It’s that time again! For this month’s Three Stars — our monthly feature that highlights three local bands — we’ll start off today with The Hint, take a look at The Apparitions tomorrow, and finish things up on Thursday with Shortstack.

The Hint

Experiencing The Hint, is like tossing back that late night Jager shot just as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” streams through the bar sending a new wave of energy and passion through the crowd. The Baltimore/DC based band even sports 80’s hairstyles. And while highly danceable tracks such as “Kiss Kiss” and the rock ballad “Hope Street” remind us of great music that has been done before, these guys add their own element of originality to the lyrics and live performances that make them stand out as a band to watch in the coming months. They’ve already attracted the attention of Taking Back Sunday producer, Sal Villaneuva, and will embark on both a US tour that includes a stop at the SXSW music festival in Austin and trip to the UK in March.

DCist caught up with them for their last show in the DC area and The Hint’s first performance at the 9:30 Club on February 3rd. A very full audience was gathered to revel in the 4 band lineup, and though some in the mixed crowd may have originally come out for one of the other acts, the view from the balcony of the swaying/dancing masses below demonstrated their charm and ability to win over the audience. With only singles and EPs under their belt, hopefully this is all just a “hint” of what’s to come for the band with such ambition and appeal.

Visit them at: http://TheHint.com

See them next: U.S. Tour Begins
February 24 – March 22
All Tour Dates @ Myspace
Includes SXSW 2006 – Maggie Maes (venue),
BMI Stage, March 15, 8PM