Former folk-rock wunderkind Conor Oberst has grown into a institution unto himself, playing in a diverse array of musical projects with a host of prominent collaborators, running two record labels, and presiding over a legion of fans so fervently devoted that novelist Jonathan Franzen likened it to "religion without the bullshit of religious dogma." more ›

Monday >> The Starlingtons may not seem like your typical Black Cat band, but they are breaking the boundaries of traditional country/bluegrass. Tonight they’ll be on the back stage with Portland Oregon’s Casey Neill and his own folk/punk rock fusion. 9 p.m., $7. >> In the mood to try something new? Chicago’s post-punk New Harbour has been around for a few years now, but just moved to the District. They’re playing their first show tonight... more ›

If Thursday's show at the Red and the Black was any indication, this year's 6 Points Music Festival looks to be a good one. The local fest, in its fourth year but only its second with a wider reach, aims to someday be a D.C. version of South by Southwest and helped its cause by bringing a diverse indie bill to H Street NE. The show began with Brooklyn's The Lisps, followed by Chicago's Scotland... more ›

Hosting live webcasts of some of the most critically acclaimed artists that come through D.C. — that's something DCist can get behind. We've been fans of NPR's Live Concert Series for a while now. Their home base is the 9:30 Club and they make partaking in sold out shows without selling your soul to a scalper an actual possibility. Recently they've covered Ted Leo, Nellie McKay, The Good The Bad and The Queen, and tonight... more ›

Ever wonder why rock critics use phrases like “this generation’s Dylan” to describe Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes? Just to piss people off? As an easy hook for ageing rockers? There may not be another artist today so overtly and capably ripping off the rambling, verse-upon-verse epics Dylan has perfected over the years, but the expectation that comes with the "new Dylan" tag is too heavy for anyone to bear. A few of Oberst's songs... more ›

MONDAY >> Love him or hate him, Connor Oberst's and his Saddle Creek Records have a whole lot to do with indie kids adding some alt to their country. And, there are a lot of people in this town who fall into the "love him" category. That's probably why Bright Eyes sold out the 9:30 Club. >> If you were planning on taking in The Young Knives and Foreign Islands tonight at the Black... more ›

Written by DCist Contributor Abby Lavin Acerbic campaign ads, Redskins season, pumpkin ice cream from Max’s…it’s officially autumn. And what better way to commemorate Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday night than with a sundry cornucopia of local music at the Rock and Roll Hotel? Jazzy songstress Laura Burhenn and indie collective Meredith Bragg and the Terminals are two acts you wouldn’t expect to share a bill with heavy-rock trio Dead Meadow. But together, the three rising... more ›

As the Hot Ticket turns into the pleasantly, autumnally cool ticket, there are certain hot items that will go without saying from now on, so don't ask why we haven't mentioned them. These are: 1) You should all be ashamed for not going to Nats games while there are a few left in this inaugural season, but we're not going to mention this anymore. 2) There is, apparently, a professional football team in the area,... more ›

Confidential memo to any DCist reader who hasn't yet skipped out on town/been released from their desk chains on this beautiful Friday: If you love all things Conor Oberst, you may like to know that the 9:30 Club appears to have just released some extra tickets for tonight's sold-out Bright Eyes show with The Faint. Get thee posthaste here; purchase your tickets; and we'll see you tonight. more ›

Don't forget to check out our music and arts agendas for other events going on this Memorial Day weekend (especially since this weekend is your last chance to see a lot of great exhibitions). more ›

MONDAY: more ›

In addition to the HFStival announcement, there are a few other bits and pieces floating around -- and we'd just hate ourselves if we didn't tell you about them. First off, an eagle-eyed reader let us know that tickets for the Bright Eyes/The Faint are already on sale. Though the two shows on Thursday, May 26 and Friday, May 27 haven't been posted on the 9:30 Club's home page, you can hit up their sales... more ›

FRIDAY: >> The circus has come to town! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be having an evening show tonight, 7:30 p.m. at the MCI Center. If you get there 90 minutes early, you can enjoy free entertainment, and during the pre-show Three Ring Adventure, kids can meet performers and pose for photos with the crazy clowns. Tickets can be purchased here. SATURDAY: >> If you're feeling energetic come Saturday AM, why not... more ›

Spring has sprung (well, sort of), and concerts in the D.C. area are in full bloom. We thought we had enough on our plate with the upcoming April and May line ups, but with some concert announcements in the past week, there's even more than we expected. more ›

Were you stuck in ticket "virtual waiting room" hell for hours on end while Wilco tickets sold out from under your fingers a month ago? Well, if so, this is a just a friendly reminder that alternatives to going to the show tonight or tomorrow do exist. more ›

If you're sitting at your desk at work, a little bored and waiting for the weekend, we recommend surfing on over to the washingtonpost.com MP3 page, where in honor of their 4th birthday, they've picked out their top 20 downloads of the year. Otherwise, check out our suggestions for weekend fun below. more ›

We were all set to recommend you some delicious concerts to attend in the first month of aught-five, but when we looked over our information, it turns out that all three of our top three shows were already sold out. The Bright Eyes (with Conor Oberst at left), Scissor Sisters, and Arcade Fire concerts, all set to take place at the 9:30 Club in January -- well, consider yourself lucky if you snagged a ticket to any of them. And if you missed out, check the end of this post; we've got a bit of a surprise in store for you. more ›

A follow up on our earlier posting that hot blogger band The Arcade Fire was making their way towards our fair city late January: The Ghost of Gordon Sumner and The Upstate Life have done a wee bit of research and discovered the exact location and date of the sure to be sold-out show. The band will be playing the 9:30 Club on Sunday, January 30th. Tickets will be $12 (not including that pesky service... more ›