“What are your favorite DC bands and artists that nobody talks about?”
Memoirist Mike Scalise posted that question to Twitter on Thursday afternoon—please no super-famous acts like Fugazi or Chuck Brown, he told his followers. In response, the city’s music-lovers stepped up to the proverbial mic and shouted out their underrated favorites. Scalise even turned the guitar-laden soundtrack of DC into a playlist—consider it recommended listening as you scroll through some of the replies:
Darkest Hour, Periphery.
— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) February 19, 2021
Early Humans, Shy Glizzy and this has prob been mentioned Black Eyes
— Kam Tambini (@TAMBIN0) February 19, 2021
Nobody's mentioned The Goons yet, the band that got me into punk. More recently, The Shirks.
— James Doubek (@JamesDoubek) February 19, 2021
have a hard time telling whether or not Nation of Ulysses is unknown outside of DC but they’re my fave
— wig-wag ? (@wigwagmag) February 18, 2021
Another vote for 9353, as well as the vast DC go-go scene, and then by the 1990s there was Thievery Corporation and the downtempo scene.
— Brendan Hasenstab (@pierrepont) February 19, 2021
Strange Boutique. This is a photo I took at their reunion show in 2019. Iconic DC goth band that is incredibly underrated. pic.twitter.com/XmKGbzM8XN
— Nowhere Girl (@Sailor_mourn) February 19, 2021
Postal Service
Oddisee
Jukebox the Ghost
Granny and the boys@hemlinesband @bbbrybry
White Ford Bronco
Lucky Dub— max richman (@richmanmax) February 19, 2021
Jonathan Fire Eater (they were all from DC—I grew up with them)!
— elliott holt (@elliottholt) February 18, 2021