MONDAY:
>> Welcome to the week of the sold out show! Oz’s favorite sons, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, sold out both dates of their 9:30 Club run months in advance, but there are still some pricey Craigslist options if you’re really kicking yourself for missing last night’s performance of moody, guttural rock 'n' roll.

>> D.C.'s own John Bustine is at The Velvet Lounge. Yes, The Velvet Lounge hosts alt-country acts, too. In fact, they'll have three. The Wax Standard and Winnipeg's Twilight Hotel will be joining him. 9:30pm, $8, 21+

>> Stills and Young will be absent but David Crosby and Graham Nash will be at the Lisner Auditorium. Be aware that classic, stadium-filling rock 'n' roll still comes at classic, stadium-filling prices. 8 p.m., $65.

TUESDAY:
>> Avant-garde artists The Residents have tried on a host of genres, personas, costumes and attitudes while always being brilliantly satirical and interesting. See what they have up their sleeves at one of those rare seated shows at the 9:30 Club. 7 p.m., $35.

>> For those a little more into the sublime than the bizarre, Jammin Java has some bluesy-tinged rock from chanteuse Robinella and bluegrass-inspired duo Uncle Monk, which sees punk legend Tommy Ramone in a rather different setting...playing the mandolin. 7:30 p.m., $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

WEDNESDAY:
>> The last time I left Hot Chip out of the weekly music agenda because they were long sold out, our gentle readers left me many a complaint. Well, kids, they're back...and even though they've sold out the 9:30 Club yet again, I'm putting it in this week. Craigslist it up.

>> Given their long relationship with Washington, it's not terribly surprising that Ted Leo & the Pharmacists sold out the Black Cat. They'll be playing with a newer group of politically charged firebrands, Against Me!, who have gotten their own share of critical acclaim. Craigslist options are looking scant. 8:30 p.m.

>> Therefore, things look good for some of our favorite locals playing The Rock and Roll Hotel. Three Stars alum Gist (who just released a new album, Conversations, Expectations) will tear up the stage, joined by Poor But Sexy and The Andalusians.

THURSDAY:
>> This year's SAFE & Sound benefit show at the Rock and Roll Hotel (a benefit concert for Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment, Inc.) will include some powerful local mainstays. Laura Burhenn, Olivia & the Housemates, Lode Runner and The Spiritual Machine (formerly Koko) will be playing to raise money for SAFE during Domestic Violence Awareness month. The phrase "good music for a good cause" might be trite and overused, but it's still accurate. 8 p.m., $10.

>> In advance of their ambitiously packaged Skeletal Lamping, Athens' Of Montreal will bring their garish live show (think Sesame Street on acid) and sugary psychedelic guitar + keyboard melodies to the 9:30 Club. And...you guessed it...sold out. You know what to do.

>> Apollo Sunshine touches down at DC9, armed with loud psychedelic swirling guitars and a handful of poppier fare. Ben Folds wishes he wrote "I Was On the Moon". 9 p.m., 18+, $12.

>> Afrobeat sensation Antibalas will be hitting the Black Cat Mainstage in all of their glory (with all 12 of their members.) Marchfourth opens. 8 p.m., $15

FRIDAY:
>> There was some angst initially when Dischord legends Shudder to Think announced they were doing a reunion tour and hadn't included a D.C. show. Well, they haven't forgotten where they came from and they've announced an early show at the 9:30 Club with beautifully experimental Philly duo Pattern Is Movement, who we interviewed last time they were in town. 6 p.m. doors, $20.

>> Danceable rock from overseas remains another night at the Black Cat. This time, it's coming from Venezuela in the form of Los Amigos Invisibles and Bio Ritmo, who are also celebrating their CD release. 9 p.m., $23 in advance, $25 day of show.

>> When Pittsburgh mashup guru Greg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, last came to D.C., the Black Cat was packed to the gills with pop culture vultures who loved to dance. This time they'll be filling up the 9:30 Club. You can look online for spare tickets if you don't feel like driving up to Baltimore the following night.

>> They may have briefly stepped off the local music radar to do some recording, but we still love Middle Distance Runner and we congratulate them on their 100th show! They'll be celebrating it at Iota with heavy hitters New Rock Church of Fire. 9 p.m., $12.

SATURDAY:
>> Always creative, sometimes abstract British punk outfit Wire has kept us on our toes for decades. Although Pink Flag is an undisputed classic, they've put out several albums with varying stylistic merits. They'll be going on early at the 9:30 Club., which either means a comprehensive set, or, given the incredibly short length of many of their songs...an opportunity to catch another show. 7 p.m., $25.

>> David Gedge is once again touring under The Wedding Present moniker, so let's hope he's still heartbroken and angry. The much more cheerful, likeable openers are Jealous Girlfriends. 9 p.m., $15.

SUNDAY:
>> Wait, didn't we just see Delta Spirit? These guys may be from San Diego, but they come to D.C. more often than Brooklyn's Oxford Collapse. Local alt-country trio The Moderate and singer-songwriter Andy Zipf open the show at Rock and Roll Hotel. 8:30 p.m., $10

>> Although their recorded material is quite good in its own right, it doesn't do justice to the energy that chamber-pop Syracuse act Ra Ra Riot can bring to the stage between their bouncy frontman and guitarist and the depth brought in by a very deft string section. They'll be at The Black Cat with Walter Meego and The Morning Benders. 8:30 p.m., $12.

Photo of Nick Cave from his myspace page. Photo of Shudder to Think by Kyle Gustafson