By John Watson
When I went to see dc Motors on December 18th, the thing that struck me the most was how at home they seemed in the restaurant/bar atmosphere of Julio's Capitol Hill. Throughout the evening, they chatted with the people in the small crowd that was gathered there, and the bass player frequently left his spot with the band while he played. Also, they seemed to take in stride what appeared to be some technical problems with equipment (reverb and a temporary loss of sound). It was obvious that the members of dc Motors enjoy what they do and feel comfortable performing in these types of surroundings.
This trio consists of a guitarist, bassist and drummer who trade off on vocals, with the drummer and guitarist doing the majority of the singing. Relying mainly on straightforward covers and originals for their material, they stick to rock & roll. The song selection could be described as festive for the most part, which fit in well with the holiday mood and the relaxed party environment of Julio's.
The quickest version of the Grateful Dead's "Casey Jones" that I've ever heard set the tone early on. This was followed by covers of "Brown-Eyed Girl" (Van Morrison), "Margaritaville" (Jimmy Buffett) and a version of a Tom Petty song that sounded very close to the original, especially in terms of vocals. Occasionally, the music took on a slower, more reflective tone, as with the Dead's "Ripple" and the melancholy "Wicked Game."
Although the band turned to reggae for some of the material, perhaps to broaden the musical variety of the show, they seemed more at home in the rock vein, especially on classics such as "Pretty Woman." Their playing had a varied feel to it throughout the performance, and this was evident during an interesting rockabilly-type guitar solo (during which the guitarist ventured high up the fretboard), which took place during one of their originals.
Overall, dc Motors' greatest strength lies in their ability to provide listeners with a night of good old,
unpretentious rock & roll. They enjoy playing music and interacting with their audience. The next time you're in the mood for a relaxing evening of entertainment, head to your neighborhood bar and check them out.
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