Its not just freshmen who are clueless about D.C.'s local music scene. Despite the District's sometimes sterile political fa?ade, there's a thriving independent arts and music community that's easy for busy students and politicians to overlook. The following are only a microscopic sampling of what local rockers and DJs have to offer:
Washington Social Club http://www.washingtonsocialclub.com
D.C. local Olivia Mancini and Martin Royle, her pal from Pennsylvania, started the WSC a few years back and pulled in guitarist Evan Featherstone and drummer Randy Scope. Their debut album, "Catching Looks," has been getting lots of positive press. Last spring they opened for Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV at the 9:30 Club and played various other local venues, including a $5 local music extravaganza at the Black Cat, pleasing crowds with their energetic stage presence and poppy punk-rock sound. Since it never costs a ton to check them out, do something new and give them a listen the next time they're around.
Thievery Corporation http://www.eslmusic.com/artists/thievery.html
The brainchild of local DJs Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, Thievery Corporation has gained international notoriety with its world beats and smooth, sexy vocals. Garza and Hilton also own the local Eighteenth Street Lounge, a hip hang where patrons can sip cocktails and listen to Thievery Corporation and the other acts represented by Garza and Hilton's Eighteenth Street Lounge record label (featuring Federico Aubele, Chris Joss and Thunderball, among others).
Their discography is an impressive mix of individual releases and remix compilations, the most recent being the trippy, psychedelic "The Cosmic Game." This past June the ensemble - at times 10 or 12 musicians, vocalists and DJs onstage at once - finished their world tour in D.C. with three sold out shows at the 9:30 Club. They'll take the stage with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and the Bouncing Souls at the Eighteenth Street Lounge-sponsored Operation Ceasefire on Sept. 24, a free outdoor antiwar concert on the National Mall.
Q and Not U http://www.qandnotu.org
John Davis, Harris Klahr and Christopher Richards formed Q and not U in 1998 and have had great success on the D.C. indie music circuit ever since. Their three albums, including the latest, "Power," span seven years of rockin' and dozens of shows at the Black Cat. If you're into driving, upbeat activist rock, be sure to catch Q and not U's last shows, ever, on Sept. 22 and 23 at the Black Cat - unfortunately, the group is parting ways to pursue other projects.
Want more info on the D.C. indie music scene? Visit http://www.washingtondc.com/nightlife/localbands.html for an incredibly obscure list of acts from the D.C. area or peruse the weekly CityPaper for up-to-date information and articles about local issues, music, arts and entertainment.
