LUNA LUNA AT DC9
BY EJ LOLLYLocated on the floor above the Union Stage bar, you wouldn’t expect to find an intimate and well-loved venue hidden amongst the packed clubs and bars off of U Street in Shaw. Open since 2004, DC9 been a frequent tour stop for both up-and-coming and established indie bands alike. Good music and a great show can happen any day of the week, and Dallas’ Luna Luna graced their speakers on a chilly Wednesday night in mid-November.
There’s not much I could say to prepare you for what opener Ernest Rarebergg's set was like. Rarebergg and his accompanying guitarist hopped onstage carrying a man dressed like Jesus, and began pretend-nailing him to a wooden crucifix. There our Christ-like figure stayed during the first part of the set, but then three other men dressed up as Catholic cardinals appeared in order to lay the man out on a table and "eat" him while drinking cups of wine. Whether or not you thought it was a blasphemous performance, Rarebergg's music was great all on its own. The beats were infectious and catchy, Rarebergg’s voice a deep baritone you often don’t hear much from indie artists these days.
How does anyone follow a performance like that? Well, by playing music that is just that good. Luna Luna entered the stage with little fanfare, taking some time to get the stage ready before their start. People were packed in like sardines from the stage to the bar, and erupted into applause when the set finally started. The sound mix was great - shoutout to Mel, the venue's sound engineer- and beautifully complimented their sweetheart pop vibe. It didn’t matter whether the lyrics were in English or Spanish, lead singer Kavvi’s voice made everything sound like a dream. Their keyboardist even performed one of his own solo songs, waving around a fan’s Cinnamoroll light stick with a wide smile on his face. If you’re a fan of retro synth pop and sweet love songs, definitely give Luna Luna a listen.
