Weekly Music Agenda
Monday
>> You may have seen him in such films as Austin Powers in Goldmember, or making a cameo in the first episode of HBO’s Six Feet Under L.A.’s Willie Wisely is no stranger to Hollywood, and his most recent relationship with the celebrity world is some heavy promotion from Jenna Fischer (Pam on NBC’s The Office). She’s apparently a huge fan and friend of the alt-pop band, and even stars in the video for their single, “Through Any Window.” Wisely will be at The Red and the Black with Tom McBride. $8, 9:30 p.m.
>> Tonight Iota’s got a double dose of area powerpop. Check out the catchy sounds of D.C.’s Boxcar Collision, who will be sharing the stage with Baltimore’s Beatles-influenced Starbelly. $10, 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday
>> Three of the finest modern post-punk bands will be at the 9:30 Club Tuesday: Editors, Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV, who will be releasing a new album at the end of January titled Slick Dogs and Ponies. Don’t have work the next day, or just don’t care? Well stop by DC9 after the show for the FREE afterparty hosted by Liberation Dance Party. $25, 7:30 p.m. doors.
>> If you still haven’t caught The Apparitions’ (***) frontman Mark Charles Heidinger (aka Vandaveer), then head over to the Black Cat tonight for one of his first shows of 2008. You will not be disappointed by this master musical storyteller. $8, 9 p.m.
Wednesday
>> Hopefully you were able to snag tickets to the SOLD OUT Yeasayer show at Black Cat (which is happening on the backstage for some reason? Didn't they recently sell out the Rock and Roll Hotel?). Recognized as one of the bands that will matter at last year’s SXSW music festival, these guys from Brooklyn are on the cusp of something big. As part of their first full North American tour, they’ll be sharing the stage with fellow New Yorkers, MGMT.
>> Indie underground sensation Blonde Redhead released their seventh, and more dream-pop sounding album, titled 23 in 2007. The New York band has developed quite a cult following over the years. Tonight they’ll be at the 9:30 Club with School of Seven Bells. $20, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
>> Massachusetts-based Drug Rug were recently featured in Spin’s Buzzcatcher and described as a band that takes “fuzzy garage rock and shimmering power pop and makes them claw each other in a cock fighting ring until all that’s left is a pool of stoned, fragmented shout-alongs.” They’ll be making the second stop on their 2008 tour at the Rock and Roll Hotel with The Rosebuds and one our favorite artists of 2007, Carol Bui (***).
>> Isaac Hayes had a stroke in 2006, quit his role as Chef in "South Park," and may still be a Scientologist, but hopefully he will still use that distinctive baritone on the "The Theme From Shaft," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and some of the songs he co-wrote with David Porter at Stax. He will be at the Birchmere. $65, 7:30 p.m.
>> Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' retro-soul has reached an indie-rock audience thanks to clever marketing, former Ryker's Island Correction Officer Jones' earthy gospel-rooted vocals, and the band's reputation for getting funky on its own and backing Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson. Hear them reach back to 1968 if you can get a ticket (originally $15) for this 8 p.m. SOLD OUT show at the Black Cat with openers, the Ivan Milev Band.
Friday
>> Pittsburgh’s The Clarks have been around for quite a while, with a slew of devoted fans and memorable singles such as “Born Too Late” off their 2000 release, Let It Go. Friday night the pop stars will be at the 9:30 Club with our favorite Providence-based, violin-wielding reggae-rockers, Zox, who will be releasing their latest album Line in the Sand on January 22. $18, 9 p.m.
>> Norwegian rockers Ungdomskulen (in English,Youth School) will be stopping by the Red and the Black for a high energy show as part of their U.S. tour. They’ll be accompanied by the local instrumental up-and-comers The Prisoner’s Dilemma and The Demon Beat. $8, 9:30 p.m.
Saturday
>> Three Stars alum Luke Brindley has been described by the Washington Post as “one of the best roots rock releases of the year.” It’s very easy to lose focus on everything else and become completely absorbed in his acoustic show. You can hear Luke twice this week, Thursday at his Rock n’ Roll Songwriters Circle at Jammin’ Java, or tonight at the Barns at Wolf Trap with Cravin' Dogs. 7:30 p.m.
>> Head back out to Jammin’ Java for another Three Stars alum, and one of our favorite local alt-rockers, Rome in a Day, with Revel and Of Broken. $10, 9:30 p.m.
>> New Orleans-born California resident Teedra Moses' 2004 debut Complex Simplicity did not make her a star, but it featured R&B tracks that pleased music critics and knowledgeable fans of both polished neo-soul, and poppier hip hop inflected songcraft. Finally due for a followup CD this year, she's making a rare area appearance at the Black Cat with local singer Eric Roberson opening. 9 p.m.
Sunday
>> It’s CD release party night at Iota. Local singer/songwriter and host of the Sunday night showcase at Wonderland Ballroom Michael Jantz (***) will be performing and celebrating his latest release, Live at Jim’s. Maryland’s Ellen Cherry will also be releasing her album, Heart Like A Lion, along with a performance by JP McDermott and Western Bopp. $10, 8:30 p.m.
Steve Kiviat contributed to this week's agenda.
Photos from Mercedes Thurlbeck, MySpace.com/DrugRugDude and Stephen Churchill Downes .