Frederick Music Showcase

For those who may have missed it on Friday, the fabulous people at the Weinberg Center released (to the entire universe, even) the press release for our third installment of the Frederick Music Showcase. For 2017, we are honored to be hosting Stitch Early, Guys In Thin Ties, Bad Seed Rising, and, for the first time ever in the history of our Showcase, an EP release event for the wonderful human beings in Cheshi. For more details, check it, rock it:

Frederick News-Post’s Frederick Playlist has announced the lineup for the third annual Frederick Music Showcase, to be held once again at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. Featuring some of the top bands and musicians of Frederick County, the showcase will take place Thursday, February 16 beginning at 7:00 p.m. The lineup is set to include Stitch Early, Guys in Thin Ties, Cheshi, and Bad Seed Rising.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at WeinbergCenter.org, by calling the Box Office at 301.600.2828, or in person at 20 West Patrick St. Tickets will also be available day-of at the door for $15 each.

“We are eternally grateful to the Weinberg for allowing us to come back for a third year with some of the best music Frederick has to offer,” said Colin McGuire, founder of Frederick Playlist. “We feel this is a truly unique night in local arts and we are proud and grateful to be part of an event that aims to support the Frederick community. 2017’s installment plans to be bigger and better than ever and we look forward to the spotlight of the Weinberg being on these tremendous local musicians for one night.”

2017 LINEUP:

Stitch Early was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Son to an Army soldier from Brooklyn and a Panamanian clerk, he moved around a lot; North Carolina to Germany to New York to Colorado to North Carolina to Japan and, finally, to Frederick. It was here that he honed in on his lyrical prowess and creativity. Through many years of pushing through different adversities, he was able to find a way to creatively display his faith through his music. This journey would eventually give birth to his unique musical style, which is showcased on his debut EP “All Rise” and his second EP “The Great Compromise.” 

Frederick’s own Guys in Thin Ties want you to “GITT” your ‘80s on! Playing music from an era when hair was big, collars were popped up, and pop culture was, like, totally gnarly, Guys in Thin Ties is the band for those who still crave awesome ‘80s music. From pop to new wave to alternative, their playlist will fulfill your obsession with tunes that take you back. If you want your MTV, you’ll want to check out these Guys.

Cheshi is a doom-pop/death-indie band fronted by songwriter Ashli Cheshire, the bands namesake. This queer, eco-driven pop-rock deathlord sings about the challenges and awakenings that are born within a deep need for change and renewal in our society. Although many of these concepts are controversial, they are woven in to an illustrious and powerful platform, screamed or lulled into an experience that, when seen live, brings a well of emotion from an audience. The band lineup also includes Matthew Jachowski and Trevor Williams. They have most recently have been preparing to release their first EP, self-titled “Cheshi,” which is aimed for release at this event.

Roadrunner recording artists Bad Seed Rising have made a name for themselves on the national hard rock scene throughout the last five years. After spending their 2016 summer on the road as part of Warped Tour, they are currently on tour with Fearless Records’ I Prevail in support of their latest EP, “Awake in Color.” The youngest band ever to sign to Roadrunner, Artist Direct recently wrote of the Frederick quartet, “It’s clear that Bad Seed Rising are primed for rock stardom.” Among the artists they have shared the stage with are Halestorm, Issues, Islander and Shinedown.

A complete listing of artists and performers scheduled for the 2016-2017 season can be found at WeinbergCenter.org. 

For decades, the Weinberg Center for the Arts has been a Holy Grail of sorts for local musicians. It’s the nicest, prettiest, most established, best-sounding room in all of Frederick. But, for the most part, it’s been reserved for nationally known acts — everyone from speakers like Cal Ripken Jr., to musicians like Lyle Lovett, to comedians like Paula Poundstone. The thought of a local band taking that prestigious stage seemed about as possible as Metallica one day stepping through the Weinberg curtains.

That changed, if only for a night, last year, when local acts Hard Swimmin’ Fish, Old Indian, The Knolly Moles and Heavy Lights came together to perform at the Frederick Music Showcase. Fueled solely by local original music, the night turned out to be enough of a success that the minds behind the Weinberg Center allowed a second installment to commence.

And that second installment — the Frederick Music Showcase Volume 2 — will kick off at 7 tonight with the first-ever hip-hop artist to take the venue’s spotlight, Retro/Ricole Barnes, along with his band, DaMood. In addition to Barnes, local acts Katie Powderly and the Unconditional Lovers, Silent Old Mtns., and the Freddie Long Band will perform. Tickets, which run $10, are still available.

We recently caught up with members of each act to ask them about some of their favorite Weinberg memories and what it means to be a local act playing that stage. The following is what we found.

Retro/Ricole Barnes

Playing the Weinberg is an honor, considering the circumstances, being the first hip-hop artist to do so. This is the venue that most Frederick County-based musicians/entertainers dream of playing. This is our Radio City Music Hall! It’s going to be a night of emotion and jubilance on my behalf.

My favorite Weinberg memory would have to be my aunt taking me to see a theatrical version of “The Wizard of Oz.” Watching the fairy godmother descending from the ceiling was a moment!

Freddie Long

As a resident of Frederick County for most of my life, when it comes to the Weinberg, I have quite a few memories to draw from. Seeing one of my favorite comedians, Lewis Black, and laughing along with young and old to his expletive-laden rants. Swaying my head with the throng of Deadheads gathered near the stage at a Bob Weir/Ratdog concert. Watching the great Johnny Winters perform and meeting him after the show for an autograph shortly before he passed on to that Big Gig in the Sky. And let’s not forget singing onstage at a high school choir competition, then flirting with a cute classmate in the upper balcony while watching the other schools perform. Mingling conversations in the lobby, tickets ripped by ushers, the sound of people bustling to take their seats below the flashing house lights. All entrenched in my personal history of the Weinberg.

And now, after more than two decades of learning and practicing, writing and recording, literally thousands of gigs and performances, load-ins and late nights, and seemingly half a lifetime spent on the road and in convenience stores, the script is flipped. Here I am with the great honor and opportunity to be part of a Weinberg memory for others. Full circle and almost too surreal. Ever since I started playing regularly in the Frederick area, it has been a dream of mine to play the mecca of all Frederick venues. My father and I have talked at great length about how great it would be to grace the Weinberg stage one of these days. And now one of these days is here. It’s been a long, wild ride to this point and certainly not without its struggles and dark times, but so many countless others — especially in the Frederick community — have shared the journey and helped carry me along the way through the ups and downs. To me, this show will be a victory and celebration for all of us.

April Reardon, keyboardist for DaMood

I had the opportunity a few years back to see Dickie Betts, of the Allman Brothers, perform at the Weinberg. What an amazing show! It was a packed house, people were dancing in the aisles and partying like crazy. It was the first time I had ever been to a show there that was so exciting!

Andrew Bromhal, vocalist/guitarist, Silent Old Mtns.

A few years ago, I was standing outside the Maryland Ensemble Theatre across the street from the Weinberg, waiting for someone. Next thing I know, my friend Rona pops out of the Weinberg, and yells across the street asking if I like Lyle Lovett. Obviously, I yelled “yes!” back, and she told me to hurry up and run across the street. I got to see Lyle Lovett’s encore that night, standing in the back of the theater. It was fantastic.

Eric French, guest vocalist for DaMood

I think the first time I went to the Weinberg was in the early ‘90s when I saw a production of “Brigadoon,” of all things. I remember falling for the theater right as I entered the lobby, feeling like I was going back in time.

I still feel that connection to the past whenever I’m there now — it’s such a great venue, and singular in Frederick. My daughters now perform in ballet productions twice a year and are just as taken with the Weinberg as I am.

It’s a long mile from “Brigadoon” to watching your girls dance to playing on stage with Ricole and his band. It’s a privilege.

Katie Powderly

As a Frederick transplant, I did not grow up with the Weinberg. My first Weinberg experience was the Americana Fest two years ago. The Honeycutters, friends of mine from my previous life as a full-time touring musician, played, and I went to their show. It was there that I met the Steel Wheels, folks I have grown to love both as musicians and as people. I listened in the green room downstairs as they rehearsed harmonies on a Townes Van Zandt song for a multi-band finale. We studied the signatures of those who have signed the walls of the green room, and we giggled at the sign imploring folks not to sign the wall unless they have been asked (the Honeycutters and the Steel Wheels were both asked). I snapped Instagram photos of them signing the walls, and I watched the night’s performances from the side stage, a la Penny Lane in “Almost Famous.”

To say the evening was moving would be an understatement. I remember being struck by the beauty of the theater, and the rapt, appreciative audience, whose faces I could see as I stood in the wings beside the sound console. You could have heard a pin drop. It was one of those moments when I felt a swell of love for Frederick and the people who create this community, which supports such magical musical moments.

Because I had “found” Frederick in the midst of an epic road trip and just decided to pause here for a short time (which eventually became long term), that night in particular was a moment merging two worlds. In one world, I was a wayfaring wanderer in the midst of a long sojourn, searching for something from a city I couldn’t quite identify. In the other, I had inadvertently begun nesting in Frederick as I developed a nascent realization that the intangible thing I was looking for existed right here. It crystallized: I wanted to stay here in Frederick. I was introducing my past to my present and future.

The next night was The Black Lillies, some friends of mine from Knoxville, Tennessee, whom I have known since before they were in a band together. I watched that show from the audience. I felt so much love and pride on both sides of that equation — excited for Frederick to be exposed to people whose personalities and music I have loved for so long, and the feeling that I wanted The Black Lillies to see what made Frederick so special and why I chose to move here after having my last known address in my other favorite city of Knoxville.

To play at the Weinberg means so much. It signifies that I have been embraced back by the community I have chosen to call my own. I am so proud to bring my band of born-and-raised Frederick boys on that stage.

Crystal Rollins, guest vocalist for DaMood

I remember seeing “The Nutcracker” as a young adult at the Weinberg Center. I didn’t get to see the complete show, [but] it was awesome. As well as seeing fellow future professionals from The Temple, a Paul Mitchell Partner School, graduate — I actually didn’t think I’d be on the stage until it was my turn to accept my certificate as a graduate. It’s amazing to be a part of this experience.

Sam Whalen, banjo/vocals, Silent Old Mtns.

My first experience that I can recall being in the Weinberg was doing the 72 Hour Film Fest with my close friend Sam Tressler. It was a year that the teams were given pre-written scripts, and ours was about nymphs and forest spirits. I walked into the theater for the first time surrounded by unfamiliar faces of people whom I would meet and become close friends with over the next few years living in downtown Frederick. A slide show of behind-the-scenes photos that the teams had submitted was playing on the enormous screen. Everyone looked very professional and like real filmmakers in the slide show. The venue added such a wonderful legitimacy to the amateur films being shown that night, and everyone looked like they really knew what they were doing up on the big screen of the Weinberg. A photo of me came up on the screen, and I looked like a skinny white guy in a toga out in a field with a six pack of Schlitz hanging off his fingers.

My mom’s going to be at the show on the 18th, and I just hope she enjoys the whole performance and has a wonderful time. Maybe she’ll finally get off my back about taking out the garbage and tucking in my shirts all the time.

Don’t you love these posts? Oh, you don’t? Sorry.

We’ll make this quick, friends, because there may just be three or four people who actually show up tomorrow at the Weinberg Center. And to those three or four people, we say … thank you! You’ll be witnessing history when Retro/Ricole takes the stage as the first hip-hop artist ever at the Weinberg! Celebrate good times! Come on!

Anyway, here’s the schedule:

• Retro/Ricole Barnes – 7 p.m.
• Katie Powderly & The Unconditional Lovers – 8 p.m.
• Silent Old Mtns. – 9 p.m.
• The Freddie Long Band – 10 p.m.

Each act will get 45 minutes (and not a second more!). The doors open at 6 p.m. As you can see above, the fun officially begins at 7 p.m. We are also pleased as punch to announce that there, indeed, will be an after-party, much like we organized last year. This time around, the fun will be had (depending on your definition of “fun,” of course) at The Cellar Door, where not only will there be drink specials – yay! – but there will also be … karaoke! That’s right: That Freddie Long/Ricole Barnes collaboration you’ve been waiting your entire life to see may finally come to fruition via Beyonce’s “Single Lades.” You’re welcome.

Also this year, we will have Monocacy Brewing beers available in the lobby, much like we did in 2015. And the Pork Authority, who provided all your pork needs at Frederick Fall Fest, will be there, providing pork on pork on pork. We will also have a table in the lobby, where the Wheel Of Death that some of you may have seen at Flying Dog over the summer will be active. What are we giving away? Well, we have pint glasses, flashlights, free tickets, and other such nonsense. Plus: New koozies!

Or, maybe we should say: New koozies that you will inevitably make fun of us for!

Hey, at least we have a different color.

Like we said last year, the point behind the Frederick Music Showcase is to help Frederick’s music scene as a whole grow (and grow and grow). So, if we want to have any hope of perhaps doing this for a third year in 2017 (ha!), it would benefit everybody to stop by and check it out (come on, man – it’s only 10 bucks!). Or, in other words, if we only get a dozen people, we’ll be laughed out of the building (which, for what it’s worth, we already know some of you would like to see anyway). It’s all about community, friends. And love. And music. And Frederick. And pork.

Ticket’s are still available – and they will also be available at the door, of course. So, no excuses. Now … 6 p.m. We’ll see you there, right?

Loveyoumissyou.