We’ve talked about the lineup, interviewd the organizer, and even talked to a couple bands. Now we want to give you the chance to hear what’s coming our way with some MP3 previews of a few DAM Fest bands. The music staff got together, divied up the lineup, gathered some files together and is now serving up brief breakdowns of a few bands D.C. will play host to this weekend. If you’ve got some insight on any of these bands, let us know.

Oranges Band
When the DAM! Lineup first came out, the most appetizing show appeared to be Thursday’s DC9 quadruple bill. Human blog barometers Cold War Kids might be getting the most press right now, but Baltimore’s Oranges Band are who really caught my eye. An endorsement from Craig Finn of The Hold Steady certainly sweetens their pot, but these guys could easily do it alone. Their stuff runs the gamut from Big Star to twee pop to the best of the Rainbow Quartz label’s revivalist psych. Roman Kuebler’s winsome melodies and nostalgic lyrics – clever when you can actually pick up what he’s saying, just plain pretty when you can’t – tie everything together. I haven’t heard a better album from a local band than their recent, wonderfully crafted LP The World and Everything In It. The safe money says their live show doesn’t disappoint either.

Bellflur
Joining Oranges Band (and CWK, and Soft Complex) on Thursday at DC9 is Wilmington’s Gaithursburg’s Bellflur. Resurrecting Radiohead’s damaged guitar work with an ear for hooks and a more prominent wall of noise, the ‘Flur have “punishing live act” written all over them. Should make an interesting bill, sandwiched somewhere between torch-bearing, “conservative” alt rockers (Cold War Kids) and stately guitar pop craftsmen (Oranges Band), but diversity’s still supposed to be a good thing, right?

Forget Cassettes
Forget Cassettes hails from Nashville, Tenn. — best known as the Music City. But don’t expect honky-tonk piano solos and songs about “loving bars” from this three piece. Forget Cassettes’ songs are moody, musically complex and interwoven with tales of love and loss. On top of that, we’ve heard members Beth Cameron, Jay Leo Phillips and Aaron Ford put on a volatile stage show.