Leisure

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

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

By October 6, 2018

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

By October 5, 2018

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

By October 5, 2018

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

By October 4, 2018

Leisure

Donn B. Murphy One Acts Festival Strikes More Than One Note

Close relationships take center stage in this year’s Donn B. Murphy One Acts Festival (DBMOAF). Each year for the past three decades, students at Georgetown University have submitted their screenplays... Read more

By October 3, 2018

Leisure

Smallfoot Leaves A Big Imprint

At a time when it seems that most kids’ movies are either remakes of the classics or sequels, Smallfoot brings something new to the table. Directed by Karey Kirkpatrick and Jason... Read more

By October 2, 2018

Leisure

Concert Preview: Ben Howard, Oct. 11, The Anthem

English singer-songwriter Ben Howard will make a stop in D.C., continuing his Noonday Dream Tour at The Anthem on Oct. 11. Howard started his career modestly by self-releasing acoustic folk... Read more

By October 2, 2018

Leisure

Concert Preview: Kali Uchis, Oct. 10, 9:30 Club

Four months out from playing a genre defying set at Tennessee’s Bonnaroo (where she was the only lead performer with a Latin radio hit), Colombian-American singer-songwriter Kali Uchis will return... Read more

By October 1, 2018

Features

Long Story Short: D.C. Short Film Festival Celebrates Creativity and Culture

In a city where politics reign supreme and attention spans are limited, a tweet can spark more conversation than a novel, a sound bite can change the course of an... Read more

By and September 28, 2018

Leisure

From the Page to the Screen, The Sisters Brothers Challenges the Stereotypical West

For Patrick deWitt, author of the novel The Sisters Brothers, the American West is more than a place of cowboys and gunfights. His story is that of Eli and Charlie... Read more

By September 28, 2018

Leisure

Critical Voices: BROCKHAMPTON, iridescence

BROCKHAMPTON, a self-described “boy band” from San Marcos, Texas, has confronted both fame and controversy in their sudden rise to the top.  Before founding the band in 2015, the 13... Read more

By September 28, 2018

Leisure

Critical Voices: Nashville Pussy, Pleased to Eat You

In the past 20 years, Atlanta-based rock band Nashville Pussy has built a moderate fan base with their Southern rock melodies and lyrics revolving around the classic themes of sex,... Read more

By September 28, 2018

Leisure

Critical Voices: Hozier, Nina Cried Power

The long-awaited return of America’s favorite folk-rock Irishman does not disappoint. Andrew Hozier-Byrne, known better simply as Hozier, rose to prominence in the music scene following the release of his... Read more

By September 26, 2018

Leisure

Critical Voices: Noname, Room 25

After a summer of Cardi-B and Nicki Minaj, Noname has returned to reinstate herself as the queen of honesty and Hip-Hop.  Early on Sept. 14, Noname released her highly anticipated... Read more

By September 26, 2018

Leisure

Concert Preview: Troye Sivan, Oct. 4, The Anthem

Australian singer and songwriter Troye Sivan is coming to D.C. for his latest tour, “Bloom.” Sivan began his career in 2007 with the release of his debut EP, Dare to... Read more

By September 24, 2018

Leisure

Macbeth as a Musical: Folger Theater takes on Revisionist-era Shakespeare

The Folger Shakespeare Library is currently putting on a production of Macbeth, but not in the way that you may think. In this version, Macbeth is a musical, complete with... Read more

By September 19, 2018

Leisure

A Simple Favor is a Showcase of Nonsensical Extravagance

Do you ever watch a modern classic comedy like Bridesmaids or Spy and think to yourself, “This is good, but it could really use some more suspense.” No? Of course... Read more

By September 17, 2018

Leisure

Concert Preview: Car Seat Headrest, Sept. 20, 9:30 Club

Car Seat Headrest is undoubtedly one of the most prominent and talented alt-rock bands out there. The band has a distinct sound, contrasting slow, chill beats with moments of harder,... Read more

By September 17, 2018

Leisure

Concert Preview: Trillectro, Sept. 22, Merriweather Post Pavilion

Trillectro is a one-day, DC-based music festival founded by three area natives that has taken place every year since 2012. With its humble beginnings at The Half Street Fairgrounds near... Read more

By September 14, 2018

Leisure

A Star Is Born Crystallizes the Transcendent and Timeless

Late into the final act of A Star Is Born, a character observes, “There’s only 12 notes, and the octave repeats. All an artist can do is offer the world... Read more

By and September 14, 2018