Exit Clov
Out of the madness of DC comes trademark Exit Clov tunes of revolution, ennui and societal idiocy -- smart music for kids of the next century. The band's name, a tribute to Samuel's Beckett's "Endgame," is both a call to arms and a personal manifesto. Glossing sweet indie pop vocals over vitriolic bass, drum and guitar grooves, the combo introduces an exclusive sound referred to as "kaleidoscopic pop noir." Seamlessly fusing classical and rock instrumentation, the Clov share influences ranging from Bartok to Blondie. Despite the schizophrenia, you won't find Exit Clov straying far from the hot and catchy, delivering antidotes for a generation of music fans who seek songs clever enough to outlast the times. Exit Clov have to their credit two self-produced EPs (2004 Starfish, 2005 Saskwatch), the Jolly Roget Sessions (2006) -- on which they enlisted the help of Roger Greenawalt (No Doubt, Ben Kweller, Iggy Pop, White Stripes) -- and the recently released Respond Respond EP(2007), recorded, mixed and produced by Colin Cobb of Livewire Recordings.

Song: Moving Gaza

Georgia James
Who is Georgie James? Add the Y of multi-instrumentalist John Davis (drummer of D.C.'s defunct Q And Not U), the X of singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn, and their combined knack for evocative production, inventive songwriting, and multi-part harmonies, and you're almost there. Mix in the duo's passion for 60s & 70s pop music including The Kinks, Richard & Linda Thompson, The Jam, Simon & Garfunkel, and some Shake Some Action-era Flamin' Groovies, and you've got it. While Georgie James may at first seem like a strange amalgam, everything fits together perfectly on their Saddle Creek debut, Places.

Song: Need Your Needs

Jukebox the Ghost
Loaded up with guitars, keyboards, amps, and a drum kit, Jukebox the Ghost rolls up to their shows in a premium 1999 mini van. They take the stage and launch into a set of instantly catchy, piano-driven indie pop. The audience can't help but smile as they watch the band bounce around on stage, leading the audience in a frenzy of hand claps, sing-a-longs, and a genuine good 'ol time.

Song: Good Day

Le loup
During certain periods in life, creativity goes beyond serving as an outlet for dealing with stress, beyond being a welcome distraction, and becomes a compulsion. It is at this moment, when creation starts to bridge the gap between superfluity and intrinsic necessity, that some of the best art is realized. For Sam Simkoff, the creative force behind Le Loup, a similar cathartic tumult resulted in The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium Assembly.

Song: Gods Wolves

Middle Distance Runner
Middle Distance Runner is an indie-pop outfit from Washington, D.C. whose 5 members combine their different influences to create a multi-layered sound that seamlessly blends their disparate influences. In addition to indie-pop, their sound has elements of heavy rock and shoe-gazing layered beneath the accessible surface.

Song: The Sun and Earth

Pash
While the end of most crushes can lead to heartbreak, the end of one crush blossomed into the beginnings of Pash. Through a chance meeting at their small liberal arts college in a Podunk Virginia town, Merideth Munoz's interest in Erik Bruner-Yang quickly turned from romantic to musical. The two began collaborating on a few of Merideth's solo songs and soon after added Erik's roommate and childhood friend, Jon Bibb on the drums. The bond the three shared was not yet matched with any of the numerous bassists Pash had played with until Jon invited another childhood friend and frequent musical collaborator, Ryan McLaughlin to play with the band. With Ryan on deck, Pash toured the East Coast and recorded their second album, "The Best Gun."

Song: 16 Down

Samantha Murphy
Google singer songwriter and the first name you'll find is Samantha Murphy. For the past three years, Samantha has been establishing herself as not only a singer songwriter, but the place to go to hear other great singer songwriters. With her popular Podcast SMtv, Samantha features a different artist from a different city and venue each week as she tours. Past guests include Elvis Perkins, Matthew Ryan, Inara George, Jesse Malin, Harvey Danger and Abra Moore. Over 700,000 people have downloaded her program. Now with her website, SMtvMusic.com, Samantha is building a legal file-sharing network of all of the artists she's featured over the past three years.

Song: Silent and Still

These United States
These United States is the new DC - a wide-eyed amalgamation of psyche-folk and the punk rock ethic, a band of merry pranksters spinning something fiercely, unapologetically positive out of the sinking reality of an empire gone Titanic. At the helm of the lifeboat, Jesse Elliott, gonzo-journalist-turned-troubadour, whose rag-tag States have criss-crossed the continental U.S. and Europe for nearly 300 shows in their first two years of operations, supporting and sharing stages with the likes of Califone (Thrill Jockey), Richard Buckner (Merge), Page France (Suicide Squeeze), Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (Polyvinyl), Catfish Haven (Secretly Canadian), Karl Blau (K), Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter (Barsuk), and Georgie James (Saddle Creek).

Song: First Sight