Welcome to another edition of our monthly music newsletter feature, where we highlight a local artist and upcoming shows from local acts. The warmer months have finally arrived. It’s time to roll down the windows and crank the music up on I-495’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. Here’s your guide.
🎙️ Spotlight: James Poet of FutureBandDC
Self-Described Sound:
Cross-genre, with influences from go-go, R&B, hip hop, and Afrobeats
Background:
Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, James Poet was introduced to go-go as a freshman at North Carolina A&T when Backyard Band and Junkyard Band performed at a college concert. Poet was enamored by go-go’s signature “pocket” syncopation and began learning about D.C.’s music of choice.
He then joined a band where most of the members were from the DMV and learned about go-go’s sound and the culture that fostered it. By graduation, Poet was committed to living in D.C. and teaching as many people as he could about go-go. Now, with the 11 other members of FutureBandDC, Poet is taking go-go abroad through his cultural exchange program to educate and entertain the global masses.
Get To Know the Artist:
How did the band form together?
Our current band is formulated from the local music scene. A lot of people from the jazz scene, the R&B scene, and the go-go scene. We pull from different genres to put together our team. I mean, the base of our band has been together for almost 15 years.
Who is in the current FutureBandDC?
James Poet, vocals
Gavin Bade, tenor sax
Cameron Saylor, alto sax
Kevin Acker, alto sax
Andre Lattimore, trumpet
B. Doyle, trombone
James Hogue, trumpet
John “Johnny” Worth, bass
Billy X, lead guitar
Rafael Gerald, drums
Reggie Sligh, keys
Eian Jackson, percussion
James Poet of FutureBandDC. (Courtesy of FutureBandDC)
What artists influence you the most?
Man, it changes over time depending what I’m working on. I love Ryan Leslie’s songwriting, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, Donny Hathaway, Lalah Hathaway, and Doja Cat. When it comes to a band as a whole, I look to The Roots. I look to old funk and Motown music too, like Marvin Gaye’s pureness and the way he approached music vocally. Even though their field is a little more traditional than mine, I learned from Rare Essence because the only way to make a variant of something is if you know the foundation.
Local artist shoutout?
J’TA, she’s the new princess of go-go music. She’s super talented.
What keeps you in D.C.?
I have a calling to take the music beyond the walls of D.C. I feel like I'm the person who can do it, who could break through internationally, to break through the barriers. There’s an infrastructure I contributed to that will take go-go music across the waters.
Why do you think you’re the person to take go-go music international?
I got my undergraduate degree in music business, my master's degree in business. I understand the business side just as much as the music side. I've worked with different labels and I work with the government fostering a cultural exchange program through my nonprofit, Go-Go Music Exchange Program. The band just came back from touring in Cuba. It’s not an overnight process. I would love for other bands to be a part of the process. It’s not about FutureBandDC, per se. It's more about the genre of music. I just want to push go-go globally.
Why do you want go-go music to be known worldwide?
Go-go music is an American music just like hip-hop, just like R&B, funk, Motown, country, rock, and blues. All those other genres of music have broken the ceiling. The mindset of wanting to keep go-go very D.C. is holding things back. It might as well be influential because people are stealing the rhythms and sounds already. I want to make sure go-go is identified before its sounds are integrated in other music.
You are currently touring internationally and just returned from Cuba. What has the response been so far?
The response was out of this world. Cuba was so receptive and responsive. I love their energy and they invited us back, so we’re retirning this June. If this is their first time seeing this and it’s that infectious, why would we not take this everywhere? We are slated to go to Thailand, Taiwan, Belize, Canada, Jamaica, and London. Nationally, we are going to California, Utah, Missouri, Michigan, and North Carolina.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Prayer
Favorite local venue?
The Howard Theatre
Where do you go to gain inspiration?
Capital One Arena when they do concerts. I like watching the big stage. During festival season, I like Broccoli City where you can see big and local bands play.
What’s your go-to place to dine in the District?
Busboys on 14th and Alice DC on U Street.
Last song you listened to?
Young Scooter, Future, “Hard to Handle”
Where can people find your music?
Next Local Show:
June 8 | 8 p.m. | Free | Lydia on H Presents Monthly Residency
July 6 | TBD | $37.50+ | DC Black Wine & Food Festival
Follow:
Song to Check Out:
FutureBandDC in the recording studio. (Courtesy of FutureBandDC)
🎟️ Other Upcoming Local Shows To See
- Virginia Man, Fetcher (opening for Cry Baby) (Indie Rock) | June 2 | 8 p.m. | $12+| Pie Shop
- Flowers for the Dead (Alt. Rock)| June 6 | 8 p.m. | $16+ | Songbyrd
- Catherine Savage (opening for Pomme) (Folk) | June 13 | 8 p.m. | $25+ | Union Stage
- Flowerbomb, Pinky Lemon, Ammonite (Alt. Rock) | June 14 | 8 p.m. | $15+ | Comet Ping Pong
- SHAED, ViRG (Indie Pop) | June 22 | 8 p.m. | $30 |The Atlantis
🎵 New Local Music Mentions
Fresh off their Wammie wins for “Best Rock Song” and “Best Rock Artist” of 2024, Flowerbomb is dropping a new EP "Gloom Scroll Vol. 2” on June 13. One of the four new songs, “Cool,” blends 90s grunge and dream pop to create a somber, upbeat track. The introspective lyrics paired with Rachel Kline’s hazy vocals and guitar-driven melody, create a perfect background when you need a moment to wallow and ruminate.
🎧 Check out this Spotify playlist we made, featuring FutureBandDC’s songs and inspirations, plus music by the other local bands above.
