I got introduced to the Thievery Corporation in Venezuela, never imagining that I'd one day see them live in their hometown of DC (or hear them used as music in every hip restaurant in DC and the West Coast. DC, for not being as in-your-face with its music scene as Austin, has a surprising amount of influence.

I've spoken about the Amen breakbeat before, and probably made you watch this video, but it explains how a beat by DC funk band, The Winstons, is in almost every electronica and drum-and-bass song out there: http://dcist.com/2009/12/how_a_dc_bands_beat_conquered_the_w.php

The DCist blog also gives great backstory on DC-born Delta72: http://dcist.com/2010/03/secret_history_the_delta_72s_the_rb.php