This might come as a surprise to some, especially those from out of town or from DC, but the Northern Virginia music scene can often compete against our neighbor DC. High draw stadium acts choosing Nissan (I refuse to call it JLL) and Wolftrap for venues instead of the Verizon Center, which has terrible acoustics, has become common place. When it comes to indie, and in the case of bands like; Fun., Bon Iver, The Civil Wars, soon to be top 40 success stories, local halls have proven to be incubators. Before bands are underground at 930, they play some of their most energetic sessions in Virginia.
Last night at Jammin Java was a perfect example of a band that’s about to be big. Arkells is by no means a household name, but their throw back, fun 90s pop punk vibe will find its way off of the NHL2013 soundtrack and on to radios this year. I have no doubt.
A night at Jammin Java is about 1/3rd of the typical cost as a concert in DC and unlike 930 possesses a vibe that on any given night you might find the real deal diamond in the rough before they hit it big. I have been to plenty of shows at 930 club too, and for the record I think that place is great in its own rights for acts like Corey Smith, She&Him, Adele, etc. but there is something great about discovering something that’s not quite as recognized as a four-time grammy winner.
Getting to Jammin Java from Tysons is pretty simple. Head over to the Transit Center and take the 2T which leaves at the hour each hour until 10pm. Getting back is a lot tougher because of the fact that it only runs until 10pm (a subject we will be discussing in depth this month). Catching a 10 dollar cab isn’t a terrible backup plan for getting back, and there are available cabs running up and down Maple Avenue most weekend nights.
As Tysons, Vienna, and Merrifield continue to grow in population landmarks like Jammin Java, which has been around for decades and really turned into a premier venue in 2001, will be central to the identity of the region. Some DC (or even Fairfax folks) might think this is unrealistic and laughable that Northern Virginia could possibly ever compete against the nation’s capital. Those are likely the same people who think that Northern Virginia lags behind DC in food also. Perhaps they are on their way right now to buy a $16 Banh Mi sandwich on H Street instead of realizing the best Vietnamese food on the east coast is found right here in Falls Church.
People in the know are starting to take note though. In 2012 both Washingtonian and NOVA Magazine paid attention to local chef hero Tim Ma and Maple Avenue, where I had my delicious pre-concert dinner, for its unique identity and world class food along side of names like Jose Andres and Mike Isabella. Seriously, go there and get the Lemongrass Chicken or Beef Cheeks and tell me that you have had a meal of that caliber for that price in that atmosphere ANYWHERE else. It is as unique as unique gets and it is a true Virginian story.
Businesses in NOVA continue to stand on their own two feet, expanding beyond our presence adjacent to DC. Local theaters like 1st Stage are creating professional works that aren’t bound by the stifling overhead of some DC performances, often imported from other cities. And of course there is Jammin Java which has been called one of the top 100 venues in the world by Pollstar magazine with a vibe that is completely Vienna.
There is a lot of great stuff happening right here in our backyard and this year we want to help others be more adventurous and try it out too. It’s going to be exciting to seeing what the next phase in the evolution of Northern Virginia’s music and social scene will look like.
See what else is coming up at Jammin Java
