Gary Clark Jr.
Tuesday & Wednesday (Nov.12 & 13)
9:30 Club
The only thing growing faster than Gary Clark Jr.’s acclaim — among fans, critics and iconic musicians alike — is the scope of his talents and tastes.
But nothing you have seen, heard or read can prepare you for the power and scope of his debut album, Blak And Blu. Not the buzz from his Run-The-House tour through the 2012 festival season which included Coachella, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Bonnaroo, Metallica’s Orion Fest, and Lollapalooza, to Jay Z’s Made in America Festival (the only artist invited to play both nights) and continuing through the upcoming Neil Young curated Bridge School Benefit, Austin City Limits gathering and NOLA’s Voodoo Fest.
Taking up guitar at age 12, Clark quickly found his way into the fertile Austin scene, taken under the wing of long-time club owner and artists advocate Clifford Antone and such local stalwarts as Jimmie Vaughan. Antone put the youngster on stage with such blues giants as James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin. Vaughan and others taught him about moving beyond the legends, both going back to the originators who influenced them, but also embracing the spirit of innovation that separated such groundbreakers as Cream and the Stones from the crowd. He made the most of the support and became such a shining presence that Austin declared a “Gary Clark Jr. Day” in his honor while he was still in his teens. And by 2007 he was named the city’s best blues artist and rock guitarist at the Austin Music Awards. In fact, he’s won those same categories every year ever since.
At the same time he was tapped by writer-director John Sayles to play the role of Sonny Blake, a fictional bluesman fittingly challenging the conventions of the gritty ‘50s circuit, in the film “Honeydripper”.
The buzz found its way to Clapton, who invited Clark to play on the 2010 Crossroads Festival in Chicago, an event showcasing the most distinctive guitar talents of a variety of genres. Clark’s appearance with Doyle Bramhall II and Sheryl Crow opened a lot of ears to his talent. Clapton then took Clark along as his opening act on a tour of Brazil that fall.
All along, the artists to whom he’s been drawn are those who don’t fit in genres, but are genres unto themselves. He’s taken their lessons to heart. There’s so much more to come. We may not know what it will be, but we know it will be astounding.-Excerpts from Gary Clark Jr. Official Bio
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See-i
Wednesday Nov. 13
Eighteenth Street Lounge (Dupont Circle)
The story begins with two brothers, Rootz and Zeebo, who found their way from college in North Carolina via the Caribbean only to end up in Washington, DC. It was in the cultural melting pot of the Nation’s capital that they developed their creative and musical talents. In the heady days of the late 1980s, the brothers Steele would launch the project that has defined their lives: See-I. They quickly became a fixture of DC’s burgeoning Reggae scene crossing paths with Reggae aficionado Eric Hilton who was determined to include them in his future projects. Hilton was opening the Eighteenth Street Lounge and associated record label, and brought Rootz and Zeebo on board. Throughout the 90’s and into the coming millennium they would go on to record, perform and tour with Thievery Corporation.
Then in 2005 Zeebo and Rootz started a regular Wednesday night gig at the Eighteenth Street Lounge that would see them coalescing into one of the greatest live bands the city has ever seen. Slowly gathering momentum, guest musicians and members – from the Thievery Live band and the Chuck Brown band amongst others – the See-I live band would grow into a nationwide touring phenomenon, and are now considered one of America’s premier Reggae party bands.-Official Bio
The Motherhips
Thursday Nov.14
The Hamilton
It all started in 1990 at California State University in Chico when Bluhm and Loaicano found themselves living in the same house, teaching each other guitar chords and experimenting with harmony. They didn’t realize it but they were laying the foundation for a sound, a style and a partnership that would last their entirelives. The Hips were signed to Rick Rubin’s American Recordings while still in college and released their debut in 1993, followed by 1995’s Part Timer Goes Full and 1996’s Shootout. The band found themselves swept up into the life of major label touring, along with the heavy partying and relentless grind that has destroyed countless bands. Little promotion from the label found the Hips self-releasing 1998’s Later Days and regrouping as a band.
Since then, they’ve gone on to release independent studio albums (Green Hills of Earth, Kiss The Crystal Flake, and Pacific Dust) and have cultivated one of the most rabid and loyal fan bases in rock today. Focusing on quality rather than quantity, the Hips returned from a four-year hiatus (2001 – 2005) to find that they were more popular than ever. The core line-up of the band has remained stable since 2004, Bluhm, Loiaconco and drummer John Hofer. In 2011, Paul Hoaglin left the band and Frank Zappa and Fear bassist Scott Thunes joined the Hips. These days, the Mother Hips have changed their approach to touring, playing 80 shows a year rather than hundreds, concentrating on well-defined tour markets rather than staying out for long hauls.
Today the Hips are free; they make their own schedule, recording and touring when it feels right. They’re a successful independent business as well, having built up a loyal following and community for their sound and gaining the respect of their peers and critics along the way. Bluhm coined the term “California Soul” back in 1998 with the song “Gold Plated” when he sang: “There’s some boys I know/ who play that rock & roll / they’ve slept on a lot of floors / to get that California Soul.” Flash forward nearly two decades. The term has stuck and they’re proud of the monicker.
“California isn’t just a state,” explains Bluhm. “It’s a psychic idea … the end of the frontier. It’s not just a place;
it’s a style and a state of mind.”-Motherhips Press Kit
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Nightmares on Wax
Thursday Nov.14
U Street Music Hall
Early Show (7:00 PM)
Ah yes, the bass, that’s where it all started for George Evelyn. Raised in Leeds’ inner-city (Hyde Park, Burley), the son of a bingo hall accountant mum and engineer dad, a childhood friend’s older brother was don of the local Messiah sound system. George embraced dub and reggae from nine years old. The first artist he became a fan of was dub remixer Scientist – “It wasn’t just the music, it was the cartoon sleeves,” he laughs, “I was nine years old, after all!” Picking up his father’s appreciation of everything from Duke Ellington to Isaac Hayes to Shalamar, he also built his own home system from shoeboxes and discarded speaker units purloined from a nearby television factory, all attached to a Fidelity record player.
“I come from the city but sunshine is in my music,” he explains, “It was always a natural dream to make music in the sun like I do now. Not to take away from any of my previous music but ‘Feelin’ Good’ is what I’ve always been trying to do. For instance, on ‘Give Thx’ I wanted the message to be a universal thank you for everything. I wanted to get it across in a way that was happy but wasn’t preachy, wasn’t cheesy. I had to manifest it, to genuinely mean it with energy. That’s how I went through the process of making the whole album, really feeling it.”
As well as working with Warp, George had his own label for five years, Wax On, but he ceased involvement in 2010 to concentrate on his increasingly popular Wax Da Jam nights, which grew out of his Wax Da Beach parties in San Antonio Bay.
“It’s been pivotal to my music making,” he says, “and also made me think about the new concept of my live show. I’ve done the full band thing and the sound system thing and now I really want to marry the two and to do so with a real live percussive edge.”
Setting his sights high, as ever, with a cheery and unpretentious sincerity, George Evelyn continues to carry the original flame of acid house and late ‘80s Balearica, pushing it alive’n’kicking into 2013. His new album will surprise many, as bubbly, warm and lively a thing as will be heard all year. Nightmares on Wax are back. Then again, like the underground itself, they never really went away.
-Excerpts from Official Bio
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Backbeat Underground
Friday Nov.15
Tropicalia
Born out of a love for the classic funk & soul greats like James Brown, Grant Green, and The Meters as well as newer artists Soulive, Lettuce, and The New Mastersounds, Backbeat Underground is a hot new addition to DC’s funk scene. Check out a Live Music Daily Concert recap of Backbeat Underground from this past summer (HERE).
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RAC
Friday Nov.15
Rock & Roll Hotel
SOLD OUT
RAC is primarily known for remixes (200+). Check them out here. It started with an ambitious goal to change the way things were remixed. Taking the focus away from danceability and attempting different and interesting arrangements. Some notable examples include: U2, Lady Ga Ga, Bob Marley, Ella Fitzgerald, Kings Of Leon, Katy Perry, The Shins, Bloc Party, Chromeo, Lana Del Rey, Two Door Cinema Club and many many more.
Recently, André released two singles off an upcoming album coming out on Cherrytree / Interscope Records. “Let Go” features Kele (Bloc Party) and MNDR. “Hollywood” features Penguin Prison. -Official Bio
GRiZ + The Floozies
Saturday Nov. 16
9:30 Club
GRiZ just released his first album on his new record label Liberated Music today. GRiZ is, without a doubt, one of the best rising electronic artists on the scene, which is why we having been covering him for quite some time on LiveMusicDaily. The new video above highlights the live energy of his performances and showcases his new track “Hard Times” on Rebel Era. With this new release GRiZ delivers his signature electronic soul future funk sound once again, while offering a glimpse into the future of what is to come from this young star. Additionally, there is some great collaborations on the album including the track “Simple” featuring The Floozies and the last track on the record “How it Ends” features Dominic Lalli (Big Gigantic). The entire “Rebel Era” album is available for FREE download on his website in both FLAC & MP3 formats. Be sure to catch GRiZ on his tour in support of Rebel Era. The Floozies will also be in the house, celebrating their brand new release, Tell Your Mother on GRiZ’s Liberated Music Label. DOWNLOAD “Rebel Era” on Liberated Music.