Abby
On March 30, 2005 I became a father for the first time when my daughter Abby was born. Today, she turns 21. How did we get here? She’ll always be my little girl. There's been so much we've done and I continue to be amazed and proud at who she was, who she is and I know, who she'll become. Some of my best memories were bedtime. However, I found myself struggling to find the right songs to sing. Regular "lullabies" just didn't do it for me. A study conducted by a doctoral stude
Mar 305 min read
Pete Hayes on New Beginnings, DC, and Finding Hope in Uncertain Times
After a decade as the frontman of The Crystal Casino Band, Pete Hayes is stepping into a new chapter. I got the chance to ask him some questions as he prepares for his sold out, solo show at the Pie Shop in DC this Friday night. Regarding the new music, Hayes says, “For the most part, I was the singer and primary songwriter in The Crystal Casino Band, so there will definitely be similarities.” “But with this project, I’m playing every instrument other than drums, adding orc
Mar 192 min read
Meet Bellvie
Do you need some new indie-pop? Meet Bellvie ! Formed in 2023, Sweden’s Bellvie came together in bits and pieces, adding members along the way. Guitarist Måns and bassist Axel go back to their school days, cutting their teeth in various bands before crossing paths with singer Johanna after seeing her in a school musical, a moment that made them realize her voice was exactly what their songs needed. Drummer John later reached out when the band was searching for the right fit b
Mar 102 min read
Meet Cassidy Brooke
Social media has introduced me to a lot of great music and artists I might not have discovered. I was lucky enough to discover Cassidy Brooke earlier this year and even lucky to correspond with her recently. Raised in a mid-sized Midwestern town without a major music scene, Cassidy Brooke found her spark when touring acts passed through town. Choir and band music helped shape a lot of her arrangements and a piano in her house set the stage from a very young age - she was alre
Mar 22 min read
And the Moon Rose Over An Open Field
If you’ve ever watched The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, you’ve seen him quiz his guests with the The Colbert Questionnaire. It’s 15 questions that range from “Best Sandwich” to “Describe the Rest of Your Life in 5 Words”. And then there’s the question that brings us to today’s column. “You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life - What is it?”. Most people who know me would predict an R.E.M. song or maybe something from Aimee Mann. However, my answer takes us
Feb 202 min read
I Was A College DJ
Talking on the Rock Solid Podcast about the music I discovered in college made me do a deeper dive into this music that I still love to this day. Because for me, being at WVYC wasn’t just an extracurricular; it was a community and gave me purpose where every song choice mattered to me and every show was an invitation into a new sonic world. Me on the air during alumni weekend at WVYC Week after week, I’d cue up tracks from a carefully crafted playlist and dive into the mix —
Feb 61 min read
An Intimate Evening with Gregory Alan Isakov
Gregory Alan Isakov’s sold-out show at The Anthem last Saturday night was exactly what I needed as it transformed one of Washington, DC’s largest venues into something unexpectedly intimate. With a major snowstorm looming outside, there was a shared sense of warmth and anticipation inside, as if the crowd collectively leaned in to escape what was coming. From the moment Isakov stepped onstage alone, the room settled in, wrapped in a cozy calm that felt perfectly timed before
Jan 272 min read
