What do rock and rollers, folkies and other musical artists do on their downtime in D.C.? If they’re like O.A.R., Derek Trucks and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, they might hang at the Gibson Showroom in Penn Quarter.
The split-level, loft-like space, tucked away without so much as a sign on the top floor of an office building, could be the best-kept secret in Washington. Filled with Gibson guitars, Baldwin pianos and Wurlitzer jukeboxes (not to mention a Bud fridge), the space primarily functions as a local liaison to Gibson-playing artists, allowing them to borrow gear to use for shows, video shoots or just to test.
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But the office also serves as a performance venue for local artists to woo industry brass, a rehearsal space and a party spot. On the day of the Green Apple Festival on the Mall in late April, The Roots spent about four hours there rehearsing their set (which, sadly, was ultimately rained out).
Other artists who have stopped by recently include members of D.C.-based electronica stars the Thievery Corporation, Virginia rocker Pat McGee, indie singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, England’s David Ford and Australia’s Midnight Juggernauts.
