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05Mar

Zero 9:36 at Union Stage

In blog, concerts, photos by b murf / March 5, 2022 / No Comments

The Monster Energy Outbreak Tour claims to focus on artists at their breakout moment. With alumni such as Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore, The Chainsmokers, Logic, Post Malone and 21 Savage, it’s difficult to dispute that notion.

As Zero 9:36 hits the road for the first time as a headliner, courtesy of the tour, fans have every reason to believe the Philadelphia native is next in line for a breakout. Not that he hasn’t accomplished plenty already. Since 2019, Zero 9:36 has amassed more than 66 million streams for his two EPs and rocketed to number one on Mediabase’s active rock airplay chart in 2021.

Additionally, he was named one of SiriusXM’s Future Five for 2021, and his single “Adrenaline” was Octane’s most-played hard rock song in ’21. Basically, while everyone was stuck at home dealing with the pandemic, they were listening to Zero 9:36 on heavy rotation.

On his second night as a headliner, Zero 9:36 was already in a groove, although he did joke that they failed to pack a printer with the rest of the band’s equipment, so they didn’t even have a printed setlist to go off of. That minor snafu aside, the D.C. show was excellent. It even included a surprise cameo from No Love For The Middle Child, who joined Zero 9:36 to perform “Come Thru.”

If Zero 9:36 does come through your town during his current cross-country tour, go see him and share in his breakout moment.

05Mar

Fame on Fire at Union Stage

In blog, concerts, photos by b murf / March 5, 2022 / No Comments

While Fame on Fire isn’t opposed to performer another band’s songs from time to time, they want you to know — they’re not a cover band. You’ve likely heard their rendition of tracks by Ed Sheeran, Adele, The Weeknd and others, but their 2020 debut album, LEVELS, proved these Florida rockers are fully capable of creating original hits as well.

On this night, the band’s first ever show in Washington, D.C., vocalist Bryan Kuznitz, guitarist Blake Saul, bassist Paul Spirou and drummer Alex Roman treated those in attendance to a high-octane set filled with an abundance of sing-along tracks including “Plastic Heart,” “Headspace” and, yes, a cover of Linkin Park’s “NUMB.” But don’t you dare call them a cover band.

05Mar

GARZI at Union Stage

In blog, concerts, photos by b murf / March 5, 2022 / No Comments

The job of an opening act is incredibly difficult and, at times, thankless. They must bring an abundance of energy and set the tone for the rest of the evening while trying to win over a crowd that, more often than not, came to see someone else perform.

Before he even took to the stage, GARZI made his intentions clear. He was ready for the challenge and quite literally left it all on the floor. By the end of his set, the emo rapper was completely spent as he laid sprawled out on the floor of the stage. After a beat, he composed himself, thanked the crowd for making his second night on tour a memorable one and then jumped off stage to give his mom a hug.

If you’re not familiar with GARZI, do yourself a favor and check him out. In particular, his collaboration with blink-182’s Travis Barker called “SICK OF ME” and his most recent single, “MESS,” which features Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens prove that he’s caught the attention of some heavy hitters in the music industry. If his career continues to progress on its current trajectory, it’s only a matter of time before the word is out on this ultra talented performer.

01Mar

No place like the road for suddenly-vulnerable Capitals

In blog, hockey, photos by b murf / March 1, 2022 / No Comments

When the Washington Capitals hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena on the final day of February, the bout featured two franchises trending in very different directions. Auston Matthews and the league’s top powerplay visited our nation’s capital for the first time this season riding high — lighting up Detroit for 10 goals in their last game.

Conversely, the Caps have struggled in nearly all phases of the game in 2022. Since the calendar flipped, Washington has posted a less-than-impressive 8-11-2 record which includes a five-game losing streak at home — the team’s longest home losing streak since 2007. Considering the Capitals ended 2021 tied with Tampa Bay for the most points in the league, they’ve picked a bad time to take their foot off of the gas.

The maddeningly inconsistent Ilya Samsonov started in net for the Capitals … and gave up a goal on the second shot he faced. The 25-year-old netminder then allowed two goals in the final 71 seconds of the first period prompting coach Peter Laviolette to end his night early.

While Washington was able to keep things relatively competitive for most of the evening, Toronto ultimately cruised to a convincing 5-3 win. Tom Wilson scored twice, once on the powerplay and once shorthanded, and Conor Sheary added his 12th goal of the season for the free-falling Caps — who drop to 3-8-1 at Capital One Arena in 2022, with none of those victories in regulation.

If this season is going to be remembered as anything other than a disappointment, Washington needs to get back on track sooner rather than later.

19Feb

Struggles continue as Old Glory DC falls to New England

In blog, photos by b murf / February 19, 2022 / No Comments

Not everyone in town knows this, but Washington, D.C. has a professional rugby team. Old Glory DC officially joined Major League Rugby in 2018 and began play two years later.

The franchise, along with the Washington Spirit and Loudoun United, plays its home games at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia. With a maximum capacity of only 5,000 people, Segra Field is definitely an intimate venue. Tickets for any of these three teams are very inexpensive and there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

This was my first chance to see Old Glory DC in action, and honestly, my limited rugby knowledge stems from a trip to Las Vegas to see a USA Sevens competition more than a decade ago. The format for MLR features 15 players on each side of the ball who compete for 80 minutes, with two 40-minute halves. With positions like hookers, loose-head props and flankers, I fully admit I have a ways to go before I fully grasp the intricacies of the sport. That said, it didn’t take me long to figure out what was going on and what the two teams were trying to do.

On this night, DC hosted the New England Free Jacks as they hoped to bounce back from an 0-2 start to the season. Unfortunately New England jumped out to an early lead and Old Glory DC was never able to close the gap, ultimately falling to the Free Jacks, 41-25.

Rohan Saifoloi led Old Glory DC in scoring with 10 points. Robert Irimescu, Peni Lasaqa and Cory Gilliland-Daniel also scored for the home team.

08Feb

As trade deadline nears, Wizards feeling the heat

In basketball, blog, photos by b murf / February 8, 2022 / No Comments

After a promising start to the season, the Washington Wizards are in a free fall. Long gone are the feel-good days of the season, which saw Wes Unseld Jr.’s squad win 10 of the first 13 games on the schedule.

Since then, the Wizards have struggled to do much of anything right, thanks to in-fighting, an absence of defense and an overall lack of talent. Compounding matters is the fact that Washington’s best player, shooting guard Bradley Beal, is currently dealing with a wrist injury and his supporting cast isn’t exactly built to overcome anything resembling adversity.

In related news, the Wizards hosted the Miami Heat in their final game before the NBA trade deadline … and promptly got blown out.

Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and friends started fast and put this one to bed early, scoring 39 points in the first quarter while cruising to a stress-free 121-100 victory. The loss was Washington’s eighth in nine games and dropped the team’s record to 6-12 during 2022.

Rookie Corey Kispert scored 20 points in 25 minutes of action, while nearly everyone else who took to the court for the home team had a night to forget. That fact was driven home during the fourth quarter, as Miami coach Erik Spoelstra rested his starters while Heat fans loudly and proudly took over Capital One Arena.

Now Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard is faced with the unenviable task of trying to figure out where to go from here. Does he trade Beal or sign him to a massive-contract extension? Does he try to swing big and add an established veteran or two, or blow it all up and embrace a rebuild?

It’s safe to say Sheppard has plenty to think about over the next few days.

03Feb

Samsonov picks bad day to forget how to play

In blog, hockey, photos by b murf / February 3, 2022 / No Comments

When the schedule was released, this was one of the most anticipated games of the season. For the first time in two years, the dynamic Edmonton Oilers visited our nation’s capital.

Connor McDavid. Alex Ovechkin. Leon Draisaitl. Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The best overall player in hockey today against arguably the best pure goal scorer of all time. A young and exciting club hoping to put together all of the pieces squaring off against a grizzled group of veterans trying to make one last run at glory. What more could a hockey fan ask for?

Sigh.

The Caps welcomed the Oilers without the services of Ovechkin, and his team-leading 29 goals and 58 points through 46 games, after the 36-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in the day. The Russian Machine may never break, but it means he’ll also miss this weekend’s All-Star Game festivities.

Additionally, T.J. Oshie and Vitek Vanecek were unavailable for the marquee matchup, as both recover from upper body injuries.

Edmonton, who has struggled to find consistency all season long, showed no sympathy to their shorthanded hosts, scoring on three of their first four shots of the game — sending Ilya Samsonov to the showers before he even had a chance to break a sweat (after just five minutes and seven seconds of action).

Pheonix Copley, who was added to the Caps’ taxi squad earlier in the day, was thrust into action and had a strong showing — stopping 21 of 22 shots in relief duty. Lars Eller, Conor Sheary and Kuznetsov scored for Washington, who rallied to make a game of it. But ultimately, McDavid and friends prevailed, 5-3, earning their fifth win in six games while preventing the Capitals from recording a third-consecutive victory of their own.