Monday

>> This past December, Matthew Ryan released his latest album, From A Late Night High-Rise, a collection of songs inspired by the death of his friend and the sentencing of his brother to 30 years in prison. Tonight you can experience his acoustic contemplations on stage at Iota Club with Tim Easton. 8:30 p.m., $12.

>> Do you want to see Silver Spring's Flaming Cooters? Did you ever think you would hear those words together in the same sentence? Should you check them out? DC9 is hosting three DC area bands tonight, including Vidle Fiero and Bon Silo, who sounds a little like our own local version of the White Stripes. $7.

Tuesday

>> In the tradition of extraneous punctuation, asterisked new wave rockers, Stellastarr* are headlining a show tonight at Rock and Roll Hotel with DC’s Soft Complex, who released their debut EP, Barcelona last fall, and Monsters Are Waiting. $12/$14, 9 p.m.

>> When Apples in Stereo weren't busy championing Stephen Colbert's claim to Rock God status, they were releasing the neo-psych return-to-form New Magnetic Wonder and gearing up for a cross-country tour to support it. Catch them yourself Tuesday at the Black Cat. With Casper and the Cookies. 8 p.m., $13/$15 at the door.

Wednesday

>> Want to woo your loved one with some tunes this Valentines Day but never learned to play an instrument? Let Speechwriters, LLC do it for you with lyrics like "I see another couple holding hands, I'm gonna choke to death" or "'Cause while the lovers make love in moonlit parks; I'm drinking Heineken and playing with myself in the dark." There's no better way to say "I Love You." Jammin' Java, 7:30 p.m., $12/$14 at the door.

>> You may not have heard of The Mooney Suzuki, but you have certainly heard their music. The New York based rockers' single "Alive and Amplified" has been featured in commercials by the automaker that shares their name, and the band wrote songs for and had a cameo role in Jack Black's "School of Rock." They're working on a new album due out this spring, and will headline a set at the 9:30 Club tonight with The Whips and The Ambitions. $15.

Thursday

>> The wait is over! DCist's fifth Unbuckled installment is finally here. The perfect cure to a love hangover, we're hosting NYC's Pela and D.C.'s own These United States, along with the DJ stylings of Laura Burhenn and John Davis of Georgie James. Come hang out with the fine folks that make DCist happen every day and enjoy some even finer music. DC9, 9 p.m., $8.

>> While Mayor Fenty fights for control over the public schools, you can show your support by attending Georgetown's 32nd Annual Cabaret Rock Concert at The State Theater. Proceeds from the show will benefit the DCPS. 7 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show.

Friday

>> Lilly Allen was burning up the charts in England for months before her album was released on this side of the pond, but D.C.'s denizens sufficiently caught the buzz. The pop chanteuse with a bawdy edge sold out her show this weekend at the 9:30 Club. Perhaps Craig can give you the inside edge.

>> We heart the Friday night line-up at the Black Cat. The Sketches wowed us at Jammin' Java, the Bicycle Thieves graced us with their presence at one of our previous Unbuckled shows, and Lejeune are stars in our eyes. They all share the mainstage this Friday. 9 p.m., $10.

Saturday

>> Kaskade has risen up through the ranks of DJ-dom, opening for Madonna with Paul Oakenfold at the 2006 Cochella Festival, and his remixes have topped the dance charts in Billboard Magazine. Saturday night he'll be mixing things up at club FIVE.

Sunday

>> The High Strung hit the Black Cat backstage on Sunday night, but you won't want to miss the opening acts either. Philly's The Teeth channel the Beatles through Clap Your Hands' fuzzy warble. And Brooklyn's XYZ Affair might be the pick of the litter: their debut, A Few More Published Studies, is an ambitious song-cycle, equal parts Queen, British post-punk, and Weezer. 9 p.m., $10.

>> Concerts First is hosting 20 local alternative and punk bands at the 9:30 club today in an event they dub The Next Big Thing. You'll have to crawl out of bed for this mini-music fest, as the show starts at 11 a.m. $15.

Amanda Mattos and Graham Cornwell contributed to this week's agenda.

Photo from MySpace.com/stellastarr. Unbuckled artwork by DCist's Jeff Beam.