A Capital Time From These United States

These United States inspired the Wonderland Ballroom crowd. (By Jason Hamacher -- Blue Flame Media)

It's always wise to bring your dancing shoes to Wonderland Ballroom in Columbia Heights, but don't expect waltzes or fox trots. The crammed neighborhood bar's tiny dance floor is a far cry from a ballroom proper, but almost always someone is dancing.

The local trio These United States was responsible for the few shuffling feet Thursday at Wonderland. The group is a vital cog in the Federal Reserve, a self-described "collective" of local bands with a penchant for Americana-tinged folk rock. The cadre boasts some talented groups such as Vandaveer, Rose, Kitty Hawk and Revival -- but These United States's singer-guitarist Jesse Elliott might be the best songwriter in the pack.

His songs walk a thin line between the roadhouse and the coffeehouse -- sometimes they thump and jangle with a gritty charm, other times they evoke the pedestrian folk you might hear at Starbucks. Fortunately, Elliott traffics more in the former, and the snappy "Get Yourself Home" brought the tiny crowd to its feet early in the set. "It's a wicked world," the singer wailed, while Mark Charles plucked at his Hofner bass and David Strackany (moonlighting for drummer Robby Cosenza) whacked a lone floor tom in time with Elliott's stomping feet.

After the White Stripes-ish gallop of "Kings and Aces," the band veered into bluesier, snoozier numbers but ultimately revived its set with "The Business." Perhaps hinting at his band's promising future, Elliott sang: "I'm in business and honey don't you want me now? I've got a big, brand-new Cadillac of a plan."

-- Chris Richards

These United States performs tomorrow at Galaxy Hut .