In the Key of DC
There’s something happening here, and it is that Washington, D.C. has become an important music city. There’s an unbelievable array of different styls, traditions, sounds, groups. There’s progressive rock country rock, folk rock. There’s jazz and blues and blue-grass and reggae. If you’re in the mood to see live music, there’s a club in the District showcasing your favorite sounds. There are even a few bands here that are on the verge of breaking out on the national level. The D.C. listening audience is sophisticated. A band has to be good to get noticed and attract a following. Club owners look at the bottom line: how well does the band draw? Musicians are sometimes put off by this capitalistic aspect of the music biz, but it’s a fact of life in D.C. This fact has even prompted one prominent local musician to help open a club, where bands that don’t yet have a huge following can get a gig. This is the Barbecue Iguana, run by Bill Stewart and Alice Despard. Alice is well known around town for her singing, guitar playing and songwriting with the three-piece band Hyaa! The band’s other members are Alex DeSeabra on drums and Les Doerfler on bass.
It’s sometimes difficult for bands that play all original songs to get decent gigs unless they’re well known. A band that has astutely played the covers vs. originals game is Train Of Thought. Hardworking, reliable, devoid of pretension, Train has been playing Monday nights at the Grog and Tankard for months and has built quite a following. Their set list includes Dead covers, as well as songs from Dylan, The Doors and The Band. They’re working in more original songs while not abandoning the covers that are such crowd pleasers. Train Of Thought consists of Lee Bryant on vocals and keys, Kevin Klein on bass, Mike Stinson on drums, and Dave Mosick on guitar and vocals. What sets Train Of Thought apart from the other Deadhead bands is their tough-edged sound. At its best, their music manages to retain a rebellious snarl that the better ’60s rock had. Dave Mosick is developing a voice that can carry the songs of that era, while at the same time touching them with an updated sense of rage. Another commendable aspect of Train is their ability to perform long, drawn out Grateful Dead-style improvisational jams. They play these impromptu jams with skill, slowly building the tension and excitement.
Another no-nonsense, modest band that Washington is proud to call its own is Danny Gatton’s Funhouse. Gatton was dubbed the “World’s Greatest Unknown Guitarist” by Guitar Player Magazine. Gatton’s reputation has been growing by leaps and bounds. He was also the subject of a recent piece in Rolling Stone. Funhouse knows a seemingly endless variety of songs, from country boogie to oldies, and can adapt their playlist to the evening’s audience. Even though Gatton is a technically amazing guitarist, he’s no showoff. He’s able to tastefully hold back and give the other bandmembers the room to solo. The members of Funhouse are consummate musicians who obviously have fun playing together . Their enjoyment is contagious, and the audience has a great time. Aside from the guitar wizard, Funhouse is made up of Billy Windsor on guitar and vocals, Dave Elliot on drums, Bruce Swaim blows tenor sax and John Previtt handles the stand-up bass. It’s unusual to see an acoustic bass in a straight-ahead boogie band such as this, but it adds a hip authenticity to the sound. Their indie CD entitled Unfinished Business is selling remarkably well.
Esmirelda the self-proclaimed “Duchess of Diarrhea” performs what might be
described as an innovative acoustic folk act which breaks with all traditions. She’s been getting heaps of press about her bawdy lyrics and unusual show. Esmo has a small, but extremely dedicated following and is now beginning to play the larger halls. With all the hoopla about artistic censorship in Washington these days, Esmirelda’s act is relevant and timely. If you think all folk singers are sugar and spice and everything nice and sound like Joni Mitchell, check out Esmirelda.
A band that certainly seems poised to hit the big time is Strange Boutique. The group consists of Monica Richards, chief lyricist and lead vocalist, Danny Ingram on drums, Fred E. Smith, Jr. on guitar and Steve Willette on bass. All four are seasoned veterans of the D.C. music scene. Ingram and Richards hail from the band Madhouse. Smith came to the Boutique via Beefeater, and Willette was the original bassist for Eubie Hayve. Together for a brief two years, this year proved to be a great year for the band. Strange Boutique was named Best Alternative Rock Band at the Fourth Annual WAMA awards show. During the summer they did a brief tour of England, playing to large, enthusiastic crowds in Manchester and London.
They also released a 4-song EP entitled Easter Island. This EP shows that Strange Boutique has found a groove they feel comfortable with. Easter Island weaves a mesmerizing, magical spell. Critics have described the sound as gothic. This is an apt description — the songs convey a sense of mystery and peril, romance and foreboding. The title song attempts to answer a question that has always nagged this reviewer: Just what are all those massive stone heads doing on that island, anyway? The song “Step Softly” provides advice on how to get along in an insane world. Richards has an idea of what being an artist is all about and writes (and sings) lyrics worth listening to. The band comes across as tight & confident on the EP.
