By Joe Heim
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 | |  Norah Jones plays an early show at the 9:30 June 21. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa) | In January of this year, Norah Jones was still a relative unknown. So much so that when she played at Arlington's tiny Iota on a Monday night, only a few dozen fans were on hand to witness the show. Much has changed for the young bluesy jazz singer since then. Her startlingly good sophomore album, "Come Away With Me," is both a critical and commercial smash, currently resting at 22 on the Billboard chart. With a voice that sounds both fragile and assured, Jones -- the daughter of Ravi Shankar -- has mesmerized audiences and expanded the lyric territory of sultry singer-songwriters. She headlines an early show Friday, June 21, at the 9:30. The Winans, the much-acclaimed "first family" of gospel, make a return visit to Constitution Hall Wednesday, June 19. Delores and David Winans will be joined by children and grandchildren for a night that's part of the group's first reunion tour in 10 years. D.C.'s own indie rock popsters, the Dismemberment Plan makes a two-night stand at the Black Cat June 21-22. The show on the 21st will be a benefit for the Fort Reno concert series, the free local indie rock showcase that brings bands to Fort Reno's outdoor stage two nights a week from late June through mid-August. Speaking of the free Fort Reno concerts, the first one takes place this Thursday. Catch headliners Q and Not U as well as Black Eyes and Filo Betto. Fort Reno shows begin at 7:15 p.m. The season's first big outdoor hip-hop and rap show comes to Nissan Pavilion when Usher, Nas and Faith Evans perform there Saturday, June 22. Hopefully, Nas will have something more to say about his good friend Jay-Z. If you're in need of a classic dose of early '70s funk, take in War and Average White Band June 22 at Carter Barron Amphitheatre. The chance to hear "Why Can't We Be Friends" and "Pick Up the Pieces" on the same night shouldn't be missed. Quick, name Iowa's most famous singer-songwriter. Hmm, still thinking? Don't worry, we don't have an answer either. But if Iowa hasn't exactly made a name for itself as the singer-songwriter state, it does boast two pretty good ones in Bo Ramsey and Pieta Brown. They come to Iota for a 3 p.m. show Sunday, June 23. Ramsey is an exceptional guitarist; and if you've seen Lucinda Williams on her past few tours, you've seen him playing lead in her band. Brown -- the daughter of folk singer Greg Brown -- has just released her self-titled debut on Trailer Records. Her dark and mysterious songs have a poetic feel to them that brings to mind Williams or maybe even a countrified Patti Smith. Citizen Cope is another D.C. product making a run at the big time. Combination soul man and hip-hopper, Cope, aka Clarence Greenwood, released his first album earlier this year. He headlines at the 9:30 Tuesday, June 25. TICKET ALERT Tickets go on sale Saturday, June 22, at 11 a.m. for David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar's Aug. 16 concert at Nissan Pavilion. Rock on. Tickets for Smokin' Grooves, one of the most promising package tours of the summer, go on sale Friday, June 21, at noon. Outkast, the Roots, Lauryn Hill, Jurassic 5 and Cee Lo are all scheduled to perform at the Aug. 3 concert at Nissan Pavilion. NEW ON CD An uncle six times over, I keep on the lookout for good music for toddlers. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to find. But "The Bottle Let Me Down: Songs for Bumpy Wagon Rides," a collection of 26 songs just released on the Bloodshot label, is a pretty cool exception. With contributions from alt-country types like Robbie Fulks, Rosie Flores, Kelly Hogan and Alejandro Escovedo, the CD is filled with kid songs that grown-ups (or aging kids) can enjoy too. In addition to reworked classics like Freakwater's "Little Red Riding Hood" and the Asylum Street Spankers' "I Am My Own Grandpa," there are new tunes like Escovedo's brilliant "Sad & Dreamy (The Big 1-0)." Of course, the best thing about this CD is that if you snatch it from the grips of a 3-year-old, there's not much he can do to get it back. RECENT STORIES & REVIEWS FROM THE POST Loretta Lynn stopped in town last week for a talk at Lisner Auditorium. David Segal has the lowdown on the coal miner's daughter. He also checked in on the Hives show at the Black Cat and left with as many questions as answers. Ken Ringle urges caution for those thinking about plunking down $119.98 for the "Frank Sinatra in Hollywood: 1940-1964." six-CD, 160-track box set. And Britt Robson has mostly nice things to say about Jorma Kaukonen's just released CD, "Blue Country Heart." READER RECOMMENDATION So many great bands. So little time to see them all. If you have a favorite group that you want to tell readers about, e-mail a sentence or two description, as well as the date, time, location and price for an upcoming show. I'll pick one reader recommendation a week and post it here. MUSIC VENUES |
