Tonight the Grog & Tankard bar in Upper Georgetown will feature three local bands-The Bicycle Thieves, Alfonso Velez and Moo Shoo Porkestra-in a benefit for D.C.-area AIDS relief organizations.
Composed largely of Georgetown students, Moo Shoo Porkestra is a five-piece rock band that includes lead guitarist Dave Salvo (COL ‘05), guitarist Aaron Shneyer (COL ‘05), bassist Justin Shuster (COL ‘05), trombonist Ted Berg (COL ‘03) and drummer Matt Harty, a senior at American University.
Moo Shoo Porskestra formed last year while most members were first-years. Eager to dispel the notion that there was no place for live music on campus, the band played four gigs towards the end of spring semester, including Georgetown Day and the first Hoyastock.
Despite losing contact over the long summer break and pursuing other musical projects, the band reformed this fall. “Things with the band this semester just clicked,” said Salvo. It’s professionalism, energetic stage presence and genuine love of music was not missed on the management at the Grog & Tankard, a place where many D.C. bands go to find a start in the music scene.
In case you aren’t able to make it to this week’s show, Moo Shoo Porkestra will be playing every Thursday night in January at the Grog & Tankard. Additionally, members say they plan to get into a studio to record their music professionally in the near future.
Reluctant to limit itself as simply a jam band, Moo Shoo Porkestra play a variety of crowd pleasers such as the Beatles’ “Come Together,” James Brown’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and Santana’s “Oye Como Va” in a distinctive, free-flowing style. Along with their diverse cover repertoire, Moo Shoo’s set also includes a few original songs and the occasional twenty-minute, all-instrumental groove.
In addition, the event will also feature The Bicycle Thieves, an upbeat, alternative rock band in the vein of Matchbox Twenty or Third Eye Blind. The group has been gaining some notoriety in the D.C. area since one of its songs was featured on MTV’s The Real World.
Alfonso Velez is a 21-year old singer-songwriter who has been spreading his melodic indie rock, chock full of catchy hooks and strong vocals, throughout D.C.
Both The Bicycles Thieves and Alfonso Velez will play an all-ages show at the AU Tavern at American University on Jan. 31.
Grog & Tankard is located at 2408 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
