Some joyful men the likes of The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn and Jens Lekman have graced D.C.’s stages over the past year, but all pale in comparison to the utter excitement exuded by Pela’s Bill McCarthy. Since their performance at DAM! Fest in October, Pela has had a rough couple of months. In addition to McCarthy’s 45 stitches in his hand, there was an allusion to a band member who went into the wilderness of his mind during that period, and a less than amicable split from their record label, Great Society Records. As it turns out, these challenges not only birthed four new songs, but the sort of fire onstage that made an already exciting live band put on a show that caused even lukewarm fans to leave with fists and hearts pumping.

The show began with sets from locals Red Racer (who I missed, thank you Nationals traffic) and Fever, who recall The Libertines but with fewer drugs, better drumming and a serious Jeff Buckley jones that was quite apparent on their song, “Amphetamine”. Then, Pela roared onstage with a cry of “D.C., if loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right!” The crowd clearly felt the love and there began a symbiosis as each fed off of the other’s energy. McCarthy started sweating through his T-shirt roughly three songs into the set, which is not terribly surprising given his penchant for climbing onto amplifiers and jumping into his band members’ faces. In response, the crowd became increasingly frenzied, shouting, clapping (even when uncalled for) and encouraging the band to make good on their pledge to play until 6 a.m.

Photo of Bill McCarthy from Pela by Kyle Gustafson