If Bruce Springsteen ever played the D.C. area on September 11, it's not hard to imagine that the performance would entail a long, workmanlike set of earnestly anthemic music, plenty of emotional catharsis, and at least a handful of politically-engaged soliloquies between songs. For better or worse, local concert-goers were denied that spectacle this year. Instead, they got Vampire Weekend, the much-hyped indie-rock band that, coincidentally, vowed at a 2008 9:30 Club show to return with enough new material to fuel a marathon set worthy of "The Boss." more ›

Beach House is simply captivating live. But when their set consists mostly of tracks from their near-perfect, third full-length, Teen Dream--an album that's sure to appear on many year-end top ten lists--perhaps excellence is nothing short of expected. more ›

FRIDAY: more ›