Musicians eager to usher in Obama
Among those artists visiting Washington, D.C., for the inaugural event are Jaz-Z and Ted Leo.
by Daniel Orkin
Staff Writer
Arts | 1/13/09
Posted online at 12:46 AM EST on 1/13/09
With the big inauguration less than two weeks away, Washington D.C., the city of bipartisan love, is freaking out; the suburban commuters who make up the bulk of the city's work force are taking whole weeks off from their jobs, caterers and banquet coordinators of every walk are hiring extra college students to bustle their mini-quiche trays, and even the city's emergency evacuation protocol-which hasn't been used since the great alien invasion of July 4, 1996 -is being activated to hasten the mass exodus that will follow Obama's inaugural speech and subsequent parade.
But, even for a city that was designed to ward off invasion, there still exists the anticipation that the population will be boosted by 400 percent on inauguration day. As a result, the entire district is bracing for street-closures, clogged sidewalks and, most of all, the opportunity to capitalize on the mass of outsiders brimming with that patented feeling of warm, gooey Obama fever. The city's many music venues are no exception and will offer an array of musical options for every niche of the inaugural swarms eager to live up the soon-to-end optimism of their victorious campaign.
On Monday, Jan. 9, the night before the Bush administration is ousted from power, D.C.'s once hip, now Live Nation-controlled 9:30 Club will host a Rock the Vote-sponsored "Hey, America Feels Kinda Cool Again" gala featuring the Beastie Boys and Sheryl Crow, catering to that 30-something crowd who just want to fight for the right to have some fun.
Down the street, the decidedly more indie Black Cat will offer an extensive line-up headlined by the multi-talented Andrew Bird, the multi-textured Tortoise, and the once D.C.-scene poster child Ted Leo with his band of Pharmacists. Leo, who conquered Cholmondeley's at the end of last semester, follows the classic Ian MacKaye mode of ultra-liberal D.C. rocker, and his inclusion in this Obamabration is fitting. Headliner Andrew Bird is sure to guarantee a sold-out event, and Tortoise, well, they're just awesome.
But, even for a city that was designed to ward off invasion, there still exists the anticipation that the population will be boosted by 400 percent on inauguration day. As a result, the entire district is bracing for street-closures, clogged sidewalks and, most of all, the opportunity to capitalize on the mass of outsiders brimming with that patented feeling of warm, gooey Obama fever. The city's many music venues are no exception and will offer an array of musical options for every niche of the inaugural swarms eager to live up the soon-to-end optimism of their victorious campaign.
On Monday, Jan. 9, the night before the Bush administration is ousted from power, D.C.'s once hip, now Live Nation-controlled 9:30 Club will host a Rock the Vote-sponsored "Hey, America Feels Kinda Cool Again" gala featuring the Beastie Boys and Sheryl Crow, catering to that 30-something crowd who just want to fight for the right to have some fun.
Down the street, the decidedly more indie Black Cat will offer an extensive line-up headlined by the multi-talented Andrew Bird, the multi-textured Tortoise, and the once D.C.-scene poster child Ted Leo with his band of Pharmacists. Leo, who conquered Cholmondeley's at the end of last semester, follows the classic Ian MacKaye mode of ultra-liberal D.C. rocker, and his inclusion in this Obamabration is fitting. Headliner Andrew Bird is sure to guarantee a sold-out event, and Tortoise, well, they're just awesome.
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