The Virginmarys rocked U Street’s club DC 9 April 2. The rising band from Macclesfield, England is currently touring the U.S. following the debut of their first studio album, King of Conflict.

I had the opportunity to talk to the band before the show:

Lead singer and guitarist Ally Dickaty describes the tour as a “dream come true.‰” So far, the band has performed in Texas to Columbus to New York, with plenty of destinations in between. Drummer Danny Dolan said one of his favorite venues was during the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas. The Virginmarys’ tour next takes them to Philadelphia and New York, and then they’re headed to the Midwest and West Coast.

The band’s three members are excited about adventuring all over the states. After playing gigs in the same venues in the UK for so long, Dickaty said that the band is excited to play in a new environment. (Bassist Matt Rose joked that “he needs to build his body‰” for the California beaches.)

Despite the busy pace and long nights on tour, which include little sleep and food poisoning, the band is successfully powering through because they “believe in it.‰Û

One thing that struck me was how down to earth the band was; They had a lot of energy on and off the stage. Dickaty encourages other upcoming bands to “word hard and keep true to yourself … it‰’s important to find honest people, like general managers, that believe in your vision.‰” The Virginmarys are also very thankful for their fans whom they credit for letting them live out their dream of touring America.

The Virginmarys were amazing live; Their energy was tangible in the small room. The turnout was low as expected given the nature of the small venue and their rising status. But it‰’s quality not quantity that matters — Rose told me that he actually prefers smaller stages. The crowd nonetheless had great energy.

The band started up with “Bang Bang Bang.‰” Dolan has a unique drumstick trick style and stands up while performing, adding an extra layer of awesome. Their live style heavily influences their studio recordings — Dickaty stated that the band tries to “play in studio the same way they do live.‰Û

King of Conflict is a great album, but it is of course even better to hear the songs live. It‰’s incredible that Dickaty is able to keep his voice after such a performance. The band ended with the most well-known song from their record, “Dead Man‰’s Shoes.‰” The band gave it their all; guitar and bass were being shredded and drums, bashed.

After the show the Virginmarys stuck around for a bit, as the band deeply cares about interacting with fans. After their D.C. stint, the band is now headed north to continue their rock and roll adventures.