Q and Not U, Not Much Longer

Come fall, the Washington indie-rock scene will be without its biggest name. Agit-punk trio Q and Not U announced yesterday its impending breakup.

The band -- consisting of singer-guitarist Chris Richards, guitarist Harris Klahr and drummer John Davis -- is calling it quits after an impressive eight-year run during which the group released three critically acclaimed albums on Dischord Records, performed hundreds upon hundreds of shows across four continents and picked up where Fugazi left off as the standard-bearers for Washington's fiercely independent underground scene.

"We were pretty worn out from all the touring," Davis said during a phone conversation yesterday. "We've been on the road for five and a half years -- if we were home for two months that would be a really long break. It was fun and successful, but there were times where there never seemed to be an end in sight."

The split is entirely amicable and Davis said there's still a chance the three may play music together again. "We hadn't written anything new in 13 or 14 months, which is the longest we've ever gone," he said. "We figured, let's get out now while we get along really well, but leave the door open."

In the meantime, expect to hear from the group's members in one form or another. Richards has already been performing around town with his new project, Ris Pau Ric (whose next show is July 30 at the Warehouse Next Door), and Davis says both Klahr and himself have been working independently on their own material, none of which is likely to sound similar to the scratchy, jittery funk-punk heard on the band's final album, "Power."

Local fans will have three more chances to see Q and Not U, including a free show at Fort Reno on Monday, July 18.

"Fort Reno has been something that's been a thread throughout our band, and certainly this year it will be more meaningful," Davis said. The band has performed at the annual concert series each summer since 1999; as each year passed, the night Q and Not U played increasingly became a "can't miss" show.

There will be two final farewell shows at the Black Cat on Sept. 22 and 23. Davis is looking forward to those as the "last chance to play the songs we really like." Tickets are not yet on sale, but may not last long once they become available.

"Ultimately, I'll look back on it as something that was really enjoyable, we did great things, and I hope to stay friends and make music with these guys again," Davis said.

-- David