Five Local DJs Turning Heads

Misses : "When I play a new song, somebody might not be feeling it at first . . . but I'm a disc jockey. I'm there to break new songs."

Main Gig : "The Underground Soul Solution," Sundays at Dragonfly, 1215 Connecticut Ave. NW. $5-$10. 202-331-1775. http://www.dragonflysushibar.com/ .

LIL'E

At her '80s alt-pop dance party "Right Round," Lil'e, aka Erin Myers, specializes in rare extended mixes and one-hit wonders whose names have been swallowed by time. Remember Flesh for Lulu, Kon Kan or Anything Box? But Lil'e does not sacrifice a solid dance floor just to showcase her extensive record collection. A consistent helping of favorites from the Cure, New Order, Depeche Mode and the Smiths helps keep the energy intact on the all-ages dance floor.

Lil'e, 32, who started "Right Round" in 2002, focuses on skillful mixing, but she still finds a few moments of each song to step back from her mixer and do a little dancing herself. When she plays at other venues such as Felix or Saint-Ex, Lil'e strays far from the '80s, breaking out underground hip-hop, big beat and assorted electronica.

Hits : " 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Division is my most requested, most popular song, bar none. . . . That song pulls them to the dance floor like the children of Hamelin."

Misses : "For some reason, 'Desire' by Gene Loves Jezebel has a complete wet-blanket effect on 'Right Round.' . . . It notoriously brings the room to a screeching halt."

Main Gig : "Right Round," monthly (the next is April 15) at Black Cat , 1811 14th St. NW. $6. 202-667-7960. http://www.blackcatdc.com/ .

BOB MOULD

Mould, 44, went through many musical transformations before stepping into the deejay booth. He first became known as the frontman for '80s punk band Husker Du, then went on to form the edgy power-pop outfit Sugar. Mould, left, moved to Washington in 2002, around the time his solo recordings adopted an electronic sound. He began deejaying soon after the move, starting a party called "The Blowoff" with dance music producer Richard Morel.

Mould spins a blend of dance punk, house and rock -- including his own recordings and remixes -- for a mostly gay crowd that includes a smattering of straight indie kids. He and Morel also incorporate live vocals and guitars into their sets.

Hits : "If the decks went dead and the dance floor was empty, I would probably reach for 'Music Sounds Better With You' by Stardust. . . . It's a guaranteed way to get people back in the mood -- a simple song based on samples from 'Fate' by Chaka Khan."

Misses : "There's certain songs which sound great at home but don't necessarily play well in the big room. . . . A song like 'Shake Appeal' by the Stooges sounds great in the basement, but the harsh sonic temperament of the original recording doesn't sit well next to newer tracks."

Main Gig : "The Blowoff," monthly (the next is April 15) at 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. $10. 202-265-0930. http://www.930.com/ .