Category Archives: live music

It’s Getting Funky In Here

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Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band

Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band

Most people think of Spring in DC as Cherry Blossom season, but around the U Street Corridor and Shaw neighborhoods we know it as Funk Season. On May 6th the sounds and spirit of funk will again rock DC at the fourth annual Funk Parade and music festival. Before that there are funds to raise, volunteers to recruit, permits to be obtained, acts to sign, and hype to hype–all the groundwork that goes into pulling off a day and night that draws tens of thousands of people to experience a few dozen acts at multiple clubs and outdoor venues. But first, before the work and before the festival, we party.

This past Friday the DC Department of Funk sponsored the Funk Parade Kickoff Jam at Tropicalia, one of U Street’s basement music clubs. I was there to get into the groove and to photograph all of the bands and dancers.  Continue reading →

faces in the crowd – black cat edition

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At times a story is best told not by the players on the stage, but by a face or two in the crowd.

Photographed on 15 May 2015 at the Black Cat, Washington DC

View more faces in the crowd.
View more of my photos from the Black Cat.

 

yo no say (9 images)

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From Baltimore to 14th Street DC, Yo No Say got things started at the Black Cat with its eclectic blend of rock styles. Click below to see the full set of images while listening to their grooves (scroll down to fire up the sounds).

click to view the full set of images

click to view the full set of images

Get Lost by Yo no Say:

Photographed on 15 May 2015 at the Black Cat, Washington DC.

Listen to Yo No Say on BandCamp and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

View more of my photos from the Black Cat.

navi + picnibus at the black cat (20 images)

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Hip-hop (but definitely not Kanye despite contrary photo evidence) meets rock (but they are not Pink Floyd) to take a trip with Salvador Dalí—that barely begins to describe Navi + Picnibus. Click below to see the full set of images from their energetic Black Cat set, while listening to the authorized bootleg (say what) of the show (scroll down to fire it up).

click to view the full set of 20 images

click to view the full set of 20 images

Photographed on 15 May 2015 at the Black Cat, Washington DC.

Listen to more Navi and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

View more of my photos from the Black Cat.

The  official authorized bootleg recording of Navi + Picnics at the Black Cat:

newt junior at the black cat (18 images)

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Newt Junior released its new EP, Future Proof, and introduced an eager Black Cat crowd to its brew of jazz improvisation with the rock energy, soul grooves, and the straight-on drive of funk. Click below to view the full set of images.

Photographed on 15 May 2015 at the Black Cat, Washington DC.

Listen to and read about Newt Junior, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

View more of my photos from the Black Cat.

brain rapp at the black cat (15 images)

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A hip-hop edge awash with smooth soulful grooves blended with elegant jazz harmonics. Featuring Nature Boi on mic and turntables and supported by Joey Harman on drums, Brain Rapp brought his right-meets-left-brain hip hop to the Black Cat. I went to photograph other bands, but Brain Rapp definitely earned my attention and my cameras focus. Click below for the full set of images.

Photographed on 15 May 2015 at the Black Cat, Washington DC.

Get more Brain Rapp at http://brainrapp.com and on SoundCloud. Follow Brain Rapp on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

View more of my photos from the Black Cat.

kicking off the funk

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Chocolate City Burlesque at the Funk Parade Kickoff Party

Chocolate City Burlesque at the Funk Parade Kickoff Party – see all photos here

I was given exceptional access at the Funk Parade Kickoff Party held at DC’s Howard Theatre on March 17, 2015. Great access offers great angles that provide the opportunity for great photos… you be the judge.
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