Best Places in DC to Take Your Flashband Friends after Practice

By Deborah Lash, Flashband’s Community Coordinator

DC is such a small town. Everyone hangs out at the same bars, goes to the same venues and drinks the same coffee, right? ...Not so much. Here are a few fresh ideas for where to go after you wrap up band practice. We promise, they’re worth the visit! 

Songbyrd Record Cafe
2477 18th St NW

Songbyrd is a newer cafe and “music house,” bringing good food together with a recording studio in Adams Morgan. We’re got our eyes on one of the Byrd Burgers and a Ward 1 cocktail, but take some time to browse their vinyl collection and claim one of the listening stations to check out a new playlist or two. Stay tuned for their upcoming recording studio.

Crooked Beat
2116 18th St NW

If you haven’t been here yet, we might have to have some words. If you’re a regular, don’t forget to give them an Instagram follow so you can keep up with their newest finds and upcoming shows.

BloomBars

3222 11th St NW

Bloombars is more than just a venue; it’s a non-profit that’s dedicated to supporting our arts community. They host open mics, concerts, classes and community activities, so don’t wait to get involved if you see something you like. Check out their upcoming events and toss a few dollars their way, as they’re recouping from a recent break-in.

TreeHouse Lounge
1006 Florida Avenue NE

Get out of the usual small venues and try something new! TreeHouse Lounge welcomes bands of every kind, and it’s right by the H Street Corridor. A bunch of our Flashband alumni bands perform here regularly. Bring your own food or order from the pizza place next door. 

DC DIT

We love being a part of DC’s DIY scene, and there is so much music to find and experience all around town. These “Do It Together” musicians and artists collaborate to plan and book events “that matter to the soul of the DC community.” Get involved, and also visit DC Showspace for more underground shows you need to check out.

What's your favorite place to hang out and find new music in DC?

How to be Prepared for Your Big Moment on Stage

By Deborah Lash, Flashband's Community Outreach Coordinator

Everyone gets performance jitters. Even Flashband's most seasoned musicians get nervous before they get up there and play their hearts out. Here are our tips for being prepared for your next big show!

The Week Before

Practice, practice, practice. Sure, we say this all the time. But do you do it? Make sure to schedule enough time with your bandmates to work through any kinks in your songs. Think about what your performance might look like and do a little blocking, or mapping out of where you’ll be on stage. (And if you’re a singer, work on memorizing your lyrics.)

Give a test performance. Remember how you did that blocking? Now put it to the test. Call a few friends or Flashbanders over to rehearsal and give them a private show. We don’t mean playing 30 seconds of a song and asking them what they think; run through the whole thing, start to finish, and don’t ask for feedback until the end. Your friends know this is practice, but they’ll still get swept up in your music if you play like you mean it. Bonus tip: Ask one of them to record you so you can watch it afterwards. (If you like it, send it to Flashband so we can brag about you!)

Talk to your bandmates. Everyone gets nervous before a show. Sit down with your bandmates after practice, grab a drink, and talk it through. Is there an experienced performer in your group? Ask them for some advice. Just sharing your thoughts might help someone else feel better if they’re nervous, too. Bonding with your band will help you have a better show, so don’t hold back.

The Day Before

Clean your house. According to Princeton researchers, “The clutter competes for your attention in the same way a toddler might stand next to you annoyingly repeating, ‘candy, candy, candy, candy, I want candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy …’ Even though you might be able to focus a little, you’re still aware that a screaming toddler is also vying for your attention. The annoyance also wears down your mental resources and you’re more likely to become frustrated.” Give yourself a little time to do a once-over of your apartment, or, if you’re short on time, pick a smaller task and finish it. The sense of accomplishment will help you feel more confident, and having a clean space will calm you down. 

Dress like a rock star. If you know you look good, you’ll feel good, too. Plan out what you’ll wear and make sure it’s an outfit you feel comfortable and powerful in. Fans can tell when you’re not 100% focused on the performance, so make sure you won’t be distracted by pants that are too tight or sky-high stilettos. 

Call your best friend. Or your mom. Or both! Talking through your nerves with your bandmates is one thing. But talking to someone who loves you unconditionally is important, too, if only for the self-esteem boost. Call up someone in your life who will always answer, let them hear you out, and believe them when they tell you you’re great. (Because you are!)

The Moment Before

Slow down. You made it to the venue early and did sound-check. The space is filling up and your friends are almost there. While you have a few minutes, grab a glass of water, find a space by yourself, and take some deep, slow breaths. This will help you be a little more present and tamp down the anxiety. 

Pick up a good luck charm. Even if it feels a little silly, research shows that carrying an item that you feel is lucky will actually boost your mental and physical performance -- but only in situations where you can directly affect the outcome. So wear your lucky underwear, or borrow a friend’s lucky guitar pick. Whatever it is, make sure you’ve got it before you go on stage. 

Find your ritual. Musicians everywhere have little rituals they follow before they perform. What do you need to do to feel totally confident? Whether it’s noodling on your guitar outside, saying a prayer, or jumping around with your bandmates for a minute, do it. Rituals help you feel like everything is in place and ready to go. 

Get up there. Let the adrenaline take over, let the music flow, and let go of those inhibitions. You’re going to kill it!

What are your tips for getting ready to take the stage?

Meet the Musician: Ariela Fleisig, singer and harpist

This post profiles Ariela Fleisig, singer and harpist. She has participated in five Showcases and is currently working on projects with fellow Flashbanders, so keep an ear out!

 Like many others, I didn’t find Flashband; Flashband found me. I’d confided in a friend of mine who’s a talented local musician (Maryjo Mattea of Two Dragons & A Cheetah and Doctor Robert & Penny Lane; check her out!) that I’d always wanted to be the lead singer of a band, but that I thought it would never happen. She knew a few musicians who had great experiences with Flashband, and encouraged me to check it out.

A few months later, I finally decided to try out a jam. I was really, really nervous; mostly worried that I wouldn’t be good enough or that I wouldn’t know any of the songs people would want to play. Jamming can sometimes be tough for vocalists that way—we don’t always know what to do with just a random key or chord progression. Once I got there, though, everyone was really welcoming and friendly, and I soon found a great group of musicians to play with. 

To me, Flashband has meant the opportunity to live out a dream. I’d sung in choirs, a cappella groups, and even a competitive karaoke league, but to be in a band and really help shape the music I make instead of taking directions or using a cookie-cutter mold is a truly unique experience. 

To those who are new to Flashband, don’t be afraid to speak your mind, and if you’re extroverted like I am, make an effort to give everyone in the band an opportunity to be heard. Everyone deserves a say in whatever you’re playing, and that quiet bandmate you have usually has something valuable to share. 

Don’t be afraid to jam, especially you, vocalists! If you’re a singer and folks are jamming in a given key/chord progression or playing a song you don’t know, you can always scat or use words to other songs you know already.

People often ask me, “What genre do you sing?” and I always refuse to answer the question. There’s no need to stick to any one genre in the DC scene to be able to play and have your music appreciated. The beauty of our community is that musicians support and play with each other across genres rather than just forming homogeneous lineups. Everyone’s way more exposed to music they might not otherwise hear, and that allows us to make more interesting and completely new music. 

I also love to perform. When I’m on stage, I go by “Lala,” which probably sounds like I think I’m a real-life Mystique taking on the persona of an MTV VJ. The description’s not so far off, though—on stage, I feel like a completely different, more confident person. There’s no better feeling than taking all the energy from a crowd and giving it back tenfold. 

I’ve also grown a lot as a musician and a person. Every time I play with a new Flashband, I get to play with a completely new set of musicians, and every band has its own unique set of challenges to grow from. 

Music has always been intertwined with family for me. Most of my earliest memories involve music: dancing around to a song my mom was playing on the piano, learning my times tables by singing along with a tape, and even singing blessings with my parents and sister over holiday candles. To this day, whenever I’m with my mom in a car and “California Dreamin’” comes on, we roll down the windows and belt it out together. Music’s also my favorite therapy. I’ve gotten through the toughest times in my life by finding the right song and a friend and singing together.

Want to be featured in an upcoming Flashband Meet the Musician? Contact Deborah Lash for more info.

Meet the Musician: guitarist Joel Lopez

This profile features Joel Lopez, guitarist and six-time Flashband performer.

I was referred to Flashband by my buddy so we could go together and feel a little more confident. When we got there for the Meet and Greet, we didn’t know what to expect, but everyone there, especially the staff, was super friendly and helpful in organizing and making sure things went as smoothly as possible so it was not chaotic, especially for newbies like me. First experiences like this are always somewhat intimidating; however everyone’s positive attitude made the difference in the decision to continue. 

Flashband has definitely opened the door I needed to get involved in the music scene; I have found music camaraderie that I’ve wanted to be a part of for a while, but without knowing how. 

Before Flashband, I played guitar by myself, mostly either to backing tracks or jamming to my favorite songs. I did not have a sense of community when it came to music. Now I have met very talented musicians and have made some great friends. D.C is a city that is alive. There is always something to do in D.C and local music can always be found here. Why not be part of it?

Aside from the social experience, I have also progressed as a musician, learning what my strengths and weaknesses are in regards to playing with a band. Even though I will probably always over-analyze it, I know I will keep improving as long as I keep playing. 

Music is moving; it’s capable of lifting me up and enhancing my mood, and it expresses things that sometimes words can’t. It is a major outlet and hobby that I would like to have and share for the rest of my life.

I have been lucky enough to play in several Flashbands, including the Thanksgiving show (“TBD”), '80s Dance Party (“Those Loud MFers”), One Hit Wonders (“Only Never Lonely”), Animals (“Dead Vultures”), the Three Year Anniversary (“Flowstate”), and the Public Domain Showcase (“Noize”). I've also played a couple of non-Flashband gigs with the members of Flowstate, going as Flowstate Live. I mainly play guitar, although I dabble with piano mostly for looping purposes for guitar melodies.

To anyone who is new to Flashband, I say have a positive attitude towards everything, communicate with your band members or jam buddies, and attend local shows and other Flashband events to get a better idea of what it’s like. And practice, practice, practice.