WE LOVE OUR PARTNERS: Showlist DC

For people like me, who are always, always, always going to shows and/or always, freaking always, looking for shows to go to, you often need some guidance. Hence the reason and beauty of our Partner Feature this week: ShowlistDC. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a website that “lists” all the “shows” in “DC” (and the surrounding area)—and vwalah, we have ShowlistDC!

In a more formal description, Showlist DC is “a comprehensive concert calendar that covers DC, as well as, Northern Virginia and the Baltimore area.” The site started listing shows in January of 2011, and last year it listed over 11,000 shows at about 400 venues. Hot dayum! Not only that, but the site includes regular recommendations of upcoming shows, AND an ever-growing list of local bands (AND some awesome ticket giveaways!). It’s basically heaven for DMV music lovers. Isn’t that a saying? The DMV is for music lovers? Sure seems that way based off of this site!

ShowlistDC was founded by Catherine Lewis, who knows her stuff. After working on staff at Pitchfork for 10 years, she now is a freelance music critic and photographer in DC. And if you’re ever lucky enough to run into her at a show, you might even get one of these sick bottle openers (pictured above).

Happy concert-going!

-Sara Sopher

WE LOVE OUR PARTNERS: Som Records

You knew SOMething like this was coming, didn’t you? I mean,  how could you not. It’s pretty obvious if you ask me.. Our Partner Feature this week, on this day (aka, Record Store Day!), is of course, one of our dearest Record Store friends, Som Records. 

This bad boy Record Shop has lived on 14th Street since 2006 and was voted “Best Place to Buy Vinyl in DC” by the Washington City Paper. I first sauntered into Som one sunny Saturday afternoon after brunch. It was a perfect little piece of DC (especially post-brunch). They put out new used records almost every day, as well as, new releases a few times a week. They’re super friendly too and will do everything to track down anything you can’t find. But here’s some real talk: with their selections of international, jazz, reggae, dance, rock, country, and blues - you’ll have to convince me that they didn’t have what you were looking for. 

In the spirit of Record Store Day (4/20), they’ll have over 70 RSD-only releases and some CDs, DVDs, and gift certificates to give away. So please, once you finish reading this, get to Som on the pronto for some serious vinyl shopping.

Not only that, but because Som Records loves 9:30 Club fans so much, they are giving away a $30 giftcard to one lucky fan! To enter to win the giftcard, email contests@930.com—we‘ll choose one lucky winner and ruin their day by forcing them to spend $30 worth of free records at Som. We’re the worst, I know. Happy Record Store Day!

-Sara Sopher

THROWBACK (THURSDAY) PHOTO CONTEST:

Who is this young romantic? Answer correctly and you could win tickets to see him perform live at 9:30 Club!

To enter: send your answer to contests@930.com. Winner picked 12PM tomorrow!

NEW ORDER RETURN TO NORTH AMERICA WITH 2013 TOUR DATES 

LOS ANGELES - Following their triumphant 2013 return to the U.S. this past weekend at Coachella, NEW ORDER have now announced a run of North American tour dates this summer, in some cases playing cities the band has not visited in many years. The tour kicks off on July 19 in Austin, Texas and culminates with appearances at Chicago’s Lollapalooza and Montreal’s Osheaga festival in early August. Tickets for most dates go on sale later this week.

New Order’s groundbreaking sound of synthesizer-driven pop fused with electronic dance beats continues to resonate with audiences of all ages. The band returned to the U.S. last year for their first tour since 2005. 

NEW ORDER 2013 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

APRIL

18   SANTA BARBARA, CA          Santa Barbara Bowl

20   INDIO, CA                               Coachella

JULY

19  AUSTIN, TX                            Austin City Limits Livc

21  ATLANTA, GA                       Chastain Park Amphitheatre

24  BROOKLYN, NY                      Williamsburg Park

26  PHILADELPHIA, PA  Mann Center For The Performing Arts

28  COLUMBIA, MD                     Merriweather Post Pavilion

31  BOSTON, MA                         Bank Of America Pavilion

AUGUST

2  CHICAGO, IL                          Lollapalooza

?  MONTREAL, QC                     Osheaga

For ticket information please visit: 

www.newordernow.net

www.facebook.com/neworderofficial

Performing LIVE at Merriweather Post Pavilion on July 28th!

Tickets on sale THIS Friday, April 19th at 10AM via Ticketfly.

Re-Blog this post to enter to win a pair of lawn tickets before they go on sale.

WE LOVE OUR PARTNERS: Where The Girls Go

If you’re into DC nightlife, fashion, and all things culture-related for the “queer female scene” in DC, then our friends over at Where The Girls Go invite you to “come party with them.” Helluva invite! You heard correctly though, our Partner Feature this week is definitely the prime-time DC blog for updates, stories, and news on “where the girls’ll be.”

The side bar on their site says it all. Whether you want to browse their Calendar of events, or just read their version of confessions, or maybe check out some cycling stories—they are definitely not shy about what is going on, or how they feel about it. On top of that, they are always “Out on The Town,” telling you where the best parties are and when they’ll be happening.. Like their OverEasy summer tea dance party, which just got launched this week. OverEasy will happen the last Sunday of every month from April through September. Who said Sundays weren’t for gettin’ down on the dance floor while sippin’ some tea? Sounds like a reason to look forward to Sundays to me! In the words of the Girls: “Kick off your summer sunny-side up.” Yes.

We heart these chicks, so be sure to follow them on social media—and keep an eye out for ticket giveaways, you betta know what shows these girls will be hitting up!

-Sara Sopher

THROWBACK (THURSDAY) PHOTO CONTEST:

Who is this fresh faced young gentleman? Answer correctly and you could win tickets to see him perform live at Merriweather Post Pavilion!

To enter: send your answer to contests@930.com. Winner picked 12PM tomorrow!

WE LOVE OUR PARTNERS: 1905 Bistro & Bar

It’s 2013. You probably see RT and automatically think ‘retweet.’ And boy have RTs been on my mind. However, with this gorgeous weather we’ve had lately, I can’t help but think about the other other white meat of RTs… of which many of us DCers know far too much about. Yes, my good people, I’m talking about.. Rooftops. Rooftops, roofdecks—it’s Spring, and I want them all. In the words of the Millionaire Matchmaker, “Everyone wants it, but not everyone finds it.” Luckily, that won’t be the case when we match you with this week’s Partner Feature: 1905 Bistro & Bar. They’re glorious roofdeck will re-open fully, “as soon as it stops being winter, of course,” according to our friends over there.

1905 Bistro & Bar is the perfect neighborhood spot. They have a new Spring/Summer menu coming out, and their Sunday brunch was recently revamped, and it’s kicking some serious butt. I mean, have you looked at their menu?! They had me at Truffled Deviled Eggs. Since it’s within walking distance to The 9:30 Club, it is the perfect pre-show date spot, post-show drink spot, and/or bottomless mimosa spot for all your lazy Sundays. Do it to it, kiddos. Those Aged Cheddar Beignets with pickled scallion mayo won’t last long. Wow. Annnnd my mouth is watering. See you at 1905!

- Sara Sopher

WE LOVE OUR PARTNERS: The Deli

I don’t think you’re ready for this, deli. Kidding.. sort of. Our Partner Feature this week is one of DC’s own: The Deli Washington/Baltimore. As a local, daily-updated website that focuses on the independent music scene in the DC/Baltimore area, how could we not be their BFFs?

In addition to local music news, song and album reviews, and ticket giveaways, the site gives you (well, me at least) a feeling of good ole’ DC and Baltimore lovin’. It’s a place you can go and read about all things DC-music related, and feel a sense of togetherness—as in, you aren’t the only one who heard that random local band a few weeks ago that you are now completely obsessed with. (Which happens to me all too often). I’ll see a local band somewhere around town, and when I try to bring them up with my music-crazy friends in other cities, they never get it. The Deli, however, seems to already have that head-start on knowing everything on every local DC/Baltimore band. Thank goodness. 

On top of that, they had stages at SXSW where their Best Emerging Band of 2012 (Shark Week) played. I also heard they may do some sort of summer showcase.. but you’ll have to stay tuned for details on that. The site also allows readers to rank their top local bands.. so newbies to the site have an idea of who likes what around town. Basically, what I’m trying to say is… if you want some serious street cred with those music snobs on U Street.. you best get to reading on The Deli. 

-Sara Sopher

WE LOVE OUR PARTNERS: Toki Underground

Warning: drooling may occur during the following description of our Partner Feature for this week. I suggest putting on a bib, or at least tucking a napkin into the top of your shirt, just to prevent drool stains. Yep, you guessed it. I’m talking about Toki Underground.

I’ve heard a few things about the H Street hotspot that is Toki Underground. I heard a must try at the bar is the bourbon-and-Scotch-based Toki Monster, which comes garnished with a pork belly skewer. I heard their dumplings and ramen have the power to literally lift customers out of their chair and bring them into heaven for a hot second. Which probably explains why I heard people stand in line for 3-4 hours for their food. I heard their chef and owner, Erik Bruner-Yang, is self-taught and currently nominated for Food and Wine’s Best New Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region. I heard you can vote for him  here until voting ends on March 18th.

I heard I need to get to Toki stat. And lastly, I heard they are buddies with 9:30 Club and Merriweather Post Pavilion, and often have tickets to giveaway! Do it, to it!

-Sara Sopher

WE LOVE OUR PARTNERS: Sculpt DC

I thought I was going to ace it.. thought it was going to be a breeze. Midterms, you’re thinking? Wrong. It was my first cycle class, and I mean, come on, who can’t ride a little stationary bike? WRONG! That class KICKED MY BUTT! In the best way possible, of course, and it all happened at Sculpt DC. Our Partner Feature this week is DC’s only cycle and yoga studio, and it is the. best. period.

Located right in the heart of DC at 950 F Street NW, Sculpt DC features 2 studios, a patron’s lounge, locker facilities with showers and a lifestyle retail boutique in over 5,000 square feet of space. It’s true. And it’s absolutely beautiful! Their classes are super legit too. They definitely make “working out” a par-tay.. literally. In the cycle classes I’ve been to at Sculpt, the instructor amps up the party tunes, dims the lights, puts on some multi-color accents, lights a few candles, and get’s the class PUMPED to be working out. The classes are no joke either, you’ll leave feeling like a million bucks… and dripping in sweat!

On top of it all, Sculpt is offering one week of FREE CLASSES to one lucky-ducky 9:30 Club fan! (I told you, they are the coolest). To enter, tweet at @930club and @SculptDC with why we should pick you! We’ll choose one lucky winner at the end of the week.

For those of you who aren’t lucky enough to win free classes, you can check out their pricing here. Be sure to follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook for info regarding free weekly classes (they have at least one a week), special events, and 9:30 Club tickets! #Namaste

-Sara Sopher