Unknown Music Spotlight

I often find bands and wonder why so many people don’t know about them. Each week I will try to showcase these bands to you in a segment I am calling the Unknown Music Spotlight.

This week I am highlighting three bands from the Washington D.C. area: Faraquet, The Slickee Boys, and The Evens.

Faraquet

Faraquet was a short lived band that only lasted from 1997 to 2001. In that amount of time they released a few EPs, but only one full length album. The full length album, The View From This Tower, is a post-hardcore jazz infused masterpiece. They are classified as a math rock band, but in reality they are a mixture of unique genres. The band did get back together in 2008 to release a compilation album of their early singles and EPs and reunion shows around Brazil and Washington D.C.

Songs to try out first:
“The View From This Tower”
“Carefully Planned”
“Study In Complacency”

The Slickee Boys

The Slickee Boys were a legendary band in the Washington D.C. punk scene. Over the years they performed live with Bad Brains, The Cramps, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, The Kinks, and The Ramones. U2 even opened for them! The Slickee Boys differ from many other punk bands in that they combine punk with psychedelic and new wave. The Slickee Boys played their most recent reunion show at the 9:30 Club in 2011.

Songs to try out first:
“This Party Sucks”
“When I Go To The Beach”
“Here To Stay”

The Evens

The Evens are Ian Mackaye’s latest concoction in the world of music. Drifting away from his usual hardcore punk, he got together with Amy Farina and created a very acoustic vibe while keeping the DIY punk ethics in full swing. They are well known for only playing all ages shows at strange venues like thrift stores and libraries. The Evens recently played at The Bike Doctor in Frederick. Be on the lookout for their return!

Songs to try out first:
“Shelter Two”
“Sooner Or Later”
“Wanted Criminals”