Discologist

Eight years ago, before To Pimp A Butterfly, before The Epic, the West Coast Get Down was a rising force in the Los Angelas jazz scene...who recorded their epic work in Kamasi Washington's garage.

On The Optimist, WCGD trombonist Ryan Porter is unleashing some of the group's early work as scrappy young jazz savants and in the process revealing the heart of what drives its member's dominance of the music world to this day. Bandcamp's Marcus J. Moore joins Kevin and Marcus K. Dowling (Iconoclasm) as they dig in on this sumptuous slice of music history.

PLUS! What happens when revered DC-based jazz guitarist Anthony Pirog joins forces with the rhythm section of Brendan Canty (The Effects, Fugazi) and Joe Lally (Fugazi)? Find out on "Serpent Tongue" the first single from their upcoming debut on Dischord Records!

• Get to know The Messthetics: Bandcamp | Facebook 
• Incidental music courtesy of Aquatic Gardener. Hear more/buy it HERE.
• Support us on Patreon! [LINK]
• Support/find out more about Washington, DC's Uptown Art House [LINK]

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Every great band starts somewhere and for Radiohead, their introduction to the world was the biggest hit of their career wrapped in an album of loud, forward-thinking, guitar rock.

And for some reason their fans hate it. 

We're holding court to defend this classic album and show why it's not just so much more than "Creep", it's one of the best albums of their career.

BUT FIRST: We need #GunControlNow, and it's the younger generation that is going to finally put a stop to the murder-machine that is the NRA. Kevin shares some thoughts and some brave words (courtesy of NPR) from one of the survivors of the most recent American tragedy in Parkland, Florida.

Because some things are more important than music.

• Incidental music courtesy of Aquatic Gardener. Hear more/buy it HERE.
• Support us on Patreon! [LINK]
• Support/find out more about Washington, DC's Uptown Art House [LINK]

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All it took was an off-the-cuff show back in 2014, and the trio of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O'Donovan knew they had something special. Formalizing this new union under the name I'm With Her, the three powerhouses have spent the past few years sporadically touring the group around, releasing an EP, and now they are releasing their much-anticipated debut full-length, See You Around.

Built on a foundation of tradition, intimate confessionalism, and expert musicianship, See You Around owes as much to the musician's past as it seems like a logical waypoint on their journey through song. We're going in on the supergroup's debut to find out if I'm With Her has got legs or if we're going to be seeing them around for a long time to come.

PLUS! Kim Ware's The Good Graces is back with The Hummingbird EP, and we've got it's charming AF leadoff track for you to put in your earholes!

• Get to know The Good Graces

Official Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

• Incidental music courtesy of Aquatic Gardener. Hear more/buy it HERE.
• Support us on Patreon! [LINK]
• Support/find out more about Washington, DC's Uptown Art House [LINK]

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With Valentine's Day right around the corner, we thought it was high time to explore the dumber side of love. Throughout history, men have been writing songs about love in a quest to continually pitch their woo, but sometimes - pretty much every time - it just comes out wrong.

Join Kevin, Carrie, Marcus, and Ian as they embark on a journey into the heart of derpness and laugh their way through some of the most egregiously awkward "love" songs that missed their mark, and then some. 

• Incidental music courtesy of Aquatic Gardener. Hear more/buy it HERE.
• Support us on Patreon! [LINK]
• Support/find out more about Washington, DC's Uptown Art House [LINK]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the late 70's on the Sunset Strip an, ahem, eruption of pure rock-and-roll was about to occur, and it was to be led by four dudes by the name of Eddie, Alex, David, and Michael. Van Halen didn't just bring "ass-rock" into the 80's, the guitar wizardry of Edward Van Halen revolutionized the electric guitar in every way, from how it was played, to the gear that was used to keep it dialed up to 11.

Join us as we celebrate the 40th anniversary this monster of rock with our friends Casey Rae (author, 'The Priest They Called Him: William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock 'n' Roll') and Marcus K. Dowling (Decades, Medium). We're on a quest to find out what makes rock-n-roll tick once and for all - or at least say the word "cock" a lot. 

• Incidental music courtesy of Aquatic Gardener. Hear more/buy it HERE.
• Support us on Patreon! [LINK]
• Support/find out more about Washington, DC's Uptown Art House [LINK]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Washington, DC's The North Country has changed a lot in its seven years of making music. One thing that has remained consistent is front-man Andrew Grossman's commitment to creating electric and innovative pop and folk music pushes artistic boundaries as much as it honors them.

On our latest episode, we're sitting down with Grossman to talk about the past and future of the band, what it takes to stay dedicated to making art in the nation's capital, Sean Barna, their new Ardor EP, and much, much more.

• Incidental music courtesy of Aquatic Gardener. Hear more/buy it HERE.
• Support us on Patreon! [link]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before they were country music's most "controversial" superstars, the Dixie Chicks ruled the charts with their savvy mix of bluegrass, country, and pop. On our latest episode, we're digging into the trios finest hour and the record that jump-started their career, 1998's iconic Wide Open Spaces. 

What was the legacy of this monster crossover hit on not just country music, but pop and rock? Why has endured as not only a classic, but a standard-bearer for excellence? Eduardo, Marcus, and Kevin are asking these questions and more as we dive deep into one of the biggest albums in country music history. 

• Incidental music courtesy of Aquatic Gardener. Hear more/buy it HERE.
• Support us on Patreon! [link]

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Known to most of the world as a political playground, Washington, D.C. is a city where decisions that shape the course of, not just American, but HUMAN history, are made every day. More than that though, D.C. is a city where cultures collide resulting in a creative class that produces some of the most compelling and diverse art in the world. Built on the legacy of jazz and go-go, D.C. is on the cusp of a creative explosion and bringing everything from hip-hop to indie rock into the fold.

On our latest podcast, we're kicking off a twelve-part series exploring the sounds of our home, where they come from, and where they may be going. Joining us for this inaugural installment of Sounds Of Washington, D.C. are Hometown Sounds host Paul Vodra, and Philip Basnight, one-half of D.C. folk-pop powerhouses Broke Royals.

• Get to know the artists featured on this episode:
• Odd Mojo: Bandcamp | Twitter
• Reed Appleseed: Bandcamp
• allthebestkids: Official Site | Bandcamp | Twitter
• Light Beams: Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter
• Broke Royals: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
• Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
• Incidental music courtesy of Aquatic Gardener. Hear more/buy it HERE.
• Support us on Patreon! [link]

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Legendary drummer and bandleader Chris Dave has made a career out of playing with the best of the best. Featured on tracks by artists as diverse as D'Angelo, Justin Bieber, Adele, and Dolly Parton, Dave is a musical omnivore of the highest order. On his debut album with the Drumhedz, he's throwing everything into the mix (including the kitchen sink) to craft a potent stew of funk, jazz, pop, rock, soul, r&b and, of course, hip-hop, that educates, stimulates, and vibrates with life from start to finish. Featuring guest shots from Anderson .Paak, Bilal, Goapele, Phonte and more, Chris Dave and the Drumhedz is more than a showcase; it's an education. Join Kevin, Ian, and the mighty Marcus J. Moore (Senior Editor, Bandcamp) as they dig into this delicious treat for newcomers and music nerds alike. 

PLUS: 16-year-old DC native MILES ave makes potent, politically charged, and, most importantly, honest hip-hop, and we're giving you a taste of his latest work, "The Debt."

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From the beginning, it was clear that Merril Garbus (tUnE-yArDs) is a force of nature. Over the course of now four albums, she has reshaped the pop landscape into a much more meaningful, and blissfully weirder, place. 

i can feel you creep into my private life, her most straightforward work to date (and now a duo featuring longtime collaborator Nate Brenner) isn't just a record that challenges what it means to be tUnE-yArDs, but the privilege and power that pop music commands in the modern age.

PLUS! As Washington DC's The North Country continues to evolve, Andrew Grossman and crew take some time to revisit their latest full length (In Defense Of Cosmic Altruism) plus some choice outtakes on their luxuriant Ardor EP.

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