Q&A: Washington Social Club

IN THE CLUBS of D.C., if the crowd is dancing like caffeinated monkeys, chances are local power-pop outfit Washington Social Club is rocking the house. The quintet, helmed by energetic, sarcastic front man Martin Royle and bassist Olivia Mancini, releases its second CD, "Bigger Than Your Boyfriend," on June 16 with a show at the 9:30 Club.

» EXPRESS: How's your new CD different from the first one?
» ROYLE: It echoes this energy that's going on in D.C. right now. This town's a funny little muddle of politics with a Bohemian underground. That made us become a bigger band, I think.

» EXPRESS: Do you have a favorite song on it?
» ROYLE: Mine's gotta be "The Breakup." It starts off slow, and then it gets hot.

» EXPRESS: What can Washington Social Club virgins except from the show?
» MANCINI: People come to our shows to dance. The drummer provides these really danceable reels.
» ROYLE: It should be really energetic — like a space in D.C. where people really go nuts.
Martin, you relish the whole front man thing. What's your secret?
» ROYLE: It's great, 'cause you kind of get to yell at people. The stage is a place to be a child and a leader. I feel like a preacher up there.
» MANCINI: And if the crowd isn't into it, he just has to fake it.

» EXPRESS: What do you guys wear onstage?
» ROYLE: I used do some things that were completely bizarre, like go shirtless and paint things on my chest. But now I just try to wear clothes that bring out my inner rock.
» MANCINI: I have a cape I wore for our first CD release party. It's made of silver silk with a pink "O" on it.

» EXPRESS: Will we see the cape at the 9:30 Club?
» MANCINI: No, but I do try to dress it up a little for shows. Still, I have to reconcile dressing in something exciting with being comfortable. It's hot, and you can get tangled in things.

» EXPRESS: Any rocker fashion icons?
» ROYLE: Bowie. He looks like something between an angel and the devil.

» EXPRESS: Do your respective homes reflect the rock 'n' roll life?
» MANCINI: There has to be room for equipment and a place for me to play my bass and not disturb the neighbors. In my current place, I've also got lots of music posters on the walls.
» ROYLE: I don't have a lot of furniture, because I like to walk around in the nude. Though I do have one chair formerly owned by Art Buchwald. [It's pictured at left.]

» EXPRESS: Really? Where did you find it?
» ROYLE: I got it at a yard sale for 25 bucks. It's plush, green and like a Lay-Z-Boy. I sit in it and think of lyrics and musings for my new column, "Mart Buchwald" — that is, if your editor is interested.

» EXPRESS: How do you throw a rockin' party?
» MANCINI: I like a good playlist, soft lighting and a place to keep the smokers happy, like a porch.
» ROYLE: People who are willing to kind of lose it and a lot of beer.
» MANCINI: Having a fully stocked bar makes people feel comfortable.

» EXPRESS: What else makes for a killer bash?
» ROYLE: Get a live band.
» MANCINI: And if you hang out with musicians, the party turns into a concert by the end of the night anyhow.

Top photo by Joel Didreksen, bottom photo courtesy Washington Social Club