They're good all those bands like them from DC seem to be. Been listening to them all since May because of this list -
http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/05/mary-timony-helium-dc-rock-guide
I take umbrage at the Fader describing Helium as a "riot grrrl band"; they were never riot grrrl. They were post-punk, with a healthy dose of prog rock.
Timony says, "The music scene here is a little bit cut off, especially in the ‘80s and ‘90s before the internet." I mean, that's what was great, and that's what we've lost. Back then a DC band sounded like a manifesto, a NYC band sounded like leather jackets and impeccable taste, a Seattle band sounded like floppy-haired art school dropouts. Nowadays Brooklyn sounds like LA sounds like Portland sounds like anywhere.
I'd love to take guitar lessons from Mary Timony, but I'd also be embarassed at how bad I am.
Snail Mail sounds great. Great songwriting, dig her voice.
Bat Fangs is pretty cool. Musically a real big 1970's Heart thing going on here.
Sneaks, uh, maybe not my thing.
Priests, heard them before, got the Bikini Kill vocals down pat.
Gauche sounds like some 1980's Scandanavian band's bananas video on 120 Minutes. Careening.
Escapism. Didn't know he had a new project. Classic Svenonius. That guy is a national treasure, right in the heart of the nation.
Listening to these bands, most of them still sound like DC bands. Maybe the culture is too strong there for the internet hivemind to break down so easily.
And also, for those of you youngin's who have never heard Helium's The Dirt of Luck, go check it out. It's only one of the best rock records of the 90's.
