Today’s photo is a press photo of Mrs. Julia Nixon, who will be in town on Sunday as part of a performance of “The Last Waltz.” Also in the photo are other people involved in recreating “The Last Waltz.” You can win tickets on this very site to see “The Last Waltz” performed in full at the Weinberg on Sunday. In conclusion, we have completed our goal of using the phrase “The Last Waltz” in every sentence in this post.
November 2014
All right. So, check this out, friends, because this might be the neatest giveaway we’ve ever orchestrated: On Sunday, a group of amazing area musicians are coming to the Weinberg to perform “The Last Waltz.” According to the Weinberg’s website, among those musicians will be Bob Margolin, Big Joe Maher, Julia Nixon, Tom Principato, Ruthie Logsdon, Pete Ragusa and Mike Clem. Better yet? The show begins at 4 p.m., which means you’ll have plenty of time to get home and get ready to take on Monday.
How can you enter? You know the drill: Follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, visit us on Facebook, or, of course, answer some mindless question below (though with that said, this is probably the most viable and honest question we’ve ever come up with and truth be told, we’re kind of interested in seeing who gets the votes this time around). It’s one of the purely coolest things to come to town in a long time, so you might want to give it a go. The giveaway ends Friday morning, you can enter multiple times, and we’ll be in touch if you happen to be the lucky winner.
Oh, and if you don’t already know what The Band or “The Last Waltz” is … get hip. And quick.
Check out today’s video, which features the great Joint Effort performing in Baltimore at the Ottobar. Why show this? Because Tuesdays have seemingly become Cafe 611 Days and tonight, Joint Effort will be there with Higher Education and Cutting Agency. It’s five bucks to get in the door and the show is set to begin at eight. The weather might be cold, but Cafe 611 will be hot. Yeah, who didn’t see the end of that sentence coming?
Because if you can’t start the week off with the guy from Kix, then that week isn’t worth living. Check out Ronnie Younkins, who was the guitar player for Kix back in the day, as he performs recently at Cactus Flats. In cast you were wondering, yes, Kix was once featured on both “Monster Ballads: Platinum Edition” and “Leppardmania: A Tribute to Def Leppard.” Don’t close your eyes, friends. Don’t close your eyes. Photo by Bill Green. You can follow him on Twitter here.
So, how about that Polar Vortex, eh?!? And the snow (that’s snow, right?!). It’s November 13, and the year is over. That doesn’t mean the music stops, though! Notice that exclamation point. This weekend is going to be an interesting one in and around town. We have some really, super-duper, fascinatingly great shows going down and you – yes, you! – should take a few of them in. As we said earlier today, a brand new band is set to make their debut at Cafe Nola on Saturday and that band features members of Clutch and Crack The Sky. So, if you really want your mind to be blown … just sayin’. Elsewhere, the great dudes in Old Indian are going to take the stage at Guido’s, so you won’t want to miss that. Our near and dear friend Phil Kominski (featured above) is coming back to The Cellar Door (and as people who happened to be at his last Cellar Door show, here’s a word of advice: Get there early; the place gets crowded). There’s some awesomely awesome jazz going down tonight at Ayse, if you’re so inclined. If not, there’s always those Thursday night open mics that you really ought to check out every now and then. Red Sammy, who we’ve featured here a few times in the past, is coming up from Baltimore to acoustic-rock the Frederick Coffee Company. Hard Swimmin’ Fish will be at JoJo’s, so that should be a lot of fun. Ted Garber is taking his talents to the Bly Sky, despite him wanting some of us dead. Luscious Purr, who we Q&A-ed earlier today, will be at Dublin Roasters. And then, of course, Weedisweed. Come for the Backbeat. Stay for the Lucy. There’s no reason to stay indoors too much this weekend. Why? Because there’s just too many great things going on around town. Stay safe. Stay un-sick.
THURSDAY
Who: Monocacy Jazz Quartet
Where: Ayse Meze Lounge
When: 6 p.m.
Who: John Tracy
Where: The Hill Chapel
When: 7:30 p.m.
Who: Open Mic
Where: Blue Sky Bar And Grill
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Open Mic
Where: Bushwallers
When: Sign-up begins at 9 p.m., play begins at 10 p.m.
Who: Scott Low
Where: Cafe Nola
When: 10 p.m.
Who: David Black with Facez and Pink Moon
Where: The Opera House, Shepherdstown
When: 7 p.m.
Who: Clearspring
Where: Beans In The Belfry
When: 7 p.m.
Who: Bluegrass Jam with Boe Walker
Where: The Reunion
When: 8 p.m.
FRIDAY
Who: Kimbry Havens, JB Dunn
Where: Cafe Nola
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Red Sammy
Where: The Frederick Coffee Company
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Mitch Morril
Where: Ayse Meze Lounge
When: 6 p.m.
Who: Backbeat
Where: Cactus Flats
When: 8:30 p.m.
Who: Ted Garber
Where: Blue Sky Bar And Grill
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Lucy
Where: Hard Times Cafe
When: 9:15 p.m.
Who: Blues Vultures
Where: Bushwallers
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Jah Works
Where: Champion Billiards
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Plate Scrapers & Plank Stompers
Where: The Blue Moon, Shepherdstown
When: 8 p.m.
SATURDAY
Who: The Fishwives
Where: Cafe Nola
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Litz, Threesound, Plank Stompers, Mateo Monk
Where: Cafe 611
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Phil Kominski
Where: The Cellar Door
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Hard Swimmin’ Fish
Where: JoJo’s Tap House
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Davina and the Vagabonds
Where: The Opera House, Shepherdstown
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Weedisweed, Old Indian, Heavy Temple, Nagato
Where: Guido’s
When: 8 p.m.
Who: Windon & Ricker
Where: The Frederick Coffee Company
When: 8 p.m.
Who: CNR Quartet
Where: Beans In The Belfry
When: 7 p.m.
Who: Mike Schirf, Dan Mack, Todd C. Walker, Scott Barrett
Where: Linganore Wine Cellars
When: Noon
Who: Rhyne McCormick
Where: Ayse Meze Lounge
When: 6 p.m.
Who: No Shame Rox
Where: Cactus Flats
When: 8:30 p.m.
Who: Special Delivery Band
Where: Blue Sky Bar And Grill
When: 9 p.m.
Who: Redline
Where: Hard Times Cafe
When: 9:15 p.m.
Who: Nobody’s Parents
Where: Olde Towne Tavern
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Josh Burgess Band
Where: Bushwallers
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Whitehouse Effect
Where: Champion Billiards
When: 10 p.m.
Who: Luscious Purr
Where: Dublin Roasters
When: 7:30 p.m.
Note: The below story was written by Andrea Dulanto. We would love to add a few links to places you might be able to find her on the Internet … but we have no idea who she is and The Internet isn’t necessarily helping. Either way, this Q&A appeared in today’s edition of 72 Hours.
Alternative rock band Luscious Purr will play an all-ages show at Dublin Roasters in Frederick on Saturday. The band’s co-founders, Tracy Salka, an English teacher, and Melissa Yourich, a computer technician, met online in 2007.
“Tracy was hesitant to date me because we are so different,” Yourich said. Eventually, they formed a connection, even if they weren’t working on music yet. In 2009, they started living together in Hagerstown and began writing songs. The band name followed, inspired by Yourich’s description of their tabby cat’s “luscious purr.”
When Salka was younger, she sang for bands like Ellylamb in Frederick. But Yourich had never been in a band until she played drums for Luscious Purr. Driven to write music, Yourich learned how to play guitar. Luscious Purr now includes Wayne Palmer on bass, Brother Art Castro on drums and Paul Brockey on lead guitar.
From the energetic folk rock of “Bare Bones” to a rhythmic elegy for Amy Winehouse in “Never Sing Again” to the pop-punk bawdy humor of “Hillary,” Luscious Purr explores eclectic styles. And Salka and Yourich’s relationship has stayed strong. They were married in 2013.
We interviewed them via email about their musical influences, their songwriting process, and why they love playing in Frederick.
Your musical influences include Siouxsie and the Banshees, Aretha Franklin, The Indigo Girls, Jack White. How have these influences shown up in your music?
Salka: I grew up listening to punk. I was especially attracted to the more melodic vocal style of Siouxsie. Some of our harder original songs are definitely influenced by her and her band. Mel and I both love Jack White. We regularly perform a couple of his songs as covers. I love the emotionality of his voice. When I was very young, I loved Motown and used to emulate all of the things that Aretha Franklin did with her voice. As for the Indigo Girls, what lesbians our age don’t love them?
How have you developed as songwriters?
Salka: My first songs, especially when I was much younger, were “clever,” rather than heartfelt, and not as good. The songs we’ve written together have increased in complexity as Mel’s guitar skill level has increased.
Yourich: It’s a highly emotional process. The riff often feels like … a time in my life, a place, a person, an experience. For example, “Darker Clouds.” My original riff reminded me of sadness in a coal town. … The song is about my mother and her struggles as a child and wife of an alcoholic. … I sometimes cry while performing this song as I did while writing it. Tracy added the melody that really nailed the feeling of it for me.
When did you decide to work together? What are some of the challenges and rewards of being in a band with your partner?
Yourich: We never “decided” to work together. It just had to happen if we wanted to try this new adventure. … Tracy sings much better than I do, and she is better at writing melodies. It’s kind of like the cigarette and the match. Without both, there is no smoke.
We’ve finally overcome most of our challenges. That’s what experience and love has done for us. If I present Tracy with facts that support my argument, she will concede and vice-versa, so it’s not all emotional anymore. But that was learned. In the beginning, it was all emotional.
How do you balance the need to create music with other responsibilities?
Salka: I’m a high school English teacher by day. Although I have lots of time for music during the summer, during the school year, it’s difficult to find time for anything else except for grading and planning.
Yourich: If I could, I’d spend every second on music. That’s not realistic, though. Tracy and I have learned to accept our often messy house in order to prioritize our music.
What have you learned from working on your first CD?
Yourich: My background in IT made learning Protools (computer program for recording music) fairly easy. I’m still developing my ear. We’ve also learned that hardly anyone records whole CDs anymore, so we are releasing our finished songs one by one.
What do you like about playing at Dublin Roasters and about playing in Frederick?
Yourich: We love playing in Frederick, especially Dublin Roasters. First of all, everyone there is friendly and professional. Secondly, it’s not a bar. The atmosphere is more welcoming, especially for some of our younger fans. Serina, the owner of Dublin Roasters, has been extremely supportive of the local music scene.
Salka: We are from Hagerstown. The most frustrating thing about playing there is lots of the venues only want blues music and/or classic rock covers. Quite a few venues don’t even have live music during football season. I find it fairly mind-blowing that people would rather go out to watch football rather than hear live music! The scene in Frederick is much cooler.
Woke up this morning to find an email in the ol’ inbox from Doug at MD Tix about a show this weekend. What he forwarded along was the above video, which essentially serves as a de facto promo for a show this weekend at Cafe Nola. And who is going to be at that show? A brand new band called Fishwives. In fact, it’s their first performance. Why should you care? Because the trio features members of both Crack The Sky and Clutch. Yes, we know what you’re thinking: “Whoa, there. This is going to be incredible!” We know this because we’re thinking the same thing. So, have a quick look at the video above and adjust your Saturday evening accordingly. Please and thank you.
Well, you know we love us some Heavy Lights, and it just so happens that the boys in that fine band will be performing this evening at Cafe Nola with Austin, Texas, group Tinnarose. Thus, this look back at a picture from our launch weekend shows all the way back in June. Because who in their right mind wouldn’t want to see these sexy man-imals on a Wednesday morning? Points for the first use of “man-imals” on Frederick Playlist. It might be a school night, friends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t rawk (with a “w”). Photo courtesy of Cassandra Mullinix. For more of her photos, visit https://www.facebook.com/bucketofrock.
“It’s a love that lasts forever. It’s a love that has no past.” That’s gotta be one of Lennon’s greatest lines, right? Right. Check out Nicky C and the R.S.B. covering this Beatles classic and then head on down to Cafe 611 tonight to see the band perform along with Cutting Agency. The festivities kick off at 8 p.m. and all you’ll need is a tiny five-dollar bill to get in the door. Is there a better way to spend a Tuesday night in Frederick, Maryland? The answer is no.
All right. So. Because sometimes we get emails and sometimes we feel those emails need to be relayed to all your very talented and very pretty faces … behold the first-ever Bethesda Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards. And what are the Bethesda Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, you ask? Let’s take it right from the news release’s mouth:
“This new and exciting competition is seeking the best, up-and-coming, local songwriters. The adjudicated contest will award a talented songwriter a grand prize of $10,000. The award also includes a young songwriter category for which an aspiring songwriter who is younger than 18 will have the chance to win $2,500.”
Oh, you want more, don’t you? Of course:
“The contest will be a multi-staged, juried competition. The first round judging panel will include professional artists, venue operators, booking agents and music academia. They will choose the semifinalists from the total pool of applicants. A grand prize jury will then select the finalists who will perform two of their original songs for a live audience on March 6, 2015, at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club. The award winners will be announced at the close of the performance. … Songwriters who are permanent residents of Maryland, Virginia or Washington are eligible to submit three original songs. All musical genres are accepted. Songs must include lyrics and cannot be more than four minutes. Musicians can apply online or download a mail-in application at Bethesda.org. Entries must be received by Dec. 5.”
That whole “songs cannot be more than four minutes” thing is meant for you, Time Columns! Just kidding. Juuust kidding.
Anyway, you can find out more about the contest here and here. We write this not only because we would love to see some of you fantastically talented people win more money than this website will ever be worth (times 5,000,000), but also because we think you – yes, you! – can do Frederick proud. So, turn those dismissive scoffs upside down, and get to picking out a few of your best songs. $10,000 can go a long, long way toward music world domination, friends. Or, well, at least that and a few jumbo bags of gummy bears.
Good luck!