Check out the first single from Paint Branch, a new band featuring former members of Q and Not U.

There’s always something special about last shows. Whether the final episode of a beloved television series, or the farewell tour of a band, or even just the closing show of a tour, the artists involved always seem to throw a little something extra into the mix. So what does that mean for someone like Ted Leo, who closed out his tour Saturday night at the 9:30 Club, for whom giving roughly 210% at any…

Welcome to the final installment of January’s Three Stars. So far we’ve covered Hello Tokyo, Mike Holden, and today we’re rounding out with Ris Paul Ric. Chris Richards Image from popmatters.com It doesn’t come easy to most musicians. For some, all they could ask for is a few great songs on a couple albums and a loyal fanbase. A world tour would be nice, no doubt. For DC musician and former Q and not U…

In yesterday’s first installment of January Three Stars, you met Hello Tokyo. Today we’re covering local guitarist/singer Mike Holden, and tomorrow we’ll round things out with Ris Paul Ric (aka Chris Richards). Mike Holden We saw Mike Holden play this past Friday at Revolution Records, where he was promoting his EP, Level, alongside Sara Kryscio. His music is equal parts rock and folk. The guitar playing is mostly in the folk sphere, and his vocals…

Welcome to the January 2006 edition of Three Stars. Tomorrow, we’ll get up close and personal with Mike Holden, and Thursday we’ll show you the many sides of Chris Richards. Today, we talk to Hello Tokyo, discussing their new EP and an upcoming network television debut. Hello Tokyo No, Gwen Stefani did not already have her baby, and no it did not go through a miraculous rapid aging process, move to DC and form a…

By DCist Music Contributor Willie May. On Friday night, a long line of people of all ages stretched down 14th St. for the final performance by one of Washington, D.C.’s most beloved bands in recent memory. The familiar call of “Black Cat Black Cat!” welcomed locals and the long-traveled alike to bid a rocking goodbye. There was definitely something in the air at the farewell performance of Q And Not U. The Black Cat was…

Gosh darnit. Can’t any D.C. bands that we love and adore just stay together for our sake? First the Dismemberment Plan disband a while back, now Q and Not U have decided that the band has run its course and the three members, Chris Richards, Harris Klahr, and John Davis, will be moving on to other projects, Pitchfork reports. On Q and Not U’s site, the band, who has been together for seven years, states:”With…