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one long track, improvised

On Saturday, the 24th of June, four bands converged at a tiny venue, one block from the Maryland/DC border. The Death Chants were one of these four, and without a doubt my favorite of the show - completely eclipsing the friend's band that I came to see. The stage was absolutely filled with instruments - it was like peeking into the bedroom collection of that proverbial Music Guy. The entire set was low key, and surprisingly - considering that the two preceeding bands were both loud metal - the Death Chants brought a respectful hush that filled the room. Listening to them play live was a spine-chillingly beautiful experience - the first time in years that a band's music has had the power to keep my mind from wandering. Death Chants is one of the very few musically redeeming bands to have ever come out of the D.C. Metro area. Allow me to offer it, on behalf of the entire region, as our apology for birthing emo and "hardcore" (ie, musically non-distinguished) punk onto the unsuspecting world. Mark - Reed organ / electric guitar / bells / thumb piano / bouzouki / piano Alison - xylophone / vocals / flute / electric guitar Michael - boombox feedback / xylophone / acoustic & electric guitars / Omnichord Paul - drum / Alesis / viola Rafi - acoustic & electric guitar / banjo / struti box / E-Bow / drum

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