This is the third installment of December’s Three Stars. On Wednesday, we covered The Bonapartes, and yesterday we discussed The Lucky Bastards. Today, we bring you Lejeune.

Lejeune

Not too long ago, several DCists headed to DC9 to listen to a trio of Three Stars candidates. By the end of the second act’s set, we felt comfortable about featuring either of the bands we’d heard. It was getting late, and we all had to get up for work the next day. Martin and Ryan headed out; this DCist decided to stick around for a couple of songs before braving the frigid bike ride home. Lejeune took the stage; I ended up staying for the entire set.

The first thing you notice is Greg Gendron and Ody Leonard’s rhythm section — this is a band that plays tight live. Soon enough J. Forté’s filling synths and Sam Bishop’s Michael Stipe by-way-of Robert Smith vocals assert themselves, and evoke fond memories of songs on HFS whose names you never learned. But it’s the half-surf tones of Matthew Richardson’s clean, delayed hollowbody electric that define the band’s live sound: crisp, loud, and classic. In short, these guys sound like the band your best friend’s cool older brother wouldn’t stop listening to during his first summer home from college.

Lejeune’s self-titled, eight-song debut has earned them the attention of podcasters and satellite radio; their live show makes them worthy of yours. They were nice enough to correspond with DCist about their background, plans, and thoughts on the city’s music scene.