Weekly Music Agenda
MONDAY
>> Indie rock heroes Built to Spill and Camper Van Beethoven will be headlining the 9:30 Club for two nights in a row. Show up early and check out a band with a name only graphic designers could love. $20.
>> No joke: The members of The Station Myth are all named Daniel. Well, that's what their Web site says, anyway. You can ask them about it at the Velvet Lounge tonight, where they'll be playing with The Smyrk. 8 p.m. $6.
TUESDAY
>> I'll just throw this out there: I can't stand Randy Newman. The man should not be allowed within one foot of a microphone and his songs (while occasionally pleasant in the case of the Toy Story soundtrack) are mostly pure drivel -- a sentiment that is shared by many others. But if you like that kind of stuff, he'll be at The Birchmere. Tickets are currently sold out, but I'm sure some people will start selling them on Craigslist when they realize it isn't an evening with Thomas Newman. 7:30 p.m. $65
>> Sparta, a band comprised of former members of the Mars Volta that the Black Cat describes as "expansive mood rock for a post-hardcore world" will take their stage this Tuesday, along with one of DCist Amanda's favorites, the Sound Team. 8:30 p.m., $15
WEDNESDAY
>> It's not music related but if you loved MTV's The State, as well as Viva Variety, Wet Hot American Summer and Reno 911, you should head down to the Black Cat for Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter. Who knows what they'll be doing, but it will probably be funny. 8:30 p.m. $15.
THURSDAY
>> Our biggest "What the ...?" of the week goes to Sergio Mendes and Brazil 2006 playing an early show at the 9:30 Club. Mendes is probably best known for the single "Mas Que Nada," which was last heard being butchered by the Black Eyed Peas. We're assuming he has updated his sound for a new generation (hence the 2006 in the title). Although, we wouldn't be surprised if the 9:30 Club is swamped by Brazil '66 aficionados. Pois o samba está animado. 6 p.m. $40.
>> If you like moshing while smoking a hookah pipe, then we've got the event for you: Head-honchos of the D.C. hardcore scene, The Screws, will be playing at Al-Fishawy Café on Georgia Avenue, along with local "punkabilly" quartet Pessimist Parade. In chaotic punk fashion, the evening is billed as a "magazine launch party," a benefit for radical environmental group Earth First!, and a birthday party for some guy named Tim. $8.
FRIDAY
>> We can't think of a better way to spend Friday night than seeing Super Diamond: The Neil Diamond Experience at the 9:30 Club. Actually ... maybe we can, but it still sounds fun. They'll be spreading the "good word of Neil," and we're hoping that includes a drunken crowd rendition of "Sweet Caroline." Good times. $22.
SATURDAY
>> Maybe (in the minds of some people) it's verboten for DCist to hype anything coming from our neighbors to the north, but Baltimore indie-rock-folk-pop outfit Private Eleanor are worth checking out. They'll be at The Red and The Black with The Fake Accents and fellow Marylanders Airport Blvd. $8.
>> The chamber choir Carmina will be singing all your favorite hits from the Middle Ages through the early baroque period -- and they'll be doing it two nights in a row! Jokes aside, where else can you check out "sacred music" from the English Renaissance on a Saturday night? 8 p.m. at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral at 3500 Massachusetts Ave. and Sunday in Ft. Washington, Md.
>> Not to be confused with the town in Italy, Monopoli will be at the Rock and Roll Hotel. 9 p.m. $10.
SUNDAY
>> The lovely Jenny Lewis and her musical mates of late, the Watson Twins, will sing about the pitfalls of childhood stardom and more at the 9:30 Club's early show (5:30 p.m.). It's sold out, so perhaps you'll prefer the fuzzed out rock of TV on the Radio late night. 10 p.m., $20.
>> Three Stars alum Telograph are headlining a benefit for the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence at the Black Cat's backstage. $8 for a good cause and some good rock. 9 p.m.
As always, we at DCist are not all-seeing and all-knowing. If we were, we would've put all our money on black last week in Vegas. So feel free to suggest shows in the comments section.