ABC News might want to invest in its knowledge of bland mid-2000s indie pop after its curious reading of Zooey Deschanel's recent divorce. At least it works out for Ben Gibbard. more ›

Those who showed up at the 9:30 Club on Saturday night with any doubts about The Kooks' talent were certainly persuaded, and maybe even wooed into super-fan territory. The four lads from Brighton played a pitch-perfect set that had all the classic elements of an epic rock show, including crowdsurfing and a young woman who threw her underwear up on stage. The Kooks have been on the fast track to superstardom since forming in 2004, with several hit singles and a debut album that went quadruple platinum in the U.K. Judging from Saturday's sold-out show, it won't be long before the band is a household name on this side of the pond too. more ›

>> The actor who plays Jim Halpert on NBC's The Office, John Krasinski, otherwise known as the boyfriend of every female staff writer at DCist, was apparently onstage with Ben Gibbard at the 9:30 Club last night. Krasinski, who met Gibbard on the set of the upcoming film adaptation of David Foster Wallace's Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, reportedly got a bit drunk, came on the stage and provided a little witty musical banter... more ›

The last 24 hours have proved quite busy for regional concert announcements, and we're happy to say the news isn't about bands skipping DC as they galavant around the country. Earlier this morning the 9:30 Club's Seth Hurwitz announced the newly reformed Police and Smashing Pumpkins, along with the Beastie Boys, as the headliners for this year's Virgin Fest, now to be a two-day event held on August 4th and 5th at Pimlico Race Course... more ›

FRIDAY: >> George Washington University's surprisingly excellent improv/sketch comedy troupe, Recess, will hold their monthly midnight show tonight in the Ballroom Center . They assure fans that dress-up clothes are not necessary, "but you must have showered in the last 72 hours." For just three bucks, let the campus legacy-holders make you laugh, and likely piss you off. They're willing to take that risk. (Erin Zimmer) >> There's a little band called The Ambitions playing... more ›

Despite the multiple accolades some of us have given Death Cab for Cutie's live shows in the past, sometimes, the band's lo-fi stylings and muted yet upbeat melodies just don't quite do it for all of us. A lot of times, their albums -- though plenty and successful -- always seem to leave us wanting a little something more. Last night however, not only did we get that little bit more, we were converted into... more ›

Deep in the incestuous (professionally speaking) world of indie rock, there is Rilo Kiley. Based out of Los Angeles, it isn’t that much of a surprise that the band was founded by two former child stars, Jenny Lewis of Troop Beverly Hills fame, and Blake Sennett, aka Salute Your Shorts’ Ronnie Pinksy, aka Joseph 'Joey the Rat' Epstein from Boy Meets World. More interesting is the number of popular side projects on which these... more ›

Barcelona, the sparkly new EP from Virginia’s Soft Complex transcends easy genre labeling. Containing three original tracks and their remixes, one could (and this one does) describe the disc as offering the best of Ben Gibbard. Ben who? Why Ben Gibbard, the force behind indie darlings The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie. Like the beloved Portland quartet, Soft Complex explores love, loss and lost love. Taking a quasi-literary apprach, the songs feel... more ›

We already knew that Ben Gibbard is a romantic. Leave it up to him to open up ticket sales to Death Cab's show with Franz Ferdinand (on April 11 at DAR Constitution Hall) on Valentine's Day. I don't know about you, but I think my heart just grew three sizes. At 1 p.m. today, you can go click to click with the rest of the city's hipsters to try and snag a pair of tickets.... more ›