Leisure

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

Leisure

Despite Strong Lead, Patti Cake$ is Nothing New

Fluorescent green light cuts through billowing smoke as producer O-Z (Sahr Ngaujah) introduces Patti (Danielle MacDonald) — Killa P — onstage. The crowd roars with approval as Patti ambles onstage.... Read more

By August 30, 2017

Leisure

Concert Preview: The Districts, August 18, 9:30 Club

Fresh off the release of their third studio album, Popular Manipulations, the Districts are headed to the 9:30 club for a show on Friday, August 18. The Philadelphia-based rock band’s... Read more

By August 16, 2017

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Critical Voices: Arcade Fire, Everything Now

During the past few months, there were indications that Arcade Fire was nearing the brink of a 2007-Britney-Spears style meltdown. In addition to developing a tendency to refer to their... Read more

By August 14, 2017

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Despite Big Names, The Dark Tower Lacks Development and Excitement

Films with child leads don’t always do well at gaining adult audiences. Director Nikolaj Arcel’s The Dark Tower hit theaters on August 4 and has already attracted large audiences, likely... Read more

By August 12, 2017

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Concert Review: Tank and The Bangas, July 21, Songbyrd Music House

The must-watch video that won Tank and The Bangas NPR’s 2017 Tiny Desk Contest offers just a fraction of the contagious energy they brought to their concert at Adams Morgan’s... Read more

By August 5, 2017

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Concert Preview: Petit Biscuit, August 2, 9:30 Club

With his first EP out last year, 17-year old French Moroccan DJ Petit Biscuit continues his international tour at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on August 2. Petit Biscuit’s... Read more

By July 31, 2017

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Dunkirk is a Tense, Beautifully Rendered Struggle to Survive

Five young men roam the empty, eerily quiet streets of Dunkirk, catching flyers slowing falling from the sky that read “We surround you.” One young man carefully reaches through the... Read more

By July 31, 2017

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Concert Preview: John Legend, July 25, Merriweather Post Pavilion

In celebration of his latest album, Darkness and Light, John Legend continues his international tour at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Camden, MD on July 25. The album, released in December of... Read more

By July 25, 2017

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Born from Quirky Comedy, Brigsby Bear is Warm and Fuzzy

Brigsby Bear Adventures — an off-kilter mishmash of Teletubbies and Barney — is such a constant in the life of 25-year-old James (Kyle Mooney) it borders on a religion. Day... Read more

By July 24, 2017

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Concert Preview: Belle & Sebastian, Spoon, Andrew Bird, July 30, Merriweather Post Pavilion

Belle & Sebastian, Spoon, and Andrew Bird will co-headline a show at Merriweather Post Pavilion on July 30. Belle & Sebastian and Spoon may seem like unlikely co-headliners; one hails... Read more

By July 24, 2017

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Concert Preview: alt-J, July 27, Merriweather Post Pavilion

Cambridge-based pop band alt-J rose to meteoric success in 2012 with their debut album, An Awesome Wave. The album claimed its place on the UK’s Top 20 and the band... Read more

By July 24, 2017

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Spider-Man: Homecoming Gets Caught in Its Own Web

When a film gets a character as right as Spider-Man: Homecoming gets Peter Parker, it can go a long way towards making a great movie. There’s no doubt that Homecoming’s... Read more

By July 19, 2017

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Concert Preview: Amadou & Mariam, July 20, 9:30 Club

With new music expected later this year, Malian musical duo Amadou & Mariam continue their international tour at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on July 20. The album, titled... Read more

By July 17, 2017

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Concert Preview: Hans Zimmer Live, July 21, Merriweather Post Pavilion

With Christopher Nolan’s new film Dunkirk hitting theaters, there may not be a better time to experience “Hans Zimmer Live,” a live performance of the eponymous film composer’s various film... Read more

By July 17, 2017

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Critical Voices: HAIM, Something To Tell You

There is an unabashed air of hurt throughout Something To Tell You. It weaves its way through each song, going deep in some places, while rising to the surface in... Read more

By July 14, 2017

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Peter Frampton and Steve Miller Band Made the Crowd “Dance, Dance, Dance” All Night Long at Merriweather Post Pavilion

The crowd ranged from sixty-something year old queens dancing without a care in the world to edgy teenagers who felt like they should have been born in the ‘60s; it varied... Read more

By July 10, 2017

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Concert Review: Jack Johnson

During Jack Johnson’s performance at the Merriweather Pavillion on June 11, one thing became clear: Johnson is a far cry from the typical, moody rockstar. If his modest amble toward... Read more

By June 30, 2017

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Concert Preview: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, June 30, Merriweather Post Pavilion

Just a few weeks after the release of their newest album The Nashville Sound, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will perform at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 30.  The... Read more

By June 27, 2017

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Concert Preview: Steve Miller Band and Peter Frampton, June 23, Merriweather Post Pavilion

Some people call him the space cowboy, some people call him the gangster of love, and some people might call Steve Miller – a man who is 73 years old... Read more

By June 20, 2017

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Rage and Empathy in I, Daniel Blake

Daniel Blake (Dave Johns), the titular character of Ken Loach’s new film on working class Britons, is the salt of the earth. A 59-year old widower, Dan lives in a... Read more

By June 20, 2017