all photos: Raisa Patron

In the last week I found myself cruising over to Velvet Lounge not once but twice. You can see the photos from our first jaunt here but I'd like to use this opportunity and platform to talk about the joy that was their Monday show.

First off, wrap your head around this set up:
IT IS MONDAY
IT IS RAINING AND EVERYONE HAS S.A.D AS A RESULT
IT IS VELVET LOUNGE (which seems full when 40 people are there but seems emptier than your destroyed soul when there are only 10 people present).
I walk in and THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 20+ people there.
Most of which I've never laid my eyes on in my life, so I can only assume they are in the bands.

Raisa and I came to see and support and love HOT LAVA, our latest Richmond band crush but we find out they're going on last and multiple diet cokes in hand (it is getting late! and it is Monday!) we make our way upstairs.

THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND
(and seriously this is why Velvet Lounge and Scott Verrastro should get mad props for keeping the spirit of unexpected alive in DC. Plus, this is also why playing in a little band takes balls to the walls, especially if its on a school night and you're in a city where you cannot drag your friends to your show)

HERMIT THRUSHES
(http://www.myspace.com/hermitthrushes)
Ok, so you're 5 dudes from Philadelphia, you play "experimental indie pop" (they told us this) and you decide to name yourself Hermit Thrushes (which is either genius or a complete self-sabotage effort, I'm still deciding about this one), what ELSE can you do to emphasize your completely deconstructed, insanely kinetic brand of music which starts out as any almost-perfect-3-minute-nugget would and then goes haywire about 45 seconds in?
YOU WEAR DRESSES.
AND BUNNY EARS.
It was like Easter parade on Crack on that stage (in, I think, a good way)
When we saw them step up, I said to Raisa
I hope they don't suck because nothing is worse than a band with a gimmick that sucks
And they pulled it off.
Much polishing left to do, but then, I don't think they're really the kind of band that strives for polish, so they should be golden.

next up:
EAR PWR
http://www.myspace.com/earpwr
Right as EAR PWR (a duo from North Carolina) was setting up (not on the stage but mid room, and out of a suitcase), Allison from Hot Lava came and introduced herself and when we asked her about the upcoming band (they played with them in Baltimore the night before) she said:

They're really good. They dance a lot.

Which Basically sums them up.
As does this photo I snatched of them from their Myspace.

Seriously people, EAR PWR is the shit.
(how often do I say that? NOT THAT OFTEN, REALLY).
This teeny tiny girl with a bleach blonde mop of hair sings/raps/enthuses about roller skating, water parks, space and her Cat (She is a BITCH) and this kid with a crazy ass fro twiddles some suitcase knobs and runs around with a megaphone. AND EVERYONE DANCES WITH THEM. Seriously.
Like, I was sitting on a chair, being an old woman on a Monday, that I am, and the whole space was vibrating from the 20 people in the room going bananas.

It could be annoying (it maybe is annoying) but it is also seriously the most brilliant operation in the world.
Whatever they're selling, I am buying.

I am making Cory book them for Transatlantic next so 200 people can DANCE WITH THEM, instead of 20.

then, after catching my/our collective breath it was time to see the main attraction:

HOT LAVA
http://www.myspace.com/hotlavaep
I've already waxed lyrical about them but let me wax some more:
Despite some sound issues (there WAS definitely some unwanted feedback), Allison, Jared and Aaron still pulled off one of the smartest, sassiest pop sets you'll see around. While wearing those ridiculous Kanye sunglasses no less.

All of them are instantly sing alongable, and when "Apple Action Fire" came on the same 20 people that were dancing like crazy with EAR PWR started shimmying 70s girl-group style for 2.51 minutes.
Don't sleep on this next time.
(also, soundcheck next time)

now, one more time:

Previously in Live DC:

• PHOTOS: 30 Seconds to Mars @ SONAR (brought to you by Maybelline)
• Live DC: Autolux @ Black Cat brought to you by Moldex Ear Plugs
• Live DC: Dominique Young Unique @ DC9
• Rock The Bells Report
• PHOTOS: Family Hemerlein August Edition
• LiveDC: Matisyahu @ 930 Club
• PHOTOS: Scissor Sisters @ DAR
• Live DC: Tears for Fears @ 9:30 Club
• Live DC: Vivian Girls / Brett and the Whispers / Heavy Cream @ Comet
• LiveDC: Crystal Castles @ 930 Club