Leisure

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

Leisure

Critical Voices: Ariana Grande, Sweetener

To say that a lot has happened in Ariana Grande’s life since the release of her last album, Dangerous Woman (2016), is a bit of an understatement. There was the... Read more

By August 28, 2018

Leisure

Concert Preview: Mac DeMarco, Sept. 5, The Anthem

McBriare “Mac” DeMarco is a Canadian singer­/songwriter, multi­-instrumentalist, and producer from Edmonton, British Columbia. DeMarco started his musical career in early high school where he participated in several groups, including... Read more

By August 22, 2018

Leisure

Critical Voices: Mitski, Be the Cowboy

You will get chills almost immediately after you press play on Mitski’s new album, Be the Cowboy. Her haunting, harrowing voice sings, “You’re my number one / You’re the one... Read more

By August 22, 2018

Leisure

On The Record With Bill Burr On Being Happy, Old, and a Man

Honestly, comedian Bill Burr may have been playing fetch with his kid in his underpants and mellowing in the afterglow from the Red Sox’s extra innings win over the Yankees... Read more

By August 17, 2018

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The Meg is (Almost) the Perfect Bad Movie to End the Summer

The Meg is just about everything that you want it to be. It follows the destructive path of a giant, not-so-prehistoric shark who is surfacing for the first time in... Read more

By August 13, 2018

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Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade, and The Importance of The Teen Narrative

I watched Bo Burnham’s comedy special “Make Happy” on Netflix for the first time in the fall of my freshman year. In the final song, Burnham emulates Kanye’s famously long... Read more

By August 2, 2018

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Mission: Impossible – Fallout Is Here To Steal The Summer Movie Season

Mission: Impossible – Fallout is everything audiences have come to expect from this iconic action film franchise and then some. With impressively choreographed stunts, thrilling action sequences, ever-rising stakes, a... Read more

By July 30, 2018

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Concert Preview: Sylvan Esso, July 26, The Anthem

Electro Indie Pop duo Sylvan Esso will be bringing their talents to the District on July 26. Hailing from Durham, North Carolina, their music is unlike anything else, even though... Read more

By July 27, 2018

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Critical Voices: Lil Reek, The Graduation EP

It’s the squeak, that’s the first thing. The strain in his voice over high open-vowel sounds, Lil Reek sounds a lot younger than he is. He’s not old though. The... Read more

By July 27, 2018

Leisure

Concert Preview: Courtney Barnett, July 24, The Anthem

Courtney Barnett’s mellow Melbourne folk stylings are not to be missed. Her thick Aussie accent is what stands out most in her music, but the rustic guitar riffs and indie... Read more

By July 27, 2018

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Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You Radicalizes Movie Magic

There is a scene in Sorry to Bother You — the much hyped debut film from multihyphenate screenwriter-director Boots Riley — wherein our protagonist Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) is obliged... Read more

By July 27, 2018

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Deaf Poets Change & Bloom in the Midst of Their Move From Miami to New York

On the title track of Deaf Poets’ newest E.P., Change & Bloom, Sean Wouters repeats the chorus line, “My wasted years trying to change and bloom / My future is... Read more

By June 25, 2018

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Concert Preview: Vans Warped Tour, July 29, Merriweather Post Pavilion

The end of an era is upon us: on June 21, Vans Warped Tour will embark on its final cross-country run. For the past 24 years, the historically punk festival... Read more

By June 20, 2018

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Concert Preview: Paramore with Foster the People, June 23, Merriweather Post Pavilion

In the fourteen years since they came together in Franklin, Tennessee, Paramore has released five albums, gone through three bass players, and seen lead singer Hayley Williams go through countless... Read more

By June 15, 2018

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Best in the Galaxy: Han Solo gets a Backstory in Solo: A Star Wars Story

Just five months after the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), fans of the franchise rejoice. Solo: A Star Wars Story is here, and it’s a blast(er). The... Read more

By June 14, 2018

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Buoyed by Gifted Performances and an Infectious Score, Waitress Bakes From the Heart

All conscious Broadway lovers can agree that the 2015-2016 season belonged to a scrappy little show called Hamilton. At the 2016 Tony Awards, musicals with the unfortunate luck of debuting... Read more

By May 20, 2018

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Broccoli City Festival Mixes Activism With All-Star Performances

On Saturday, April 28, Washington D.C. hosted the sixth annual Broccoli City Festival. The festival, which took place on the sprawling lot outside of the historic RFK Stadium in Southeast,... Read more

By May 9, 2018

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Concert Preview: Fleet Foxes, May 18, The Anthem

After a six-year hiatus, Fleet Foxes erupted back into the limelight in the summer of 2017 with their third full-length album, Crack-Up. The band built excitement in the mid aughts... Read more

By May 9, 2018

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Concert Preview: Tokyo Police Club, May 2 & 3, 9:30 Club

Tokyo Police Club’s newest single, “New Blues” is a clash of old and new for the Toronto based indie rock band. The heavy distortion on the track recalls the frantic... Read more

By May 2, 2018

Leisure

National Portrait Gallery’s Unseen Exhibit is Halfway There

50 years ago, the National Portrait Gallery opened its America’s Presidents exhibit, which has since become one of the Smithsonian’s landmark tourist destinations. As the Portrait Gallery celebrates its history,... Read more

By May 2, 2018