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Mauricio Castro 2/9/17 Mauricio Castro 2/9/17

Great Good Fine OK @ DC9 - 1/30/2017

Some bands like to take time before releasing their music. Great Good Fine Ok is not one of those bands. As one of the more prolific synth-pop bands in recent years, they have been steadily chugging onwards, releasing six singles over the past year and culminating with a January EP release, III. If a sold-out DC9 is any indicator, the steady stream of singles has helped keep the duo in the forefront of people’s minds and playlists, but the live show itself is the real reason that fans should stick around.

Mauricio Castro 9/14/16 Mauricio Castro 9/14/16

Gallant @ U Street Music Hall - 8/23/16

If you’re asked which artists are pushing R&B music forward, you might answer with names like Maxwell, Miguel, and Frank Ocean. But after a very impressive (and sold-out) U Hall debut, you’ll probably want to answer with this name: Gallant. Born in DC and growing up in Columbia, MD, Gallant is a DMV-er through and through. He briefly acknowledged the fact, though the night was more about his music and less about his roots. His debut album, “Ology”, was released in April to critical acclaim, and he kicked off the tour in his hometown of DC.

Mauricio Castro 8/23/16 Mauricio Castro 8/23/16

Good Old War @ POV - 8/6/16

It’s not often that a band comes along that can impress equally on technical skills and on how happy the music makes you feel. Good Old War is one of those bands, and they recently released their fourth album, “Broken Into Better Shape” on Nettwerk Records. They came to the W Hotel’s trendy rooftop bar, POV, to play a free acoustic set that also marked the conclusion of the day’s Record Store Crawl event.

Mauricio Castro 8/15/16 Mauricio Castro 8/15/16

BROODS @ 9:30 Club - 8/1/16

They say you have your whole life to make your first album, and once the cat’s out of the bag, you only get a few months to make a second album. (Unless you’re Frank Ocean, but that’s a whole other story.) Fortunately for us, New Zealand-based brother-and-sister duo BROODS far exceeded any expectations for their return to a sold-out 9:30 Club in support of their sophomore album, Conscious.

Georgia and Caleb Nott have built a strong following through their dark and industrial electronic pop, and it shines through in their live show. The energy was palpable from the get-go as the crowd erupted as Georgia made her way to the stage in a dark cloud of smoke. During title track “Conscious”, the black frills on her jacket flew in every direction as she danced all over the stage.

Mauricio Castro 8/11/16 Mauricio Castro 8/11/16

Young Summer @ U Street Music Hall - 7/22/16

Bobbie Allen has had quite the year. After releasing a few buzz-worthy singles in the past year and singing on tour with Odesza, the DC-based musician (who goes by the stage name Young Summer) recently brought her talents back to a packed U Street Music Hall. Though there’s a profusion of strong synth-pop talent coming out of the woodwork these days, Young Summer proved on Friday night that her smooth and subdued vocals combined with an expansive electronic sound are what has helped her gain recognition and continue to stand out from the pack.