Weekly Music Agenda

Wednesday

>> Seattle's Minus the Bear is fresh off the release of their third LP, the darker-than-usual Planet of Ice, which finds the group continuing to delve into complex and progressive compositions while engaging in a brooding atmosphere that has added a new and intriguing element to their always fascinating sound. They'll be at the Black Cat with Subtle and ELA. 8 p.m., $15 advance, $17 at the door.

Thursday

>> DAM!Fest kicks of with its first night of shows featuring a dozen different bands at three venues, including a performance by New York's noisy A Place to Bury Strangers (subjects of a great deal of buzz at the moment) at the Rock and Roll Hotel, Julie Ocean (which includes Jim Spellman, formerly of local faves Velocity Girl) at the Red and The Black. There's plenty more, so check out the schedule and stay tuned for a closer look at the schedule from us later in the week.

>> The Swiss Beat Kaestli Quartet and the Levine Jazz Quintet will give a public performance at the new residence of the Swiss Ambassador. In addition to some great music, it's an unusual opportunity to see a diplomat's residence, and there's a reception following the concert. 7:30 p.m., $25 adults, $20 seniors, $10 children 12 and under. Call 202.745.7928 for details.

Friday

>> To describe Gov't Mule as a hard rocking jam band that started as an Allman Brothers Band side project doesn't begin to tell the story of a group that has managed to gain fans across genres and that don't always play nice together. A look at the list of bass players who played on the band's first records after the death of founding bassist Allen Woody gives a pretty good sense of how wide reaching their influences and their devotees range: Mike Watt, Les Claypool, George Porter, Jr., and Victor Wooten were all on hand, among many others, and the band has made fans of metalheads, indie rockers, punks, and jazz and blues artists alike. They'll play the first of two nights at the 9:30 Club this Friday. $35.

>> Oakland, Ca.-based vocalist Ledisi brings her jazzy stylings and current Urban AC hit "Alright" to the Birchmere. Doors at 7 p.m. $39.50.

>> Two shows for Dam!Fest tonight, with events at Rock and Roll Hotel and the Red and the Black. The former includes an appearance by recent Three Stars subject the Beanstalk Library.

>> If you've been wondering what Jesus Lizard frontman David Yow has been up to since that band's demise, he's joined up with Qui, formerly a two piece that sounded not dissimilar to the louder and dirtier moments of both the Jesus Lizard and Yow's other band, Scratch Acid. We're unsure if Yow still has a tendency to get drunk and naked onstage. You'll have to come out to Iota to find out. With Hex Machine. 9:30 p.m., $12.

Saturday

>> It's another three-show night for DAM!Fest, with shows at DC9, the Rock and Roll Hotel, and the 6th & I Historic Synagogue. The highlight for D.C. old-timers like yours truly will probably be the solo show by Shudder to Think's Craig Wedren at R&R Hotel, which should include plenty of material from his 2005 release, Lapland, which featured STT songs the band never got around to and some of his film compositions. With any luck we'll get a performance of "Red House" somewhere in the night, which had a Black Cat crowd going nuts and singing along at Wedren's former band's final local show some years ago. Additionally, there are performances from past Three Stars subjects Metropolitan and past Unbuckled bands like These United States and Pela.

>> Irish singer/songwriter Fionn Regan has been receiving strong reviews in the British music press, and makes a visit across the pond this weekend at Iota. 6:30 p.m., $15.

Sunday

>> DJ Rich Medina comes to Bohemian Caverns to celebrate the life and legacy of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti. A portion of the proceeds will benefit HIV/AIDS awareness programs in Africa. Doors at 10 p.m. $10.

>> Previous DCist interview subjects Alphabetical Order celebrate the release of their new record, I Am Magically Happening at the Black Cat backstage with Red Racer. 9 p.m., $5.

>> The one of the longest runnings names in catchy, melodic and erudite punk, Bad Religion, plays at the 9:30 club. Few bands have so many songs that are so great to sing along to at the top of your lungs, and even fewer manage to do so while routinely managing to rhyme multi-syllabic mouthfuls like "proclamation" and "conflagration". $23

W. Jacarl Melton contributed to this week's agenda.