Well there it was: our little 11 band, 6 hour, scary (but awesome) robot, beer flowing like water relaunch bonanza.
That people said would be a logistical disaster.
And it was a blast.
The timeline went somewhat like this:

6 pm: Middle Distance Runner arrives first and we decide to break out some welcoming Schlitz. In a bucket. Because we like to keep things classy.

6-6:30 pm: Bellman Barker and Nihilitia arrive with the rest of equipment. First of many group hugs ensue.

7 pm: The rest of the bands trickle in, we run out of our tub of Schlitz and move to the Mao suite aka “The Band room” to pull names and band order out of (what else?) a sombrero (happy cinco de mayo everyone!)

7:58 pm:3 people try to sneak in early. Good sign.

8 pm: Doors

8:30 pm: The robot, who was lost for a while arrives. Now we have a party.

9 pm: Group photo time (see above)

9:30 pm: Death by Sexy goes on. Rips through 3 songs culminating in a roaring “Rebel Yell”. We could already die happy now. But we can’t since we don’t want to miss the other 10 bands. duh.

9:45 pm: R’N'R hotel informs us that the band room has already consumed 150 beers and expresses concern that the evening may go haywire. Whatevs.

10 pm to 2 am: These United States bring Kitty Hawk and Let’s French on the stage with them for a tambourine, clapping, everyone jumping on stage version of “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”, The Dance Party and their awesome matching jean jackets power pop through “Our Lips are Sealed” and Avril’s “Girlfriend” which basically puts the whole evening on a whole new level, just in time for Let’s French’s version of EMF “Unbelievable” (and some more Go-Go’s) at which point the already very packed R’N'R is about to lose it, and Telograph brings Middle Distance Runner and Jette from Jette-Yves for an whole-audience-clapping opening of Magnetic Fields’ “Washington DC” followed by a giant singalong to Pulp’s “Disco 2000″. Then Cale throws free condoms, t-shirts, and DVDs off the stage and no one complains about bodily harm caused by flying objects (actually I got a message today about a Van Wilder 2 DVD being responsible for a minor collarbone injury -cale), then delivers the much needed pizza and cupcakes. Nihilitia peels whatever paint is left on R’N'R’s walls with Pat Benatar’s “Invincible” and a rendition of Van Halen’s “Hot for the teacher” that was single-handedly responsible for Sara being hit on by at least half a dozen other band members backstage, with Bellman Barker doing a double-audience-pleasing whammy of “Toxic” and “Take your Mama Out” and sealing the deal with “Land of a 1000 dances”, and as the poor barely standing crowd realizes we are ONLY halfway through Middle Distance Runner whips out “Boys and Girls”, “Common People” and a full on sunglasses-at-night version of Beastie Boys and “Sabotage”. Hard Tomorrows go on next and the whole place is as one during New Order’s “Age of Consent”, screaming girls in front row and more, Greenland follows, indian feathers and more with “London Calling” and by the time Len Bias is on stage with Joy Division’s “Love will tear us apart” we cannot help ourselves and are dancing with them to the total and sheer mortification of the sound staff at R’N'R.

1:45 am:We suggest (maybe) some encores. The idea is greeted enthusiastically AND plans start being hatched.

2:00 am: Encore TIME.

2:01 am: Death By Sexy takes the stage for another Rebel Yelling and THEN….somehow, someone from every band is on stage, joining hands across R’N'R and it is “DIRTY DEEDS” time. There are guitars, interchanging drummers, tambourines, climbing on speakers, girls dancing on stage, more sweat than in a Swedish sauna and a travelling cowbell, provided by Ian of MDR. Bcse you know what, THERE really is never enough cowbell. Sparks cans are crushed on people’s heads, the stage is shaking to a point where it may break and the song goes on for AT LEAST 10 or so minutes.

2:30 am: Death, doom, and music ending ensue.No one wants to leave. The audience keeps lingering.

2:35 am: More group hugs, general happiness and my feet hurting like they’ve never hurt before. In a good way.

BEST NIGHT EVER.

An amazing proof of DC musicians coming together, for a night dedicated to pure, pure fun and nothing but fun. Everything went so smoothly and flawlessly that you know what, we may just do it again.
Thanks to everyone that came out, bands for being so game and gameworthy, the Cricklewood Massive DJs for keeping the dance party going on the 2nd floor lounge, and of course, R’N'R hotel for putting up with this haywire in a good way operation.

Photos below by Joel (before he snuck out), from Alan Kayanan and later during encore madness by Svetlana and Liz Gorman of Wonkette who very graciously assisted us in our time of need.

(and if you have more photos send them to us. we would love to see them. have them. publish them)
ps. click click on images to enlarge them.
(also visit’s Wonkette’s party crash of the night with commentary by Nick Mueller and photos by Liz Gorman, and ccchhheck out Morgan’s pandahead AND projectbeltway features for some fashion savvy)

Alan Kayanan’s (http://www.myspace.com/alankayanan) romantic, flash-free take on the evening, that Always gets us:

ENCORE