Posts Tagged ‘Vienna’
Elizaveta: Boundary-Busting Music
Posted by Matt Basheda / Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Music’s next miracle stopped at Vienna last Friday.
She began with a pause. Elizaveta sat at the piano and stayed frozen, a toybox ballerina waiting for her cue, until the sold-out crowd’s initial applause died down. And from there, she unleashed a broken dam of emotion.
A magical moment at Jammin Java.
The show celebrated her debut album, “Beatrix Runs,” which came out on Jan. 24. And her new single, “Meant,” was clearly the show’s emotional peak. Her silk voice came out in a crawl, like a love-hungry countess. She simmered, and then built to a rage while the double bass, her only accompaniment, thumped like a heartbeat. But at song’s end, she let it all go with a sigh.
Elizaveta calls herself an alchemist, of both music and flowers, and like a proper alchemist, she keeps her powers secret. Her offstage demeanor is subdued.
But her alchemy takes shape onstage. The quiet artist is no more. When Elizaveta unleashes her classically trained operatic range, clear as a Caucasus mountain lake, it creates new notions of vocal power.
Opera singers typically fill concert halls with their vocals. But in a small nightclub, the effect is unearthly. The air itself shakes with ferocity on songs like “Odi et Amo,” also from her album.
“Beatrix Runs” is an ambitious work of art, a level of work missing in contemporary music.
“The album itself actually has a story written into it,” she says. “It’s a story I wrote, and the main character’s name is Beatrix. And there’s an element of time-traveling.”
Elizaveta has an uncanny familiarity with time travel. To hear her live is to travel to her own unique time period, a combination of Puskin’s Russian ballrooms and Depression-area blues clubs.
Even her fashion is an amalgamation, comprised of neo-classical concoctions that are half club dress, half formal wear.
“I like mixing up elements of the old world with the contemporary culture,” she says. “Maybe … everything that’s new is really a recycled form of the old.”
Elizaveta’s opera training gives her tools that almost no one else in modern pop music has. And she knows that we go to concerts, not solely to be entertained, but to feel. It is a rare artist who delivers completely on that expectation.
“I’d just like [the album] to connect with as many people as possible,” she says. If the music itself is any indication, her goal should have fewer obstacles by the day.
Here’s “Meant” from the Nokia Theater in New York:
To buy Elizaveta’s album “Beatrix Runs,” go HERE. And for more concert opportunities and other pleasantries, her website’s here.
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Rachael Ray, Michelle Obama to introduce healthy school meal changes at Alexandria’s Parklawn Elementary
Identity theft on the rise in Tysons Corner
Phase 2 of Dulles Rail project hits money trouble, Loudoun may back out
Loudoun County Police arrest 21-year-old man for impersonating a cop, kidnapping
Divided Virginia Senate in political gridlock
Police break up youth fight club in Vienna
(Compiled by Lindsey Leake)
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Chocolate gained new representation, welcome Ms. Brown. [Jezebel]
Society Fair opens this Saturday at 6pm. Here’s a preview. [Eater DC]
Pane e Vino racks up 7 “critical violations” during its last inspection. Check out the full Lorton restaurant inspection results. [LortonPatch]
If you have a cold @krispykreme doughnut, microwave it for 8 seconds. That’s the sweet spot #kkvib2012. Read real-time updates from the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Factory. [@MadelineSho]
Vote for your favorite Vienna dish, Part II. [ViennaPatch]
How much is organic milk? More expensive. [NPR]
You can now inhale caffeine. [Wash Times]
Think you have fun at wineries? Try a bourbon tour in Fredericksburg. [TastingTable]
How to find Pappy Van Winkle in town. [WCP]
A vegan scientist reveals the train wreck that is the “caveman diet.” [Endless Simmer]
Bloom closes in Lake Ridge. [LakeRidge-OccoquanPatch]
What whiskey will not cure… [I Have Eaten the Answers]
Photo by Stefanie Gans, from Saigon Crepes
[tips for the food desk / follow @gansie]
All Four Finalists Set for Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 6
Posted by Matt Basheda / Friday, January 13th, 2012
The results are in. The first round of Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 6 is over, and the four finalists have been chosen.
We brought you the first two earlier this week; here are Wednesday’s and Thursday’s winners.
Wednesday saw The Dirty Jacks rule the stage with their progressive rock. The quintet from Rockville, Md. knits spacey guitar lines with upbeat vocals. Check ‘em out:
And last night’s finalist is Buster Brown and the Get Down. These super-talented dudes own their sound with utmost confidence–a blend of funk jams and even some hip-hop. This stuff is infectious. I listened to the following song once, and immediately had the bass line stuck in my head, in a good way.
So there you have it. Those two bands, along with Brightwork and Kill the Alarm, will compete on Feb. 17 in the finals. The winner gets their own headlining show at Jammin Java, among other rad swag. And don’t worry, we’ll be there front-and-center for the always-epic final showdown.
–Matt Basheda
The First Two Finalists of Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 6: Brightwork and Kill the Alarm
Posted by Matt Basheda / Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
We brought you the inside scoop on opening night of Jammin J’s sixth Mid-Atlantic Band Battle. Now we’ve got some more for you: Q & As with the winners of the first two nights. The two finalists so far are Brightwork, from Charlottesville, and Kill the Alarm, of New York City.
I talked to Brightwork minutes after their first-round victory on Monday night. The members are: Seth Hayes, bass; Andrew Boyd, drums; Brian Hrubik, keyboards and backing vocals; and Caleb Carpenter, guitar and lead vocals. Here’s what they had to say:
On the state of the band so far:
Caleb: We’ve been a band for about two and a half years. We got our start in college, so we kinda did the part-time thing … playing gigs on weekends. And once we graduated we … decided that we felt like we wanted to try a shot at being professional and doing this for a living.
Brightwork after their win on Monday. From left to right: Brian, Andrew, Caleb and Seth.
How their college experience helps them as a band:
Seth: The biggest defining thing about us is that we have such varied skillsets as a group of guys. Of the four of us, we have college majors in international business, finance, web design and communications. We just have such varied backgrounds, and because of that we’re able to do so many different things as a band, which has been really important for us. … We’re able to … all contribute in our own way and really … be a cohesive group. Sometimes we sit down and it’s like a board meeting [laughter].
On songwriting:
Caleb: The songwriting process for us [pauses] … it’s not easy, for one thing, because we’re very, very hypercritical of ourselves. … We like to come up with the best material possible—something that we feel conveys what we’re trying to say but also is up to par with what we feel like it should be. But a lot of times what we’ll do is … either Brian or myself will come to the table with an idea or something that really inspires us, or … with this melody or this riff. And we’ll … take it to each other and kinda pick it apart, and then once we find something that we like that’s concrete, we’ll begin building it from there. So … songwriting is such a process. … It really is an art and we take it very seriously and it’s something that, you know, we’re just trying to get better with, every time we do it.
Check out Brightwork live from a previous performance:
Tuesday’s winner was Kill the Alarm, which is primarily a vehicle for singer/songwriter Garen Gueyikian. Hailing from New York City, Gueyikian has been making distortion-tinged pop music for over a decade.
How’d you hear about the Band Battle?
Well actually, I’ve played Jammin Java before. I’ve played a couple shows there, and I love playing there. And I was just passing through and I stopped in to get a coffee ‘cause I had played in Arlington, at IOTA. And I just stopped [at Jammin Java] to see how the place looked, and I hadn’t been there in a while, and talked to the Brindleys [JJ's owners] over there. And I saw the little flyer for the battle of the bands and I thought, this looks interesting … and sure enough, here we are.
Kill the Alarm rocking Jammin Java on Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Jammin Java.
What does the win mean to you?
It’s nice. It’s really great. There was a lot of great music, great bands, so I wasn’t expecting anything. It was a lot of fun. It was a high-pressure situation being tossed in. But … it’s a great feeling.
How would you describe your music?
Inspiring, energetic alternative pop-rock.
Check out Kill the Alarm’s song “Shout it Out Loud:”
More on the Band Battle by week’s end.
–Matt Basheda
Pat Sommers Rock Shop in Vienna is Making Waves
Posted by Matt Basheda / Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
Last night I got the chance to hang out with Pat Sommers, founder of Pat Sommers Rock Shop in Vienna. The Rock Shop is a workshop studio for teenage bands and musicians to hone their skills.
When the artists are ready, Sommers sets them up with concerts of their very own. The shows so far have been local. For example, this Saturday, Jan. 14, the Rock Shoppers have their own headlining set at Jammin Java, which should be a great time.
But on April 21, the Rock Shop crew heads up to New York City for a gig at the Delancey in Manhattan. Local kids playing in New York–how cool is that?
Keep an eye on this local institution–who knows where they’ll be playing next!
Pat Sommers Rock Shop
8455 Tyco Road
Vienna
703-801-4743
Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 6 is Here
Posted by Matt Basheda / Friday, January 6th, 2012
Jammin Java unleashes its ultimate contest once again in three days.
Courtesy Jammin Java.
The sixth Mid-Atlantic Band Battle is all set and ready to go. Four nights–Monday, Jan. 9 through Thursday, Jan. 12 next week–see seven bands each. Each night has a single winner who advances to the finals in February.
This is no arbitrary battle of the bands, with the audience voting on the winner. The crown doesn’t go to whichever band happened to bring the most friends. A judges panel presides over the spectacle. All of the judges have significant professional music credentials.
Take Pat Sommers, for instance. He worked with Roger Daltrey, Ace Frehley and many others for years, contributing vocals, guitar and anything else they needed on their albums. But lately he’s been a staple of the Northern Virginia music industry. He runs Pat Sommers Rock Shop, a workshop and launch pad for teenage bands to hone their skills.
And Sommers couldn’t be more excited to bring his years of experience to the table at the band battle.
“The talent that’s coming out of [Jammin Java] is second to none,” he says. “I expect to see a lot of great young bands. … I am super excited about what’s happening here in Northern Virginia. … I’ve noticed that we’re starting to get a music scene here that’s very New Yorkish–people do all different things. I do think that we’re gonna see something come out of here that’s gonna be … really special.”
Other judges include music journalists, venue managers and record company veterans. Full bios on each judge are on the Band Battle’s official site.
These shows are consistently sold out, so get tickets while you can. At the moment they’re still available, but don’t miss out on this chance to catch NoVA’s next big act.
But if you can’t make it, we’ll be there on the scene to give you the scoop. Stay tuned–next week, Northern Virginia’s going to be rocking like crazy!
–Matt Basheda
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Vienna man charged with child abuse in connection with infant daughter’s death
(Updated Monday, Dec. 19, 2011: A previous version of this post stated that the suspect in question had been charged with murder. The Fairfax County Police Department later released a correction indicating that the man has only been charged with one count of child abuse at this time.)
Manassas flasher targets young boys
Fairfax County is second-largest suburban office market in the U.S.
Virginia ranks 21st in the nation for child homelessness
Six people in custody in connection with suspected Arlington prostitution ring
(Compiled by Lindsey Leake)
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
ALICITA®Salsa announced today that all five flavors of their tangy, not–too–hot staple will now be available at TODOS Market in Woodbridge.
In September of this year, TODOS was named a finalist in UVA’s 2nd Annual Toyloe Murphey Resilience Competition. Carlos Castro and his team were honored along with the other finalists for their continued efforts and remaining resilient in harsh economic times. TODOS has also just opened a brand new 50,000 sq. ft. market in the Marumsco Plaza in Woodbridge. Come check out the new store and be sure to grab some of our delicious ALICITA®Salsa.
In addition to their not-too-hot Original, made from a Kansas heartland family-owned recipe and named after mother Alice who now resides in Maryland, Alicita*Salsa® offers a flavorful array of four international tastes – Japan, Germany, India, and Greece – and will be releasing several new flavors being kept under wraps, very soon.
“We’ve had great success with each new flavor we release,” stated Alicita’s founder and owner, Suzanne Fields, “I am confident in Alicita’s ability to continue producing salsa that is neither too hot for children, nor too bland for adults. We want the entire family to enjoy our product.”
Alicita*Salsa® comes in 12-oz jars with wide mouths for easy dipping and first of its kind; unique 4-oz dipping cups; Snackitas™ perfect for packed lunches, food service, take-outs and more! Alicita*Salsa® can also be found in Giant Food stores as well as select local Walmart’s. Watch your local groceries for these healthy, diverse salsa flavors which are sure to be the stars of your next meal.
Alicita*Salsa® is a privately held company that donates part of its proceeds to over 20 Children’s Charities, such as Feed The Children,St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Food Allergy Network, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and others.
– Jennie Whistler
Pajama Brunch at Virtue Feed and Grain
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
Virtue Feed and Grain in Alexandria
At Virtue Feed and Grain, wearing your pajamas is not only encouraged, but rewarded!
On the first Sunday of every month, Virtue Feed and Grain is going to be offering a pajama brunch where you can enjoy traditional Irish breakfast, great beer and live music- all in your coziest pair of jammies!
And on Sunday, December 4th, Virtue Feed and Grain will host the Georgetown Saxatones, who will perform some of their greatest hits for Virtue’s guests.
The Georgetown Saxatones are the newest co-ed a cappella group on Georgetown’s campus. Originally founded as an oldies group in 2000, the Saxatones have expanded their repertoire to include everything from Motown to Michael Jackson, Alanis Morissette to Stevie Wonder, and Timbaland to Taylor Swift. The Saxatones were created with the purpose of serving the community through performance and music, and regularly partner with organizations both on the Hilltop and in the greater DC region.
Virtue Feed and Grain is the latest culinary endeavor from Chef Cathal Armstrong and his business partner/wife Meshelle. Specializing in modern American “pub grub,” Virtue is the ideal spot for a relaxing Sunday brunch. Chef Ryan Wheeler compiled a menu based on all time brunch favorites, including Corned Beef Hash with poached egg, French Toast with bacon and even the traditional Irish Breakfast, a nod to Chef Armstrong’s upbringing in Dublin.
Priced at $23 per person, prix fixe brunch includes coffee & juice, your main course, and the morning spread: assorted pastries, organic yogurt with various fruit fillings, assorted cereals, fruit salad, cured meets, cheese, smoked salmon, fresh bread and other goodies—the perfect way to get your appetite going.
Virtue Feed and Grain - 106 S. Union St., Alexandria; (571)970.3669
– Jennie Whistler
