🎵 Your February local music playlist

What's CITY Talking About?

Federal Focus on DC Crime

The Justice Department is dedicating a surge of federal resources towards tamping down on violent crime and carjackings in D.C. The tools include a new gun violence unit focusing on District data analysis and more federal prosecutors investigating local cases. [Justice Department]

Mass Car Robberies in NW

51 cars were broken into on Thursday night, on a two-block stretch of NW. The break-ins happened on 29th Street NW between Cathedral Avenue and Calvert Street. In some cars, the center consoles themselves were stolen. [WJLA]

Sewage Floods SE Basements

Raw sewage flooded at least 15 homes in Southeast D.C. on Jan. 15 after a pipe collapsed in Maryland. Due to snowy conditions and low staffing for the MLK holiday, DC Water was not able to respond until the next day. [Washington Informer]

Life-Saving EMS Program

District EMS will soon be able to perform blood transfusions on site at trauma scenes. Officials say 20% of victims suffering from severe blood loss die. The change should improve patient outcomes and save lives. [WTOP]

• Related: But first, responders have to get to patients. D.C.’s 911 call center has been troubled for decades, and its issues have fatal consequences. [City Cast DC 🎧]

February Local Music Guide

Many Washingtonian music lovers know Marvin Gaye, Bad Brains, Fugazi, and Ginuwine all got their start in D.C., but how up-to-date are you on today’s current scene?

Welcome to a new music monthly newsletter feature where we will highlight a local band or artist followed by upcoming shows from local acts – and an occasional new song recommendation or two.

🎙️ Spotlight: Pretty Bitter

Self-Described Sound:

Cinematic indie rock/pop

Members:

Zack Be, multi-instrumentalist

Em Bleker, vocalist

Jason Hayes, drummer

Miri Tyler, bassist

Get To Know the Band:

Since their debut album in 2022, “Hinges,” Pretty Bitter has become a local fan and critic favorite. At the 2023 Wammie Music Awards, they won Best Pop Album for “Hinges” and Best Pop Song for “The Damn Thing Is Cursed.”

Inspired by everyone from CHVRCHES to The Mars Voltas to Tears for Fears, their music flirts with the darker side of pop. As I have noted in a prior review, Pretty Bitter’s music “is experimental, but polished and has an addictive quality that will make you reach for it the next time you want to brood.”

Tyler and Hayes credit Fugazi for laying the groundwork for D.C.’s music community. And when asked about D.C.’s current scene, Bleker shared “I could list a million D.C. bands currently, because D.C. makes my favorite music. I might be biased, but the bands here have the best community of anywhere that I’ve seen around the country.”

Their upcoming show at Union Stage on Feb. 17 will double as a release party for their latest single which will be available to stream after the show.

Song to Check Out:

“Final Girl”

To learn more about Pretty Bitter and their inspirations, read the full article here.

🎟️ Other Upcoming Local Shows To See

1. Glosser (opening for Work Wife) (Dream Pop) | Feb. 1 | 8 p.m. | $15 | Pie Shop
2. Cumbia Heights, Bottled Up (Cumbia/Indie Pop) | Feb. 2 | 10 p.m. | $20+ | Comet Ping Pong
3. Kinda Evil (Rock) | Feb. 8 | 7 p.m. | $15 | Pearl Street Warehouse
4. Birthday Girl (opening for Snail Mail) (Indie Rock) | Feb. 13 | 8 p.m. | $40* Waitlist Only | DC9
5. Spring Silver (opening for Bobby Woody) (Experimental Rock)| Feb. 18 |8 p.m. | $12+ |The Pocket

🎵 New Local Music Mentions

Bad Moves, “New Year’s Reprieve”

This new song from power pop band Bad Moves might be the antidote to winter blues. Paired with an upbeat melody and hook, “New Year’s Reprieve” poses the questions, “Do you believe that there’s some reprieve? Do you believe it will get easier?” While no answer is given, having someone sing your internal SAD monologue is cathartic.

Cat Janice, “Dance You Outta My Head”

Reminiscent of a Dua Lipa hit, this alt-pop song is a shimmery disco dance track that hit #7 on iTunes Worldwide charts last week. Janice is currently on hospice after battling sarcoma cancer for over two years. All proceeds from this song will go to her 7-year-old son.

Where Is It?

First, where was last week’s photo?

Correct, this is the Korean War Veteran's Memorial on the National Mall. The memorial was designed by Frank Gaylord and depicts 19 stainless steel statues from different branches of the armed forces.

🏆 Nice work, Rick S., Terry B., and Gbenga T. for guessing correctly first! And thank you all for the great tidbits you sent in. Here are some favorites:

“It depicts an infantry movement called a diamond formation. The formation was great for communication and keeping an eye on each other.” - Alfredo N.

“It was designed so that no matter where you stand, at least one soldier is looking right at you.” - Adam T.

“The images they etched onto the wall adjacent to the figures were taken from actual photographs in the National Archives.” - Clift S.

P.S. Thanks, Erin B. for the photo! You can always submit your own “Where Is It” photo here.

Now, onto this week’s challenge:

Can you tell me where this massive head is located? (Hint: it blooms in spring.)

What To Do

Today on City Cast

NWIMBY (No Weed In My Backyard)

Some D.C. parents are trying to stop a new dispensary from opening in Penn Quarter, saying it's too close to their kids' school. Axios' Anna Spiegel explains what this means for the District's complicated cannabis culture.