Thursday, October 27
Two months ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. As the rebuilding efforts continue, so do the benefit shows. A veritable who's who of local music legends teams up to raise money for Gulf Coast musicians displaced by Katrina at the State Theatre for a show billed as Hell or High Water. Just about every genre will be represented, showing the great diversity of the local music scene: Godfather of Go-Go Chuck Brown, bar-band blues kings the Nighthawks, Afrofunk big band Chopteeth, roots rockers Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, hard-bop tenor saxman Buck Hill, the Big Easy-fueled R&B/rockabilly/swing gumbo of the Grandsons. Your $25 buys you a thorough local music history lesson and the satisfaction that you are helping those in need. Hard to beat that.
Last week, Rhome and Fritz went on a brief "Let's go check out some new stuff" trip around Washington, and wound up at Christine Moritz's new Thursday night residency at Alero, the Mexican restaurant and lounge on U Street. Yeah, it's in the Ellington, which neither of us has much love for, but Christine -- who's had residencies at Eighteenth Street Lounge and IndeBleu -- is worth the trip, spinning a downtempo mix that draws in Alice Russell, the Goten Project and local favorites Fort Knox Five. The vibe in the lounge is warm and cozy, thanks to dim lights, and there are plenty of carefully grouped couches and loveseats your group can take over. (Actually, we think this is one of the few spots on U where you could roll up with six or seven folks and have space for everyone.) All you need to do is grab a margarita or beer (Negro Modello, Pacifica, etc.) and chill. There's no cover, and the music runs from 8:30 to midnight.
Friday, October 28
Ever wonder how Brazilians celebrate Halloween? Neither did we. And you probably won't find out at Euronet International's Evening of Horror 3 (aka Noite do Horror 3), which is billed as a Euro-Brazilian dance party at the Wyndham City Center hotel. Costumes are encouraged and there will be prizes; but we're more intrigued by the Brazilian dance show and multiple dance floors with Brazilian, European and Top 40 dance music from 10 until 3. Tickets are $10 in advance, more at the door. Purchase them from http://www.euronetinternational.com/events.
What do you get when you combine the pulse of house music, the cheekiness of disco, the dynamicism of jazz fusion and the aggressiveness of rock? That's the recipe for Los Amigos Invisibles and possibly a pulled hammie if you don't prep properly before the band's show. Los Amigos bring the Latin-fueled organic dance music to the Black Cat tonight, prefaced by a DJ set from the band's own guitarist, whose secret turntablist identity is DJ Afro.
Saturday, October 29
Halloween is on Monday, so many savvy bar owners and promoters are throwing parties tonight. There are some massive events at Polly Esther's and Vida that will draw hundreds of revelers -- those young-professional Halloween parties usually do -- but a number of other less-spooky events also deserve your attention.
You'd be hard pressed to find a club anywhere in the country that has a better lineup this week than IOTA. Thursday brings low-throated folk troubadour Richard Buckner; Friday the club welcomes raucous garage rock vets the Fleshtones; Sunday is vivid folk storyteller James McMurtry; and Monday is the reunited alt-country group Freakwater. But the highlight of the week is tonight's show with the Clientele. The British trio plays shimmering, gentle indie pop where the only thing that's heavy is the reverb on Alasdair MacLean's guitar. Early song titles such as "Rain," "Monday's Rain" and "An Hour Before the Light" give a good idea of what the band's sound is all about. At times it was almost a little too gentle; but on the recent "Strange Geometry" the Clientele has beefed things up, giving the songs a little bit of forward momentum that suits them well. Opening for Spoon at the 9:30 club in the spring the group even showed it could jam, making those third-album-Velvet-Underground comparisons even more apt.
Bandleader Artie Shaw, never known for being gracious to his audiences, once dismissively said jitterbugs would dance to the beat of a windshield wiper. As long as the Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom keeps booking dances as promising as tonight's, they'll never have to. Pittsburgh's Boilermaker Jazz Band plays some of the hottest hot jazz Fritz has ever heard, deftly moving among Charleston, N'awlins boogie-woogie, vocal ballads, ragtime and small-band swing. The George Gee Orchestra is a favorite of New York Lindy Hoppers, thanks to a smooth, tight sound that harkens back to the 1960s Count Basie Orchestra. (The group's latest CD, "Settin' the Pace," was recorded with former Basie bandleader Frank Foster.) If those two bands were playing at the Kennedy Center, Blues Alley or somewhere else with tables and box seats, you'd face a hefty ticket charge and some seriously frustrated Lindy Hoppers. Tonight, though, you'll pay $18 for three hours of dancing and a free swing lesson, and all proceeds benefit the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. Get there early -- doors open at 8 -- because there will be lines.
Eclectic hip-hop standard bearer Common hosts H2O's Halloween Circus Circus jammy tonight. Since he's such a man of the people, those hosting duties will no doubt extend to the impromptu dropping of a hot 16 bars or a few cuts off his "Be" album. We're not so sure if the club is trotting out a progressive look in referencing Common's experimental "Electric Circus" record. It's probably just a coincidence, especially because attendees will also be treated to a performance by Akon, the West African cat who's trying to take Nate Dogg's slot as top gangsta rap crooner.
Breaking news! John Legend's coming to Prince George's County to get a check! Er, John Legend is "hosting" a party at the Icon tonight! Ladies love Legend, even when it costs $20 to hang out with him. DJ Damon will be providing the party sounds, doors open at 9.
Okay, back to the Halloween events.
Incorporating Halloween parties at 12 bars and dance clubs in Midtown and Foggy Bottom, the Nightmare on M Street qualifies as the biggest event in town tonight. Register at Rumors or the Front Page between 6 and 11, and then party until close with no additional cover at Mackey's, Recessions, the Bottom Line, Black Rooster Pub, Porter's, Madhatter, Sign of the Whale, Five, McFadden's, 4th Estate Grill and Singapore Bistro. The $20 cover ($15 if you're wearing a costume, $10 if you purchase tickets in advance) allows you to buy $2 Bud and Bud Light bottles, $3 B-to-the-E and food specials at any participating bar until 1 a.m. Don't forget about the costume contest at Recessions, but we'd rather make our way to Five. That club offers $400 for the winner -- and the East Coast Boogiemen in the DJ booth.
Every now and then, someone sends us info for an event that makes us scratch our heads and ask, "Why didn't anyone else think of this before?" The latest in this category is a Halloween party at Zucchabar called "Bridezilla," with cash prizes for the best "Bride from Hell" or "Bridesmaid from Hell" costume. It's organized by PartySlave, which has promoted James Bond parties at Vida and Cafe Asia and the ongoing '80s nights at Zucchabar. Besides half-price drinks from 8 to 10, the night promises wandering magicians, human statues, giveaways of vouchers and a $1,000 Mexican vacation from STA Travel, and way too much taffeta. There's no cover if you get on the list at HalloweenRSVP.com.
VH1 fans will love the State Theatre's annual Halloween flashback show, featuring local cover bands the Reflex and Flashback alternating sets of '80s and '70s hits, respectively. Decade-appropriate costumes are suggested, and the contest winner gets a $500 prize. Get there early, ladies: There's no cover between 8 and 9, and it's $14 after that.
La Tasca isn't our idea of a happening club -- don't lie, you don't consider it one either -- but the Penn Quarter restaurant is doing its impression of one tonight, celebrating two years on Seventh Street with a masquerade ball. Complimentary paella and tapas are offered to all, but those who arrive in a costume or mask get $3 glasses of sangria. The party, complete with a DJ spinning Latin and global beats, begins at 11.
Although New York gets a lot of shine in the world of garage and soulful house, New Jersey stands equally as tall. The garden state has an established scene that runs parallel to its oft-feted neighbor. Need proof? D.C. Sanctuary welcomes Andrew Hogans and DJ Ernest Fountain for its Halloween party tonight. Marvel at the good fortune of easy-to-find parking right in front of the club as you arrive early for a free mix CD. If you're carless, ask Big Tony to call you a cab. The beats bang from 10 to 4.
Sunday, October 30
Tonight, revelers venture into Mount Pleasant never to be seen again! Okay, nothing that dramatic will happen at the Devil's Triangle bar crawl -- or so we hope -- but it's a good excuse for intrepid explorers to venture into a neighborhood many still consider uncharted territory. Tonic, the Raven and Wonderland are jointly sponsoring this Halloween party, with a free shuttle bus servicing the three bars every 15 to 20 minutes between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. ("People are apprehensive about walking to Wonderland," explains Tonic's Rachael Sergi.) Each bar is offering its own costume contest and drink specials, including $4 Captain Morgan drinks and $2 Miller High Life and location-specific shooters.
Monday, October 31
No matter what day of the week Halloween falls upon, the streets of Georgetown are, for some reason, a popular place to go for the costumed masses. It's some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy or an annual spell. "What's going on tonight?" "I dunno. Let's go to Georgetown." Once you're there, you can mill about on the sidewalk, gawking at costumes, or you can head over to Modern, where Blk Ceaza is spinning hip-hop and old-school tunes beginning at 9. There will be prizes for costumes.
