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The Church in Washington DC

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The Church
9:30 CLUB — Washington, DC
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About The Church

The Church formed in Sydney in 1980 and spent the better part of four decades proving that alternative rock didn't need to be flashy or trend-chasing to stick around. Their 1988 album "Starfish" gave them a legitimate hit with "Under the Milky Way," a song that somehow managed to be both hypnotic and genuinely moving without resorting to cheap tricks. That song became their calling card, but it's far from their only worthwhile track. The band built a catalog of intricate, layered guitar work and introspective lyrics that rewarded repeated listening. Steve Kilbey's voice remained the constant through endless lineup changes, and his somewhat detached delivery actually works in their favor—he sounds like someone who's figured something out and is just casually sharing it. They've been relatively quiet in recent years, but their influence on Australian alternative rock is undeniable, and they never turned into a nostalgia act, which counts for something.

The Church live is contemplative and quietly intense. Crowds tend toward attentiveness rather than aggressive energy, watching closely as guitars interweave and the songs build slowly. People seem to appreciate the technical precision without needing constant climaxes.

Known for Under the Milky Way, Tangled in Red, The Unguarded Moment, Almost Good, Metropolis

The Church + Washington DC

The Church has maintained a steady presence in Washington DC over the years, most recently touching down at Lincoln Theatre in June 2024. That night they worked through a set that balanced their deeper catalog with the songs people came for, opening with "Myrrh" and "Metropolis" before settling into the kind of patient, atmospheric prog-rock that's defined their 40-year run. "Under the Milky Way" landed exactly where you'd expect it, but the real meat was in the lesser-known tracks—"Realm of Minor Angels" and "Antarctica" showed why people still care about a band that refuses to simplify. They closed with "You Took," which felt less like a concession to radio hits and more like the natural end point of a conversation they'd been having all night.

The Church in Washington DC News

Live Music in Washington DC

Washington DC's music scene has always had room for the deliberate and the experimental. The city's post-punk heritage and ongoing indie rock credibility create an audience that appreciates The Church's brand of atmospheric, guitar-driven songwriting—the kind of music that requires patience and rewards it. Lincoln Theatre, a historic venue in the U Street corridor, sits at the heart of a neighborhood that's hosted everyone from go-go pioneers to contemporary alternative acts. For a band like The Church, DC offers listeners who actually listen.

Washington DC road trip to see The Church?

Stay in Georgetown or Capitol Hill, both walkable neighborhoods with excellent restaurants and bars. Book a table at Kinfolk in Capitol Hill for refined New American cooking, or head to Pineapple and Pearls for something more elaborate if you want to splurge. During the day, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden offers world-class contemporary art without the crowds of the main Smithsonians. Walk the C&O Canal towpath if the weather cooperates. Hit up one of the city's serious record shops like Smash! Records before the show.

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