DCIC will be playing an in-store at Crooked Beat in Adams Morgan this Friday, May 9th at 7pm to celebrate our new release "Triangulation". Also happening this month DCIC's guitarist Jonathan Matis will be on tour with Joe Lally (see dates).

Almost a year ago Joe Lally w/ DCIC played a show at Jammin' Java, presented here is "Perforated Line" from Joe's first CD. It will give you an idea of what you may hear out on the road.

Joe Lally: bass & vox, Ben Azzara: drums, Jonathan Matis: guitar, Mike Sebastian: reeds. Song written by Joe Lally.

The Sean McArdle band is just a three piece for now and we've been rehearsing a whole new set of songs that Sean has recently written. This is an unnamed number that Sean isn't quiet finished yet, so we decided to do an instrumental to at least practice the music.

It reminds me slightly of the very early Delta 72 stuff, but of course Sean infuses his blues with much more composure and elegance.

Come see Sean solo this Thursday April 17th at the Big Bear Cafe at 1st & R NW. Along with Sean there will be 3 poets from Wave Books—Dara Weir, Dorothea Lasky & Caroline Knox.

Then on Saturday April 19th, check out the Sean McArdle band at The Lab at Convergence 1819 N. Quaker Lane Alexandria, VA with Meredith Bragg & Sad Crocodile.

Sean McArdle, guitar; Ben Azzara, drums; Chris Grier, bass. Copyright 2008 Sean McArdle.

Here is a a short interview Jon of DCIC did with David Furst and the great local show Metro Connection on WAMU.

I wish I could have been there, but Jon did a great job and David Furst is an excellent host who really knows his local scene, plus I love the way to says my name!

March is FREE JAZZ Month, don't be afraid to freak-out and groove! Here is a little track of Maddy and I jamming. If you listen closely at the end she says "All Done" but continues to play for a sec.

Don't miss the Spontaneous Infinity Festival this month at the Velvet Lounge. It starts with my group DC Improvisers Collective (DCIC) and Steve Lehman this Saturday, March 22. DCIC will be celebrating the release of our new CD "Triangulation".

Madeleine Azzara, keyboard; Ben Azzara, drums

Here is the complete performance from the Sean McArdle Band from March 10th. We had a great time and the The Fairline Parkway & Kitty Hawk were fabulous.

It's kind of echo-y which makes me sound like John Bonham, but otherwise a nice souvenir of Sean's great dynamic songs.

Sean McArdle, guitar/vox; Ben Azzara, drums; Chris Grier, bass, Carrie Ferguson, organ. All songs by Sean McArdle.

A couple of weeks ago we were asked to play a last minute show at the Velvet Lounge. We played our stripped down set, just Sarah and I and Sarah's lovely, grungy Brian May signature Vox amp. It was a fun show and it was great to test out some material for the February 17th show (this Sunday!), so come on out and see the whole band! We'll be playing first so you can still get some sleep.

Sarah Azzara, guitar and vocals, Ben Azzara, drums. Song written and copyrighted by Sarah Azzara.

Hey who doesn't love a drum solo! Every month or so I tidy around the studio; wrap up cords, vacuum, move the PA speakers around, shelve broken gear and restock the merch. When I'm all done I sit down and play drums all by myself for a nice long work out. This is the first part of a recent session, total stream-of-consciousness, it rambles a bit but has some nice parts. Odds and ends of beats you may find familiar.

Ben Azzara, drums

"Keep Singing!" Compilation is a recent release from Exotic Fever that I am on performing with Sean McArdle. We recorded this awhile ago and I can't entirely recall the process. It starts out all pretty and then gets crazy. Kind of like the way my head swims when I am shopping. Sean does an excellent job of encapsulating the modern shopping experience.

There are lot's of other great songs on this comp and suggest it highly.

Sean McArdle, guitar/vox; Ben Azzara, drums; Chris Grier, bass, Carrie Ferguson, organ. Written by Sean McArdle.

Wow, where did November and December go? Our attempt to slow down failed miserably. Even though we weren't playing shows, a lot of post-production work has been filling our time. Starting in the new year we'll be playing a lot of shows, premiering new material.

Sarah is playing a double bill with Shame Girl and the Sarah Azzara band on December 30th at the venerable Phase 1, 525 8th st. SE, WDC. Presented here is the latest version of TMI produced by TJ Lipple. You might remember this song from nearly 2 years ago. It's come a long way, baby!

Sarah Azzara, everything, Ben Azzara, drums, Produced By TJ Lipple

Here is Sarah doing "Star Tripper" from the DC Singer/songwriters showcase I put together last April. It was a wonderful night with amazing solo perfromances by Sarah Azzara, Brandon Butler, Laura Burhenn, Sean McArdle, Stella Schindler and Vandaveer. I hope someday to release it on CD.

Sarah Azzara, guitar and voice

The Caution Curves returned to The Velvet Lounge as part of the Sonic Circuits fest. It was great to be part of this wonderful event again. The show was fun. Great performances from a variety of inventive musicians.

I debuted my "percussion salad" during the first part of this performance and did some singing. Rebecca brought it too with her excellent samples and rockin' clarinet.

Our next performance will be an intimate house show. Come see for yourself how we get these sounds going. A little hint, there's a lot more singing than you think.

Saturday, October 6, 2007
w/ WZT Hearts (record release), Insect Factory
Buchanan St. House
1421 Buchanan St. NW, Washington, DC
$5, 9pm

Rebecca Mills, laptop/horns/vocals/banjo; Ben Azzara, drums, percussion and vocals

This Sunday, September 16th, DCIC is playing with Chris Black and The Quarry House in Ssilver Spring. Chris Black is amazing and we are sure looking forward to seeing him. I've never been to the Quarry House before, I hear they are starting to do shows regularly, fantastic we really need some place to play in Silver Spring.

This DCIC track is from a recent rehearsal. It reminds me of a giant lumbering stream powered robot waking up in the morning, stretching his gears and going off to work. A kind of Steam Punk Day in the Life. I just love Jon's new guitar, tone baby tone!

Ben Azzara: drums, Jonathan Matis: guitar, Mike Sebastian: reeds.

Tonight Sarah Azzara is playing at the Velvet Lounge, debuting all new material. Most of the show, except for two songs, Sarah and I will play as a duo, a kind of reverse White Stripes--Sarah on keyboard and vocals and myself on drums. Her new songs are great and have been stuck in my head for months. It will be sure fun to get them out there. This track features the full band from a rehearsal this past weekend.

Sarah Azzara, keyboards, vocals; Ben Azzara, drums, Kendall Nordin, bass, Chris Grier, guitar

Tonight The Caution Curves is playing at The Velvet Lounge with Capillary Action and Zdrastvootie. I have 5 shows this month and four at the Lounge, (thanks Scott Verrastro!). Lately The Caution Curves has just been Rebecca and I. Here as a track from our latest rehearsal that's full of twists, turns and space. (watch out for the high-pitch squeal at 3:29). Hope to see you all tonight.

Rebecca Mills, laptop/horns/vocals/banjo; Ben Azzara, drums and percussion

Pup Tent had a late night, very sweaty practice for the show fridays benefit for John Stabb at the Velvet Lounge with Dave Smalley, Lorelei & The Saviours. Here's a song that has gone through a couple of transformations, now called Skin I think this version is a keeper. You can hear us discuss how to end the number, a little Behind the Music moment for those super-fans. Phil is sporting his super skronk sound on his guitar which in a very cool way gives this take a crazy over-drive sound. See you friday!

Ben Azzara: drums, Phil Duarte: guitar & vocals, Ted Watts, bass & vocals

Here are some clips from the Pup Tent show at Fort Reno. I've taken most of July off but gearing back up for tons of stuff in August. Do come and help John Stabb on August 9 at the Velvet Lounge with Dave Smalley, Pup Tent, Lorelei & The Saviours.

Ben Azzara: drums, Phil Duarte: guitar & vocals, Ted Watts, bass & vocals

Had a great time last night with Pup Tent at Fort Reno. I rocked so hard during the first song that my bass drum pedal severed the head. Granted it was an old head and my drums had been in the car all day and kind of soft.

I will be returning next Monday, July 2 with DCIC backing up Joe Lally so I thought I'd feature a song from the many hours I have recorded.

Pick A War is a track from one of our first collective rehearsals. I really like this song, the lyrics are excellent and the intensity is invigorating. Joe has a wonderful ability to say so much with just a few choice words and of course bass lines that are a universe unto themselves.

Joe Lally: bass & vox, Ben Azzara: drums, Jonathan Matis: guitar, Mike Sebastian: reeds. Song written by Joe Lally.

This is the first piece DCIC played at our April 17th show with Locksmith Isadore at the Warehouse. It was shortly after the VT tragedy and Mike had a riff in his head that he wanted to play in memoriam. He started it out and Jon and I just felt our way through. Jon later named it. I think it came out really well. The three of us have really cultivated an unspoken dialogue, something I have experienced in few bands in my career.

DCIC has been playing frequently with Joe Lally lately and I'll post some of that after I have time to edit through it all. We are playing with Joe at Fort Reno, July 2nd and at the Black Cat, August 19th as just DCIC.

Ben Azzara: drums, Jonathan Matis: guitar, Mike Sebastian: reeds

Pup Tent had a great show last night at the Velvet Lounge. Great crowd and thanks Rob for the sound!

We did some rockers and a few freak-outs. This is the complete set so it may take a sec to download. I did it on the H4 which was behind my kit. Kind of drum heavy mix but who doesn't like tons of drums?

Our next show is June 25 at Fort Reno with LeJeune and Engine Room.

Phil Duarte, guitar/vox; Ben Azzara, drums; Ted Watts, bass/vox.