Pay It Forward: Mostly Dimes

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SEATTLE PUNK-FOLK quintet Mostly Dimes, having proved their mettle on friendly hometown turf, recently decided to book their first big tour on the East Coast.

Most of the group's members, including frontman Tom Baisden, are D.C.-area expatriates and figure their personalized protest songs will resonate with regional music lovers' political proclivities.

But when Baisden says, "All the guys in the band are coming from the same place," he is mostly talking in terms of musical inspiration. Each member has a punk-rock past and all particularly admire the righteous rebelliousness of D.C. hardcore heroes Fugazi.

"Lyrically, our ethic is along those lines," says Baisden. "The heart of the band is an attempt to try and overcome what we grew up on -- watching 'Red Dawn' 85 times, believing our country was doing the right thing always."

Musically, Mostly Dimes is more brash than thrash, forgoing ear-shattering assaults in favor of half-acoustic quiet storm. The group's sound stew of finger-picked strings, horns and disorderly drums is both bold and beatnik cool. But Baisden says the band always aims to give an energetic live performance.

"We're anti-loud by necessity, but also slightly obsessed with old blues music," says Baisden. While not conducive to ringtones, Mostly Dimes' music is politically charged and present.

» Galaxy Hut, 2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; with Sweatpants, Sun., 9 p.m., $5; 703-525-8646.

Written by Express contributor Johnathan Rickman
Photo courtesy Mostly Dimes