The Weekly Feed: Experimentation Edition
Morning Roundup: Change Edition
Former Blade Staffers Launch 'DC Agenda'
D.C. Insurance Dept. Denies Birth Control Coverage Meddling
Controversy Over Rhee Now to Include Sex, Congress
MONDAY
>> Three Stars alums The Chance and J. Forté + the Secret Pop Band, D.C.'s favorite lofi power-poppers, are playing a great double-bill (bothThree Stars veterans) at the Black Cat Backstage. 9 p.m. $6.
TUESDAY
>> Yet another revival of West Side Story comes to Wolf Trap and stays there until Sunday. Apparently it's the 50th anniversary. 8 p.m. with matinée shows at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. $18-68.
WEDNESDAY
>> The Rock and Roll Hotel features the world's first deaf hip-hop group, Helix Boyz, from nearby Gallaudet University. Members Prince Darius and Sho Roc bring their energetic, "friendly-fun" stylings to the RnR. Doors at 8 p.m., $10.
>> Three Stars alum and former Monopoli front manAlfonso Velez joins in on Ali Eskandarian's August residency at the Red and the Black. Doors at 9 p.m. $8.
THURSDAY
>> Tres Chicas, a poorly named, but quite talented North Carolina roots trio featuring former Whiskeytown member Caitlin Cary, come to Arlington and the Iota. Their last release, Red, Bloom, and the Ordinary Girl, came out in May 2006 and effectively moved the threesome out of "side project" status into full-fledged group-dom. 9 p.m. $12.
>> NYC's Beat the Devil, who the Village Voice describe as "Billie Holiday-era jazz and blues and old black spirituals with folk and garage rock to come off sounding something like CocoRosie on crystal meth wrestling with Belle and Sebastian and the White Stripes," are hosting a CD release party at the Red and the Black with Brandon Butler and Revival. Doors 9 p.m. $8.
FRIDAY
>> Local indie-poppers Exit Clov hit the Black Cat mainstage with the lovely harmonies of twin sister vocalists Emily and Susan Hsu. Fredericksburg's Pash celebrate the release of their second record in the middle slot, and kicking things off is DCist fave Carol Bui, who makes her mainstage debut just a month before her own Black Cat CD release party. $10, 9 p.m.
>> Three Stars alum Justin Jones and the Driving Rain are throwing a CD release party, bringing friends Pawnshop Roses and John Bustine along for the ride. Continuing the theme of unfortunate naming this week, they're partying in support of ...And I Am the Song of the Drunkards, the band's latest. But no matter — should be a great night with one of the area's best roots-rock outfits. Doors 8:30 p.m., $8/10.
SATURDAY
>> Last week we reviewed it; this week we're telling you to get out and support it: local favorite Travis Morrison and his Hellfighters rock the Iota Club in support of their latest All Y'All. Get in line early, because while it's a big night for Morrison and Co., they've also got a fine supporting cast in The Gist and The Caribbean. And at $10, we're certifying this our deal of the week. 9:30 p.m.
>> VHS or Beta's propulsive electronic rock comes to the Rock and Roll Hotel this weekend, finally not a DJ set, along with buzzed about newcomers Walter Meego and Three Stars alum The Vita Ruins. VHS or Beta put on a great show — think Daft Punk with live instruments fronted by a guy who sounds like Robert Smith. $12, 9 pm.
>> It's a superrock show at the Black Cat Saturday, with locals the Assrockers back from a long layoff and ready to rock ass, of course. The purposely over the top rockers' genius is in their live shows, which are always fun, though songs about Thor, Brutus (as in Caesar) and "Ain't Too Drunk" to do something you can probably guess add to the effect. Fellow local hard rockers Nitro Tokyo and Rattler will be there and releasing new discs. $10, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY
>> Stylofone — who got a really promising blurb on Pitchfork last year and put out a stellar little EP of Thin Lizzy-stamped classic rock — play the Red and the Black. They're opening for Brooklyn nouveau-disco group Tigercity. Also with Setting Sun. Doors 8:30 p.m. $8.
>> It's Labor Day on Monday, which means you might as well keep the weekend rolling with DJ Will Eastman's Drop Down dance party at the Black Cat backstage. He'll be spinning a mix of hip-hop, R&B, and pop alongside Brian Billion. 9:30 p.m., $6.
Ian Buckwalter, Andrew Wiseman, and Amanda Mattos also contributed to this WMA.
Both images courtesy of J. Forte's and Assrockers' myspace pages.
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That Assrockers show on Saturday is going to be awesome. I usually don't go for that schticky stuff, but The Rattlers shake just as much ass as the Assrockers. It's going to be a bit makeup heavy, but worth it.