A veteran male musician and a bright female newcomer make for two fine choices for concertgoers this coming DC weekend.
Saturday, March 2 - Joy Ike at Ebenezers Coffeehouse
For four years running, Joy Ike has earned Best Solo Artist title from Pittsburgh’s City Paper and now she’s celebrating the release of a new album (her third), “All or Nothing,” with a show in Capitol Hill. With comparison to the likes of Corinne Bailey Rae and Norah Jones, she uses poetic lyrics in crisp, clean arrangements to create a simple but stylish neo-soul/pop style that she’s dubbed “soulfolk.” From her classy web site to her well-designed, self-released CDs, Ike makes a major label impression on a DIY budget, and the Ebenezers show will feature her full band, which includes NY producer Saul Simon MacWilliams (a member of Ingrid Michaelson’s band) on additional vocals, percussion, and keyboard.
Since we’re in DC, we’ll paraphrase an old campaign slogan – you’ll like Ike.
Opener Caleb Hawley is known for speedy guitar licks, quirky cover tunes, and a vocal range that moves from quiet folk to soaring bluE-eyed soul. Raised outside Minneapolis, Based in New York City since 2007, the former competitor on American Idol (he made it to the final 50 in 2011), plans to release his fourth studio album soon.
(more info: Ebenezers Coffeehouse)
Sunday, March 3 - Eels at 9:30 Club
For about two decades, the man called “E” (a.k.a. Mark Oliver Everett) has been writing keenly crafted songs that may sound misanthropic on the surface but, like a gourmet chocolate, have a sweet humanity at the center. Whether your first taste was the cult hit “Novocaine for the Soul,” from Eels’ 1996 debut "Beautiful Freak," or its heartbreaking follow-up “Electro-Shock Blues,” you know that Everett has a way of turning tragedy and self-doubt into often beautiful music. And he kicks butt live.
Eels’ latest release, "Wonderful, Glorious" (13-track CD, 26-track deluxe double CD, double 10" orange vinyl and download) arrives on the heels of an Everett autobiography, a documentary about his late father (a quantum physicist) and a trilogy of concept albums. In a new twist for the musician, his backing band of four years took an equal hand in molding the material, which foretells an even tighter than usual performance from this always intriguing act.
To prep for the event, you can stream the head-banging track “Peach Blossom." And when you’re at the concert, pick up "Tremendous Dynamite Live in 2010 + 2011," a 40-track double live CD which is being sold exclusively at 2013 shows.
(for more info: 9:30 Club)
Have a great musical weekend!
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