BrightestYoungThings: Middle Distance Runner @ The Hotel

This week, Washington D.C. experienced what I can only describe as the greatest stimulus package that our city has ever seen. With the inauguration of Barack Obama drawing millions to the District, we Washingtonians experienced the somewhat rare feeling of being "locals" in a city with so much marble and granite that it occasionally can't help but lean towards the impersonal.

While I was as happy as any one of the two million people that flooded the mall on Tuesday, the looming inauguration, and its subsequent festivities, did obscure some of the "non-inauguration" events that our city hosts so well on a weekly basis. On Friday night, the Rock and Roll Hotel welcomed Middle Distance Runner, along with a slew of openers.

I walked into the show as the Black Hollies were starting. Their harmonies were fantastic, as were the matching suits that they rocked to the fabric's fullest capacity. I was enthralled, to say the least. Following the Black Hollies was the Mobius Band. The performance was energetic and bouncy. It was my first time hearing their single "Friends Like These" and I haven't stopped listening to it this whole week.

Middle Distance Runner followed Mobius Band, climbing on stage with beers in hand, and unleashed upon the crowd. The energy in the room was hard to read at first: was this an audience of MDR supporters or just inauguration fallout, some eager tourists looking for a good live show? Whatever the answer, the performance would not have left either group disappointed. The rendition of Sam Cooke's "Change is Gonna Come" was great, a very well done break in the tone of the show. Putting down their instruments and opting instead for vocal harmonies, MDR sang their hearts out and I couldn't help but smile at the less-than-subtle wave of support that the band gave to Obama.

All in all, the show was great and only affirmed my belief that it doesn't take an inauguration for people to understand how truly great this city is. The next time MDR comes to town, inauguration or not, I assure you it will be good.

Previously in Live DC:

3 years ago just sayin' said

THE BLACK HOLLIES WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD AND EAT YOUR MOTHER FOR BREAKFAST i'd say within the next couple months

ps sweet pics bro. i'm glad you caught a portrait of that double bandana-ed hipster. that fellow's on top of the trends