washington dc | Apothecary Shed

Roxy Music in Washington

September 11, 2022

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The Roxy Music show in DC was excellent and fun. St Vincent opened up (and not many of the audience members knew her stuff). We rocked out. Here are some bits.

We parked at the arena (though it cost some $$$ it was way worth it as we drove directly out in under 2 minutes). We arrived early enough to buy a very bad gin and tonic from the sports betting center on the corner before the show.

We were in the venue about 30 minutes before the show. Row 12!

St Vincent played lots of material from her new album.

New York

Only mother fucker in the city…

Slow disco.

The stage change took about 25 minutes. And it was worth the wait.

ROXY MUSIC in the house!

The show began with Avalon interstitial into Re-Make/Re-Model.

A guitar solo by Phil Manzanera.

Bryan Ferry was full of energy during this show.

Andy Mackay on woodwinds.

The guitar gets wild

While My Heart is Still Beating

Roxy gets psychedelic.

As does Romey! You go girl.

Many of the interludes were beautiful in just the right Roxy way.

One of our all time favorites To Turn You On

The Main Thing

The crowd was into it. And the visuals were just as much of the experience at the music. One guy in front of us knew every word of every song.

An all time favorite (though honestly I would rather play this than listen to it), More Than This.

Romey captures some bits.

And a very much great version of Avalon (though, don’t be the asshole who talks over this song).

The Warhol set was awesome

Jealous Guy

Congrats on 50 years of being a band, Roxy Music! You guys still rock.

Yayoi Kusama at the Hirshhorn with Romey, Bill, Em, John, and Joan

September 5, 2022

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There were circles. Which is my favorite part.

Romey and Joan arrive

We waited for our timed entry.

And finally it was time.

Then more waiting.

And it was time again.

And then, you guessed it, more waiting!

And it was the last time.

Well worth the wait. Wow.

Our reality is not quite as…

Picasso Perfection at the Phillips Collection

March 7, 2022

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The Phillips Collection remains one of my favorite art museums. The incredible level of curation at the new Picasso exhibit shows why. Great combinations in addition to world class art. Top notch.

For those who know their picasso, this is early stuff, basically 1901-1904 (including the blue period).

We went to the show as a last birthday present of the 38th year. Thanks Romey. What an excellent present, art with the ones you love.

PICASSO

NOT PICASSO

My favorite painting at the Phillips.

In a new spot.

After art, we were hoping to have brunch at the Bistrot Du Coin, but once again the google hours were wrong. Fortunately, there was La Tomate to fill in admirably. We had lots of cacio et pepe. Ahhhh.

Only an Expert: Laurie Anderson, The Weather

November 9, 2021

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Very Small Laurie Anderson

Oh boy, oh boy did we want to go to this one the second we heard about it. Laurie Anderson has overtaken the second floor at the Hirshhorn with an installation that is a bit of a retrospective and a living piece of art at the same time at the same time art at the same time living piece of art at the same time.

Just go. I mean, you’ve been already right?

The Hirshhorn is under construction. Just like the exhibit.

So lets go see… But before we start, I just have to mention in passing that my artistic son was psyched to see the exhibit spontaneously well before I did (beat dad by two weeks in fact), but failed to connect the art he was experiencing to Laurie Anderson’s music (especially Big Science which he has heard a zillion times). I think hooking in some of the great music would be a treat.

I guess this counts. Kinda. Only an expert drum machine.

Flags in unison, except for one flag that was on strike or experiencing technical difficulties, or maybe it is just an iconoclast.

The striking flag. You can tell it is a communist since it is red.

This picture makes the song play in my head.

Anyway, here. This song was only alluded to through text in the exhibit. Have a listen.

This picture will play the song in your head, through your earholes.

Then there was the crow room (actually probably a raven, but I am calling it a crow anyway). For me, this is all about Emily Shepardson. I think Laurie owes Emily some royalties. Or maybe just a make up concert in the living room.

This room is striking, fun, quirky, disturbing, and classic overload all at the same time same time all at the same time classic overload all at the same time.

The raven crow

The crow raven

The craven row

Romey and the crow

Did I mention that my dear friend Spool was along?

The golden canoe looks as seaworthy as some of its NH counterparts

A picture for emily of a picture of the picture, but not this picture, the one IN this picture.

Color!

Kind of a shock after all of that black and white. Big paintings.

Color too!

The tape loop violins

Then it was back to Fall in the beautiful gardens next door.

My art compatriots

I mean who gets to see art like this with two beautiful women? Oh, its me.

Fin.

Eighth Blackbird at the National Gallery of Art

February 23, 2020

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National Gallery of Art

What a place to see one of my all time favorite contemporary music groups. Eighth Blackbird played the National Gallery 2.16.20, and the show was free. As always, the group featured brand new music from living composers, including: Nina Shekhar, Fjóla Evans, Andy Akiho, Holly Harrison, David Lang, Viet Cuong, Jonathan Bailey Holland, and Julius Eastman. This show included some ringers in for violin, flute, and clarinet.

Lisa Kaplan, fearless leader and director of eighth blackbird

My favorite set was the second, and my favorite piece was Viet Cuoug’s Electric Aroma (2017),

The most precious thing in the museum was Cora, of course.

Cora does contemporary

The setting (no pictures or recording during the show)

After the concert, there were a few minutes for art.

Then it was out and on the metro for cocktails and dinner at Baba.

Sundown on the mall

Smithsonian sculpture

Wholly Emily

Baba’s bar

Grace Potter at the Anthem: Rock and Roll, Baby

January 27, 2020

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Great show. Lots of dancing and joy.

Though this was the second encore, the solo version of Release was the most powerful song of the set. Yes please. Need some of this.

Rock and roll ending.

DC Art Therapy: Hirshhorn, Phillips, Renwick, Plus

December 12, 2019

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The best layover ever is just about right. We made plenty of time for art on Wednesday. First stop after breakfast was the Hirshhorn. This museum is really going places. The new director has it popping. If you already did that once or twice and you have not been under the new regime, go.

Smithsonian in winter

The color wheel is the first use of the second floor circle that has perfect sensibility.

Downstairs had some cool stuff too.

The highlight of this Hirshhorn visit was the fact that Manifesto was playing. I saw this in Stuttgart in 2017 and was utterly blown away. This is a must see video installation, even if you don’t do video art (generally speaking, I don’t).

Here is the official trailer. Absolutely stunning masterpiece.

I now love Cate Blanchett. Watching her work in such a close stunning cinematic set of visuals is life changing.

After lunch, which may or may not have included a bottle of Gigondas, we headed to the Phillips.

Finally, parking karma still intact, we headed to the Renwick. Sadly, Jacob missed it.

Three museums was not enough to satisfy the art goddess. Fortunately, Richard rode to the rescue. His collection is world class.

The National (Anthem)

December 6, 2017

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Yeah sorry about the title, but we saw The National perform at the brand spanking new Anthem performance space in Washington DC. Great show. Here are some pictures. Make sure to watch the Fake Empire video!

Before

After

Art and Technology at the National Gallery

July 27, 2017

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Meeting at Leonardo’s “Ginevra de’ Benci”

Richard Danzig has some very interesting insights into technology and art. A Wednesday tour of the National Gallery of Art was just what the doctor ordered.

Context provided by Monet

Back in time.

Of note: lack of perspective, colors, religious theme, little man Jesus, non-human nature of beings, fill

Click to fill

Of note: lack of perspective, colors, economics of materials, religious theme, little man Jesus, human nature of beings, fill, fingers

Mary’s face shows emotion and internal dialog.

What is she thinking?

Of note: improving perspective (not that great though), bright colors, economics of materials, religious theme, little man Jesus, human nature of beings, background on earth, intrigue

what cho lookin at?

side channel

Of note: shape, focus, improving perspective, bright colors, economics of materials, religious theme, baby Jesus, human nature of beings, social scene, background on earth, many side stories, materials constrain work, fill