Thursday, Oct. 13
All the development going up in Clarendon, Court House and Ballston can make it hard for neighbors to get to know one another. SoBe Seafood Co. -- the restaurant located around the corner from Mister Days -- is offering an old-fashioned neighborhood social this evening, though it's open to everyone inside and out of the 22201 Zip code. Says SoBe's Melissa Rothe: "Since the Arlington community is growing so fast and most of the people moving here are new to the area, we thought that a happy hour would be a nice way for busy people to connect in the community." (Of course, it also wouldn't hurt if they wound up liking the food and drink on offer at SoBe and spent some money.) From 5 to 8, there are free snacks, drink specials and live music. Your mission for the night is to say "Hi" to at least one person you don't know.
Philadelphia avant-rock quintet Make A Rising is one of those groups that draws from so many different sounds you can't help but play the "combination game" when describing its sound. You know, like "Daniel Johnston singing Beach Boys songs interpreted by Naked City," as the band's press release says. Or "Gastr del Sol + ELO + Robert Wyatt," as one review put it. Or maybe "Stereolab meets Neil Young meets John Cale" -- and David hears that in just one track, "Song for Dead Nickie." The group does work more in movements than songs, and it takes a stab at just about every genre on its debut album, "Rip Through the Hawk Black Night." Classical, cabaret, hardcore, prog, folk -- it's all there. Expect the band to be a little more grounded in a live setting as opposed to the studio, but it should still be some pretty wild stuff. Make A Rising opens for the Nethers tonight at the Warehouse Next Door. The Nethers, covered in this space two months ago, is celebrating the release of its debut album, "In Fields We Will Lie."
Friday, Oct. 14
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March and get the crowd hyped up for the Millions More Movement, radio host Russ Parr is taking over Love tonight. We don't know what, if anything, he's going to do. (Talk over the music? Stand around looking at people?) Sadly, DJ Sixth Sense won't be in attendance, so this won't be any kind of Wrong Songs party, but we're betting it's going to be packed just the same. Free passes for Love are available from lovetheclub.com, and are good until 11.
Mirrors is running a three-day concert series to coincide with this weekend's 10th anniversary of the Million Man March. Washington's usual suspects of prime soul talent have been tapped for the occasion; tonight Fertile Ground kicks it off with world jazz rhythms and arresting stage presence. Keeping in line with the reggae vibes of the evening's resident DJ Armageddon, roots reggae artists Army and Bamboo Station are also on the bill. Arrive early for the happy hour, which begins at 5 p.m., or get home for a disco nap and then check in at 9 o'clock for the show.
Just a few blocks west, DJ Mandrill will be spinning for the Visibility Celebration at Kili's as part of a Unity Weekend slate of events meant to remind marchers not to forget their gay brothers and sisters. Doors open at 9 and admission is free.
Saturday, Oct. 15
It's time for yet another edition of the day-long local music showcase Ikestock, but this one has a purpose other than rocking out. Ten bands, including the Lime Twigs, Trip Lizard, Circle 9 and organizers Los Hermanos Rodriguez, are joining forces at Chief Ike's Mambo Room to raise money for the Red Cross. The concert begins at 1 p.m. and finishes up around 11. Bands (are supposed to) start every hour on the hour, and no matter what time you show up, you can grab a $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon or Budweiser. If you're looking for a smorgasbord of the scene, this is a good place to start.
The inseparable K'Alyn and W. Ellington Felton play Mirrors tonight. The former has been clocking some serious frequent flyer miles, augmenting Raheem Devaughn's band on his tour and racking up some solo dates in California. Felton continues to churn out new material that sits confidently at the nexus of soul, hip-hop and poetry. Leaks of his newest project, "Postcards From the Edge," are already floating around the peer-to-peer networks of choice.
Once upon a time, there was a group of five young lads who lived in New York City. For the most part, they were sons of privilege, but that didn't mean they didn't love playing murky, moody rock-and-roll. After building a considerable buzz through live shows on the East Coast and a strong EP, the group was signed to a fat contract on a major label, fawned over by the British press and anointed Next Big Thing. No, we're not talking about the Strokes, we're talking about Jonathan Fire*Eater, who fizzled under that hype in the late '90s. It wasn't actually too surprising -- both bands were influenced by the Velvet Underground, but while the Strokes first single recalled Tom Petty, JF*E's was more Nick Cave -- and we all know which one of those two has sold more records. After Jonathan Fire*Eater fell apart, three members went on to find "O.C."-endorsed success with the Walkmen, but the group's charismatic lead singer, Stewart Lupton, remained largely unheard from. He eventually moved back to D.C. and started playing around town with his new band, the Child Ballads. After a couple years of inconsistent gigging, things are finally picking up steam; performances are becoming more frequent and more high profile, including a recent spot opening for Interpol and tonight's opening set for the Fiery Furnaces at the Black Cat. A Child Ballads show is a much folksier affair than a Jonathan Fire*Eater one, with a pervading weary Stones vibe (think "Sweet Virginia" and "Midnight Rambler"), but Lupton is still quite the poetic and alluring frontman. Next Big Thing, second time around? You never know.
The Black Cat is hosting another of those Depeche Mode Dance Parties on Friday night, but we find it hard to recommend this semiannual event yet again. (Look, when you've been to one "all Depeche Mode, all the time" party you need never go to one again, unless you're really, really obsessed with Dave Gehan.) If you need a synthpop fix this weekend, head to the Cat on Saturday for Guilty Pleasures, which features DJ Swank spinning '80s synthpop from 9:30 until close. We're guessing Depeche Mode will be on the playlist, alongside a number of bands we've heard but never heard of. Dark eyeliner is suggested, but not a requirement for entry. Five bucks, however, is.
The Maryland Brewer's Oktoberfest is just what it sounds like: a chance to sample beers produced by 13 brewers from across the state. (Tips from our expert: Look for Brewer's Art, Clipper City, Duclaw and Fordham.) Held at the State Fairgrounds in Timonium, the party also includes Miss Oktoberfest and "Best Beer Belly" contests, food, live rock and traditional German bands, a homebrewing contest, crafts and more. Tickets are $15 in advance from www.mdoktoberfest.com or $20 at the door and include a souvenir cup and six tickets for beer samples. Bust out the liederhosen or dirndl and you'll earn free beer tickets. Besides, where else are you going to wear them?
Sunday, Oct. 16
"Queer As Folk" star Peter Paige unveils his first film, "Say Uncle," at the Lincoln Theatre as part of the Reel Affirmations Film Festival, and there's a chance to catch an early screening of the movie followed by a meet-and-greet afterparty at Lizard Lounge, the long-running Sunday night party at MCCXXII. (Paige, who wrote and directed the film, and producer Christopher Racster will mingle with fans at Lizard Lounge.) Tickets are $9 and include the 7 p.m. screening as well as an Absolut vodka cocktail at MCCXXIII.
Eccentric Philadelphian nu-soul warbler Bilal closes out the Mirrors series tonight. His recorded output has been scarce since his 2001 debut but his influence still resonates in a flooded market and his audience is as loyal as ever.
Monday, Oct. 17
Greg Cartwright must have gotten a good chuckle out of the "garage rock revolution" of 2001. While the "The" bands got mainstream attention as these outsiders coming to save rock music from the rap-metal thugs, Cartwright could rest easy knowing that he had been fighting the good fight since the early '90s, when hair metal was the force to be reckoned with. As a member of the Oblivians and the Compulsive Gamblers, Cartwright became a hero in his native Memphis for his groups' lo-fi, high-energy, swaggering, blues-inflected rockers. His latest group, the Reigning Sound, picks up where those bands left off, delivering more three-minute blasts of scorching, visceral garage rock. The band will be opening for the Detroit Cobras tonight at IOTA, and things should be raucous enough that diners at the nearby Cheesecake Factory might feel the force of rock-and-roll If you plan to attend, wear your dancing shoes, and something loose enough to jump around in. When the Reigning Sound takes the stage, your body's response will be to start shaking, in some manner.
Tuesday, Oct. 18
There isn't a hotter jock on Washington's Asian party circuit than DJ Geometrix. There's nothing to gripe about when Geo is on the wheels, as he's a smooth operating Cuisinart when dicing together urban hits, dancehall and retro jams. He's showing the outer reaches some love every week starting with a new college night at T.T. Reynolds. Dress is casual and admission is open to ages 18 and up. Doors open at 10. Word to the 'burbs!
Here at Nightlife Agenda central, we love to play Sunday Morning Quarterback. For example: Let's say you work for the Smithsonian, and you're hosting a lecture and party celebrating Havana's Tropicana Night Club, the pre-revolutionary celebrity paradise that featured the likes of Nat "King" Cole and Tito Puente. Featured will be live salsa music and a question and answer session with the widow of the club's last owner. Where would you hold this event? How about the Brickskeller? It's so reminiscent of tropical Havana nights: 1,000 beers, heavyweight burgers, neon beer signs. The Brick it is! Seriously, we're as baffled by this selection as the next team of gurus, but here's the kicker: It's free. Speaking about the days of gangsters, Hollywood stars and musicians are Ofelia Fox, wife of the former owner, and Cuban-born journalist Rosa Lowinger, her co-author of "Tropicana Nights: The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub." The talk begins at 7 and is followed by music and dancing, and you can always order a Caribbean beer to get you in the mood. Tickets are required, but free. Visit http://residentassociates.org/otooct/tropicana.asp to get yours.
Next Weekend
Three events that require advance planning: DJ Tiesto, the trance mixmeister voted "#1 DJ in the world" by readers of DJ Magazine three years running, brings his incredible live set to Fur on Thursday, Oct. 20. Tickets are $30 in advance from clubglow.com, and these allegedly include a "no line, no wait" VIP entrance. Call in sick on Friday: He's spinning from midnight until 4. Also, Howard's Homecoming is finally here, and if Ludacris wouldn't miss it (as he says in "Pimpin' All Over the World"), then you shouldn't either. Love is going for the big guns, with Howard alumni Diddy overseeing the proceedings on Friday night and Usher hosting on Saturday. You have to pay to play -- general admission is $30 for one night or $40 for both, while VIP access costs $75 for one night and $120 for the two-day weekend -- but you'll get your money's worth. On Friday, the club opens its doors at 6 p.m. and closes at 5 a.m.
