Author Archives: Richie Downs

TVD Live Shots: G3 featuring Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, and Phil Collen at the Warner Theatre, 2/14

My introduction to guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani would be his 1987 album, Surfing with the Alien. One could never forget that vivid album art featuring Marvel Comics’ Silver Surfer on the front against that stunning red background. Inside, the record’s sleeve was adorned with the artwork of yet another Marvel character, Galactus—a Silver Surfer foe and planet devourer—also from the Fantastic Four comics series. 

Obviously, Surfing with the Alien was not just about the artwork. The album marked the second and then most notable studio effort by Satriani and helped cement his position as one of the greatest guitar soloists of our time. The album is ranked #4 in Ultimate Guitar’s “Top Rated Instrumental Albums of All Time” and it’s one of the best-selling instrumental works to date, boasting two of Satriani’s fifteen Grammy award nominations over his career. The album is truly masterful and it’s nearly impossible to speak of Joe Satriani without bringing it into the conversation.

On tour with his annual G3 guitar excursion, Joe Satriani enlisted the help of two larger than life names in rock and metal for his 2018 lineup, Phil Collen (of Def Leppard) and John Petrucci (of Dream Theater). For this year’s DC stop, the host was the beautiful Warner Theatre.

Since its inception in 1995, the G3 tour has featured some of the most well-respected guitarists in the business and has taken to the road almost annually. While one could assume that the G3 tour would be an evening of all out guitar shredding and a complete solo-speed fest, they’d only be half correct. It is true that showing off their various talents as axe-men is certainly the fun part of the show, but when performing their own songs, it’s exceptional to me to hear the tone of their amps, the sustain of their instruments, and the pure craftsmanship of their songwriting. The G3 tour allows guitarists to do this—and it’s an experience all its own.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
at the 9:30 Club, 1/29

Monday night the 9:30 Club hosted San Francisco based noise-rock outfit, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club who played a near-two hour set for a sold out crowd. This week’s stop was BRMC’s first appearance at the famed DC venue since 2013, and judging by the warm reception they received, they’ve been sorely missed. 

Touring to promote their newest release Wrong Creatures, the band hit a high note right out of the box with the dissonant track, “Spook,” the second song from their new effort. The band followed with the dirty, “Little Thing Gone Wrong.” It was quite clear they’re more than comfortable with their new material and spilt the night pretty evenly between new and older songs.

Bassist, Robert Levon Been and guitarist extraordinaire Peter Hayes were in fine form sharing vocal duties as they grinded through their fuzzy, overdriven tones which are married exquisitely to Leah Shapiro’s pounding rhythms.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: The Wombats, Courtship,
and Nation of Language at the 9:30 Club, 1/8

UK Indie-pop artists, The Wombats made a stop at DC’s 9:30 Club earlier this week on an icy-cold Monday night. In spite of the bad weather, fans managed to pack the venue for a cozy night of solid performances.

In anticipation of their upcoming release, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life, The Wombats have embarked on a promotional tour through the US that will last until the latter part of January. The tour will pick back up in March with European dates deep into the summer. The album itself will be available in signed vinyl editions and arrives in stores on February 9.

The record’s lead single, “Lemon To A Knife Fight” has been featured on the band’s website since November and is said to have been written by singer Matthew Murphy after a David Lynch binge then subsequently having an argument in the car with his wife while motoring on Mulholland Drive, of all places.

The Wombats performance on Monday was solid and Murphy seemed to be a good form vocally, right in line with energetic bass player Tord Overland Knudsen and speedy drummer Dan Haggis.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: Descendents at Rams Head Live, 12/1

For a band whose mantra contains the phrase “couldn’t sell out a telephone booth,” Descendents, the long running California-based foursome, have been dishing out clever, slacker satire for years, clearly underestimating just how deep their influence runs and how un-nerdy they really may be. Last Friday night, the enthusiastic crowd at Rams Head Live in Baltimore got a chance to witness this for themselves—and to pay their respects to a band who deserves more than their share.

When it comes to melodic punk, the Descendents are practically the forefathers of the genre, particularly for emo-core. In fact, I’d argue that the band inspired that label altogether. Mixing classic hardcore sounds with singer Milo Aukerman’s metallic vocal sensibilities and often fast paced lyrics, the band rose to prominence in the California punk scene after their formation in the late 1970s. Stylistically, the Descendents have been tagged with many labels from pop-punk, skate-punk, power-pop, and emotional-hardcore. The band’s upbeat tempos are regularly infused with melodic bass lines and harmonic guitar breaks. Toss in a scoop of well sung melodies—usually with lyrics about coffee, flatulence, defecation, and sometimes just about a girl—what you get is a mix of relatable, fun, and heartbreaking songs.

Since the glory days of post-hardcore, the Descendents’ style has become wildly pervasive. Along with Dag Nasty, Buzzcocks, and The Queers, the Descendents’ sound has directly influenced Nirvana and Green Day, and their influence lingers on The Offspring, Pennywise, NOFX, Good Charlotte, Taking Back Sunday, and the abominable Blink 182. The 2013 documentary, Filmage is a worthwhile look at the band’s history and features interviews with members of Black Flag, Fugazi, and Minutemen. There’s also a Descendents brand IPA, “Feel This Coffee,” from Mikkeller Brewery. The beverage is named after a track from their latest album and another Descendents mantra—their love of coffee.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: Hot Snakes, Duchess Says, Suicide Pact at the Rock & Roll Hotel, 11/15

Wednesday night is a hard sell for any venue. In DC, it takes a band of great strength to lure mid-week concert-goers to any hall. Although when the right act shows up, rooms fill elbow to elbow just as they did last week as a sold out Rock and Roll Hotel hosted San Diego’s Hot Snakes, and with them some very impressive opening acts.

Hot Snakes are touring to support their upcoming 2018 release which, along with their entire back catalog, will be released on Sub Pop records next year. The new release has been highly anticipated and will be the band’s first since 2005’s Thunder Down Under. Their current nine stop November tour has included dates in San Francisco, Seattle, LA, Boston, Philly, and Washington, DC before the band jets off to Europe in January. It’s been five years since Hot Snakes played a show in Washington, and Wednesday’s crowd was primed with excitement before the band took the stage despite a painfully long set change between bands.

While the star of the show for many is Reis’ crisp guitar tone, it serves as the perfect punctuation for his longtime band mate Rick Froberg’s (Obits) more steady, open guitar lines and distinct throaty vocals. Hot Snakes’ rhythm section consists of Gar Wood on bass and not one, but two separate drummers—Jason Kourkounis (Delta 72) and Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From The Crypt, Sultans)—both behind the kit for the specific songs they recorded with the band.

Just prior to Hot Snakes’ performance, John Reis leaned down toward the front of the stage where I was standing. He was plugging in guitar cords when he looked over at me like a werewolf before a full moon. “I’ll be sweating and falling all over you—you may need to pick me back up.” “It’ll be okay,” I offered. “I’ve got you—but I move around a lot too.” “But seriously,” he insisted, “you might wanna tell the people behind you—I’ll be all over here.”

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: Evanescence at MGM National Harbor, 10/31

Few people in rock music have the pipes of Evanescence’s Amy Lee. Her soulful tone and distinguished sound are as identifiable as they are unique. Belting out tunes like “Never Go Back” and “Lacrymosa” at the opening of her performance at the MGM National Harbor last Tuesday night, it was clear she was not only there to sing—she came to rock.

Performing with a 20 piece orchestra to reflect the direction of the band’s forthcoming album Synthesis, the show was far from a classical recital and leaned more toward the operatic. As usual Lee’s vocals were unearthly and soared beautifully above the mix. Fan favorites like “My Heart Is Broken,” “Bring Me To Life,” along with the more reflective “My Immortal” and “The In-Between” spanned the band’s catalog through several line-up changes and Amy Lee’s own solo projects.

Lee was quoted in 2013 saying, “I am Evanescence. I am the only original member. I have basically hired the band. Evanescence has become me. It is mine and it’s exactly how I want it to be.” (And rightfully so.) Their current line-up includes Tim McCord on bass guitar, Will Hunt on drums, and guitarists Jen Majura and Troy McLawhorn. Whatever change in personal the band may have undergone through its various incarnations, Lee’s vocals are the bedrock for their loyal fanbase.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: VetsAid featuring Joe Walsh, Zac Brown Band, Gary Clark Jr., Keith Urban at Eagle Bank Arena, 9/20

Last Wednesday night EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA played host to the inaugural VetsAid Charity Benefit Concert sponsored by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and multi Grammy Award winner, Joe Walsh. As if the Eagles guitar-man wasn’t enough, Walsh recruited a virtual powerhouse of guitar talent that included Keith Urban, Gary Clark Jr., and The Zac Brown Band as support for the evening.

VetsAid is a non-profit organization whose annual concerts will support veteran centered charities that provide physical and emotional care to soldiers and their families. A Gold Star family member himself, Walsh is no stranger to the trials veterans’ families face, having lost his father in active-duty when he was only 20 months old. Over the years, veterans charities are something that Walsh has kept close to his heart, supporting various organizations and even having visited Walter Reed Medical Center offering free guitar lessons to wounded soldiers.

Working hands-on with his new project, Walsh has reviewed numerous organizations and picked the following as beneficiaries of the inaugural performance: Semper Fi Fund, TAPS, Hire Heroes USA, Warrior Canine Connection, Operation Mend, Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, Stop Soldier Suicide, and Swords to Plowshares.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: Blondie, Garbage, and Deap Vally at Wolf Trap, 8/3

When legendary new-wavers Blondie conjure a co-headline tour with ‘90s alt-rock heavies Garbage, what you get is exactly what’s spelled out on the marquee, “Rage and Rapture.” Last Thursday evening their new tour mantra couldn’t have rung any truer, even under consistently stormy skies. In fact, fans outfitted with rain gear and umbrellas saturated the lawn at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap to watch 2 of the most prominent female voices in rock music perform, back to back.

The joint tour has carried Blondie and Garbage through most major US cities from California to New York since its start in July, and perhaps this tour was a long time in the making. After all, some 11 years ago in March of 2006, Shirley Manson gave the introductory speech that welcomed Blondie into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

To get the evening’s audience primed, the tour enlisted the help of LA garage-rock duo Deap Vally. Their punky retro-blues sound was a fitting addition. When Garbage ultimately hit the stage, there was a strange tension that wasn’t released until nearly halfway through their set, evident as Shirley Manson paced the stage in short circles like a wolf eyeing its prey. She was incredibly on point, almost fierce.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots:
PJ Harvey at Wolf
Trap, 7/21

Friday evening Wolf Trap’s Filene Center played host to one of the UK’s most prolific and eclectic indie artists, PJ Harvey, who in tandem with her nine-piece band of musicians took the stage with no opener to set a mood, but a dramatic one it would become.

PJ Harvey is no stranger to on-stage theatrics, but seeing her poised and repetitive motions live is an experience all its own. Her stage presence is beyond commanding, leading her backing band in every sense—feeling every note with moves set against a thundering bass drum.

This is particularly the case in songs such as “Down by the Water” and her set opener, “Chain of Keys.” It feels as if we’re privy to a story unfolding which adds a heightened dimension to the flow of the evening, as was the case with “The Ministry of Defense.” I swear I got goosebumps as every musician on stage chimed in for the chorus’s beautiful melodies for one of the most dramatic shows I’ve seen in many years.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots:
Steve Miller Band
and Peter Frampton
at Merriweather Post Pavilion, 6/23

Last Friday evening, Merriweather Post Pavilion and the surrounding woodlands of Columbia, MD played host to two rock giants. Both the Steve Miller Band and Peter Frampton are co-headlining a joint US tour, and fittingly both artist’s catalogs are synonymous with summertime gatherings. Yes, powerhouse co-headlining tours seem to be a back as a summer trend and happily for Merriweather’s audience, the pairing of two of rock’s most prolific artists brought them a night of the genre’s most celebrated songs.

Kicking off the evening, Peter Frampton primed the crowd with his clean and precise guitar tones, his well written rhythms, and his signature voice box that still gets cheers from fans after all this time. Frampton played a solid set and sounded quite fantastic—his solo breaks on his signature Gibson Les Paul ringing through the hills. He even threw in a solid cover of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” as a tribute to the late Chris Cornell.

When Steve Miller took the stage, he did so quite gracefully with a rather calm walk to the microphone. Apparently Miller’s a man of very few words, short of a brief hello and introduction a few songs into his set. Getting right to it, Miller’s unassuming approach and humble stage presence contrasts with the caliber and reach his songs have attained through the years.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots:
Royal Blood at the
9:30 Club, 6/6

Last Tuesday, DC’s music fans were treated to one of the hardest rocking, modern blues duos in the business today when the 9:30 Club hosted UK’s Royal Blood.

With all the great music that’s coming out of the hip seaside town of Brighton on the south coast of England, it’s perhaps somewhat difficult to create a unique musical identity. This however this is not the case with Royal Blood, the bass and drums duo. Band members Mike Kerr (bass) and Ben Thatcher (drums) formed Royal Blood in 2013, eventually signing with the same management company as labelmates Arctic Monkeys. Their first single “Out of the Black” was released in 2013 and was followed by their first full length album in 2014, the self titled Royal Blood—easily a career defining record. The band is currently touring to support their forthcoming release How Did We Get So Dark?, in stores this week via Warner Bros.

Royal Blood’s sound and style lends itself best to a live setting. I’m still amazed at the full tone they produce with just drums and bass. At last week’s show, the band laid down the anticipated barrage of heavy, rumbling, tones with an even more enthusiastic performance than their previous stop at the club just 2 years ago.

How Did We Get So Dark? will be available on June 16th on either signed vinyl or a super deluxe vinyl edition featuring bonus tracks.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: Budweiser InfieldFest at Pimlico Raceway, 5/20

Last Saturday, the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Raceway in Baltimore hosted the Budweiser InfieldFest which featured a variety of musical offerings ranging from electro-house to pop-punk—with a big dose of country-cool.

Headlining the performances for the day were country star Sam Hunt, Grammy award winner Anton Zaslavski, aka ZEDD, Maryland natives Good Charlotte and LoCash, and opening up the festivities was the Canadian country duo High Valley.

Despite the wet weather holding off through the day’s events, the rain from the night before left a muddy infield and track, as has become a tradition for the past few years. Weather aside, the crowds came in droves to bet on the horses, drink, eat some from local digs, and get their fill of live music.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: Metallica at Lincoln Financial Field, 5/12

Heavy metal giants Metallica brought their “WorldWired” tour to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia last Friday laying claim that they are still the best at what they do—music that’s faster and heavier than any other band in the business.

Metallica is one band that needs no introduction. They are perhaps the biggest metal band on the planet and their name is synonymous with thrash and metal. Through their 35+ year career, Metallica has been truly a pioneering force in music, almost solely responsible for bringing the metal genre to mass audiences in the ’80s and ’90s. And in 2017, they have only gotten better with age.

Touring for the first time since 2009, Metallica’s “WorldWired” tour kicked off in Baltimore, MD last Wednesday and was followed by Friday’s night two in Philadelphia. The band is touring to promote their 2016 album, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, their first studio effort in eight years and the band’s tenth studio album, released as a double vinyl set on Blackened Recordings.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Philadelphia | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots:
The xx and Sampha
at Merriweather Post Pavilion, 5/6

For lovers of the “dream pop” genre, I couldn’t imagine a better place to be than Merriweather Post Pavilion for last Saturday’s performance by the critically acclaimed artists, The xx and supporting act, Sampha.

UK-based trio, The xx is touring to support their third studio album, I See You, which was released in January of this year. The band’s record label Young Turks, is an independent British label that consists of artists such as FKA twigs, SBTRKT, Jamie xx, and Sampha, their supporting act for the evening. I See You drew widespread acclaim from critics, and the album debuted at the number one spot on the British album charts and reached number two on the Billboard 200 in the US.

Watching The xx perform live evokes just as much emotion as the dramatic tones that inhabit their recordings. The ambiance of their on-stage setup certainly creates an atmosphere all its own. Giant (moving) mirrored panels flank both sides of the stage and cover the center drum/ DJ riser to create a deceivingly infinite space. Falling smoke on the crest of the stage and deep purple lighting only emphasized the moodiness.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

TVD Live Shots: Mastodon, Eagles of Death Metal, and Russian Circles at The Fillmore Silver Spring, 5/02

Around 9:30 this past Tuesday evening, Mastodon took the stage at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD. Following openers Eagles of Death Metal would a daunting task for any band, but Mastodon embraced the challenge head first… and from the initial chord, the band went for the gut with a punch of heavy, yet immensely intricate, guitar work.

Touring to promote their 2017 release, Emperor of Sand, the Atlanta-based Mastodon is “stoner rock / sludge metal” at its finest. The riff heavy guitar attack from band members Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher is driven by the thunderous rhythm section of drummer Brann Dailor and Troy Sanders on bass. Sanders also splits vocal duties with Hinds pretty evenly throughout their set as well as on their recordings.

Mastodon’s sound could be described pretty easily—they rock… and hard. Their musicianship alone is immense and is rich in beautiful textures, rhythmic undertones, and super tight harmonic guitar runs that blaze over the top. I’ve seen Mastodon at larger venues and amphitheaters and I have to say, watching them perform in a club was a real treat. The band takes their stage volume to sonic levels and you can literally feel Sanders’ bass pass right through your chest.

Read More »

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment
  • SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL INDIE SHOPS SINCE 2007


  • Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text
  • Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text Alternative Text