Hotspur at the 9:30 Club

MTV calls this up-and-coming D.C. band “buzzworthy,” while Taco Bell’s “Feed the Beat” program featured them as one of the country’s top 100. Now comes Hotspur's first headlining tour at the venerated hometown 9:30 Club. It’s not hard to understand the popularity. In fact, the band’s brand of pop-rock is so catchy, the melodies and hooks so ingratiating, the vocals of Joe Mach and the synths of Dave Trichter so pristinely clear and crisp, you can't help but be a little suspicious. How do we know this band's five members aren't lobbyists or researchers seeing if they can game the pop system? Well, if this is a game, the band wins. Because of the prominence of keyboards in an otherwise guitar-driven rock band – not to mention the band's sonic heavy-heartedness – you can't help but hear a trace of Keane, or even Coldplay. Friday, Feb. 5. Three other bands open. Doors at 6 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V Street NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

Technorati Tags: 9:30 Club, Music, Hotspur