Skating Polly at DC9
I blame the Internet for this. Zero members of Skating Polly were even alive in '94 but they nailed that era's sound. Angsty but not mopey, they come across less like a "grunge" band and more like one of those loud but profound rock bands which finally got their turn in the spotlight as formerly "alternative" music got pulled into the mainstream. They would have been one of the better ones too, even back then. Also, they've released more music videos than every band in 1994 combined which is definitely the Internet's fault.
Apparently the band's singers have been performing together for eight years which is insane. This band is really young. They recently let their brother join the band so that they could study for their SATs together or something. I guess every now and then some sort of magic happens and a group of really young people form a really good band. Being related seems to help.
Skating Polly's Website, Music.
Posted: 5/22/2017 at 9:00pm Tags: DC9 Skating Polly
Wet Brain at Metro Gallery
Wet Brain have a sound which reminds me of some good stuff from the 90s. It's kind of punk, kind of heavy, but also a bit playful. There's more sarcasm in those lyrics than straight up criticism. They also have a bit of a surf influence which plays out as more noir-ish than groovy. That plus mucho, mucho attitude in every single song gives them an urgency, but in an enjoyable way (this distinguishes them from most hardcore, though Wet Brain hold their own in the intensity department). Why aren't there more bands like this in DC?
I've only seen them twice and I totally want to see them again. Unfortunately I can imagine that after being robbed on their last tour they might not be quite as enthusiastic about heading out again. Maybe they're saving up for a a touring van with OnStar this time. :)
Posted: 4/29/2017 at 4:30pm Tags: Metro Gallery Wet Brain
The Marked Men at The Black Cat
I've said it before and I'll say it again, middle-aged punk bands are the best. If your band sticks with it for that long then you must be doing something right. And given that The Marked Men have a MySpace page I am pretty sure they qualify.
It isn't just The Marked Men's website which reminds me of the 00's (The "naughts"? The "zip-os"?) They have that emphasize-the-rhythm quality which was really popular in that era. Taken to the extreme you get something like Pennywise but The Marked Men don't go that far. Instead they stick to playing punk rock with some actual rock content. Music which is actually catchy not just energetic. I suppose you could even call them pop-punk but if so they're just a little tiny bit pop, not enough to stop their fans from headbanging. Trust me I know because some of them were banging their heads into my back.
The Marken Men's Website, Music (yep, MySpace, really)
Posted: 4/12/2017 at 8:00pm Tags: Black Cat Damaged City Fest 2017 Downstairs The Marked Men
Dirty And His Fists at The Black Cat
Rad new Garagepunk band alert! If you love crunchy, high energy, rough-around-the-edges rock 'n roll then check out Dirty And His Fists. If you can find them. They're so new they have no Internet presence at all except for a demo on Bandcamp for $999.99. All I know about them is that they're from "California" which is about as helpful as saying they're from "Europe" or "Asia".
So what do they sound like? Well, the last time I shot a Damaged City Fest there was this band who kind of reminded me of The Points. Well, Dirty And His Fists remind me even more of The Points so there.
Dirty And His Fists's Websit... never mind, Music (the cheap version).
Posted: 4/10/2017 at 9:00pm Tags: Black Cat Damaged City Fest 2017 Dirty And His Fists Downstairs
Honduras at DC9
The band Honduras seem to be influenced by 70's rock music. They definitely have a punk quality and some hints of New Wave influence. They also have a tendency to make songs which are kind of epic with long intros and big buildups going into the chorus, kind of like mainstream rock from the late 70s.
This of course makes sense for a band which formed in Brooklyn this decade. They remind me of Beach Fossils but a bit more punk. Those bands clearly have some of the same influences, let's put it that way.
