Weekly Music Agenda
MONDAY
>> Morcheeba may be well past the peak of popularity they hit at the tail end of the tide of trip-hop, but they can still pack in the crowds. Their show tonight at the 9:30 Club with the similarly eclectic Argentine singer-songwriter Federico Aubele is sold out, so if you want to get in, show up early and try to find some extras on the sidewalk, or check out what Craigslist has to offer. $25, 7:30 p.m.
>> Dan Mark plays some pretty pleasing acoustic singer-songwriter material, and Arc of June have a talent for dreamy pop (as well as, according to their Myspace page, an affinity for one of our favorite local revolutionary groups). They'll team up tonight at Galaxy Hut. $5, 9 p.m.
TUESDAY
>> And we thought New Zealand only produced picturesque scenery for fantasy films and the occasional novelty folk duo. Turns out they've also sent us a great noisy punk band in the form of Die! Die! Die!, who come to DC9 this week hot on the heels of their performances down at South By Southwest. $8, 8:30 p.m.
>> Had enough of fey, sensitive boys with messy haircuts fronting the same old indie rock bands? You may be the target market for Hardcore Tuesdays at Asylum. The new night at the Adams Morgan mainstay kicks off this week and will feature acts that keep it LOUD. This week features three local metal bands: Absolute Vengeance, Gryffindor, and Haunted Shores. $5, 9 p.m.
>> Three men, five strings. The Presidents of the United States of America may have seemed like kind of a goof at the time, but tell me you can't still get "Peaches" or "Lump" to stick back in your head at the drop of a hat. Providing a light-hearted antidote to heavy-handed serious 90s rawk, PUSA may have never had the kind of success that would prevent most people from continuing to think of them as a two-hit wonder, but they've had staying power among the cultish ranks of their fans. They'll play the 9:30 Club with Jack Talcum and Ludo. $15.
WEDNESDAY
>> The good, solid, straight ahead rock of Mass Shivers will take the stage at the Red and the Black, along with locals True Womanhood and Len Bias. $8, 9 p.m.
>> Mark Charles, when not singing for The Apparitions, also does the solo thing as Vandaveer, an infinitely catchy act that showcases a love for the Beatles' McCartney side as well a ton of other songwriters with similar melodic gifts. Also on the bill at the Black Cat Backstage? Laura Burhenn in a (these days) rare non-Georgie James appearance, as well as The National Reserve. $8, 9 p.m.
THURSDAY
>> There are few bands as delightfully off-kilter and proudly weird as Xiu Xiu, who manage to make pop experimentation accessible, and even catchy. They'll be joined by locally bred Kill Rock Stars labelmate Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down and Chris Garneau at the Black Cat Backstage. $12, 9 p.m.
>> If you're not in the mood for a live band and just want to down some drinks with some familiar tunes, Katherine Wildt and Holly Tegeler are spinning over at St. Ex with their semi-regular DJ night, My Favorite Dress, featuring a blend of twee, garage, indie pop and more. St. Ex sweetens the deal with drink specials, and it's free to get in. 10 p.m.
FRIDAY
>> Whether you're a huge Pavement fan, or you just won't miss a chance to see the hands-down best drummer in rock and roll today, or maybe you're really into the solo career of Stephen Malkmus and his merry band of Jicks, the 9:30 Club is your destination on Friday. The slacker godfather will be joined by John Vanderslice. $20.
>> The Spontaneous Infinity festival is a three night showcase of experimental music that kicked off at the Velvet Lounge this past Saturday, and continues there this weekend. Friday night's lineup features Elliott Sharp, whose impressive resume features collaborations with diverse luminaries such as Mike Watt, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Nels Cline, as well as his own solo work on SST Records and John Zorn's experimental label, Tzadik. Joining Sharp are Blaise Siwula/David Wilson/Toshi Makihara (sax/sax/percussion), Jaimie Branch/March Riordan (trumpet/percussion duo from Chicago), Thus (sax/inventions duo from Baltimore), and Nate Scheible & Matt Wascovich (Cleveland, drums/guitar). $15, 8 p.m.
>> Bethesda-birthed act The Seldom Scene remain one of the best known and longest running bluegrass bands around. They'll play Strathmore Hall along with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. $19-40, 8 p.m.
>> Skid Row is rocking metal mecca Jaxx in Springfield. And no, we didn't realize they were still together, either. If you're hoping to see Sebastian Bach, best to stay at home and watch old Headbanger's Ball VHS tapes, as he hasn't been with the band in over a decade, and they've moved in a more thrashy, less hair-metal direction in that time. $23 Advance, $25 at the door, 7:30 p.m.
>> Puerto Rico's Tego Calderon will be showcasing his mix of reggaeton and old-school rap en Español at El Boqueron II in Rockville. $40, 9 p.m.
>> The 2nd Annual Capital Blues Festival brings a number of soulful vocalists, including Latimore, Clarence Carter, Bobby Blue Bland, Marvin Sease, Roy C., and Mel Waiters to Constitution Hall. $65, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY
>> The Raveonettes' latest record of sweet harmonies layered on top of dark, Velvet Underground-influenced guitar wash has been garnering solid reviews. The duo will bring their moody and often haunting sound to the Black Cat, with NYC psychedelic revivalists Black Acid. $15, 9 p.m.
>> Three stars alums Deleted Scenes headline DC9 along with fellow locals (and honorary -ist family members?) The Fordists, and Pennsylvania's Drink Up Buttercup and Chapel Hill's Butterflies. $8, 9 p.m.
>> As we reported last week, the Eels' Mark Oliver Everett has cheekily invited President Bush to stop by the band's show at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue this weekend. But you're invited, too! And without the sarcastic irony. $25, 8 p.m.
SUNDAY
>> The event most deserving of your attention this week? Sunday's Black Cat Backstage show, because it features the excellent rotating cast of The Andalusians, or perennial DCist fave Carol Bui. Well, that might be reason enough, but aside from that, the show benefits Girls Rock! DC, a non-profit like the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls and other like minded organizations in locations around the country that sponsors a week-long music camp for girls 8-18, in an effort to push girls from a young age to challenge the persistent myth that guitars, amps, and drums are better left to boys. $8, 8 p.m.
>> Colombian pop-rock vocalist Juanes recently headlined a mammoth concert for peace on the Colombia/Venezuela border. Expect him to mention it when he appears at the George Mason University Patriot Center in Fairfax. $48-$78, 7 p.m.
Steve Kiviat contributed to this week's agenda.