DAM! Fest Thursday

Tonight is the start of 2007's version of The District's Awake! Music Festival or DAM! Fest as it is so eloquently marketed. As they are about to takeover the city, we found it only fitting that we do a preview of the first night. Since I'm too exhausted to wax poetic on all of these bands, I'll give quick comments on each bill, hook you up with some mp3s and allow you to map out your night.


The Red and The Black (Doors @ 8:30)
I feel that this bill exemplifies what DAM! Fest is all about. Sure, the big names and venues are sexy and they will get the attention, but we all know that the underground is where it's at. Take a bunch of very talented (yet, under the radar) DC bands, throw them in a small venue with a solid out of town band and let them amaze those that are smart enough to skip the big crowds for them.

Hello Society (Washington, DC)

Southeast Engine (Athens, OH) - Coming To Terms With Gravity
Vandaveer (Washington, DC) - Marianne, You've Done It Now
Julie Ocean (Washington, DC) - At The Appointed Hour


DC9 (Doors @ 8:00)
This is going to be a noisy little show that includes a nice mix of DC and out of town bands.

Foreign Islands (Brooklyn, NY) - We Know You Know It
So Many Dynamos (St Louis, MO) - Search Party
Drunken Sufis (Washington, DC) - Mission Accomplished
bottles/cans (Washington, DC) - Tabitha Calhoun


Rock and Roll Hotel (Doors @ 7:30)
This bill is your sex appeal for the night and it's very Brooklyn heavy, with some international flavor thrown in for good measure. That said, my personal pick for band of the night is on this bill and that would be A Place To Bury Strangers. I saw them in August... pure walls of noise, smoke machines and flashing strobe lights. If you go to see them, bring earplugs and try not to have a seizure. You have been warned.

Dirty on Purpose (Brooklyn, NY) - No Radio
The Big Sleep (Brooklyn, NY) - You Can't Touch The Untouchable
A Place to Bury Strangers (Brooklyn, NY) - I Know I'll See You
Slaraffenland (Denmark) - Show Me The Way
Via Audio (Brooklyn, NY) - We Can Be Good