Weekly Music Agenda
>> Magic Christian (ex Flaming Groovies/Blondie/Plimsouls) come east from San Fran with a brand of jangly surf rock. Local rockers The Differents bring the noise with guitarist Andy Prezkop (furious with the licks and the wah peddle). Their singer reminds us of Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock. $10, 9:30 p.m., Velvet Lounge.
>> You'll have two chances to see Johnson's Crossroads play their "bent acoustic country." First, a Monday show at Iota in Arlington and then a second show at D.C.'s Velvet Lounge on Tuesday. Moses Atwood opens. $10, 8:30 p.m., Iota.
TUESDAY
>> Beginning on Tuesday, a five-night stretch of SOLD OUT shows by hometown heroes Thievery Corporation at 9:30 Club. Better check Craigslist.
>> Get your Americana at the Velvet Lounge, courtesy Johnson's Crossroads with Moses Atwood, Don Chambers & Goat, and Ugly Purple Sweater at Velvet Lounge. 9:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
>> Pree make minimal, cute, and whimsical tunes. Folky and sweet, the music is powered by May Tabol's (formerly of Le Loup) voice, which has a cadence and style not unlike Karen O's or Regina Spektor's. Joining are Fredericksburg's Tereu Tereu, whose mellow indie pop should pair well with the Pree. Sean Walsh and the National Reserve will start things off. $8, 9 p.m., Black Cat Backstage.
>> Au make haunting and beautiful experimental psych-folk. Baltimore's Art Department and locals Moon Pie join. $8, 9:30 p.m., Velvet Lounge.
THURSDAY
>> I guess one reason to go see Ballas Hough Band at Rock and Roll Hotel would be the chance to attend a small show for a group who will, most likely, be opening for the likes of Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers at some point in the near future. If you like that over-produced, confusing soup of syrupy pop styles or if your 13-year-old daughter does, this is probably the show for you. Vic Kingsley opens with mid-tempo Grey's Anatomy-worthy pop. Fools & Horses join. $15, 8:30 p.m., Rock and Roll Hotel.
>> If you can't make the Thievery Corp. show on this night, perhaps you'll want to check out Nightmares on Wax. Sample-heavy, chill electronica... a great substitute. DJ Stereo Faith gets the party started. $12, 9 p.m., Black Cat.
>> The NYC duo The Naked Hearts comes to town. Singer Amy Cooper has a smokey laid-back delivery to match the bands irreverent post-punk style. Local folky chanteuse Kitty Hawk and Boston garage rockers Fugitive Kind open. $6, 8 p.m. The Red and the Black
>> Sing-a-long powerpop at its finest, Braxton Parke from Philly. Hometowners Blue Pinto and The Public Good open. $7, 9:30 p.m., Velvet Lounge.
FRIDAY
>> Local band The breakUps play sort of Go-Go/Surf Rock or something like that. Lyrics are delivered with a screaming edge. Fun stuff. Richmond's The Milkstains join with their loud and rough blues rock, and D.C.'s The Moderate kick things off. $10, 9:30 p.m., Rock and Roll Hotel.
>> Intense, hot-chick-fronted L.A. rockers Nico Vega are in town with a packed bill. Also touring with Nico Vega are Semi Precious Weapons, with their ego-fueled AC/DC type stuff. Singer Justin Tranter said in an interview recently, "There’s 10 songs on our record and nine of them are about how fantastic I am." Kicking things off are Von Iva, who play fuzzy soulful dance-rock. $10, 9:30 p.m., The Red and the Black.
SATURDAY
>> People have been saying that Telograph should be bigger than they are for a while now. Check out their track "Fever" to understand why. Locals Cobra Collective bring the post-punk for fans of Joy Division, Interpol, The Sound, etc. Also performing are southern rockers American Bang, who have successfully covered T. Rex. Awesome. And rounding out the line up, the punk rock of Pittsburgh's Triggers. $10, 9 p.m., Rock and Roll Hotel.
>> Speaking of T. Rex, The Gaslight Society does a good job of nodding in their general direction. Imagine a Janis Joplin and T. Rex co-wrote an album. That's what's in store this weekend at the Red and the Black. $8
SUNDAY
>> It's Super Bowl Sunday, guys. And bookers around the city are aware of that too, conveniently leaving most every venue in town dark tonight. Sit in and enjoy the odd match up and hopefully amusing commercials.