Given the tradition of committed, fan-focused, punk-leaning Washington, D.C. acts–from Bad Brains to Fugazi to The Dismemberment Plan–it takes guts for four upstart rock players to call themselves Washington Social Club. It's like a bunch of late-coming northwesterners picking the name Seattle Grunge Committee. But Washington Social Club proves worthy of the name on Catching Looks, a debut packed with rousing vocals, rolling rhythms, and springy guitars.
The band bangs out inviting, clean college rock, and that "college" designation is important: The frame of reference here is the late '80s, with reference points that include The Replacements, Pixies, The Woodentops, The Wonder Stuff, Guadalcanal Diary, Billy Bragg, and the like. Even if WSC co-leaders Martin Royle and Olivia Mancini haven't heard half of those bands, they've still inherited their spirit of sweaty, shouty, riveting rock 'n' roll.
Washington Social Club's lyrics engage the modern world in non-didactic ways, from the flat-broke teenage kicks in "Dancing Song" ("I take my wallet out / but there's nothing in it / so fuck it, man / let's get stupid / stupid's free") to the overt populism of "Backed To The Future" and the divine visions of "New Jersey Malls." With its youthful energy and sloganeering, Washington Social Club should find the next John Hughes, get a WSC song on a teen-movie soundtrack, and hook the emerging generation.
Until that happens, the band has some work to do. Catching Looks shows promise, but Washington Social Club needs to minimize the structural repetitiveness on future releases, and maybe pony up for a production style with more physical oomph. But if it can get some traction, it stands a real chance at greatness. Good bands are plentiful, but a band worth devotion is rare.