Introducing Charm City Music
Famed Baltimore Jazz musician Eubie Blake (Feb 7, 1883(7)-Feb 12 1983) was once quoted as saying “Blues in Baltimore? Baltimore is the Blues!”.
This city was once a center for musical innovation. Baltimore can lay claim to legendary jazz musicians such as Eubie Blake, Cab and Blanche Calloway, Chick Webb and many more. While born in New York City, even Tupac Shakur spent his formative years in Baltimore. In its heyday, Baltimore hosted a who’s who of touring jazz musicians at its popular night spots. Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Billie Holiday to name a few couldn’t tour the country without making stops in clubs like the Tijuana, or Pennsylvania Ave, or Fremont Ave or theatre houses like the Royal Theatre. Current jazz clubs like Caton Castle and New Haven Lounge languish in a scene that is as underground as it comes.
While always a red-headed step-child to the D.C. hardcore scene, Baltimore had its share of local legends in the Hardcore/Screamo/Emo scene. Bands like OTR, Fear of God, Bollocks, Reptile House, Grey March and Slot Racer screamed their way into the collective psyche of Baltimore in bars like the Marble Bar and Terminal 406.
While venue’s like Jule’s Loft are long gone, the scene has not died. Rather it has gone even more underground…..deep, deep underground. It is the goal of Charm City Music to bring the underground to your doorstep. To find the best in local talent and shine a light, even a dim one such as this, to give exposure to all those that love music.
Baltimore musical talent is as vibrant as it ever was. The scene is as relevant as it has ever been. Scores of local musicians are grinding every day to sharpen their craft and Charm City Music shall be but one forum in which those voices can be heard.
Stay tuned as we seek out and review the bands, venue’s and scene’s that truely make up the Baltimore musical underground. So until our next review, we’ll see you in the pit.
