Happy 2012 To You All.
The Judy Chops @ Pompeii Staunton 1/7 The Judy Chops sound can be described as rock-country mixed with jazzy, 3-part harmony vocals. They have a stage presence that is very alive, and their sound sends a shock through the soul at times. These guys have been gaining steam on the festival circuit, and I foresee a good year for them in 2012.
Michetti with Sonkin @ Canal Club 1/12 Chris Michetti, guitarist for RAQ and Conspirator, will be ragin' the Canal Club hard! His dubstep side project will keep you dancing all night! Expect lots of build ups, peaks, and dirty drops.
Tycho @ The Southern 1/20 Tycho is the ambient music project of artist Scott Hansen from San Francisco. Visualing the music is very important, as Hansen is also a graphic artist under the name of ISO50. Tycho plays with a full band during most live shows.
Josati @ Bonvenu 1/20 Free Show! Josati is an electronic-house dj hailing from Richmond, VA. With 10+ years experience, many of those years with local favorites Excistor, Josati is taking steps to push his own boundaries by mixing his own style with some of his favorite dj's and producers. If you caught his set at the Big Gigantic show at the National in December, you know it'll be awesome!
Railroad Earth @ Jefferson Theater 1/20-1/21 Railroad Earth is a collection of blue-grass, jams, rock-n-roll, and cannot be held to one single category because of their creative uses of varied instruments. "Even in the new millenium, Railroad Earth's instantly classic sounding songs and timeless vocals could sound at home in any generation."(Felton Pruitt - XM Satellite Radio)
Widespread Panic @ The Fillmore DC 1/24-1/25 Widespread Panic is back with a Sold Out 2 day run at the Fillmore DC. Entitled the "Wood Tour" and including a few other trickled dates across the states, they're ending out the 25th Anniversary tour with their first ever acoustic tour. Wood Tour will be the final set of shows before a band proclaimed "long over-due" hiatus.
Yellow Dubmarine/SEE-I @ Jefferson Theater 1/26 Yellow Dubmarine is a reggae tribute to the legendary Beatles album "Abbey Road". "The result is a shockingly original take on the legendary album. Horns where there were once voices, a slinky groove where there was once none, and a smooth mellow essence that seems to find the long lost island-roots soul of Abbey Road." Taken from Facebook
The Mantras w/ The Polychrons @ Canal Club 1/26 The Mantra's are one of my "Band's of 2012". With their " high-energy collaborative of funk-rock, electronica, metal, and fusion"(Manta's FB page), they are a really great time and exciting to watch. Their stage energy emotes as they pour all they have into a great live performance. Another name growing on the festival circuit, I see a big year with lots of memorable shows in 2012.
The Pietasters with Murphy's Kids @ The Southern 1/28 The Pietasters are a 7-piece ska band from Washington, DC, with additional members in Maryland and Virginia.
Emancipator @ Sun Music Hall Floyd 1/28 Emancipator has blown up on the electronic music scene over the last few years. After a cd released only in Japan, fans of the producer moved his album like waves across the world. This led to an all out explosion, and he's traveled the US making a name and continually pleasing the ears of his audience. His newest album has a mixed organic feel with the use of mandolin, banjo, and violin.
Carolina Chocolate Drops @ Jefferson Theater 1/31 Carolina Chocolate Drops and String Band will blow you away with their soulful sound. Hailing from North Carolina, this trio met in 2005 at the Black Banjo Gathering in Boone, NC. Since then they have traveled the US with their unique sound, gaining a large fan base across the globe.
Stay tuned for a mid-month update, with a list of bands to watch in 2012 with reviews and early year dates
