Weekly Music Agenda

WEDNESDAY
>> In hindsight, it was kinda funny when the indie rock cognoscenti derisively labeled Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot -- surely their most difficult album up to that date -- as "dad rock." Little did they know how relaxed and comfortable the band could be, or exactly how much Steely Dan leader Jeff Tweedy was ingesting at the time. Sky Blue Sky, though, was a grower, and some of its prettier guitar passages sit well next to their undeniable fan favorites. Their latest, Wilco (The Album) may set the watermark for all-time rock self-awareness; rarely (never?) has a band used the self-title so sarcastically. The music within continues in the vein of Sky Blue Sky -- assured, pretty, occasionally kinda funny even. A set outside at Wolftrap with these guys? I can think of few better ways to spend a nice mid-summer evening. Conor Oberst and his Mystic Valley Band should provide a pretty damn good reason to get there a little early with your (alcohol welcome!) picnic spread. Tickets start at $32 for the lawn, $38 inside. 8 p.m.

>> Ever since the Japandroids' lead single, "Young Hearts Spark Fire", snuck its way onto my iPod and into my warm, fuzz-loving heart, this show has been bookmarked on my calendar. Then one of the two dudes in the band -- and yes, all that ruckus is just two guys -- fell ill and the show was postponed. But they're back, coming to the intimate confines of DC9 in what is surely the sleeper show of the week. Eight bucks? Yes, please. With Slim Twig and Tennis System. Show at 9 p.m.

>> Anyone else think the new wave revival would fade as quickly as it started? The same bands that were all over the place four years ago may be a little less prominent these days, but the heavy synths and treated vocals seem to be here to stay. Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears carry plenty of new wave influence without really beating you over the head with it, and they return to Washington, this time to play the Rock and Roll Hotel. Joining them will be newcomers Torches, including members of local faves the Cassettes and Travis Morrison and the Hellfighters. Doors at 8 p.m. $10.

THURSDAY
>> We don't hear from Bellflur enough these days. The area's resident Radiohead acolytes bring a healthy dose of weird to their twist on modern rock; as our own Valerie Paschall wrote a while back, "They'll rock out like they've found a way to reinterpret The Bends so that it fills every nook of a room." Plus, on Thursday, they're teaming with fellow Three Stars alums The Moderate. Vox Pop joins in on the fun too; doors at 9 p.m., $10.

>> If the weather holds, you'll be in for a nice night up at Fort Reno, with the always inspiring Imperial China and FFFever, who are gaining more buzz than we can even keep up with. As always, it starts promptly at 7:15 p.m.

FRIDAY
>> D.C. favorites The Dance Party nearly always bring a great crowd when they play around town, and they've loaded Friday night's bill with fellow (and recent) Three Stars alums Ra Ra Rasputin, as well as NYC's Tigercity (recently named as one to watch by Rolling Stone, for whatever that's worth) and catchy local popsters Casper Bangs. Doors at 8 p.m., $15.

>> Handsome Furs have never really been my thing — always preferred Dan Boeckner's more direct stuff with Wolf Parade. With Furs, Boeckner and his wife, Alexei Perry, join up to create synthy, dark songs quite different from the usual hubby-wife indie duos (a la Dean and Britta or The Rosebuds). Their latest, Face Control, got all kinds of great press when it came out — see for yourself this week at the Black Cat. With Dri and The Cinnamon Band. Doors at 9 p.m., $12.

The Handsome Furs, on tour in support of their new album Face Control, hit the Black Cat on Friday night.

SATURDAY
>> Saturday's big show is the first ever at Nationals Park, and they've made it a big one. Elton John and Billy Joel reunite — they've toured together several times in the recent past — for a blockbuster show. Rumor has it that if they sell more than 35k seats for the show, the franchise will pressure Manny Acta into giving Joel a platoon in rightfield for the remainder of the season. Tickets start at $102. Incredible, especially when you see the seating chart. 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY
>> DC9 continues with another installment of its singer-songwriter night, The Nine. Justin Trawick's pet project features some of D.C.'s better musicians and should be well worth the $8 ticket. Doors at 8 p.m.

>> I wouldn't normally group Def Leppard and Poison with Cheap Trick, perhaps thee essential power pop band of the last 35 years, and also certainly one of its goofiest. The other two certainly have plenty of fans though, and there's probably some overlap in that demographic with Cheap Trick masterpieces "Surrender" and "Dream Police" (to name a few). How they got on this bill, however, is another story, though the answer is probably no stranger than the answer to how James Iha and one of the Hanson brothers recently hooked up with Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos to form Tinted Windows. This whole strange mess gets together at Nissan Pavilion on Sunday. Lawn seats start at $25. 7 p.m.