Arguably, live shows define a year in music more so than albums. It’s possible to discover or rediscover an album well after its release date. If the album is truly one of the best of that year, it will transcend the year or even the decade in which it was released. Live shows, on the other hand, are absolutely tied to the two-hour block of time in which they occur.

Sample some of our favorite quotes from D.C.’s local artists and label heads. This is the year in Three Stars.