Weekly Music Agenda
MONDAY
>> Although the term "supergroup" has some dubious connotations of potentially sub-par music, School of Language, featuring David Brewis of Field Music, Ryan Rapsys of Euphone, and Doug McCombs of Tortoise, has come out with songs like "Rockist Part 1" which make us happy. They'll be at DC9 with Medications and Go Home Robot. 9 p.m. $10.
>> Low key alt-country is the fare tonight at the Black Cat, with locals Fairline Parkway, Sean McArdle and Kitty Hawk playing the Backstage. 9 p.m. $8.
>> Punk legends The Pogues appear for the second night of their sold out run at the 9:30 Club. For those still desperate to get into the show, there's always Craigslist. 7 p.m.
TUESDAY
>> Anyone sufficiently impressed by Pogues openers The Urban Voodoo Machine (or anyone sufficiently angry that they missed those shows) can catch the dark liquor-soaked sea shanties and gypsy ballads at their encore performance at Red and the Black. 9 p.m. $10.
>> Baltimore's Wzt Hearts bring their brand of experimental trance-like noise to the Black Cat Backstage. Wow, an experimental noisy act from Baltimore, imagine that. The Methamphetamines and Wealth open. 9 p.m. $8.
>> Alt-country power trio The Moderate should help assuage (at least a little bit) anyone still bitter that they missed the sold out Wilco shows a couple weeks ago. Distortion-laden folk rockers The Mikal Evans Band open the show at DC9. 8:30 p.m. $8.
>> Soulful siren Jill Scott has the sort of voice that can melt even the hardest of hearts into soft chewy caramel. Tuesday is her first of two nights at D.A.R. Constitution Hall. $57-$84. 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
>> Welcome to the day of sold out shows. Los Lobos and James Hunter have sold out The Birchmere.
>> French electro-dance duo Justice (the guys to thank for "D.A.N.C.E.", perhaps the most remixed track of 2007) have long sold out their 9:30 Club debut, but thus far the prices people are asking for on Craigslist are surprisingly reasonable.
>> For guaranteed entry (if you're 18+) and experimental punk awesomeness, The Velvet Lounge is the place to be with a lineup full of bands made up of musicians who used to be in other bands. A Strangeland Records benefit and Big Noose's birthday bash, the night features Dark Sea Dream (with former members of Vog), Pastures (with current members of The New Flesh), The Bible (with former members of Durga Temple) and
THURSDAY
>> DJ Nitekrawler spins his blend of Funk, Caribbean Grooves, Afrobeat, Disco and Soul for HEAT at Cafe Saint-Ex (1847 14th Street, NW Washington DC). 10 p.m.
>> If you've ever wondered what soulful folk rock sounds like when played by people who clearly have a substantial post-punk collection sitting in their iTunes, Two Dark Birds will display just that at the Black Cat Backstage. Locals The High Signs and Sad Crocodile open. 9 p.m. $8.
>> If you're the lead singer from a one-hit wonder band, you could blow all your money and fade into alcohol-induced obscurity. Or, if you're Emerson Hart (formerly of Tonic), you can put out a surprisingly well-received underground solo album. He'll be at Jammin Java with opener Bill Deasy. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. 7:30 p.m.
>> Ex-Kid Sampson Mara Levi has been playing solo for seven years. Now she's back in a band, Thomasina and the Jam, who promise a night filled with impressive vocal harmonies, rocking drum beats... and argyle sweaters. Laura Tsaggaris, Liz Stahler, and Brianna Lane also share the bill at Iota. 8:30 p.m. $10.
FRIDAY
>> There is one show this week that hasn't sold out the 9:30 Club (yet). NoLa's Cowboy Mouth and Cross Canadian Ragweed bring southern tinged rock that screams "I'm happy to be alive." Nothing wrong with that. 8 p.m. $27.50
>> Unfortunately, Brooklyn's live powerhouse (and Unbuckled alums) Pela have canceled their show at the Rock and Roll Hotel. You can, however, still catch a full night of tuneful local flavor in that same dark yet poppy vein with Greenland, Bellflur, The Coats and The Shakes. 9 p.m. $10.
>> Legendary DJ, producer and global electronica icon Cheb i Sabbah ends his long absence from the District by throwing his Devotion CD Release party at Bohemian Caverns. He'll be joined by San Francisco DJ Janaka Selekta and locals V:shal Kanwar, Mr. Darko and Julez and proceeds from the event will benefit Race Against Domestic Violence. 21+. 9 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 at the door.
>> DJs Mister Disco and Starrscream reprise last month's indie pop and dance punk party Ready Already at The Red and the Black. 9:30 p.m. $5.
SATURDAY
>> If you came into January's Editors show late and missed T.Rex and Bowie disciples Louis XIV, you'll get another chance at the Rock and Roll Hotel along with What Made Milwaukee Famous and Holiday and the Adventure Pop Collective. 9:30 p.m. $15.
>> The U.S.-based Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca are back in town with their danceable repertoire of Congolese salsa and rumba. The multi-lingual Lemvo will be singing songs in Lingala, English, Spanish and Portuguese at the Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 N. Kent Street, in Arlington.
>> Atlanta flower-punks Black Lips bring their high-energy raw-as-hell stage show back to the Black Cat. First two rows beware: Cole Alexander has a tendency to spit water high up into the air. And it doesn't necessarily fall straight down. The antics don't stop there. Quintron and Miss Pussycat and Hollywood open. 9 p.m. $13.
>> Konkrete Jungle DC brings a loaded lineup filled with masters of urban and electronic beats to DC9, with the Catch Dem If You Can Tour featuring Rusher, Silent Extent, MC Temper and Misha. Show up before 10:30 p.m. for the cheaper $7 door price, because afterwards the tickets get bumped up to $10. 9 p.m.
>> Local legend (and City Paper columnist) Bob Mould will precede this Saturday night's DJ set with an early show, where his current band will play music from their recent release, District Line. Edgy and atmospheric Halou open, celebrating their twelfth anniversary. 6:30 p.m. $20.
>> Headliners never come on early at Zanzibar. But if you can stick it out, Jamaican reggae legend Gregory Isaacs should dazzle you with his vocals sometime between midnight and 3 a.m. Openers the Live Wyya Band are scheduled for 9 p.m. at Zanzibar on the waterfront, 700 Water Street SW
SUNDAY
>> This Sunday actually does feel like a day of rest (for a change), but anyone not tired out from this week can catch local experimental indie act The Foreign Press as well as Mit'n, Jon Miller and the Two Steps, and Sun Committee. At the Red and the Black, $8, 9:30 p.m.
>> Hip-hop collective WALE!!! is nothing if not hardworking. In one week they open for Justice, play at the music industry spring break known as SXSW, and then return to the 9:30 Club for a headlining show. Very impressive. Kokayi and SPP (Storm the Unpredictable, Priest da Nomad, & Poem-cees) open. $15. 8:30 p.m.
Steve Kiviat contributed to this week's agenda.