Live from the Avant Garden

Live from the Avant Garden turns 20 and we celebrate the passage of time with none other than Garland of Hours aka Amy Domingues! Amy is a Peabody-trained musician whose C.V. ranges from the Washington Bach Consort to Fugazi and beyond! She has accompanied or been accompanied by the most influential musicians in the past 30+ years such as Mary Timony, Ted Leo, Bob Mould, and that's just the beginn...

Episode 19 of Live from the Avant Garden features Sean Grapin, AKA Boy Grapes! Host, V.J. Hyde learns about Sean's experiences as a prolific self-produced multi-instrumentalist, composer and performer. Big shout outs to the local open mic/ jams all around the DMV in this episode and another round of accolades for the scene's hardest working live music archivist/ videographer: Sandi Redman ! The gr...

The debut episode of Live from the Avant Garden Season 4 features DC's Sam Elmore! Sam and VJ haunt the Astro Stage and chat about Sam Elmore and The Ghosts recent release, It's All On Fire. Sam then plays some unplugged versions of his incredible songs that you might have heard him play with his amazing band the Ghosts. Be sure to support him on BandCamp , and follow him on Instagram and YouTube...

Live from the Avant Garden's last episode of 2025 disproves the adage, "never meet you heroes" as the AstroStage hosts the one and only Devin Ocampo (Faraquet, Medications, The Effects, Smart Went Crazy, Beauty Pill...). It's a family affair as Devin is joined by his wonderful wife and musical collaborator , Renata Ocampo ( Warm Sun , Crowd Scene ). We add more entries to the Dischord Diaries whil...

This episode is blessed by a song witch!!! That's right, Waxing Crone sets both the sage and the stage on fire in the 16th installment of Live from the Avant Garden! Meagan Perkins discusses her experiences as the bassist of DC punk royalty, Princessed and her time bringing farm fresh goodness to urban tables while working at Shalom Farms near Richmond, VA. Then we get to hear her incredible origi...

Episode 15 of Live from the Avant Garden proves that the kids are alright with none other than Petrichor. This band of 8th and 10th grade friends and family members have been hitting big and small stages all across the DMV and the east coast after forming thanks in large part to the vital work of GirlsRock! DC . They played their first gig with the help of Hot Mic'd Punks , which is a rapidly grow...

Jeff Barsky aka Insect Factory ( Bedmaker , Shadow Riot ) graces the astro stage in episode 14 of Live from the Avant Garden! In the first part of the show, Jeff talks about sharing his hands on Kibbutzim and on fretboards for acts such as Time is Fire and his (sometimes) solo project Insect Factory. In the second part of the show, we get an exclusive acoustic improv performance by Insect Factory....

Episode 13 of Live from the Avant Garden proves your superstitions that Izzy Burke and Don Potter's project, Letters to Delphi, is a direct line to the muses. We test the bounds of recording in the great wide open and Don and Izzy prove their mettle as inimitable forces in the DMV music scene! The first part of the show offers you insights into their respective paths growing to the top of your ear...

Episode 12 features Ben Tufts and Guy Bouchie alongside Bobby Thompson of GXB and Root Nine Records, respectively. We dig deep into the roots of Northern Virginia music scenes then and now; and we learn about the vital work being done today at local institutions such as Vanguard Arts Center, Music on the Hill, 7DrumCity and through organizations like Girls Rock NOVA/Girls Rock DC. We then get to h...

Episode 11 of Live from the Avant Garden features Ella Gallogly of Lud Roes, Old Knife and more!! Ella and VJ lounge on the Astro Stage and chat about the origins of Ella's incredible chops on guitar and drums while finding meaning in the journey and not the destination. Then Ella peels the petals off the pansies with her incredibly powerful original songs. Music starts at 42:00 Hear and see more...

Live from the Avant Garden turns 10 episodes old and host V.J. Hyde celebrates with special guests GiGi Marie and Ryan Parsons! VJ dives deeper than ever into Fairfax music scene fellowship and both GiGi and Ryan reminisce about their youthful days harvesting and slinging family-farm-grown tomatoes. Then GiGi regales the roses with her original ballads, some of which are now streaming on her lates...

On episode 9 of Live from the Avant Garden, VJ is joined by Swingamajig (Wilfredo Morales, Nicole Edwards and John Previti)! They chat about the far reaching influences of the DMV music scenes, wax nostalgic about bountiful avocados and cherries, and lend some tips about plants that help deter common household pests. Then this super trio performs music from their debut CD, "Mine, Mine, Mine", out...

In the eighth episode of Live from the Avant Garden, host V.J. Hyde is joined by Caroline Weinroth of Cinema Hearts fame! They gab about Caroline's path from hometown beauty queen to nationally acclaimed rockstar and seasonal farmer's market steward. We get some tips on how not to slide into home base and hear some acoustic versions of Cinema Hearts ideal tunes. Music starts at 46:18 Listen to Cin...

On the 7th episode of Live from the Avant Garden, VJ shares the astro stage with Amanda Dove from the DC powerhouse, Kinda Evil. They giggle through conversations about the cost benefit analysis of growing cilantro and chat about the best stages to rock in DC. Then Amanda sinks her teeth into some of her incredible music. Find all things Kinda Evil here !! Like and subscribe to Live from the Avant...

On the sixth episode of Live from the Avant Garden, the Astro Stage is graced by the inestimable talents of Selena Benally, Alyson Cina, and Erin Frisby; collectively known as Ammonite . The trio discuss what's in their garden and how to prevent raiding deer from trampling on your dreams of growing prolific cantaloupes, corn and other copious crops. In the second half of the show, Ammonite put the...

On episode 5 of Live from the Avant Garden, DC legend, world famous record producer, and mind-blowingly incredible musician, Don Zientara (Inner Ear Studios, Dischord Records) graces the Astro Stage with his presence, stories, humor and of course, original music! What else can I say about having the dude that recorded all of my favorite records (shameless plug: including my own band, Old Knife) on...

Chris Dinosaur of the NOVA rock group, Dinosaurus, and LFTAG host, VJ, discover many crossed paths that wound up leading them to the Avant Garden astro-stage. We wax poetic and lament the good old days at the legendary Fairfax, VA bohemian paradise that was Epicure Cafe. Then Chris Dinosaur crushes us with his jurassic talent as a singer/ songwriter. (Music starts at: 43:50) Find and follow Chris...

Cherry Blossom Special (Nick Cameron, Justin Heath, Mari Carlson, Sophie Chang, Greg Mulley) makes the trek from Tacoma Park, MD to visit the Avant Garden. We get into the catnip about the journey from starting a small windowsill herb garden to going full-blown Gardening junkie. Then the group turns the grass blue with their incredible music. (Music begins at: 21:12) Find and follow Cherry Blossom...

The Flip Phones (Lindsey Wray and Ryan Kobb) visit V.J. at the Avant Garden to regale us with glorious tales of their back yard victory against invading bamboo and enlighten us on their stellar song writing process. Songs begin at xx:xx Stream and follow and like and love the Flip Phones here: https://www.theflipphones.com https://theflipphones.bandcamp.com https://www.instagram.com/theflipphones...

In the inaugural episode of Live from the Avant Garden V.J. plays hookie at the garden with his long time friend and musical broham, Eric Keller. V.J. gives us a lay of the land and gabs about preparing your garden for winter. Eric performs some original finger-style songs on acoustic guitar. Don't just sit there and rot! Go check out his music at: https://creakinghand.bandcamp.com Follow him on I...