Former members: Ben Dover, Chris McKinney, Jeff Miller
Influences
Gavin: HUM, Chavez, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbox, Smashing Pumpkins, David Bowie, At The Drive-In, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Afghan Whigs, Mogwai
Kate: Failure, Sparklehorse, Stone Temple Pilots, Joy Division, The Police, Foo Fighters, Blur, Rival Schools, Claude Debussy, Burt Bacharach
Gabe: Jeff Buckley, the Smiths, the Jealous Sound, Built to Spill, the Dismemberment Plan, Modest Mouse, Elliott Smith, Catherine Wheel, Elvis Costello
Ashraf: World of Warcraft
Sounds Like
Post hardcore sneaks up behind powerpop with a piece of piano wire.
The Alphabetical Order was a DC post-punk quartet from 2004 to 2008. Below is its old bio:
"I Am Magically Happening!", the first full-length from Washington, DC's post-punk quartet The Alphabetical Order shows a great deal of DC indie influence, with hints of Fugazi and Jawbox skating across the soundscape. The album is raw and the songwriting employs ambitious tactics—odd time signatures, unexpected key changes, and non-traditional structure are littered across the 10 tracks. Still, the Order's love of hooks cannot be muted—"Submarines" boasts a sing-along chorus with brilliant harmonies and the anthemic "Shot From Cannons" gets heads nodding with its thundering cadence. Beyond the music, however, "I Am Magically Happening!" is a treatise on the nature and formation of identity and how the definition of self is distorted in a relationship. In support of the album, The Alphabetical Order has journeyed up and down the east coast, earning praise regionally and nationally.
"Were 'I Am Magically Happening!' recorded by J. Robbins, Ted Nicely, or Ian McKaye with Don Zientara at Inner Ear and released on Dischord, it would be instantly hailed as a great post-punk indie rock burner.... It's got urgent, tightwound post-punk guitars, ultra-rhythmic, propulsive bass and drums, Gavin Dunaway's forceful, highly enunciated vocals, and tunes. Not surprisingly, this reviewer digs it, and hopes that its lack of affiliation with the above won't prevent it from wider recognition."—Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover
"'I Am Magically Happening!' is full of twists, turns, and F-1 chicanes as not-too-common time signatures find themselves employed with massively entertaining choruses and memorable hooks. Impressive guitar solos are the secret weapon behind an infantry of lock-step beats. A little less feedback than typical post-punk, a little more color and flavor than typical post-hardcore, The Alphabetical Order have given us a clever debut LP which is fantastically catchy, awesomely rocking, and rarely misses a step."—Barrett King, Any Given Tuesday
"['I Am Magically Happening!'] is like a post punk / college rock explosion full of songs that take a while to get used to listening. The melodies jump around and it's impossible to casually listen to their songs. The Alphabetical Order demands your attention and they assault your ears to get it."—Grog Mutant, The Chickenfish Speaks
Highlights:
"I Am Magically Happening!" ranked in top 10 DC albums of 2007 by OnTap Magazine
"Submarines" awarded Track of the Day at Garageband.com, July 7, 2007
The Alphabetical Order nominated for "Best Modern Rock Duo/Group" in 2006 by the Washington Area Music Association
"Krakow Krakow" ranked in top 25 MP3s of 2006 at Indie-Music.com
Regional finals of the 2005 Emergenza Music Festival
Invited to play the concert series at Ft. Reno in Washington, DC; the Dewey Beach Popfest; Midem Music Festival; MEANY Fest; the Millennium Music Conference; and countless benefit concerts at DC-area high schools, colleges, and churches.
Stream all of "I Am Magically Happening" as well as your favorite older Order tunes at Garageband.com. You can even give us a good review...
Indie-Music.com ranked "Krakow Krakow" as one of its top 25 mp3s of 2006. You can also download high-quality versions of the I Am Magically Happening sampler at The Alphabetical Order's Indie-Music.com page.
The DC Rollergirls 2009 Season Championships DC DemonCats vs. Cherry Blossom Bombshells Saturday, May 9 Doors 4 pm bout 5 pm www.dcrollergirls.com
Last month's semifinal game between Scare Force One and the Cherry Blossom Bombshells came down to a nail-biting double overtime, and the Bombshells are trying to carry that momentum to vanquish the fierce DC DemonCats, who haven't lost a game since October. This exciting season championship matchup will be the last DC Rollergirls home game until the fall, so don't miss out!
In addition, fans can watch an expo matchup between Scare Force One and the River City Rollergirls of Richmond, VA, and check out Jason Leffler's #38 NASCAR showcar. Plus, in honor of Mother's Day, moms will get a gift at the door!
It's tailgating season, so come early to Stadium/Armory Lot 3 and get a head start on the fun! The lot opens at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12 (5 and under free) and are available in advance through www.ticektmaster.com (service charge applies), at the RFK Stadium box office and at the door on bout day.
ANDYO BIRTHDAY BASH!!!! Hosts: Deidra & Andy Och Location: DC9 - 1940 9th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20001 When: Saturday, January 17 - 6:00 pm until 5 am!!! Phone: 443.622.2129
Please reply and let me know if you will make it to the celebration!
You may know him as "The Ochster" from the Local Lowdown on WRYR.org, or as the crazy drummer in his old band "Who Is God?" or his new band "Left Of Avalon". Maybe you went to college, high school, grade school, or even pre-school with him...Did you work with him at Fox, Team, Channel One, USA Today, or Grace Creek? Maybe he served you at Taliano's, Houston's, Perry's, The Crow Bar, Hull Street Blues or The Crease...
No matter how you know him, you can't forget him, and it's time to celebrate his 40th Birthday!!
Age is but a number assigned to a certain period of time passed in the great celestial calendar that tracks our time on Earth...SO WHAT!?!?! LET'S PARTY LIKE ROCKSTARS!
Music, Dancing, Food, Drink, Frivolity and all around Tom Foolery!!!! Live music as follows:
9:00 pm - Left of Avalon 10:30 pm - Gist 12 Midnight - Back Before Dawn
DJ and dancing all night and inbetween bands, happy hour food and drink...birthday cake celebration...and whatever else you bring to the table...no presents, please...just come out and have a good time.
Last call in the District has been extended to 5am because of Andy's party...and I think Obama might be doing something around that time in DC, as well? Come early...stay late...pace yourself...it's gonna be a marathon...not a sprint! You are encouraged to bring friends and guests...and pass this invite along to whoever might care!
Get in the spirit of the season with the DC Rollergirls annual holiday party!
Sunday, Dec. 14, 6:30 - 10 p.m.
Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE
This year, we have invited local craft vendors so you can purchase unique gifts while you party with your local roller derby skaters.
Also, enjoy music by DJ Soul, purchase delicious baked goods from the DCRG bake sale, challenge a rollergirl to arm wrestle and more holiday fun, derby style!
All proceeds from this event benefit the DC Rollergirls and Alternative House. We are collecting gift cards from major retailers (like Target, Best Buy, grocery stores) to benefit Alternative House.
Learn more: www.dcrollergirls.com and www.thealternativehouse.org
You ROCK! Thanks for being a friend and for all your hard work. Hope to see you at the 2nd annual Utica Music Fest. Over 200 performers in over 15 venues for 3 DAYS! Visit our site for more info and early bird band submissions. Have a great day!
In town for Thanksgiving? Skip the malls and bring the family to roller derby Nov. 29!
The DC Rollergirls are having a special Thanksgiving weekend bout. Visit www.dcrollergirls.com for additional details.
Tickets are $12 for ages 12 and up, $6 for ages 6-11 and free for kids 5 and under. On sale now through www.ticketmaster.com (service charge applies) or for face value at the door.
Sports junkie? Our announcers will provide college football score updates throughout the bout.
Do-gooder? Bring an item from the Capital Area Food Bank's most wanted list and you will be entered into a halftime drawing. The list is available at: http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/documents/documents/MostWantedlist_2008.pdf