Local Ish: All About the Venues ’6/12-6/14′

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While last weekend the vibe seemed to be about all of the outdoor festivals going on, this weekend hasn’t really had the same type of feel to it…other than some fairly big name performers.  Now, I was highly tempted to headline this week’s column “A Bunch of Performers You May or May Not Have Heard Of”, but I figured that after it got through editing, it would end up as “Local Ish:  6/12-6/14″.  Luckily, as I started writing about the shows that I’d selected to highlight, I noticed that I had coincidentally chosen some very solid venues and thus, a headline was born (and pure, dumb luck has saved the day for me once again).

Full Disclosure…I tend to prefer a more laid-back atmosphere.  Call me crazy, but I like to be able to converse with people, so my preferences will probably be somewhat biased towards that.  I know that other people have other preferences so I would be interested to hear about those as well.

That being said, here’s your ‘Local Ish:  6/12-6/14′

Comedy

I’ve gone on record as saying that the Warner Theatre is probably my favorite place in the area to see a show.  Not only is it a nice place, it has good acoustics and lighting and the way that the seating is arranged allows you to usually get a pretty good seat without having to shell out a fortune.  Tonight (6/12) only is Gabriel Iglesias, who is not only a comedy veteran, but also the winner of a Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award (for his role in “All That”), with multiple standup specials, winner of Comedy Central Standup Special of the Year in 2003 and in both 2004 & 2005 he was also voted into Comedy Central’s Top 25 performances for the year.  I’d be surprised if there are still tickets (all seats, $32.50) available, but if you are able to get one, I would highly recommend going.

Virtual Tour of DC Improv

The second fairly big name is coming to the mecca of DC comedy, the DC Improv, this weekend (6/11-6/14).  And although he has been living in the

shadow of his brother (comedy legend Chris Rock) for a lot of his career, Tony Rock, has been in the game long enough that he has established a following of his own…whether it be on the standup circuit, in (his brother’s show) Everybody Hates Chris, or his recent DUI charge (Headline: Chris Rock’s Brother Charged With DUI).  Tickets still available, show is 18+.

Music

First up…DC legend and “The Godfather of Go-Go”, Chuck Brown is coming to the State Theatre tonight.  However, instead of his normal show, tonight is “Chuck Brown:  Sings the Down Home Blues”.  I personally don’t know if this is a bit of an experiment, or something he’s done before but just about everything about this show intrigues me.  Due to a prior engagement I won’t be able to make it, but I would really be interested in hearing someone’s review of his show (and if it is somewhat coherent, maybe we’ll post it).

Finally, for something laid-back to do on your Sunday, the final event (and venue) that I would recommend for the weekend takes place at Wolftrap and this is another musical performance is a bit outside of your norm but has the potential to be great.  Starting at 8:00 ($40 in-house, $22 lawn) is The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show, starring The Drifters, Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners, The Contours (featuring Sylvester Potts), and many more.  If you’re into the oldies hits and are the type of person that always sings along in your car, be prepared to be at one with your people for what should be a very enjoyable show with a lot of crowd interaction.

As I mentioned at the start, there’s always someone playing somewhere around here.  While I’ve named a few of the larger ones, we’re really interested in hearing from you about some of your favorite local spots…whether it be a smokey dive bar or a douchebag’s paradise (where collars feel safe popping, without fear of retribution).  What is your favorite local place to see a show (music, comedy, or otherwise)?

udothedishes…

Related posts:

1. Local Ish: 8/21-8/23
2. College Basketball’s Best Venues
3. Local Ish: Local Action, Local Results
4. Local Ish: 5/29-5/31
5. Local Ish: Just For Laughs (7/10 – 7/12)

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