Weekly Music Agenda
MONDAY
>> Do you like screamo? How about metalcore? Us neither, but if you do, get yourself to the 9:30 Club, for Underoath and similarly sinisterly-named Every Time I Die, Poison the Well, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, and Belle and Sebastian. Just kidding about the last one. 6 p.m., $18.
TUESDAY
>> Stevie Wonder needs no introduction. He's coming to the Verizon Center today. Tickets start at $68, so get your wallet ready. 8 p.m.
>> We're big fans of The Go! Team's multi-headed noise hydra, and they're coming to fill the stage at the 9:30 Club the day before Halloween. Their new album, "Proof of Youth" is out, and stay tuned to DCist for an interview with the band's rapper/dynamo, Ninja. 10 p.m., $15.
>> AIDS Wolf has one of the best, most ridiculous band names we can remember. The name fits, as they play completely nuts noise rock. They come to the Velvet Lounge with Old Time Relijun, which sounds like a more acoustic version of the Jon Spencer Blue Explosion, and Double Dagger, from Baltimore.
>> The Adams Morgan building fire had major effects for some local music folks, as former Galaxy Hut and current Black Cat employee Ann Jaeger and her boyfriend lived there. The Hut is hosting a benefit for them with Sons of Guns and local faves The Aquarium (***) playing. $5 suggested donation.
>> Say Hi (To Your Mom) play sometimes catchy, sometimes thoughtful, creative rock. They're at the Black Cat's Backstage with Philly's supercatchy The A-Sides on their first nationwide tour, and The Velvet Teen. 9 p.m., $10.
>> Fans of Jimmy Eat World will tell you they're more than just "The Middle." They bring their big, not-quite-emo rock to the 9:30 Club this week. However, if you like them, you'd better hit Craigslist, as it's sold out. Which is a shame, as we downloaded some Viva Voce the other day and really liked Kevin and Anita Robinson's moody atmospherics contrasted with dueling vocals. 5:30 p.m., $15 (sold out).
WEDNESDAY
>> If you'd prefer a Southern Halloween, head to the Black Cat for Lucero's scratchy voiced, Memphis-based rock and Bobby Bare Jr.'s folk-rocky Americana. Suitably-named openers Whiskey & Co. add their countrier rock. 8:30 p.m., $13.
>> The State Theatre in Falls Church plays host to
Railroad Earth on Halloween. The band starts with bluegrass and expand into Celtic music, country and so on. Their dedicated fan base, which calls themselves "hobos" and sometimes follow the six-piece on tour, should be present in large numbers. 8:30 p.m., $20 advance / $25 day of show.
>> If you didn't get your costume ya-ya's out this weekend, now's your chance to do so at the Rock & Roll Hotel. Emulate The Warriors, dance to tunes DJ'd by The Bravery and performed live by Be Your Own Pet, and do all the things a good kid should at the R&R Hotel. But we suggest you heed this word of warning: stay away from the Sparks. It's never a good idea. $12 with a costume, $15 without.
THURSDAY
>> It's a night of former faves at the Black Cat. Atmospheric indie kings Grandaddy are no more, but former member Jim Fairchild is touring as All Smiles, a little more poppy than his former band. David Bazan, formerly the driving force behind Pedro the Lion, will be there too, as well as Lavender Diamond, who opened for The Decemberists in town a few months ago. 8 p.m., $12.
>> The Red and The Black's small stage continues to bring interesting shows, and today's experimental threesome is no exception. Atlanta's Untied States headline, and they're joined by Filthybird and Arnold, Maryland's T-Shirt! T-Shirt!, who we like just based on their name. 9 p.m., $8.
FRIDAY
>> It seems like Seattle's Band of Horses are always playing in D.C. lately, appearing here at least twice in about a year or so. Their last show was sold out, so now you have another chance to see their expansive sound in person. Tourmates The Drones (pictured above) play fast-charging blues-rock from Australia, and opener Tyler Ramsey has a great voice and musically reminds us a bit of Iron and Wine. All good things. 11:30 p.m., $20.
>> Locals No Second Troy have a pretty neat new video (below) and take the Black Cat's mainstage with local power-popsters The Sketches and Alternate Routes. 9 p.m., $10.
SATURDAY
>> Maria Taylor is a member of Saddle Creek's Azure Ray and Now It's Overhead, and also has a solo gig playing warm, intimate songs. She'll be at the Rock and Roll Hotel, joined by D.C.'s The Positions, who play pop that reminds us of The Ladybug Transistor, and Julie Ocean, who despite the singer-songwritery name are a group of guys playing catchy, Teenage Fanclubby pop. 8:30 p.m., $10 in advance, $12 day of show.
>> Sweden's Koop are one of those acts that were propelled to fame by TV shows, in particular tastemakers Grey's Anatomy and Nip/Tuck, parlaying that into a headlining gig at the 9:30 Club. The duo play sample-based jazzy electronica fusion with a rotating crew of singers. It sounds a bit like a Björk crossed with The Avalanches if they were from Rio de Janeiro, if that were possible. They're backed by a full orchestra on this tour, and we wonder if the duo will dress in drag like in their press photos (pictured right). 11 p.m., $20.
>> Relive some of D.C.'s music history at the Historical Society of Washington, for a talk on the Ambassador Theater, a former venue in Adams Morgan which for a few years hosted some of the top acts of the 1960s like Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Moby Grape, and more. Norman Mailer famously rallied anti-war protesters from the stage in October, 1967. The building, which had also been a movie theater, was razed a few years later. 3 p.m.
SUNDAY
>> Austin's The Black Angels play rumbly, bluesy, fuzzy psych-rock, complete with a singer who sounds like Jim Morrison. They've played with Queens of the Stone Age, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, if that gives you any idea. Get psychedelic at the Rock and Roll Hotel with openers Spindrift and D.C.'s Tone. 8 p.m., $12/14