Concerts/Shows (Northern VA/ DC area)

(See Venues for links to locations. Also, remember that info about smaller shows can change often, so check it out first. Shows are All Ages unless it says otherwise, but it's probably a good idea to check with the venue.)

Thanks to Michael Daknis of TheRuinCity, who inspired me to finally update this. Maybe I'll actually make it to a show sometime soon :o)

Ticketmaster http://ticketmaster.com Here's where you can get tickets online for many of these concerts.
Tickets.com http://www.tickets.com/ This is the other major ticket vendor for local venues.

Venues

9:30 Club http://www.930.com/ Washington, DC

Alley Katz http://www.alleykatzrva.com/ Richmond, VA

The Birchmere Music Hall http://www.birchmere.com Alexandria, VA

Black Cat http://www.blackcatdc.com/ In Washington, DC

Cafe Martini http://www.myspace.com/cafemartini 13840 Braddock Rd, Centreville, Virginia 20120

Center Street Bar & Grille http://www.centerstgrille.com/ 8971 Center Street, Manassas, VA 20110

DAR | Constitution Hall http://www.dar.org/conthall/default.cfm In Washington, DC

Fat Tuesday’s Fairfax http://www.myspace.com/fatsfairfax University Mall, Fairfax, VA

Fillmore Silver Spring http://fillmoresilverspring.com/index Silver Spring, MD

Firehouse Grill http://www.thefirehousegrill.com/home.html In Fairfax, VA

Iota Club & Cafe http://www.iotaclubandcafe.com/ In Arlington, VA (All shows 21+ unless otherwise indicated)

Jammin' Java http://www.jamminjava.com/ In Vienna, VA; owned by the Brindley Brothers.

JAXX Concert Hall and Night Club http://www.jaxxroxx.com/ In Springfield, VA. Check the calendar for concerts; often features local bands, with some major acts.

KC's Music Alley http://centralstationva.com/index3.htm or http://www.myspace.com/kcsmusicalley Fredericksburg, VA. Mostly metal, but some rock, too.

Mackey's American Pub http://www.myspace.com/mackeyspub and http://mackeysamericanpub.com/ In Manassas, VA.

Madigan's Waterfront http://www.madiganswaterfront.com/live_music_entertainment_bands_virginia_va.php In Occoquan, VA

Merriweather Post Pavilion http://www.merriweathermusic.com/ In Columbia, MD.

My Brother's Place http://www.mybrothersplace.org/ In Waldorf, MD.

Nissan Pavilion Online http://nissanpavilion.com/ In Bristow, VA (near Manassas). (I still can't bring myself to call it Jiffy Lube Live)

The National http://www.thenationalva.com/ Richmmond, VA

Patriot Center http://www.patriotcenter.com/ In Fairfax, VA (at George Mason University).

Rain Night Club http://www.myspace.com/rainnightclub Next to TT Reynolds, Fairfax, VA

Ram's Head Live http://www.ramsheadlive.com/ In Baltimore, MD

The Red and the Black http://www.redandblackbar.com/ In Washington, DC

The Rock and Roll Hotel http://www.rockandrollhoteldc.com/ In Washington, DC

Sonar http://www.sonarlounge.com/ In Baltimore, MD.

The State Theatre http://www.thestatetheater.com/ In Falls Church, VA.

Velvet Lounge http://www.velvetloungedc.com/ In Washington, D.C.

Verizon Center http://www.verizoncenter.com/ In Washington, D.C. (Formerly MCI Center)

Wolf Trap http://www.wolf-trap.org/ In Vienna, VA.

Bands

(More bands can be found on my Friends list at http://www.myspace.com/booklady9.)

Aberdien http://www.myspace.com/aberdien Washington, DC (still together?)

According to Plan http://www.myspace.com/accordingtoplanva Northern VA

ADHD http://www.myspace.com/adhd Washington, DC (still together?)

All Time Low http://www.myspace.com/alltimelow Lutherville, MD

The Apathy Eulogy http://www.myspace.com/theapathyeulogy Baltimore, MD

Arden http://www.myspace.com/arden Baltimore, MD

Ask Me Anything http://www.myspace.com/askusanythinghere Fredericksburg, VA

Auburn Road http://www.myspace.com/auburnroadband Woodbridge, VA (still together?)

The Automatics http://www.myspace.com/theautomaticsrock Manassas, VA

The Avenue http://www.myspace.com/theavenueband Harrisonburg, VA

Bandits and Beggars http://www.reverbnation.com/banditsandbeggars Fairfax, VA

The Bigger Lights http://www.myspace.com/thebiggerlights Somewhere around here...

Boys Will Be Boys http://www.myspace.com/boyswillbeboysva Best of VA (which is, um, where?)

Burn the Ballroom http://www.myspace.com/burntheballroom Northern VA

Cerca Trova http://www.myspace.com/cercatrovarock Chantilly, VA

Closed Circuit Radio http://www.myspace.com/closedcircuitradio Northern VA

Cobbler http://www.myspace.com/cobbler Northern VA

Courage Call http://www.myspace.com/couragecall Ashburn, VA

Cowabunga! http://www.myspace.com/cowabungasucks NOVA, Virginia

Crash Boom Bang http://www.myspace.com/crashboombang Washington, DC

The Dangerous Summer http://www.myspace.com/dangeroussummer Ellicott City, MD

Dead-End Dropouts http://www.myspace.com/thedeadenddropouts Alexandria, VA

The Downtown Fiction http://www.myspace.com/thedowntownfiction Fairfax, VA (new band for Cameron Leahy, of Suburban Riot)

Dreaming of Eden http://www.myspace.com/dreamingofedenmusic  Manassas, VA

Driving East http://www.myspace.com/drivingeast Fairfax, VA

Dropout Year http://www.myspace.com/dropoutyear Owings Mills, MD

Escape the Armada http://www.myspace.com/escapethearmada Northern VA

Everyone But Pete http://www.myspace.com/everyonebutpete Manassas, VA

Exuma http://www.myspace.com/exumamusic Fairfax, VA

FIAD http://www.myspace.com/fiad Richmond, VA (still together?)

Fistful of Fifties http://www.myspace.com/fistfuloffifties Fairfax, VA

Ghosts of Pluto http://www.myspace.com/ghostsofpluto Chantilly, VA

He Is Legend http://www.myspace.com/heislegend Wilmington, NC

The Hint http://www.myspace.com/thehint Baltimore, MD

Hotspur http://www.myspace.com/hotspur Rockville, MD

Humanroom http://www.myspace.com/humanroom Waffle House, Washington, DC

I Saw a Ghost http://www.myspace.com/isawaghostva Gainesville, VA

James Stevens http://www.myspace.com/jamesstevens The lead singer from Rome In a Day performs solo also.

Jefferson Third http://www.myspace.com/jeffersonthird Northern VA (Jefferson Third played their last show on  July 18, 2008, at the Sterling Community Center. Their music has been a blessing, and will be missed.)

Just Like Always http://www.myspace.com/justlikealwaysmusic Washington, DC

Kill Ketura http://www.myspace.com/killketura Woodbridge, VA

The Kindness of Strangers http://www.myspace.com/thekindnessofstrangersrock Baltimore, MD

King Giant http://www.myspace.com/kinggiant Pimmit Hills, VA

Knife at a Gunfight http://www.myspace.com/knifeatagunfightband Chantilly, VA

Larkins Call http://www.myspace.com/larkinscall Montgomery County, MD

A Life Among Ghosts http://www.myspace.com/alifeamongghosts Woodbridge, VA

Love&Reverie http://www.myspace.com/loveandreverie Richmond, VA

MadisonApart www.myspace.com/officialmadisonapart Woodbridge, VA (broken up)

McTwist http://www.myspace.com/mctwistrock Rockville, MD

Minus-One http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=8152907 Waldorf, MD

My Favorite Highway http://www.myspace.com/myfavoritehighway Fairfax, VA

No Compromise http://www.myspace.com/nocompromise Silver Spring, MD

No Stars Over California http://www.myspace.com/nostarsovercalifornia Northern VA

North Avenue http://www.myspace.com/northavenue Fairfax, VA

North Col http://www.myspace.com/northcol (formerly Thin Dark Line)

Not Quite There http://www.myspace.com/notquitethereband Ashburn, VA

NUMA http://www.myspace.com/numadc Fairfax, VA

Of Broken http://www.myspace.com/ofbrokenband Baltimore, MD

Parade the Day http://www.myspace.com/paradetheday Northern VA (On hiatus; Ben is drumming for Brighten now.)

Parkton http://www.myspace.com/parkton Parkton, MD (still together?)

Pictures in Pieces http://www.myspace.com/picturesinpieces Alexandria, VA

Priceless Enuendo http://www.myspace.com/pricelessenuendo Manassas, VA

Prodigium http://www.myspace.com/prodigiummetal Manassas, VA

Public Saxophone http://www.myspace.com/publicsaxophone Manassas, VA (Away at college, presumably)

Race the Sun http://www.myspace.com/racethesun Richmond, VA (still together!)

Remember Daylight http://www.myspace.com/rememberdaylight College Park, MD (still together?)

Rescue the Hero http://www.myspace.com/omgrescuethehero Howard County, MD

Rome in a Day http://www.myspace.com/romeinadaymusic Washington, DC

Rude Buddha http://www.myspace.com/rudebuddha Sterling Park, VA

Running With Scissors http://www.myspace.com/runningwithscissors Washington, DC (still together?)

Satellites on Parade http://www.myspace.com/satellitesonparademusic Manassas, VA

The Second Sunrise http://www.myspace.com/thesecondsunrise Waldorf, MD

Sematic http://www.myspace.com/sematic Vienna, VA

A Sense of Urgency http://www.myspace.com/asouva Prince William County, VA

So Damn Thirsty http://www.myspace.com/sodamnthirsty VA

Soul Lip http://www.myspace.com/soulliprocks Washington, DC (still together?)

The Speaks http://www.myspace.com/thespeaks DC/MD/VA

Starlit Eyes http://www.myspace.com/starliteyesband Alexandria, VA (broken up)

Stephen Lucas http://www.myspace.com/stephenlucas The solo project of the lead singer of Pictures in Pieces

Stereo Awakening http://www.myspace.com/stereoawakening Alexandria, VA

Streetlight Silhouette http://www.myspace.com/streetlightsilhouette Silver Spring, MD

Suburban Riot http://www.myspace.com/suburbanriot Centreville, VA (broken up)

Sunset Shootout http://www.myspace.com/sunsetshootout Fairfax, VA

Temporary Basement http://www.myspace.com/temporarybasement Woodbridge, VA

Thin Dark Line http://www.myspace.com/thindarkline and http://www.thindarkline.com/ Reisterstown, MD (now North Col)

Time Tells All http://www.myspace.com/timetellsall Reston, VA (w/ Stephen Lucas!)

Vexed Youth http://www.myspace.com/vexedyouth Manassas, VA

TheRuinCity http://www.reverbnation.com/TheRuinCity Reston, VA (They're on Facebook and MySpace, too, but the music's here.)

The Vicious Martinis http://www.myspace.com/theviciousmartinis Washington, DC

Victory By Revenge http://www.myspace.com/victorybyrevenge Howard County, MD

Way Too Serious http://www.myspace.com/waytooseriousrock Baltimore, MD

We Play Favorites http://www.myspace.com/weplayfavorites Stafford(?), VA (formerly ReadySetGo!)

What a Great Audience http://www.myspace.com/whatagreataudiencerock Washington, DC (WAGA played their last show on September 19, 2008, at the Sterling Community Center. Keep an ear out for Curtis' songs, continuing.)

Withered Harvest http://www.myspace.com/witheredharvest Manassas, VA (Away at college)

Writing Memoirs http://www.myspace.com/writingmemoirsband Ashburn, VA

you, me, and everyone we know http://www.myspace.com/youmeandeveryoneweknow AKA Yamwack :o) Washington DC.

Promoters

Apex Booking http://www.myspace.com/apexbooking Check this site for lots of Northern Virginia show listings. Thank you, Mikey and Wali, for putting on so many awesome shows!

The Machiavelli Group LLC http://www.myspace.com/themachiavelligroup .

MusicBox Entertainment http://www.musicboxrocks.com/ Started by a teen and her mom, MusicBox has become one of the premier promoters in the DC/Baltimore area.

My  Revolution Productions http://myspace.com/myrevolutionproductions Alright, Jason!

Northern Virginia Promotions http://www.myspace.com/novapromo .

The Daily Chorus (TDC) Capital A&R Street Team http://www.myspace.com/tdccapitalarea .

Radio/TV

94.7 Fresh FM http://www.947theglobe.com/ This used to be The Globe; dunno what they're playing now, haven't listened to it in awhile.

105.9 The Edge http://www.theedge1059.com/ "Classic rock...that rocks!"

DC101 - DC's Rock Station http://www.dc101.com/ . I've been listening to this station off & on for more than 35 years. Good lord.

What's Left

Guitar Center, Inc. http://www.guitarcenter.com/ This store has an awesome selection of guitars, keyboards, music, etc. Local stores are in Fairfax, Seven Corners, and Fredericksburg. The Web site includes interviews and lessons.

Imeem http://www.imeem.com A good place to listen to music online.

Interpunk.com http://interpunk.com/ A great online source for CDs, clothing, and merch. Based locally in Sterling, VA!

MetroMusicScene.com http://www.metromusicscene.blogspot.com/ News about DC music.

Myspace.com http://www.myspace.com/ Lots of bands have music on here as well as PureVolume. Also check out Myspace Music at http://music.myspace.com. Mine is http://www.myspace.com/booklady9.

NOVABANDS http://www.myspace.com/novabandsx Good collection of Northern Virginia bands, sorted by genre.

NOVA ROCKS http://www.novamusicrocks.com/ I was looking for a new name for this page and ran across this site. Doesn't look like anyone's added anything since 2006, so we'll see if anyone complains if I use that name for this page.

On Tap Magazine http://www.ontaponline.com/ Includes concert listings.

Pheer.com http://www.pheer.com I don't know who runs this one, but it's a great listing of mid-Atlantic shows.

Purevolume http://www.purevolume.com Lots of bands have their music available here, too, plus you can set up a profile w/ favorites, etc.

School of Rock http://www.schoolofrock.com "Inspiring kids to rock on stage and in life"--check it out if you're near Vienna or Ashburn!

Strangeland Records http://www.strangelandrecords.com/ A local independent record store right here in Annandale; they closed in January 2008, hopefully to open in a new location.

Syke http://sykeenergy.com/ Supporting VA's smoke-free scene, this organization sponsors rock shows--see the Web site for band bios and pics and more info.

To Write Love On Her Arms http://twloha.com The aim of this organization is to prevent suicide and self-mutilation whenever possible. They team with lots of bands to help raise money and awareness. (I don't know what they do with the money they raise, though, so I would urge caution before you donate anything.)

Warped Tour http://www.warpedtour.com/ This amazing music festival keeps getting better every year. Just be prepared to be really, really hot. As in sweat rolling down your face. But it's worth it!

Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) http://www.wamadc.com Home of the Wammies, DC's music awards.

© 2003-2010 Beth O'Connell
Photo of Just Like Always at TT Reynolds © 2008 Beth O'Connell

This is a sampling of the Northern VA/Washington DC rock music scene. It's heavily influenced by what I like (mostly alternative, punk, & hard rock). If what you like isn't on here, write to me. (Or start your own page--See Web Page Creation for help.) The rest of the stuff that used to be on this page is now on Beth's Music Links, in case you're missing anything.

You can e-mail me at booklady9@comcast.net. 

Updated on September 22, 2011.