Saint Motel at DC9

Merrijoy August 1, 2012 DC Live, events, News No Comments

DC9 proved to be the spot for a great lineup of music last Sunday night. Los Angeles band Saint Motel headlined the diamond stage with their modern day 50’s rock-sounds and catchy hooks. Opening up for Saint Motel was another Los Angeles band, Races and Royal Teeth from Louisiana, both bands leaving a pleasant surprise in your ears. Three solid acts that I would easily see again once they roll into town next time around.

Royal Teeth opened the night playing tracks off of their EP Act Naturally. As a big fan of various drum kits, keytars, and the male + female vocals of Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson, Royal Teeth hit it right out the park. With their vocal melodies, catchy rhythmic tunes that work the crowd, this six-piece has proved to be a young band with great live and energetic musical talent. Looking forward to seeing them live in the future. Check out Wild down below.

Races was up next, another six-piece band from LA who have been on the bill with Saint Motel since the start of their tour. Though more tamed than their openers, Races was filled with gritty indie-rock, playing tracks off of their latest record Year of the Witch. Very impressive was how engulfed the crowd was toward their mid-breakdown during the track The Knife, resulting in woo’s from the crowd. I was definitely won over. Listen to the track “Lies” off of their record; easily my favorite and wonderful live too.

Saint Motel closes it out on the diamond stage, filling DC9 with an smoke machine that leader A/J said was just an illusion and for the crowd to come closer to the stage. In addition to the illusion was a pretty rad light that radiated in between bassist Dak and Greg on drums. They opened with their rack “Honest Feedback” from their recently released album Voyeur, amping up the crowd for the set that was about the come. A/J Jackson has foot moves that remind me of Jimmy Fallon’s Barry Gibb on SNL and I mean this in the best way possible. It brought a smile to my face as in these guys are having nothing but fun up there and with that brought infectious fun to the crowd at DC9. More tracks from Voyeur were heard like Benny Goodman, Feed Me Now, and still my favorite At Least I Have Nothing, which you can see below. They ended their set by playing one more song for the crowd since they had time and that being Dear Dictator off of their old EP ForPlay. Incredible live bands all around at DC9 on Sunday Night.

Check out our photos and videos from the show below.