Weekly Music Agenda

WEDNESDAY

>> 'Tis the season for radio station-sponsored, holiday-themed rock shows. If your December just isn't complete without some arena-sized acts, you'll probably want to check out DC101's "Non-Denominational Xmas Show" which features L.A. alt-rock revivalists the Silversun Pickups, Canadian hard rockers Finger Eleven and Ozzfest mainstays Papa Roach (remember them?). There won't be any tickets available for sale, so you have a precious few days remaining to win a pair through one of the station's many promotional contests. 9:30 Club, 8 p.m.

>> As seems to be the case with singer-songwriters these days, the relatively young Johnathan Rice already sounds jaded beyond his years. If you didn't know that Rice was a fresh-faced 24 year old who spent the better part of his childhood inside the beltway, you might assume that he was a road-tested troubadour from the Southwest. Still, he's probably better off this way — plays on the O.C. and dates with Jenny Lewis probably wouldn't have come so easy to Townes Van Zandt. Opening for Chicago garage rockers The Redwalls at the Rock and Roll Hotel, $10, 8 p.m.

>> Since he's on Vagrant Records and toured with Dashboard Confessional, you might be tempted to dismiss John Ralston with a certain three-letter epithet. That would be a mistake, however, as Ralston's warm, fuzzy indie-pop has quite a bit more depth to it than you might expect. And he doesn't sing with one of those annoying, nasally voices, we promise. With The Modern Skirts at DC9, $8, 9 p.m.

THURSDAY

>> It's not often that you see a label get simultaneous approval from both Cartoon Network viewers and the Pitchfork set, so California-based hip-hop imprint Stones Throw must be doing something right. Come see what all the fuss is about at the Black Cat, where the label will be putting on a traveling showcase of sorts. Headliner Madlib might be a bit of a schizophrenic, releasing work under a number of different names, with a number of different collaborators that spans a number of different styles. However, as he proved on his 2004 collaboration with MF DOOM, Madvillainy, that's never held him back from being one of the most vital voices in contemporary hip-hop. Meanwhile, Stones Throw founder Chris Manak has more than just an ear for talent; he'll be DJing under his Peanut Butter Wolf moniker to open up the show. With J. Rocc and Percee P at the Black Cat, $20, 8 p.m.

>> Detroit's Gore Gore Girls seem to take a lot of pride in their home state, spending equal time worshiping at the shrines of Motown and the Stooges — perhaps Michigan's two greatest contributions to modern pop music. Their sound falls somewhere in between those two poles, so don't be surprised if you find yourself banging your head and clapping your hands — maybe at the same time. DC9, $10, 8 p.m.

>> Thievery Corporation is more a religion than a band in this town, so don't be surprised if Rob Garza's latest side-project, Dust Galaxy, manages to fill the Eighteenth Street Lounge beyond capacity. It probably won't hurt that the band also features members of virtually every other legendary D.C. act known to man including James Canty (Nation of Ulysses, The Make Up, French Toast) and Jerry Busher (Fugazi). Don't say we didn't warn you — get there early.

>> Halloween may have come and gone but don't tell costume-wearing thrash act GWAR. They'll be spraying the audience with fake bodily fluids, decapitating stand-ins for political figures and disemboweling celebrity look-alikes at the 9:30 Club. Oh yeah, they'll probably play some music or something too. 9:30 Club, $20, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

>> Is there anything left to say about Ted Leo that we haven't already said? Probably not. So we trust you'll be heading down to the 9:30 Club to see the D.C. expat and his Pharmacists play all your favorites. With recently rejected Morrissey tourmate Kristeen Young, the 9:30 Club, $15, 9 p.m.

>> We loved Brooklyn's Jaguar Club at this year's Six Points festival, so if you missed them then, don't make the same mistake again. If Smiths-esque jangle pop, Joy Division gloom and echoey new wave defined your adolescence, you'll feel right at home when they play DC9's Liberation dance party. $6, 9 p.m.

>> It's not too surprising that The Detroit Cobras chose to name themselves in part after their hometown — these garage rockers obviously owe a great debt the Motor City's R&B and soul past. At the Black Cat, $13, 10 p.m.

>> DJ Chris Burns is making quite a name for himself in D.C. lately and if disco is your thing, you could do worse than check out his monthly Disco City night with Maxmillion Dunbar at the Rock and Roll hotel. Free, 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

>> Missed Ted Leo on Friday night? No worries, he'll be playing a second show on Saturday. 9:30 Club, $15, 9 p.m.

>> What exactly is RRIICCEE? Well, it's technically a collaboration between musician/filmmaker Vincent Gallo and Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson. But it's also a "spontaneous collective" that "exhibits the creation of composition within a live performance" by eschewing pre-written songs for on-stage improvisation. One thing's for sure: you're bound to get your twenty bucks worth of pretension. At the Rock and Roll Hotel, $20, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY

>> If DC101's holiday lineup left you longing for something a bit more traditional, Sunday night's holiday concert from the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra might be just what the doctor ordered. The ASO, led by Maestro Kim Allen Kluge, will perform a selection of holiday songs and Christmas carols and — as your mom will be happy to hear — singing along is encouraged. At the Trinity United Methodist Church in Alexandria, $25, 3 p.m.

>> When it comes to rock star offspring, the apple usually doesn't fall too far from the tree, at least musically speaking. Still, you never saw Julian galavanting around town with John or the Wallflowers opening up for daddy Dylan — and probably with good reason. So what makes Fiction Plane frontman Joe Sumner's relationship with rockstar father Sting so different that he can shamelessly open for the Police's reunion tour? We're not sure but our hats go off to Sting for maintaining a relationship with his progeny all those years. That mental image of father and son on the tour bus trading hummus recipes and tantra tips is almost enough to make your heart melt, isn't it? Fiction Plane plays at DC9 with Death by Sexy, $10, 7 p.m.

>> The Black Cat's annual Rock n' Shop event might not be a concert but if you're a music geek, you won't want to miss it just the same. Need a last-minute gift for that silk-screened t-shirt collector in your life? Hunting down that deleted Smiths single that will complete your brother's collection? Want to give that special someone a hand-made gig poster to remember your first date by? You'll be surprised by how much you can find at Rock n' Shop — that is, if you're willing to get down on your knees and do a little digging. And honestly, where else in the city can you do your holiday shopping while downing a few PBRs with your friends? Gift-giving doesn't get any more painless than this, folks. Free, 8 p.m.

Steve Kiviat, Andrew Wiseman and Jacarl Melton contributed to this week's post.