When it comes to music of Washington D.C., Go-Go and early punk are probably the first sounds that come to mind. Still, GEMS — a new project from Clifford John Usher and Lindsay Pitts of Birdlips — is one of several young bands helping to shift that perception (See also: Priests). The duo’s lovely music is haunting and hypnotic with crisp Beach House-like guitar melodies, throbbing synth pads and the Pitts’ dreamy vocals. And while it doesn’t yet have a full-length record out, the band’s EP, Medusa holds a lot of promise thanks to striking pop songs like “Pegusus” and “Sinking Stone.” This is a new band already confident in its live show, and bound to fill bigger spaces soon.
