D.C. is a city of many musical modes. You can listen closely for its proud go-go heritage, its rich history in jazz, and its genre-defining punk movement. But if you lean in closer, you can also hear country music announcing itself in its own equally potent line.

Enter D.C.-based band Heaven Forbid, making what they call “country music for city people.” Since the group formed in 2019, members Baby Bry Bry (guitar), Tennessee Dave (pedal steel), Tommy “The Chillbilly” Sherrod (lead guitar), “Lazy Adam” Stern (drums), and Xaq Rothman (bass) (all vocalists) have brought deep country traditions to the forefront in a way that’s authentic to their D.C. roots.

The group have been playing together in some iteration for more than a decade, with different members playing in Baby Bry Bry and the Apologists, Humble Fire, and Slow Love. Quite notably, there is a punk throughline with each member, and Heaven Forbid’s country music is steeped in the ideals of punk. Their lyrical messages are straight to the dome, the raw emotion is clear. And their shows—alongside hollering, covers of standards, and wailing pedal-steel solos— have a thrumming, high-energy spirit that’s common at punk or hardcore sets.

“We’re not a Nashville band. We’re a D.C. band, and that informs the music we make,” says Bry. “Country music has always been about heightening emotion to a state of melodrama. A lot of the great country songs were not actually lived experiences, but the emotional core was an authentic lived experience. It’s all rooted in the joy and pride of being a band in D.C.”

The band pull from all decades and genres of country. “There’s a lot of this music we really love, and we wanted to share that with others,” says Stern. “Gram Parsons was playing old country classics and adding some new stuff in a hybrid that wasn’t exactly like the scene at the time.”

Split into two sets, a typical Heaven Forbid show is filled with originals such as “Lonesome DC Cowboy,” about heartbreak in the city, alongside Grateful Dead covers. The audience’s many cowboy hats, glittery pearl snaps, and boots are also part of the high-concept act.

Their debut show was a set opening for the North Country in February 2020 at DC9, where Heaven Forbid played with a rotating group of musicians, backup singers, and a fog machine. But that was their only show in that format, as COVID-19 soon reared its head and shuttered music venues. In the throes of the pandemic, Dave and Bry played together and practiced harmonizing on Dave’s front porch. The rest of the band soon joined up, learning and writing songs by a campfire in the backyard.

When the band could play live again, they debuted a monthly showcase, All Hat, No Cattle, at the now-defunct Northeast venue the Public Option. Inspired by Chicago’s Cosmic Country Showcase (known for its special guest performers, outfits, and kitsch), All Hat was conceived as a variety show of sorts that coalesced into a western-themed night out. 

“We kind of had our run of the place,” Bry says. “We created a half-off policy if you came in western wear. So, we got a lot of folks who I don’t think were already familiar with us but were excited to get out on the town and show off their cowboy hats.” 

“It’s an open and not-toxic version of a roadhouse, where it’s safe for everybody. That’s very important to all of us,” Tommy adds.

For a recent iteration of All Hat, the band built a stage upstairs at Jackie Lee’s. But capacity was much smaller than the large audiences they were beginning to pull. “A lot of people want to come out and boot scoot,” Bry says. So now the group are looking for a new venue to host the popular (and growing) monthly extravaganza.

After a break last year (when Adam and Bry each had children), the band are revving up again with a new motto: “If it feels good, let’s do it.” They want to play what feels right, when it feels right, with more improvisation. “Even if we can’t practice before the show, we’ll just do it,” Dave says. “I think that comes across to the audience. We just don’t sweat it. We are taking our time to do things we’re proud of.”

The band have recorded a new album and are working on the finishing touches. Their forthcoming single, “Hand 2 Hold,” incorporates Ennio Morricone-style spaghetti western sounds into rhinestone-studded country soul, accompanied by horns and backup singers. 

Whether you’ve never enjoyed a country song in your life or are a diehard, Heaven Forbid have something to offer you. Even if you come just for the vibes, you’re going to leave with a renewed sense of appreciation for artists who approach their work with reverence, dedication, and a whole lot of talent.

Heaven Forbid will headline Republic Cantina’s 5-Year Anniversary Party, 12–6 p.m. on June 30. heavenforbiddc.bandcamp.com.