Hometown Sounds

DC, anybody out there remember Monsterrat House? The short-lived performance space near the 9:30 Club was part of the sprawling nightlife empire of Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton, and now its name resurfaces as Hilton’s new record label. His reggae roots ensemble The Archives, once the house band of another fondly remembered U Street spot Patty Boom-Boom, at long last have a new song to keep the DC reggae spirit alive. “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” is a cover of Gil Scott-Heron’s tragic track from 1971’s Pieces of a Man, updated with soulful vocals from Puma Ptah (fka RasPuma). This song heralds a new reggae tribute album to Scott-Heron and collaborator Brian Jackson on the Monserrat House label that we can’t wait to get our hands on. Catch the full band playing new tunes and classics at the Funk Parade‘s Cardozo Metro Stage on Saturday May 11th.