Sunday night. Oscar night. Not the best circumstances under which to host a four band alt-rock lineup and expect many city folk to crawl out to suburban Vienna, Virginia’s Jammin’ Java. But the few that did forgo the hyped up awards show were treated to a final farewell performance as two local brothers parted their ways and a trio from Brooklyn stepped up to prove why they might soon be recognized as the "Crash" of the music world. DCist missed the first two acts of the night, Conshafter and Billionaire Boys Club, but thoroughly enjoyed the unique performances by both D.C.’s own The Sketches and New York high riser’s, The Upwelling.

The Sketches

We were forewarned that The Sketches' leading guitarist, and brother to front man Charlie Bernardo, was leaving the band -- who released their first self-titled full length album last year after recording a series of demos with Warner Brother’s Records. He would be temporarily replaced with Tom, a new guitarist/pianist who had a mere 2 hour rehearsal with the actual band before their show Sunday night. While the first half of their set was a bit rough on the organizational front, understandably under the present circumstances (it should also be mentioned that bassist Greg Watkins was playing despite a stomach flu), their classic rock sound stood up to the challenge. Greg and his stand up bass brought a sophisticated feel to the performance in songs such as “Thoughts of You.” The thumping rhythm slowly pulled in the listener with foot tapping amusement.

If at any point in the show you were stuck wondering just who these guys sounded like, about halfway into the set brother Tony made his way up to the stage. Reunited (for the last time?) The Sketches launched into a mash-up cover of three very recognizable classic rock songs, telling you straight up who their influences were. Charlie’s wide vocal range and on point falsettos have been compared to Freddy Mercury, and they appropriately started off this piece with a little "Bohemian Rhapsody." Tony gave a praiseworthy rendition imitating Queen’s guitar riffs, and as the sound faded and we sat ready to shout “Mama Mia,” the band switched into the Beatle’s “A Day In the Life” and finally Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” all artists who have clearly played a role in the formation of the Sketches.

Tony remained on stage for the rest of the set, and the chemistry between the two brothers made the second half flow much more smoothly. A stand out performance of the catchy “Fly Baby, Right Now,” and an attempted three man acapella/acoustic version of “Intersecting Destinies” (a song which Charlie noted was a very apt closing number in light of the recent change) wrapped up the night for the Sketches. Perhaps with a permanent replacement for Tony and a soon-to-be-recorded follow up album , the band based off demos and faced with change will finally lay their name and their sound down in ink.

The Upwelling

From Dictionary.com:
up•well•ing n.
1. The act or an instance of rising up from or as if from a lower source: an upwelling of emotion.
2. A process in which cold, often nutrient-rich waters from the ocean depths rise to the surface.

They could not have chosen a more suitable name to describe this three-piece band from Brooklyn. In a sort of musical March Madness, the Upwelling has recently been chosen as one of Spin Magazine’s nominees for Band of the Year. Quite an accomplishment for these guys who sit in the "Underground" section of the tournament style format alongside bands such as The Cribs from England, Valencia, Panic! At the Disco and the Canadian indie rock songstress Feist. Now in round three of the tournament up against Demander, it’ll take your votes to bring them to the final four.

Under the stage lights and glow of the candle lit room, the Upwelling blew us away with a truly passionate hour long set, with vocals sung from beneath the veil of hair that completely covered lead singer Ari’s face. From the start, they commanded the room with a serious air that left little room for chatting in between songs. His powerful vocals drove through the melodic keyboard and drumming to produce a tight, clean-sounding blend of instrumentation and emotion. “In Her Arms/Sam” silenced what was left of the late night Jammin’ Java crowd and “The Steps” brought the energy back up with its upbeat lyrics and rhythm that culminated in an “upwelling” of the nutrient rich sound they produce so skillfully.

With only an EP available currently, their website hosts a jukebox with a slew of their songs not yet recorded for sale or download. Hopefully there will be a full length album in the near future, with my favorite tracks “Diamond Ring” and “Worthy Enemy.” Show them some support; catch them the next time they stop by the District (hopefully on a more convenient night), and watch them rise through the ranks as they attempt to live up to their name.

Photo (The Sketches) from The Sketches

Photo (The Upwelling) by Dave Fletcher