Even though it seemed like it may not happen this time around, IT IS FINALLY that time of the year:
the time when the Fort Reno schedule gets announced,
when everyone starts speculating who should be on it, and why some people are not on it
when everyone thinks they could have done a better job programming it, and YET
everyone still blocks out their Mondays and Thursdays after work and packs a picnic to listen to what DC music has been up to this year.
YES-IT IS OFFICIALLY SUMMER.
The full schedule, for your planning purposes is below but here are some things we notice:
- - a bunch of bands from last and years before are no longer with us (Hard Tomorrows, Lets French, The Alphabetical Order)
- - a bunch of bands from years passed are still together but somewhat conspicuously mising from the schedule (Carol Bui, Georgie James, Kitty Hawk, Mass Movement of the Moth, Deleted Scenes…)
- -a bunch of bands are making their welcome Fort Reno debuts (Bellman Barker, Jukebox the Ghost, Ra Ra Rasputin, True Womanhood, Apes…)
- - a bunch of bands that emerged from the ashes of now defunct bands are playing for the first time ever this year (Olivia & The Housemates, Cobra Collective, Black & White Jacksons…)
- - a bunch of bands are returning (Andalusians, Statehood, Perfect Souvenir, The Boom Orangutangs)
- -there is a bunch of decidedly non-Fort Reno-ish (and I mean this as a good thing) acts to shake things up a little (Kid Congo Powers, Death By Sexy, New Rock Church of Fire, The Shirks…)
- - a bunch of people not even I know who they are: (Evolution, Friends fo The Library, Dress Up, ANYONE?)
- -and enough DC mainstays to keep things nice and cozy (These United States, Julie Ocean, Exit Clov…)
AND
- -from what I can see, for the first time ever there is no remnants of Fugazi anywhere to be seen: no Evens, no Glorytellers, no nothing
It must be a truly new summer.
Now, peruse the list below, expect tons of coverage from us and OF COURSE..COMMENT YOUR SOUL AND TROUBLES AWAY.
(photo credit: Alyssa Lesser)
http://www.fortreno.com/schedule.html
Schedule
Monday, June 23rd
Olivia Mancini & the Housemates, New Rock Church of Fire, Evolution
Thursday, June 26th
Zulu Pearls, Dress Up, The Shakes
Monday, June 30th
Bellman Barker, The Moderate, Gestures
Thursday, July 3rd
Perfect Souvenir, The Andalusians, The Makeshift Shakedown
Monday, July 7th
Sarah Azzara, The City Veins, The Boom Orangutangs
Thursday, July 10th
Black & White Jacksons, John Wayne Hero, Friends of the Library
Monday, July 14th
Death by Sexy, True Womanhood, Sinta
Thursday, July 17th
The Apes, Police and Thieves, We Were Pirates
Monday, July 21st
Pup Tent, RaRa Rasputin
Thursday, July 24th
Statehood
Monday, July 28th
Ex-Motorcycle Couriers, Memories From the Space Age
Thursday, July 31st
Kid Congo Powers, The Shirks, Girl Loves Distortion
Monday, August 4th
Exit Clov, Cobra Collective
Thursday, August 7th
Julie Ocean
Monday, August 11th
These United States, Jukebox the Ghost
Thursday, August 14th
TBD
A number of the established bands are on break or prepping to record. Jeff - you can see Sam and a good chunk of Le Loup at the show at DC9 on July 10th.
June 17, 2008 at 1:44 pmI second that.
June 17, 2008 at 1:51 pmMonday, July 21st
Pup Tent, RaRa Rasputin
be there or be…………………………………………….
June 17, 2008 at 2:11 pmWasn’t Georgie James a late addition last year? The 14th is open entirely and there are a bunch of nights that have room for at least one more band so it’s conceivable that some of the glaring omissions may end up playing. By my count, there are zero Dischord bands on this roster (with the possible exception of XMC) so the 14th may end up being the annual label showcase.
June 17, 2008 at 3:49 pmHere’s a Google Calendar for all u hip-stars
June 17, 2008 at 4:34 pmI really gotta say…I love Death By Sexy.
June 17, 2008 at 4:43 pmWHERE IS FEVER, WTF?!?!?!
June 17, 2008 at 5:27 pmThe August 4th show looks great.
June 17, 2008 at 6:37 pmA serious omission here is U.S. Royalty. Glad to see Bellman Barker, Exit Clov, These United States and Jukebox on the roster at least.
June 17, 2008 at 10:21 pmMaybe USR will be considered for the TBD slot. I don’t think they’re +that+ good but nonetheless a reasonable, local inclusion.
June 17, 2008 at 10:46 pmInteresting, George…I think you’re the first person I’ve heard who doesn’t think USR are so amazing. Not judging, just observing.
BUT I LOVE THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING EVER! ;)
before anyone cries anymore wolf, are we 100% all these bands even applied to be at fort reno?
June 18, 2008 at 1:27 amDress Up is pretty awesome. Listen to “swimming in the sea” http://www.myspace.com/giveitsweet
June 18, 2008 at 3:12 amAh, Svetlana you are ruining another time-honored D.C. tradition - complaining about who you’re NOT going to see at Fort Reno. I know I’m going to get flamed for this, but who cares: if you’re really exceptional and especially if you’re new (USR) maybe you should be sought out to play instead of relying on applications. But then its never really been a meritocracy or claimed to be the best of anything. That said, I’m actually thrilled about this year’s line-up.
June 18, 2008 at 7:51 amTaylor, I think we both know that would not work as a system.
While I 100% agree that a lot of worthy bands get overlooked every year (it still tends to turn out a pretty nice and diverse round up though) having the “some people invited, some people have to apply” deal would just muddy the waters even more and have people complaing why someone got invited and they didn’t and worse.
At least with the “everyone has to apply” terms, it is kind of an even playing field to start with. After that, just like with any selection process, all bets are off.
June 18, 2008 at 8:21 amAlthough I agree with WTF?, I think a better question is, where the eff are bands like Exactly!, and Boyfriend Material?
June 18, 2008 at 9:39 amFort Reno has been and always will be a mixed bag. I think the shows would be considerably stronger if it was a curated schedule of events but that is a TON of additional work - basically booking a giant club where two nights a week for three months you try to make magic - only using local bands. It would take all year to set up and I am not willing to ask the good folks to do that for free. (Although my head is spinning dreaming of filling up the field with a bill headlined by a reunited Unrest with two young guns underneath them and that type of show you could put on with a lot of planning.) You would also need to know all the local acts (even those that never play live) without them coming to you - tough task. However - an advisory board type of thing could make this possible…
June 18, 2008 at 10:30 amso true. where are we?
June 18, 2008 at 10:40 am-the raputure
-the walkmen (st albans)
-the french kicks (sidwell, duke ellington)
-ok go (st albans)
all have members who grew up in dc. how come these bands don’t give back and play fort reno?
also TED LEO…i’m calling you out. you do a free show in NYC every summer. where’s your fort reno show at?
June 21, 2008 at 2:09 amalso apparently some of les savy fav is from dc originally. comeone guys!
June 21, 2008 at 2:11 ammass movement of the moth have been dunzo for almost a year now.
June 23, 2008 at 5:22 amTed Leo played Fort Reno a few years ago…2005 maybe? And Chisel definitely contributed a track to the benefit compilation in the 90s. No need to call out Ted.
He’s more of a NJ guy than a DC guy so it makes sense that he drops an annual free show in NYC without doing the same in DC. Do you expect him to swing by South Bend and Boston to play free shows every year too? And heck - Ted plays at least three shows a year here (notwithstanding his recent hiatus)…for like $12-15 a pop, so DC definitely receives a lot of love from Ted Leo.
June 26, 2008 at 1:25 pmno foo fighters darn.
July 3, 2008 at 5:28 pmjust a heads up, although not on the originally published schedule, North of Canada will be playing with Ra Ra Rasputin and Pup Tent on the 21st
July 21, 2008 at 2:06 pm
no Le Loup? Bummer.
June 17, 2008 at 1:13 pm