Over the past few years, Carol Bui has been working hard building a following for her inventive and emotive post-punk. After a summer spent in the studio recording the follow-up to her highly praised debut, This is How I Recover, Bui’s show at next week’s DAM!Fest kicks off three weeks of touring that will take her as far west as Madison, Wisconsin. Bui’s reputation for excellent live shows precedes her, and material from the new album promises to be an eclectic offering. Her band, including Len Bias drummer Mark Raymond, bassist Ian Wright (who will be replaced on tour by Bui’s former bandmate in punk outfit Princessed, Meagan Perkins) and cellist Jenny Petrow, will join her at The Red and The Black on Friday, October 28, along with Decibully and Laura Burhenn.

How did you get involved in DAM!Fest?

I was invited to play DC with Decibully. They’re on tour and the DC date coincides with the festival. That’s how we both got involved!

Some aspects of DAM!Fest remind me a little of the International Pop Underground Festival…that festival was obviously a watermark for a particular community, is there a feeling that this event might help to galvanize and bring together D.C.’s musicians in a similar way?

I think the creators of The International Pop Underground Festival had a more targeted mission in that they were specifically promoting DIY ethics/punk rock spirit and aligning like-minded music lovers against corporate music. From what I understand, the DAM!Fest serves a different purpose, but one just as valuable; to simply promote and bring in great music to our home town. I do think it will bring the D.C. music community a little closer, and that this community will include a wider range of fans and musicians. You don’t have to be anti-corporate or religious about DIY practices (not that there’s anything wrong with that) to feel comfortable in taking part.

Photo by Shervin Lainez.