Temporary Hiatus

So by now most of you have probably heard about the passing of Blake Harrison, of Hatebeak, Zealot R.I.P. and formerly of Pig Destroyer. Dude was one of my best friends and news of his passing has hit me pretty hard. I’ve been getting a lot of questions and emails about updates on DCHM’s calendar and right now, I just can’t. I’m not ending DCHM permanently. I’ll get things rolling again (hopefully soon) and I’m not gonna self harm or anything like that so don’t worry about me, I just need some time. Blake deserves a fitting post and this isn’t it, I really can’t muster the words right now. I’ll be at the Solace show at Atlas this Saturday if you wanna talk to me about Blake or anything else. However the main point of this post is that I wanted people to know there will be a celebration of Blake’s life at the Baltimore Soundstage on Sunday, May 24th. I’m reposting the details below, I hope anyone that cared about Blake can attend.

We will be celebrating Blake Harrison on Sunday March 24th at the Baltimore Soundstage. While the final details are still being worked out I would like to invite everyone who loved him.

We will be having a close friends and family remembrance, followed by a celebration of life. (The remembrance is the more formal ceremony).

The close friends and family remembrance will be from 12-2pm approximately.

We will have a brief set change and the celebration of life will begin at 3pm.

The celebration of life is open to everyone who knew and loved Blake. We will have Guinness, non-alcoholic drinks, and some other refreshments.

For the celebration of life, please wear *your* favorite band shirt. I think Blake would really like if someone discovered a new favorite band because he loved everything about music.

(If you are coming to both events, you are encouraged to wear something slightly more formal for the first part and welcome to change.)

We are gathering photos, short videos, and creating a playlist worthy of Blake. If you would like to contribute, please send to:

rememberingblakeharrison@gmail.com

If you feel so moved, Blake would probably like a donation to Vindicated Pit Bull Rescue. He loves Crab so much and really hated breed bans and how people misunderstand brick heads. Or you know, pick something you like. When we were starting our spring cleaning and he was getting rid of some jeans, he’d say “just give them to someone who needs them.” So if you like, and you feel moved to do so, please give to whatever your favorite organization is.

March 14, 2024
Categories: Baltimore Soundstage . Tags: , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 3 Comments

Upcoming Benefit Shows In Our Area

The world is often a cruel place but we can make it a little better for those in need when we attend benefit shows that donate the proceeds to good causes. There’s a few coming up in the DMV that I thought I’d mention here real quick (you can always get the full list of upcoming metal concerts in the greater DC, Baltimore and Northern Virginia area on our handy calendar here).

Ben Blanton plays drums in Fuzz Voyage and was the original drummer for Foehammer, plus has performed in many other bands around the DMV. Additionally he is a regular face at hard rock, punk and metal shows in the DMV. Without going too much into detail, he’s had a medical emergency that left him in a coma and while he’s recovering we all know nothing about extended stays in this country’s medical system is cheap. As such there’s not one but two upcoming benefit shows for Ben scheduled right now. The first is coming right up, this Saturday, February 24th, in Frederick when Borracho headlines a show with Bloodshot, Marshal Fuzz and Et Mors also on the bill. A donation of $15 is asked for Ben but of course you’re always welcome to give more if you can. More details are on the Facebook event page for the benefit show here.

If Frederick is too far of a hike for you there’s another benefit show for Ben at the Pocket in 7DrumCity in NW Washington DC on Sunday, March 3rd. This show’s line up is headlined by Rise Defy with additional sets by Seasick Gladiator, Et Mors and Bodied. Yep Et Mors is playing both but it makes sense as the two members of the bands were originally introduced to each other by Ben. Anyways, this show is also asking for a $15 donation for Ben and more info can be found on the Facebook event page for this benefit show here.

Ever since the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israeli civilians last October the government of Israel has been massacring Palestinians in Gaza as though they are all part of Hamas, which has created an enormous humanitarian crisis in the region. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East offers humanitarian aid in the region and this show’s proceeds will be donated to the organization. This show will be held at St. Stephen’s in Columbia Heights on Friday, March 29th. This gig will be headlined by local grind band No/Más but also performing will be the Palestinian fronted Nø/Man as well as Big No and Cimitir. They’re also asking for a $15 donation (presale tickets available here via Bandcamp) and you can get more info on this show via its Facebook event page here.

February 23, 2024
Categories: Doom Metal, Grind, St. Stephen's Church, Stoner . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 1 Comment

Municipal Waste ticket give away

Richmond’s legendary party thrashers Municipal Waste are kicking off their next tour at the Black Cat on Thursday, February 15th and to say we’re excited here at DCHM would be an understatement! Yesterday was a holiday, today it snowed, that’s all the excuse I need to give away a pair of tickets to this show to a lucky DCHM reader. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite heavy metal album of 2023 was! It’s always hard for me to pick just one but I guess I’d go with The Rime of Memory by Panopticon, or maybe The Enduring Spirit by Tomb Mold, or Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags by Hellripper, or… well it’s so hard to narrow it down. On Friday, January 19th at 5pm Eastern the contest will close and a winner will be selected from all valid entries using Random.org! Be sure to use a valid email you check regularly when you enter so I can contact you if you win. Don’t worry, I won’t add you to any spam lists or sell your info or anything sleazy like that. If the selected winner hasn’t written me back within 24 hours then another winner will be selected. If you can’t wait to see if you win or the contest is already over when you read this, then you can purchase tickets here.

Municipal Waste always puts on a wild show so remember to wear your best crowd surfing shoes for this one! Direct support comes from Creepsylvanian messy thrashers Ghoul. If you’ve ever wondered what a low rent Gwar show would be like look no further than Ghoul! Necrot will be the most brutal band on the bill with their sick death metal riffage and infernal blast beats. Opening the show will be California based crossover thrashers Dead Heat, and up and coming band that will start the intensity off right from the get go. Seriously, that’s one hell of a stacked line up from top to bottom that’s going to make for a romantic night of thrash and death metal! Now check out the below videos by each of the bands and leave a comment telling me what your favorite metal (or metal adjacent even) album of 2023 was!

Municipal Waste – Grave Dive

Ghoul – Nazi Smasher

Necrot – Your Hell

Dead Heat – World at War

January 16, 2024
Categories: Black Cat, Contests, Death Metal, Thrash Metal . Tags: , , , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 25 Comments

Borracho ticket and prize pack give away!

Local stoner/doom masters Borracho have released their 5th full length album, Blurring the Lines of Reality, and on Saturday, September 9th, they’re holding an album release show at the Runaway in Brookland! DCHM are long time fans of Borracho so I’m excited to be giving away a pair of tickets to the album release show as well as a prize pack that includes some sweet swag like a signed copy of the new album (on your choice of vinyl or CD), a Borracho t-shirt in the size of your choice, a Borracho sticker and high fives from the band! All you’ve got to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me your all time favorite album by a local musician. Then on Wednesday, September 6th at 5pm Eastern the contest will close and a winner will be selected from all valid entries using Random.org! Be sure to use a valid email you check regularly when you enter so I can contact you if you win. Don’t worry, I won’t add you to any spam lists or sell your info or anything sleazy like that. If the selected winner hasn’t written me back within 24 hours then another winner will be selected. If you can’t wait to see if you win or the contest is already over when you read this, then you can purchase tickets here.

Borracho album release shows are always must-see events but let’s not forget about the two other bands on the bill. Direct support comes from the Frederick, Maryland, based stoner band Faith in Jane. Faith in Jane is a stoner/doom band that I’ve booked myself in the past and I swear they get better each time I see them. The opening band is DC’s own Sorge. They bring a psychedelic vibe to their brand of stoner jams and make this a must see bill from top to bottom. I’m not sure what else there is to say about this killer line up other than to leave a comment telling me what your all time favorite album by a local band is. Don’t forget to check out these killer tunes by the bands on the bill too!

September 1, 2023
Categories: Contests, Doom Metal, Local Band Info, Shameless Promotion, Stoner, The Runaway, Washington DC / Maryland / Virginia Metal Scene . Tags: , , , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 2 Comments

Weedeater ticket give away!

“Dixie” Dave Collins is bringing his band Weedeater to the Black Cat on Thursday, August 31st! We’re hoping you’re as hungry for those yummy stoner riffs as we are so DCHM is giving away a pair of tickets to this very concert! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite stoner album of all time is (by any band). Master of Reality, Welcome to Sky Valley, Dopesmoker, or even Weedeater’s own Jason… the Dragon, any killer stoner album counts! Then on Monday, August 28th at 5pm Eastern, this contest will close and a winner will be selected from all valid entries using Random.org. Be sure to use a valid email you check regularly when you enter so I can contact you if you win. Don’t worry, I won’t add you to any spam lists or sell your info or anything sleazy like that. If the selected winner hasn’t written me back within 24 hours then another winner will be selected. If you can’t wait to see if you win or the contest is already over when you read this, then you can purchase tickets here.

North Carolina’s sludgey stoner band Weedeater always brings the riffs but there’s two other sick bands playing as well! Touring support comes in the form of a rare chance to catch Australian grind/thrash band King Parrot stateside. Local support comes from The Dregs, a new stoner band that’s been gaining attention by playing out a lot despite only having released three songs so far. You can check out each of these bands below while you ponder which album to choose for your favorite stoner album ever!

August 24, 2023
Categories: Black Cat, Contests, Sludge Metal, Stoner . Tags: , , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: 16 Comments

Kid friendly matinee rock show coming to DC Brau

I just thought I’d let you all know about the kid friendly, all ages, totally free rock concert that I’m putting on at DC Brau brewery on Saturday, July 15th from 2pm to 5pm. I did one of these last year and people seemed to really enjoy it so I’m doing another one this year. Since most rock concerts happen way past bed times it’s a fun chance to bring the kids out to a rock show but these aren’t silly kid bands like Rocknoceros so even if you don’t have kids you can come out to enjoy the tunes. There’s also a Facebook event page I made here that you can invite people to if you want.

Here’s the details: I’ve booked two bands, Borracho and Hot Blood, to play from the brewery’s truck loading bay to the audience which will be in the seated outdoor area of the brewery. There’s no entry fee but there will be food available to buy (including vegetarian options) provided by Fred the Taco Guy, who we all remember from the metal shows at Atlas. DC Brau will have craft beer, hard seltzers and boozy smoothies for sale as well. I highly recommend bringing hearing protection (esp for the kids) and probably sunscreen as well. If it’s too hot you can always hang out indoors as I assume you’ll be able to hear the bands there as well. There’s also a Roaming Rooster (best fried chicken in DC) in the shopping center and outside food is welcome at the brewery, so you can bring your own food in if you want.

DC Brau is located at 3178-B Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018
If you have never been there before please note that it is located on the back side of a strip mall. There’s plenty of parking in the lot on the back side but your GPS will probably direct you to the front of the shopping center. When you get there just drive down the paved ramp to the back side of the shopping center (look for the DC Brau beer can sign, it looks like this). DC Brau is the only business on that side of the shopping center so park anywhere in the lot.

If you’d like to check out the bands ahead of time here’s a bit of info. Borracho (playing first) is a DC based three piece and they actually approached me this spring about doing an all ages show that they could bring their kids to and that’s what got the ball rolling. Their sound is along the lines of 70s era Black Sabbath mixed with 90s desert rock bands like Fu Manchu and Kyuss. They have a new album coming out on August 18th and you can listen to one of those new tracks below.

The second band to play will be Hot Blood. They’re a new band with only a three song EP that was released last month out so far. They’ve got more of an 80s party rock vibe and you can hear their entire EP below.

July 7, 2023
Categories: DC Brau, Local Band Info, Shameless Promotion, Stoner, Washington DC / Maryland / Virginia Metal Scene . Tags: , , . Author: Metal Chris . Comments: Leave a comment

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