Today brings the final installment of the November Three Stars, a sit down interview with the Routineers, Three Stars’ first encounter with D.C.’s legendary label, Dischord. Tuesday we reviewed The Caribbean’s new album, Plastic Explosives. Yesterday we interviewed DJ Will Eastman. Three Stars will return in December.

The Routineers are comprised of Amanda MacKaye (yes, those MacKayes), Bill Nesper, Ryan Nelson and Todd McDonald. Amanda, Ryan and Todd played in a band called Jury Rig in the 90s. After a self proclaimed (see below) “bad break up,” the members scattered to different pursuits (including Ryan’s stint with The Most Secret Method), and Amanda met Bill while booking a short tour for his band Discount from Florida. Time passed and the three former Jury Rig members, plus Bill on drums (a switch for Ryan, who had always played drums in his previous bands) got together and the Routineers (pronounced Routine-ers) were born (first going as Deep Six, then changing the name before recording their album).

DCist caught up with The Routineers after their set at Friday night’s Katrina benefit at the Black Cat. Friday night’s bill included five bands (Andy Zipf, The Ambitions, Washington Social Club, the Routineers and Monopoli), and one DJ (Will Eastman), a group with little common musical ground. That being the case, the crowd pulled from an array of fan bases, and audience involvement wasn’t somewhat reserved, but the band played a great set based around their self-titled album, co-released on Sammich Records and Dischord. The set was peppered with commentary, from the status of Ryan Nelson’s facial hair to Amanda MacKaye’s political urges. It was a solid set that grasped DCist and held our attention. The band was gracious enough to sit down with us afterwards and answer a few questions.

Visit the Routineers at: http://www.routineers.com/index.html

Questions for the Routineers: