According to Washington City Paper‘s recent Best of D.C. issue, Bluebrain are the “best band that left Brooklyn for D.C. and not vice-versa.” Were this therapy, one might explore the District’s attachment issues regarding the perpetual northern flight of our beloved bands, always the musical bridesmaid/groomsman for greener pastures. But the DMV return of the hermanos Holladay, Ryan and Hays, after a sizable tenure in Brooklyn with The Epochs, is indeed a homecoming worth celebrating. Following its debut EP Cult Following released last year, Bluebrain’s first full-length, Soft Power, is a wildly eclectic collection of swirling electronics layered atop textured, thoughtful pop songs.

On the heels of a record release party at the newly christened U Street Music Hall, the band has generated a great deal of excitement for this Saturday’s Cherry Blossom Boombox Walk, an event it’s coordinating with ReadySetDC. The concept: Bluebrain asked area luminaries-Chad Clark of Beauty Pill, Brian Weitz of Animal Collective, and Will Eastman, among others-to compose a new piece of music to be distributed to the crowd via cassette tape. Attendees, with their own boom box in toe, will come together to orchestrate a massive yet tuneful nature walk on the National Mall, much to the chagrin (or delight) of visiting spectators. DCist traded emails with singer Ryan Holladay regarding the inspiration behind this weekend’s event, D.C.’s musical aura and the difficulties of buying cassettes in bulk.

Find them online at: http://www.myspace.com/bluebrainofficial

See them next: At this Saturday’s Cherry Blossom Boom Box Walk. The event is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. near the Carousel on the Mall, in front of the Arts & Industries Building.