The Seldon Plan

I have a feeling that The Seldon Plan loves “We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes.” With their dual Fender guitar assault, The Seldon Plan’s newest record “Making Circles” has instrumentation very reminiscent of Death Cab for Cutie’s masterpiece, but also draws immediate vocal parallels to Nada Surf and Elliott Smith. This Baltimore quartet crafts moody, dreamy pop songs filled with guitar texture and tight harmonies. Honest, sincere and warm, The Seldon Plan is among the more charming bands in the area. Performing primarily in Baltimore, the group makes it down to DC every couple of months, but it is likely that the strength of “Making Circles” will take them out on the road on a more regular basis.  Catch them on the ground floor before this wonderful little secret gets out.

The Seldon Plan
www.theseldonplan.com
Album: Making Circles
Label: OTPRecords
Six Points Show:
April 7 @ The Mansion at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD



Lucky Day

Lucky Day is a relative newcomer to DC and continues an ongoing trend towards sunny pop music in the District’s blossoming scene. Coming together just last summer, the quartet features vocalist Victoria Patchen, whose crystalline delivery is sure to draw comparisons to Kay Hanley or Vanessa Carlton. Combining a mid-‘90s style instrumental assault with the glossy vocal sheen of today’s top forty pop, Lucky Day is an agreeable, likeable band that writes catchy songs. While not extremely innovative musically, songs such as “Time Will Only Know” and “Rainy Days” are cemented by Patchen’s infectious vocal melodies. Though less than a year old, Lucky Day has already been receiving radio play and will be celebrating their CD release for “All My Rainy Days” on April 15 at Jammin’ Java.

Lucky Day
www.luckydayband.com
Album: All My Rainy Days
Label: Self-released
Six Points Show:
April 7 @ Velvet Lounge
915 U Street NW
Washington DC



Stamen & Pistils

On Tap has often noted the renaissance in forward thinking experimental music taking place in Washington DC. One of the more accessible groups on the edge of that movement is Stamen & Pistils, whose brooding guitar and piano melodies are enhanced by dark electronic wizardry. Though rather dense, Stamen & Pistils’ recent full length “End of the Sweet Parade” is captivating in its gloom. In some ways, this DC duo is on par with indie-darlings Animal Collective or Devendra Banhart–folk music at heart that is twisted and warped into something far more interesting and challenging. But while Banhart and Animal Collective rely on more organic instrumentation to achieve their innovation, Stamen & Pistils look toward electronic drums, blips, white noise, and other samples to push at folk’s tattered edges.

Stamen & Pistils
www.stamenandpistils.com
Album: End of the Sweet Parade
Label: Echelon Productions
Six Points Show:
April 8 @ Galaxy Hut
2711 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA



The Dance Party

As long as there are slackers, there will be slacker rock, and College Park’s The Dance Party are set out to provide the soundtrack for a new generation of guys who want nothing more than to play air guitar and get stoned. With songs like “Nintendo Power” and the brilliantly titled “Daniel LaRusso is Going to Fight,” the Dance Party’s version of power-pop invokes the simpler pleasures of life: video games, beer, and of course, “The Karate Kid.” But on top of their absurdly fun lyrics and song titles, the band has written some great guitar hooks and catchy vocal lines. With an ‘80s pop overtone, the Dance Party’s debut EP was produced by Drew Doucette of the Beauty Pill, and is sure to have many slackers bobbing their heads in blissful approval.

The Dance Party
www.thedanceparty.net
Album: The Dance Party EP
Label: Self-released
Six Points Show:
April 7 @ Whitlows on Wilson
2854 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA