Walking into Jammin’ Java Friday night, here’s what I knew about Philly rockers Marah: 1) High Fidelity and About a Boy author Nick Hornby, a man who has documented his musical preferences at least enough for me to know I largely share them, loves on this band so much he devoted one of his book columns in Believer magazine a couple of years ago to their largely unsung magnificence. 1a) Stephen King –Josh Ritter…

Say you’re part of that very vocal contingent that is unmoved by, or else just plain hates, Under the Blacklight, the heavily Fleetwood Mac-ified new album from L.A. indie-twangers Rilo Kiley. Maybe you were afraid that the rapturous reception to Rabbit Fur Coat, frontwoman and chief songwriter Jenny Lewis’s solo disc from last year, would spell the end of the band. Or else that Blacklight — with its not-always-convincing depiction of sexual perversity in Los…

We’re all familiar with The Rules. You know, that iron clad system by which every woman can land herself the man of her dreams and keep him, if only she’s willing to act like the most obnoxious kind of person you’ve ever met. Of course, men have rules, too. They just don’t publish them. They’ve been passed down in locker rooms, cigar-choked men’s-only clubs, and fraternity houses for time immemorial. The fact is, I could…

Welcome to the December edition of Three Stars. Tomorrow, we’ll be reviewing the Lucky Bastards, and on Friday, we’ll bring you coverage of LeJeune. Today, we talk to The Bonapartes, and discuss their new EP. The Bonapartes So, DCist last saw The Bonapartes at an under-the-radar benefit gig in the front room of a Florida Avenue townhouse, where the lo-fi sound setup had our ears ringing and the advertised open bar was a couple of…

The Pat McGee Band headlined the Z104 music festival in Old Town Alexandria on Saturday, capping off a day of performances by Adam Day, the Bicycle Thieves (soon to play Unbuckled), and Low Millions. A Virginia native now settled in Bristol, Rhode Island, Pat McGee has been traveling all over the country to support the small label rerelease of Save Me. The band, which has been touring up and down the East Coast for 10…

Lemonface is a local pop-ska band that’s been making waves throughout the D.C. metropolitan area not only for their catchy tunes and harmonies, but for the fact that they’re all just 14 years old. Coming down off a show this past Monday at Fort Reno, the three members, Dana, Richard and Brendan took time to answer some DCist questions. VITALS: Full Name: Dana Wilentz (bass/vocals) Age: 14 Hometown: Montgomery Village, Md. Full Name: Richard Wynne…