All three of the songs on The Moderate's release, AM/FM, show a very strong imprint from singer/guitarist Jim Dempsey and drummer Drew Marks' home state of North Carolina. From Dempsey's twangy drawl to the songs' seemingly heat and humidity laden relaxed tempo, there's no question where this band's roots lie. The blues that they evoke on "Lost Boy", "Rock and Roll" and "Blue Eyes and Barflies" could make your puppy cry.

The majority of The Moderate's catalog has been written in the 18 months since Dempsey and Marks came to D.C. and met bassist Mike Maloney. The band has since proven themselves worthy of notice in a city with a relatively crowded urban alt-country scene (Vandaveer, These United States, etc.): they've recently opened for national recording artist Denison Witmer and have garnered a spot playing at Fort Reno this summer, on June 30. A lot can happen in 18 months. We e-mailed all three members of the band to talk about North Carolina, their favorite spots in D.C. and what they've learned from The Grateful Dead.

Visit them online at: http://www.myspace.com/themoderate

See them next: June 28 at the Velvet Lounge

Pick up AM/FM at: Crooked Beat, or email them at themoderatemusic@gmail.com and they'll send you a copy. Service with a smile, baby!

Do you think that being from Raleigh or living in D.C. has been a bigger influence on your songwriting?

JD: I would have to say that growing up in North Carolina has had a more substantial influence on my songwriting so far. The prevalence of bluegrass and country music in the region is something that certainly was not lost on me. Still, at least when I was a child living at home, Dad was more likely to throw on an Elvis album than anything.

Most of the songs that The Moderate is playing now, however, were written since I've been in D.C. There are subtle (and not so subtle) references to the city and occasionally some of its landmarks. It's a powerful, bustling place and its youth and liveliness is inspiring.

What do you prefer about the music scene in North Carolina? What do you prefer about the music scene in D.C.?

DM: NC has a great music scene, especially the area where Jim and I grew
up. The Chapel Hill/Raleigh scene has great venues for national acts but also breeds great local bands. A lot great bands have come out of NC.

MM: D.C. is pretty transient. People come for a govt. job or an education or
some variable of that and stumble onto our rickety, toothless music scene. It keeps it mildly fresh.

How does your songwriting process work? Is it mostly one person or is it more collective?

JD: I write the music and lyrics for each song. Once it's finished, I'll introduce it to Mike and Drew at a practice session, and we arrange it as a band. Both of them are very creative and have incredible musical minds. There are some songs that have been completely torn down and built back up before we've really unveiled them. That's the best thing about sharing a stage with such talented guys. There are serious disagreements about a song's direction or substance sometimes but slowly we've learned to put our egos aside and hear each other's ideas out. I think our more intense collaboration has spawned some of best new songs like "Small Pills" and "Their Mistakes Will Seem Familiar".

MM: Jim arrives with ideas. Drew thinks about how its going to fit with the rest of our music. I try to bridge the chasm between the two of them to ensure cohesiveness. Then, we generally change it all around, or scrap it altogether.

DM: Jim writes the initial arrangements, with most lyrics and music in
place. As a band, we take these ideas and his rough draft and arrange most songs as a band. The song writing process for us is pretty wide open, so some arrangements come from trial and error in rehearsal with a basic outline set in place. We all bounce ideas off each other and take what serves the song best.

Jim, I've read that you're a Grateful Dead fan. What can we find in songs by The Moderate that have echoes of the Dead?

JD: The Dead influence is more unique to me although Drew grew up a pretty big fan as well. Mike on the other hand refused to listen to them until recently but, thanks to his girlfriend, I think he's coming around slowly but surely. When you're a young musician, it's natural to mimic those you listen to. Jerry was my guy. I loved the tenderness and vulnerability of his voice, and interestingly I always felt his guitar tone carried the same traits. Obviously as I've gotten older and matured musically I've developed my own style and tastes, but there is no question that Jerry, and the Dead, introduced me to lots of my first country and jazz influences.

The Moderate tends to stick close to our songs' blueprints but there is still some improvisation. "Lost, Boy" is one song in which the guitar solo builds off the mood on the stage, whether it be Drew's drive and energy, unmatched in DC, or Mike's thumping. I learned from the Dead the importance of relying on the other guys in your band.

Who are some of your other influences?

JD: Lately, I've become a huge fan of The Smiths (thanks to Mike), Miles Davis (taught me the importance of the flat fifth note), Thelonious Monk, Willie Nelson, M. Ward, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Otis Redding, Billie Holiday, to name a few.

MM: Led Zeppelin, Richard Buckner, Bill Wyman.

DM: I try to take something from everything I listen to. I would say that
from a drummers stance that I really love what Matt Pence from Centro-Matic incorporates into their music. He puts the notes exactly where they belong and never over plays. Shows that well placed notes are always better than too many notes. I love what I am hearing from guys like Wax Fang, the Whigs, Magnolia Electric Co.

How did the three of you meet?

MM: I met Jim at the open mic night, in which I host, at the Iota Club and Cafe. He was just a young pup with some ancient roots and deceptively
complex songs. We got a band together shortly thereafter.

JD: Drew and I grew up in Raleigh and have been best friends since sixth grade. For Christmas '96, I got a little Fender Squire Strat (w/ accompanying shitty amp) and Drew got a drum set. We started our first band (Feedback) probably a week after we got our instruments - and we were absolutely terrible. Anyway, we've played on and off since then but once Drew moved up to D.C. we decided we needed to get something going.

I met Mike when I first moved to D.C. I had written all these songs but I never, ever played outside of my house more or less. My friend Walker talked me into going up to Iota to try some tunes out at an open-mic. The guy who hosted the open mic was Mike Maloney. He liked my stuff and took me under his wing. He let me record three songs solo at his studio for a demo. I did a show with him at DC9 last June. Drew was there, and the three of us were talking after the show. Mike said "I want to play bass with you." And here we are...

What are your favorite venues to play?

JD: Iota (great spot and sentimental value); Rock and Roll Hotel; DC9

Who are your favorite local bands?

JD: Brandon Butler is phenomenal; Justin Jones & the Driving Rain; I think that Beanstalk Library is great; and obviously Bustine, Revival are good too.

MM: All time: Jawbox, Shudder to Think. Currently: Gist, Brandon Butler

DM: Revival, John Bustine, Justin Jones, Vandaveer, These United States, Rose, Kitty Hawk