July 1- 7, 2004

musicpicks

Bush Must Go-Go with Washington Social Club

ROCK/POP

Without party affiliation, this pre-Independence Day bash promises little beyond Bush-dissing and bands bunched together against George. And isn't that how we got here: statesmen united against a George? Several Philly bands fight for your rights: Rocco Renzetti's shimmy psych-popping The Elevator Parade, the crowded, clustered avant rock of The Nite Lights. Yet, D.C.'s own Washington Social Club is the best reason to stay out, bashing. On their roomy debut CD — Catching Looks (Badman) produced by Philly's Brian McTear — the spare, brusque, pop-punky "On the Inside" and "New Jersey Malls" have sharp, funny, poli-sci lyrical hearts. This doesn't turn songwriter Martin Royle into Woodie Guthrie — or lead singer Evan Featherstone and background harmonist Olivia Mancini into Up With People. It simply gives their high, heaving vocals and WSC's Hot Hot Heat/Voidoids/Clash-like sound a reason to be besides making cool character studies like "Charlie the Russian" and hook-filled freak-outs like "Breaking the Dawn."

Sat., July 3, 9 p.m., $8, with The Elevator Parade, The Sutras and The Nite Lights, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

—A.D. Amorosi