War

War is an American band whose funk, soul and reggae-tinged recordings span several decades. This concert at Bethesda Theater brings the group to Bethesda, Maryland.

War was formed in Long Beach, California, in 1969 by Howard Scott and Lonnie Jordan, with Lee Oskar on harmonica. Before the group recorded under its own name, the English singer Eric Burdon, formerly of the Animals, sang with the band on the album Eric Burdon Declares War (1970). The band's sound blends funk, soul, Latin rhythms, jazz and reggae.

Among the group's best-known recordings are "The Cisco Kid" (1972), and "Low Rider" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?" (both 1975). These songs combine tight rhythmic grooves with melodic hooks and horn and harmonica colors that set the band apart in mid-1970s soul and funk.

Bethesda Theater hosts concerts and shows in Bethesda, so this stop gives listeners in the Washington area a chance to hear the band's catalog in a local venue.