Weekly Music Agenda
Monday
>> Ben Harper recorded Lifeline in a studio in Paris, directly after his European tour. As a result he and the Innocent Criminals have put together an album from the heart and at the top of their game that captures his signature modern take on classic soul music. Kick back with them and Piers Faccini tonight at the Warner Theater. $40, 8 p.m.
>> Canadian post-punk instrumental rockers, Do Make Say Think have moved fans and filmmakers alike, with their music featured in several movies including the political epic, Syriana. Tonight they’ll be at the Black Cat with Vandaveer. $12, 8 p.m.
Tuesday
>>Two days, two bands, one album. Akron/Family are the voices behind our Monday night recommendation Do Say Make Think’s latest album, You, You're a History in Rust. The folk-influenced New York-based jam band will be at the Rock and Roll Hotel Tuesday with Greg Davies, Megafaun, and Stamen and Pistils. $12, 8 p.m. doors.
>> Remember the '90s? Local H is taking over the Black Cat's back stage tonight with local glam rockers Death By Sexy (***). $12, 9 p.m.
Wednesday
>> Filter magazine said "Combining Modest Mouse with Electric Light Orchestra is no mean feat, but Aqueduct manages it with ease," and The Onion described them as "Like a collaboration between the Beach Boys and XTC." Aqueduct, aka, David Terry, is coming to the 9:30 Club supporting his new futuristic classic rock record, Or Give Me Death. Check it out out for yourself as Aqueduct open for The Apples In Stereo. $15, 7:30 p.m. doors.
>> The Velvet Lounge is hosting the Delaware-based shoe gaze band, The Sky Drops. For a flash back to the early 90s scene check out the young duo with Screen Vinyl Image, The Mantras and Sunsplit.
>> Art pop band White Williams isn’t afraid to be different, performing occasionally with just their silhouettes on stage. Started up in Cleveland by young musician Joe Williams, this is a band to keep your eye on as they step out of the shadows and into the spotlight. They’ll be playing a SOLD OUT show tonight with Dan Deacon and Girl Talk, who impressed our pants off at the Virgin Festival, at the Black Cat. $15, 8 p.m.
>> New York rockabilly boys Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray are in town touring off their new release, Going Way Out With Heavy Trash. Described as “deep American roots music that pumps blood to your heart and rattles your brain”, their band, Heavy Trash will be at Rock and Roll Hotel with Powersolo, who is also featured on the album. $12/$14, 8 p.m. doors.
Thursday
>> Metric is back. We caught them in early 2006, and the Canadian indie pop powerhouse is returning to the District, having released their debut 1999 album, Grow Up and Blow Away, that was shelved for years due to label restructuring. While the band members have also been busy focusing on their solo work, you can see them all on stage at the 9:30 Club with Crystal Castles. $20.
>> North Carolina-based Bowerbirds (see video) are a nylon-stringed guitar, an accordion, violin and percussion. Together they produce some very visual acoustic sounds from the south that are creating quite a buzz. Check out a video of a recent live performance of their single “My Oldest Memory” below, and you can find them at the Black Cat Thursday with fellow musical storytellers The Mountain Goats. $14, 8 p.m.
Friday
>> The Gulf is bringing their space rock back down from the Northeast, after playing a sold out show back in April. "The reception we've gotten in D.C. has been amazing," keyboardist and singer Adam Brock (cousin of Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock) said. "Our sound goes over better here than in Boston, which is why we play here whenever we get the chance." You’ll find them at the Red and the Black the Joonies, Twin Earth, and Receiver. $8, 9 p.m.
>> Grammy-nominated Skillet is opening up for Seether, Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace this Friday at Merriweather Post Pavillion. Their 2003 album Collide received a nomination in the "Best Rock Gospel" category, with sales exceeding 200,000. $25, 5 p.m. gates.
Saturday
>> John Vanderslice is in town touring off the recent release Emerald City, the soundtrack to an era of deep insecurity and paranoia. Spin magazine wrote that the album “may be his most unsettling work yet. 'The Minaret' is the ultimate antiwar song for today." He helped produce Spoon’s Gimme Fiction, and has collaborated and toured with The Mountain Goats, who are also in town Thursday. Tonight he will be at the Rock and Roll Hotel with Bishop Allen. To prepare yourself for the show, check out interviews DCist has done with Vanderslice and BA. $12, 8:30 p.m. doors.
>> New York’s Robbers on High Street have been experimenting with their sound and come up with Grand Animals, an album filled with upbeat alt-rock dance tracks. Longwave will join them at Black Cat, with Telograph (***). $12, 9 p.m.
>> The Girls Rock & Girls Rule Tour kicks off tonight at DC9, an event that showcases the best female rock bands on the East Coast, with proceeds benefiting Willie Mae Camp for Girls, a New York City-based non-profit music summer day camp serving girls aged 8-18. Lineup includes Emiko and Olivia & the Housemates. A documentary about the camp is set for release this December. $10, 7 p.m. doors.
>> If you joined DCist for our party at the 9:30 Club a couple of weeks ago, then you know exactly how much fun DJ Will Eastman (***) is. If not, you owe it to yourself to find out. Come celebrate seven years of his dance night, Bliss, at the Black Cat's back stage. $6, 9 p.m.
Sunday
>> Who needs deep elaborate album titles? Irish born Ciaran MacFeely (aka Simple Kid, pictured) has released the follow up to his debut album, 1, aptly and simply dubbed 2. Rolling Stone had this to say about the breaking artist: "Beck fans would dig MacFeely's style. The thirty-year-old mixes hip-hop beats, junk-shop acoustic guitar riffs and patchwork atmospherics in autobiographical tunes." He’s joining Kings of Leon and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as part of their fall tour, and is playing two SOLD OUT shows Sunday and Monday night at the 9:30 Club.
Photos from MySpace.com/BenHarper, MySpace.com/HeavyTrash, and MySpace.com/SimpleKidMusic by Ben Meadows.