Leisure

Reviews and think pieces on music, movies, art, and theater.



Leisure

Critical Voices: Twenty One Pilots, Trench

It was never really “cool” to like Twenty One Pilots. Consisting of singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun, Twenty One Pilots has always been associated with wannabe edgy, cringe-worthy... Read more

Leisure

Critical Voices: alt-J, Reduxer

Alt-J is an indie-rock band that hails from Leeds, England, with an appetite for experimentation and a great capacity for individuality. Typically known for their ethereal vocals and eccentric beats,... Read more

Leisure

Concert Preview: Hippo Campus and The Districts, Oct. 24, 9:30 Club

Indie rock band Hippo Campus, currently on the Bambi Tour, will be make a stop at 9:30 Club on Oct. 24. From St. Paul, Minnesota, the band was founded by... Read more

Leisure

Tense and Intimate, First Man Takes You to the Moon and Back

Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, is by all means an American hero. He was a family man whose ordinary life was turned upside down when... Read more

Leisure

Troye Sivan Colors the Anthem In The Bloom Tour

“The lights!” my friend shouted at me, only minutes into the opening act. “What?” I shouted back. “The lights!” she pointed frantically. “They are a rainbow!” That was something unforgettable... Read more

Leisure

Concert Preview: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds with Cigarettes After Sex, Oct. 25, The Anthem

Nick Cave is probably best known as the frontman of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, a post-punk group formed by three musicians in 1983, which now includes him and... Read more

Leisure

JPEGMAFIA Storms Songbyrd

From the moment JPEGMAFIA took the stage at Songbyrd Record Cafe and Music House last Saturday, Sept. 15, shirtless and wearing a blue bandana, the energy soared. The crowd rushed... Read more

Leisure

Concert Preview: Goo Goo Dolls, Oct. 13, The Anthem

This Saturday, Oct. 13, The Goo Goo Dolls will bring their Dizzy Up the Girl 20th anniversary tour to The Anthem. Formed in Buffalo, New York in 1986, the Goo... Read more

Leisure

Hanging by a Finger: Free Solo Boldly Tackles Fate, Death, and Fear

In the opening shot of Free Solo, we hear Alex Honnold before we see him. As the camera ominously pans over the top of El Capitan, the 3,000 foot rock... Read more

Leisure

Drawing Dissent: Defining the Art of Change in the Age of Trump

The Center for Contemporary Political Art’s (CCPA) current exhibition, “Defining the Art of Change in the Age of Trump,” does not play to the tune of a soloist but the... Read more

Features

Global Beats: Flash of the Spirit Worldwide Sound Festival Comes to Georgetown

Throughout October, Multiflora Productions is presenting the second annual Flash of the Spirit Worldwide Sound Festival, a celebration of immigrant communities through music. Groups native to countries such as Ethiopia,... Read more

Leisure

Concert Preview: Brockhampton, Oct. 16, The Anthem

The members of Brockhampton refer to themselves as the “hardest working boyband in show business”, as described in their Twitter bio, for a good reason. After releasing their first—and heavily... Read more

Leisure

Concert Preview: Denzel Curry, Oct. 11, The Fillmore Silver Spring

On Thursday, Oct. 11, The Fillmore Silver Spring will host 23-year-old South Florida rapper Denzel Curry. A pioneer of the genre of SoundCloud rap (different from rap music posted on... Read more

Leisure

Childish Gambino Welcomes Us to Church

Donald Glover, otherwise known by his stage name Childish Gambino, has made his mark on the hip-hop scene as one of the industry’s bravest artists. The Internet has been taken over... Read more

Leisure

Critical Voices: High On Fire, Electric Messiah

Matt Pike, the guitarist and vocalist for High On Fire, is restless. This power-metal trio was borne out of his need to jam in his garage while his first band,... Read more

Leisure

D.C. Fashion Week Celebrates Experimentation and Activism

For one week in September and February, a stardust fabric or a chartreuse stiletto may trick you into thinking D.C. is overrun by fashionistas instead of by politicians. Like its... Read more

Leisure

Colin Quinn Talks About Coming to D.C., Politics, and One in Every Crowd

Colin Quinn is the quintessential image of a New Yorker: loud, unapologetic, honest. Ask him any question, and he’ll give it to you straight. This brand has become a staple... Read more

Leisure

In the Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, You Always Win

There is something exceptional about seeing one of your favorite artists perform live. All of a sudden, what you passively listen to while you study comes to life, becoming a... Read more

Leisure

Kip Berman Celebrates His Birthday In D.C. With New EP and Songbyrd Concert

The opening chords of The Natvral’s Know Me More are simple and comforting, the kind of notes that glide through a quiet café with ease and linger in the atmosphere... Read more

Leisure

Life Itself is Tragic in More Ways than One

Life Itself. The name alone seems to cue an extended eye roll from the cynical moviegoer. It’s a phrase that beckons notions of half-baked yet self-assured philosophy. The optimists among... Read more