Bandwidth’s Friday roundup of local and not-so-local music news.
D’Angelo makes a stellar comeback with Black Messiah. [Washington Post]
…and it was a strategically timed one, rushed out in response to national outrage over Eric Garner and Michael Brown’s slayings. [New York Times]
Ailing Rosslyn venue Artisphere is expected to close. [ARLnow, Washington City Paper]
A soon-to-open coffee shop in Silver Spring, Bump ‘n Grind, is also a record store. [Express]
The Apple Store pulls its stock of racist music. [Spin]
Net neutrality is crucial for indie music lovers, and this is why. [Pitchfork]
Record Store Day saved the vinyl industry, according to the co-founder of Record Store Day. [Billboard]
…So, anyone want to open a pressing plant? [Fact]
Wale announces his next mixtape, Festivus, out Dec. 23. [Hypetrak]
D.C. cabbie and Ethiopian music star Hailu Mergia performs on World Cafe. [WXPN]
Dismemberment Plan’s Travis Morrison reflects on Change. [Noisey]
D.C. folkie Marian McLaughlin says now “feels like the right time” to pursue music as a career. [DCist]
This was the year in Tiny Desk Concerts. [NPR]
D.C.’s Loud Boyz drop a new video. [Brightest Young Things]
Local popsters Astra Via release a big new tune. [D.C. Music Download]
Howard University’s Afro Blue sings Christmas music on NPR. [NPR]
D.C.’s hardcore scene is not the only one getting a look back. [The Runout]
Year-end music lists, rounded up: The best music of the year, according to Pitchfork, Tiny Mix Tapes, Thump, and Consequence of Sound.
On Bandwidth: We reflect on a year of Bandwidth videos and premiere a new one from King Tuff; Diamond District releases a mixtape album; Wale returns to his go-go roots; Sansyou talks to us about their newest song; WAMU remembers bluegrass DJ Ray Davis; a new benefit compilation tasks D.C. bands with remixing each other.