Joni Mitchell Tribute Concert at Strathmore Review

Joni Mitchell will forever be remembered as one of the most inspiring singer/songwriters in American folk-rock over the past five decades. On August 14th, musicians from all over the Washington D.C. area gathered to pay homage to the talented musician who has written hits such as "River", "A Case of You", and most notably, "Big Yellow Taxi". The set incorporated artists from all ages and backgrounds, including Jon Carrol from the Starlight Vocal Band that produced the hit "Afternoon Delight" in the mid 1970's. The performance also illuminated Mitchell's voice through two young seventeen year old girls who took the audience by surprise as they belted out a broad range of notes. Overall, the show was a huge success for the non-profit organization, not only due to the packed arena, but also by showcasing the up and coming youth in the Washington D.C. area.

Get Up and Go-Go

A staple of the Washington area is the lively music scene. In the early 1980's a new genre of music titled "Go-Go" could be heard from corner to corner all throughout the city of Washington DC. Pioneered by musician Chuck Brown, Go-Go music took off with its loud percussion and energetic vibe that encouraged crowd interaction. In the mid 80's an up and coming group of musicians titled "The Junk Yard Band" incorporated buckets and traffic cones to act as their instruments due to their lack of finances. The use of "street instruments" not only uniquely changed go-go music due to its earthy tone through inexpensive material, but also provided an outlet for the lower class citizens of DC to become musicians.

Although go-go music has not sprawled further than the DC, MD, NOVA area, it has undoubtedly become a part of Washington's culture. I can recall the first time I heard go-go music in my youth. Strolling through the crowd on my way to a Redskins game I heard the catchy repetitive beat from blocks away. As I closed in on the music I saw a group of gentleman gathered in the middle of the street dancing. One musician that stood out from the rest was the man responsible for beating on several empty white buckets. After furiously beating on the buckets he would stand up and encourage the crowd to repeat the lyrics back to him. Feeling the vibe of the man dressed in an over sized t-shirt... I did what was told.

However, in recent years go-go is less common. No longer are the men and women on the corner banging on traffic cones to get a beat. No longer are the youth in poorer sections of the city finding an outlet through music. Legislation is tearing apart the go-go scene. Last year, PG County officials banned go-go music from nightclubs throughout the county due to the rise in homicides in and around the clubs. Clubs have always been a haven for criminal activity due to boisterous people; however, this crime has recently led to diminishing a cultural aspect of the city. Due to the county shutting down go-go clubs lawsuits have been filed, yet there has been no outcome. Although these clubs have been shut down, there is still a sense of hope throughout the city for go-go. Recently, I noticed many middle-aged musicians of DC are still gathering from time to time around the Nationals new baseball park to lay down the beat. For a cultural experience, head on over to the new stadium to explore DC's music scene. These artists won't disappoint you.

30th Adams Morgan Festival (September 14, 2008)

For those young hipsters who are looking for a good time... look no further. The upcoming 30th Annual Adams Morgan Festival will fulfill your every dream of a good time with food, drinks, and characters. The vibrant community located in NW Washington DC has long been a diverse community that embraces all cultures, indie shops, countries throughout the world. This year several non-profit organizations are putting together various events which will showcase the community of Adams Morgan. One of my personal favorite events is titled "Jazz in the Park" which is a blend of Delta Blues, DC's own Go-Go music, and a variety of twists that these talented jazz musicians come together for. For anyone who likes to "throw a few back", Adams Morgan is decorated with copious amounts of bars that are full of the young and old looking for a good time to be had. Also, events such as Arts on Belmont showcase talented painters, sculptors, and glassblowers. As you can see there is something for everyone at the Adams Morgan Festival. I hope to see you there!

A Little Bag of...

After days of a pending investigation into an illegal marijuana drug ring in Prince George's County, MD the mayor of Berwyn Heights, Cheye Calvo encountered an unpleasant surprise at his home.  Less than 5 miles away from the University of Maryland, a SWAT team barged into Calvo's house after he picked up a large package that was mysteriously left on his steps.  When later interviewed, the mayor thought the package contained "gardening tools".  However,  the mayor would soon come to find the package contained 32 pounds of marijuana.  Minutes after Calvo picked up the package members of the SWAT team kicked in the door to his Victorian style home and fired shots, killing his 2 dogs.  Recently, the mayor has been cleared of his activity in the drug ring; however, he is one of thousands of innocent bystanders each year that are affected by drug dealers, this time at this cost of his two dogs.  Allegedly, after the SWAT entered the home of Calvo the dogs approached the crew aggressively, leading SWAT officials to feel "threatened" and shoot them.  Calvo commented on the scene, "My government blew through my doors and killed my dogs".  Prince George's police have been close to catching the drug dealers recently; therefore, when a shipping company located a package and noted that it was filled with marijuana, the police followed the trail that eventually led to the mayor's house.  Since the incident, 2 men have been arrested for their involvement in the drug trade.  The story is one of many tragedies that occurs from drugs.  Officials have been cracking down on crime in Prince George's County for years now; however, innocent bystanders such as Cheye Calvo are still affected by the greed of these criminals. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/30/AR2008073003299_2.html?sid=ST2008080103916&pos=

Regina Spektor Performance on the National Mall

Singer/Songwriter Regina Spektor was the headlining act of the annual celebration of Israel's Birthday on the National Mall in Washington DC this June 1, 2008. Although she was nervous (at many times forgetting lyrics), she put on an astounding performance in front of 50,000 people who attended the event. Spektor performed hits such as "Better" and "Fidelity", while also entertaining the crowd with less known songs from her previous recordings. The show lasted the better half of an hour and ended with an encore that sent the audience back home with admiration of the talented young artist from New York City. During the performance, Spektor took a brief hiatus to discuss her Jewish background and immigrating to NYC from Russia/USSR in the early 1990's.

A World Cup of Their Own

As a part time resident of College Park, MD I am no stranger to crime and homelessness. The everyday sight of these ill-fated nomads has become all to familiar to any urban environment. For various circumstances, unfortunate men, women, and children go homeless every year all over the world. Fortunately, a ray of light has recently illuminated the lives of homeless all over the world: The Homeless World Cup. With eleven participating cities in the United States, the turnout for the USA World Cup in Washington DC on June 28, 2008 was enormous. To start the tournament off on the right foot, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, invited all participating 95 players over to watch a documentary on homeless soccer titled "Kicking It". The documentary covers the lives of players all over the world who are overcoming their misgivings to focus on a common goal, winning the Homeless World Cup. To some the movie was educational, to others it invoked a sense of prosperity and hope through a sporting event. In a Washington Times interview with star player Ray Isaac he stated he was, "no angel". Ol' Ray, as he is referred to by his teammates, takes his life with him on the field, including a picture of his wife and children in his right shinguard, and a pack of cigarettes in his left. The winning team of the USA Cup is invited this year to Melbourne, Australia for the Homeless World Cup to take on the toughest competitors around the world.