Brightest Young Things

words: Josh Phelps
photos: Jane Briggs

The crowd was weak for Pictureplane (except for the awesome dude who swung from the rafters. I wanted to be on what he was on.) and for Washed Out’s solo-set. But the crowd surprised me for Small Black/Washed Out’s set together. After a string of disappointments in DC crowds, this show renewed a smidgen of my hope for this town’s ability to just fucking let loose and get down…and I met some rad people before, during and after the show! big up – Rodent of Unusal Size

I feel awkward messing with the simple perfection of the beloved R.U.S. regarding last Thursday but let’s give it a go anyway.

Just another night, another sold out DC9 show, another buzz bin of bands blessing 9^th and Nellies before heading down to Austintown for SXSW.  Pictureplane, Washed Out, and Small Black hit DC as part of a mammoth party in the U.S.A. and Mexico.  My apologies to you and myself for being a little late for Pictureplane as a certain DC band admitted he was perhaps the most banginest and a friend I met upstairs informed me his set pretty much blew her skirt off.  Well, damn.  Won’t happen again as he’s firmly etched in my brain as the dude who looks like he rode his fixed gear directly down 295 from the Ottobar.  And I love that place.

Ernest Greene, aka Washed Out, took the stage next for a brief but energetic set.  “Get Up” channeled Kool and the Gang’s “Get Down On It” as asses young and old started to switch while “You’ll See It” had the packed house in full swing.  I think I may have even heard some chopped and screwed Eric Prydz in there.  Mr. Greene has admitted his lack of enthusiasm regarding one-man shows before and this was noticeable.

He was completely capable from the jump at recreating the lush disco of the Life of Leisure EP but, with Small Black on the backup, the songs swelled with emotion much bigger than bedroom headphone tinkering.  He also looked like he was having the time of his life.

Small Black, mixing in the crowd with fans, friends, and family during Washed Out, wasted no time getting on stage and ripping through their EP and then some.  Josh Kolenik and Ryan Heyner have added DC’s Jeff Curtain and Juan Pieczanski on drums and bass, respectively, and the foursome together turned wistful songs like “Despicable Dogs” into party monsters.

Personal favorite “Weird Machines” soared on the strength of barbarous riffs reminiscent of U2’s “Numb” on steroids and new tracks like “Reaching” showcased an energy I’m pretty excited to witness on a forthcoming LP and future gigs.  Josh, clad in white button down and Minnesota fitted, patrolled the keys and prowled the stage as a consummate, comfortable frontman.  Washed Out joined the fray midway and through the end of the set as the bands intertwined their own remixes of each other and celebrated as much as the audience.

The insanity incited onstage and in the crowd made it easy to see why this tour is busting every small club at the seams – see everyone at the Cat or RnR next time.