Dance for the Dying EP Release Show at Red Palace

Merrijoy October 2, 2012 DC Live, events, News No Comments

To celebrate the release of their latest EP Puzzles for the Traveler (out today 10/2!), local synth-rock band Dance for the Dying brought along two more local natives, Ugly Purple Sweater and Fire and the Wheel to put together one very spiffy dance party.

Complete with party favors like balloons filled with glitter, poppers, and glowsticks - it was needless to say that the packed house at Red Palace were all excited for what Dance for the Dying had in store for them…that and the obvious invitation to dance. M.C. Wolfe, Joshua Hunter, Brad Cantor, and Chris Link dressed accordingly (homemade tutu and all) to match the colors of their EP cover, they came onto the stage ready to rock out with a set that was filled with some old, some new, one really new, and a couple of covers that would leave a sense of satisfaction in the mouths of those that came to celebrate.

Highlights:

-The very catchy, lead-single from the EP, “Mannequin” will never get old live as singing along to the high-pitched lyric of the same name really invites the crowd to be one with the band.

-Lead-singer M.C. Wolfe coming into the crowd to sing a new one (not even on the new EP-new). The band builds up to a moment that leads her to pop a balloon, raining glitter as she voices lyrics along the lines of “It’s not very nice to say right now/ But I wanna be the one to take you down.”

-During “Cold”, another one off the new EP, Donny Potter of Fire and the Wheel came to join the foursome on stage to play a guitar solo alongside Josh Hunter’s synths and M.C. Wolfe’s keytar.

-Death in the Garden transitioned into Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.” If that isn’t enough to understand the awesome, I don’t know what will.

After seeing them multiple times already, one can honestly say that these rising artists have become more and more polished at each show.

Can honestly say I didn’t know much about the openers prior to the show but between the indie-rock moodiness accompanied by killer horns from Fire and the Wheel or the commanding lead-vocals and banjo from Ugly Purple Sweater, you couldn’t have asked for a better lineup of DC bands on a Saturday night.

With the release of the new EP, you can catch Dance for the Dying at more shows! Brooklyn on 10/7, Taste of DC on 10/8, CMJ on 10/16, Philly on 10/22, and Baltimore on 10/27. Don’t miss them!

In the meantime, check out our photos from the show and for the full set, visit our photo gallery here.