicago blues. Tickets are $16 in advance, $21 at the door.
March 5 Friday: Bela Fleck the Africa Project play the Weinberg Center. Bela Fleck plays the banjo. The Africa Project involves collaboration between Bela Fleck and various musicians from diverse parts of Africa. Show is at 8. Tickets are from $25 to $45. The Weinberg Center is located at 20 West Patrick Street in Frederick, Maryland.
March 5 Friday: Leon Redbone plays the Birchmere. Leon Redbone is an American singer and guitarist who plays music from the early 20th century.
March 6 Friday: Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams plays Blackrock Center. Gandolf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams plays folk rock. Show is at 8. Tickets are $20 and $25 in advance. Blackrock Center is located at 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown, Maryland.
March 13 Saturday: Alison Brown plays the Terrace Gallery at the Kennedy Center as part of the Kennedy Center jazz series. Alison Brown plays banjo, in a variety of genres. Shows are at 7:30 and 9:30. Tickets are $25 and go on sale to the public December 9, 2009.
April 16 Friday: Sonny Landreth plays Rams Head On Stage. Sonny Landreth plays slide guitar. Show is at 8. Tickets are $33.50.
April 17 Saturday: Sonny Landreth plays Weinberg Center with The Campbell Brothers. Sonny Landreth plays slide guitar. The Campbell Brothers play sacred steel. Show is at 8. Tickets are from $20 to $3o. The Weinberg Center is located at 20 West Patrick Street in Frederick, Maryland.
April 17 Saturday: Anoushka Shankar plays 6th & I. Anoushka Shankar plays sitar. Show is at 8. Tickets are $30. 6th & I is located at the intersection of 6th and I streets in Northwest DC.
The Birchmere is the latest and largest incarnation of the same club that has been with us for years. Most shows are in the concert hall, but some are in the bandstand, which has a dance floor, but less seating. The Club has strict rules about being seated and quiet during concert hall shows and enforces them. The rules are slacker in the bandstand, which is also available if you need to talk or smoke during a show in the concert hall. If you arrive before the concert hall doors open they hand out numbers for a place in line if they like you or ignore you if they don't, but I assume they'll give you one if you demand it. It is adviseable to get there before the concert hall doors open in order to get the best seats, especially if you have a group that wants to sit together. The Birchmere opens at 5, the doors to the concert hall open at 6 and most shows start at 7:30. Food is passable bar food, but steep, and the beer selection is good. Tickets are available through Ticket Master, or with a $3 service charge from the box office, which is open from 5 to 9 on show nights. The Birchmere is located at 3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria. 703-549-7500.
The Black Cat gets rated the place in DC that the bands most like to play and the good vibes hang over for the audience. A very easy venue to get along with. Be warned that shows tend to start late, especially on Fridays and Saturdays when they do not close until 3. The new location has a concert hall upstairs, and a smaller performance space and a cafe with decent food downstairs. The Black Cat is located at 1811 14th Street NW. 202-667-7960. Tickets available from Ticketmaster or without service charge from the box office, which is open from 8 to midnight. For shows after September 25, 2009 tickets will be available from Ticket Alternative instead of Ticketmaster. The Black Cat says that it is an all ages venue, but it actually requires parental permission for anyone under 18.
Blues Alley is a small jazz club in Georgetown. Capacity is about 125. Georgetown rent is covered with two to three shows a night (8 and 10, or 8, 10 and 12), a random $2.50 per person surcharge, and a requirement that each person spend at least $10 on their overpriced food and drinks. On the other hand, the view of the stage is great. Hours are daily, 6 to 12:30. Full dinner menu available at the 8 pm show, light fare for the later shows. Food really has not impressed me. Blues Alley is located behind 1073 Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest DC. 202-337-4141.
Carter Barron Amphitheater is a U.S. Park Service facility in Rock Creek Park. It is an outdoor facility that has seating for about 4,200 and some picnic areas inside. Despite the picnic areas they do not allow cans, bottles, hard coolers or picnic baskets. The box office is open from noon to 9pm on event days only. The address is 4850 Colorado Avenue (near 16th). The concert line is 202-426-0486. For park information call 202-895-6000.
Surf Club Live is a long-established venue in Prince George's County, now under new ownership. It is fairly large, has table seating, bar seating, a dance floor, and an area with pool tables. The general decor is "dive." Beer is fairly reasonable, but appears to cost more during shows than other times. Food is virtually non-existent, though you can get a basket of chips or a bag of nuts in moments of desperation. It is located at 4711 Kenilworth Avenue in Bladensburg Maryland. 301-927-6310.
DAR Constitution Hall is a concert hall owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution. It is a rather large hall and some of the seats up on the sides are really bad. There are usually bars in the lobby, but you cannot take a drink to your seat, with the result that the lobby is incredibly crowded before the show and during intermission. The web site claims that light fare is served at all events, but they must have hidden it well. Tickets are available only through Ticketmaster unless the promoter has made other arrangements. There is no box office. Constitution Hall is located at 1776 D Street in Northwest DC.
DC Nine is where Asylum used to be. Music is upstairs, in an area that has somehow gotten smaller. The stage is tiny, and about six inches high, and some of the places in front of it are at the top of a long stairway. There is a bar, and some places to sit. DC Nine opens at 7 Thursday though Saturday and at 8 the rest of the week. Shows start at 9:30. There are no advance tickets. All shows are 21+. DC Nine is located at 1940 9th Street in Northwest DC. 202.483.5000.
The 8X10 has resumed its former name and apparently has new ownership and booking staff. The renovation from the original Eight by Ten eliminated the middle wall, moved the stage to the middle and made it larger, added a balcony that goes down both sides and across the back and added new, vastly better, bathrooms. Not clear what the new ownership means for beer and food. The dance floor is spring-loaded: serious structral paranoids will stand directly in the center. All shows are 18+. Those under 21 pay $3 extra at the door. Tickets available from the box office for reasonable fees from 11 am to 11 pm, and for unreasonable fees from Ticketmaster. The address is 8 and 10 East Cross Street in Federal Hill across from the Cross Street Market. 410-625-2000.
Fletchers is tiny, (capacity 325), but it has good spirit. Doors open at 9 and the shows start at ten (at least when IMP does them). Fletcher's is located at 701 S.Bond Street in Fells Point. 410-558-1889. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster and from Soundgarden.
Fort Reno Park is, for all intents and purposes, a big field on Chesapeake Street between Nebraska and Wisconsin Avenues near the Tenleytown Metro. Shows are from 7 to 9:30 and are free though donations are always welcome. No glass, alcohol, or drugs are allowed.
49 West Coffeehouse and
Gallery is a restaurant located at 49 West Street in Annapolis. They
have music in their back room and also serve food and beverages back
there. The food is good, and not unreasonably priced for Annapolis. An
extremely civilized place to see a show. 410-626-9796