Hank Dietle’s Tavern was off the beaten path of the DC music scene. The vintage 1950s dive bar on Rockville Pike boasted the first liquor license in Montgomery County and a loyal following amongst fans of rockabilly, roots rock and cheap beer. Nothing good lasts forever, but a fire gutting the beloved establishment isn’t how such a landmark deserves to go out. Songwriters David Goodfriend of Goin’ Goin’ Gone and Willie Barry of The Rock-A-Sonics gave Hank’s a spirited musical send off while standing in the smoldering ruins of the bar, while Chip Py recorded and interspersed his photos taken over the years. Volunteer demolition and rebuilding are underway now, so throw a few bucks towards the official GoFundMe campaign and help restore a local legend.
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Category Archives: video
Ras Nebyu feat. Haile Supreme & Corbin Butler – Don’t Forget
We love any reason to mention the Washington Slizzards crew, because how can you not love that name. Chief Slizzard Ras Nebyu is back with more visuals from his 2016 mixtape Slizzatrism. “Don’t Forget” features Howard University’s Corbin Butler and silky smooth Haile Supreme of Congo Sanchez, as the trio wander around U Street and the picturesque CityCenter development. Nebyu opens for DC expat Oddisee at U Street Music Hall on Wednesday March 14th, so listen to our hot tip and grab tix now while you still can.
Pinky KillaCorn – Fake Love
Rising DC rapper Pinky KillaCorn‘s new joint “Fake Love” showscases her new attitude to give zero fucks. As you might expect, weed helps this tremendously. This single comes from Pinky’s latest mixtape KillaCorn 7.0, still a free download courtesy of Spinrilla.
Party Like It’s – Take Care
Primarily known for high-energy covers, 90s pop-ska band Party Like It’s debuted their second original single yesterday. “Take Care” is a throwback delight, with big horns and crisp offbeats lending the pop song retro style. The music video’s black and white palette, with restrained splashes of color, is a stark contrast to their neon-hued debut “Clockwork Lover” and lends the song more bite than the earlier sugary confection. Party Like It’s is an utter blast live, so head to Union Stage Friday night to see them channel patron saints No Doubt at the Back to the 90s Party with Maryjo Mattea as Alanis Morissette and The Good Time Boys as RHCP.
Wes Tucker & The Skillets – Get Back
We readily admit our unabashed love for videos of studio recording. There’s no awkwardness in lip and performance syncing, just pure authenticity in laying down the cut of the song for the ages. Wes Tucker and his friendly Skillets are reserved veterans of the roots rock scene, releasing four studio albums over many years. Tucker is here for the long haul, as his upcoming fifth album took three years of hard work to get right. The videographers at Bard Tales Productions captured the recording of “Get Back” at The Brink Studios, showcasing Tucker’s assured and approachable delivery and his band’s tight blues-rock groove. Alexandria’s Port City Brewing hosts the band Friday night at 7 PM, so bring your growlers and go home happy.
Reesa Renee – Ask Round Town
While soulful singer Reesa Renee gears up for two major releases this year, let’s catch up on a warm and sunny music video from last summer. “Ask Round Town” shows Reene’s versatility at both singing and rapping, while clowning around at the H Street Festival followed by Yah Yah of Minister Cinema on the cameras. Renee’s first drop of 2018 is an EP called The Cure with Philly funk & soul collective Killiam Shakespeare, and we cannot wait.
The Aquarium – Performer
The dynamic keys-n-drums duo The Aquarium, featuring Jason Hutto of Soccer Team and Warm Sun and Laura Harris of Ex Hex, was seriously one of our fave DC bands of the mid aughts. They put out a catchy AF full length self-titled album on Dischord in 2006 and a two song 7″ follow-up in 2009. And now, 9 years later in 2018, the A-side of that 7″ “Performer” just got a brand new music video. Stephen Guidry-White of The Torches shot this footage at the Hosiery in spring of 2009, and then, well, it got shelved or something, who really knows. Like a time capsule miraculously rediscovered, the band and director finished it up and dutiful DC music archivists Dischord Records recently released it. What other unfinished music videos lurk in the dark corners of aging hard drives?
SOJA – Tried My Best
Reggae rock band SOJA would like you to know that being part of a successful musical project that tours the globe and sells out large stadiums isn’t all fun and games. The tour life is hard, sleep is elusive sometimes, traveling can take it out of you. But getting on stage and performing feel good music to thousands of cheering fans puts it right back in. “Tried My Best” is the 3rd video from their 8th album Poetry In Motion, as directors Daniel Ferro & Marvin Campos show the tedium of touring and the glory of performing in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru. SOJA’s nationwide US tour resumes in March.
Jonny Grave – Fever
Mr. Jonny Grave, DC’s liveliest blues guitarist and front man, has delivered a steady and welcome stream of EPs and collections to his Bandcamp page in recent years. Now the hard-working and steady-gigging musician is about to unleash his first full album with live band and original compositions in too long. The eponymous album’s first single is “Fever”, and this music video from director Casey McAdams of the Smithsonian gives us the goods on Grave’s ferocity in both songwriting and performance. Shout-out to Jason Mendelson of MetroSongs and the ubiquitous Ben Tufts filling out Grave’s live band. Stay tuned for more details of the album’s release and many many more chances to catch Grave performing live.
Justin Trawick & The Common Good – Just A Friend
Troubadour Justin Trawick is surely front-runner for the hardest working musician in DC. He’s launched more initiatives than almost any, from his weekly podcast The Circus Life to The 9 Songwriter Series to the unrehearsedDC live video series, showing his fearlessness and drive to create new avenues of musical success for his many many friends. However, one thing we’ve been waiting for is a new album. Trawick and his chums in The Common Good finally released their debut EP Riverwash, a folksy and assured collection of Trawick’s Americana originals, but he couldn’t resist slipping in a ubiquitous cover at the end. Trawick is a born crowd pleaser with an array of reinterpretations at the ready, including his newest music video that didn’t even make the EP cut. Mandolinist Josh Himmelsbach takes the vocal mic for Biz Markie’s 1989 classic “Just A Friend”, with a team of swing dancers lighting up the floor of Pearl Street Warehouse, the place to be Friday night January 26th to celebrate the EP’s release.
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