The last Frederick music showcase (Volume 5) was an interesting night. I definitely witnessed a bit of a somber feeling all around. These all ages showcases really did a lot to present a diverse lineup of acts in the best and most adaptable venue Frederick has to offer. Host Colin McGuire provided his usual poignant awkwardness on stage as he guided the night along. It was a strange closure for Frederick Playlist (the Frederick music website that’d done so much in 7 years), but we’ve all been through this sort of thing before… The ebbs and flows of the Frederick music scene are to be expected at this point. Onward we move into building something new… whatever that may be.

J Berd – A pressing voice that demands attention. He promised a romantic night of rap and delivered. His harder beats hit with booming bass that dominates the live stage. He has a solid flow and never loses step. Crowd interaction is a must, and J Berd requests participation to make the show an interactive experience. He’s proud of his Frederick hometown; in one song where he references pitcrew and sipping a flying dog. His personality and stage presence are far developed and he’s done some pretty big shows in the past (at the anthem). You find yourself constantly bobbing your head and being amazed by the rhymes (some deriving from social/political issues but others are just pure and natural fun. There was a sparse crowd at the beginning of the set but by the end there were a decent bit of people scattered throughout the room. He definitely proved he could perform to a large audience.

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Luna – Started with a thrilling cover of Tracy Chapman “Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution”. Her wide vocal range and control made the song an amazing cover choice; delightful, even. Crisp high notes and an overwhelming amount of passion through singing and lyrics is what you can always expect from Luna’s songs. Armed with just a guitar, her voice is the only other weapon she needs to take over; her songs stand well enough on their own. Filled the weinberg with the good vibes she always brings. Even when a mild sound problem tries to mess with Luna, she stays positive and resumes her songs of soothing gloom. Her staple song “Let’s Build a Boat” made the crowd engage by clapping along. This resulted in host Colin asking the crowd if they wanted more song for an encore. The encore was beautifully delivered, voice cracks and all.

Mr. Husband – His signature brand and persona of friendship and wonderment shines brightly under the lights of the Weinberg stage. He’s got an airy old time rock n roll voice that dazzles, reverby guitar that soothes… his band provides bass that jives in time and drums that widen the soundscape. The group has perfected indie pop and amazes with their sound reminiscent of 60s rock groups. The lyrics often center around sincere humor and humility. Personal interactions with the audience produced many laughs and made for an ultimately enjoyable live act. He starts each song with the phrase: “Here’s one that’s been particularly good to me and the boys” and the sound of songs like “Living in Dreams” were made for the weinberg room. Mr. Husband promised to take the crowd to the 4th dimension and he did… by passing around 4th dimension energy orb (this guy is fun).

Oh, he also apologized for cursing in front of his Grandma who was in attendance. It was truly a great moment.

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My apologies to ilyAimy for not being able to stick around, Valentine’s day meant I had to focus on my girlfriend as well, so I’ll be out to another show of yours very soon 🙂

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