It's hard to believe it's been a year since Telograph's first EP, Little Bits of Plastic (review). Since the release of that recording, the band has gone on to build a name for themselves in the D.C. music scene and play shows with Gomez, Robbers on High Street and O.A.R. We gave them the *** treatment back in '06, so it warms our hearts to see them doing so well. Now with their second release, Telograph EP, we're predicting bigger and better things for the band. more ›

>> Tickets are still available for Fiery Furnaces, dios and Orphan tonight at Black Cat. $15, 8 p.m. >> Check out our full preview of RAMP, performing a free show tonight at Bossa Bistro and Lounge, 9 p.m. >> DCist favorites Robbers on High Street come to Iota tonight promising to play songs from their upcoming disc, "Grand Animals." Expect another solid, fun show, along with two Chicago bands, The Redwalls and Baby Teeth.... more ›

TUESDAY >> DCist favorites the Vita Ruins are playing this very night at DC9 for $8. You're tired of barbequing and sitting around on your back porch by now, aren't ya? >> Love them? Hate them? Secretly listen to them while you take a nice warm bath and have a good cry? Keane performs to a sold out crowd at the 9:30 Club tonight. WEDNESDAY >> DCist's own Sriram Gopal will be playing some... more ›

It seemed like the Rock and Roll Hotel had two distinct crowds last night — those who came to see openers Office and headliners Robbers on High Street, and those who came to see local mood rockers Monopoli. Monopoli had the biggest crowd, but the Monopoli fans who left or went upstairs before Robbers on High Street did themselves a disservice. more ›

The only thing DCist likes more than going to concerts is giving away concert tickets to our readers. And since it's the holiday season and all, we are in the giving mood. We have a pair of tickets to see Robbers On High Street this Thursday at the Rock and Roll Hotel to give away to a lucky reader. Also on the bill are Monopoli and the hotly tipped Chicago outfit Office. The Robbers released... more ›

D.C. Air Quality Better, But Still Bad: The Washington region's air quality still hasn't improved enough to meet the smog standards the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will begin enforcing in 2009, even though the number of "dangerously smoggy" days has declined by 40 percent over the last three years. As Councilmember Phil Mendelson points out to the Post, considering how much the region has grown in that time, it's pretty encouraging that we're actually polluting less. Still, wouldn't it be nice if the air we breath was even less deadly than it is right now? more ›

FRIDAY: >> Something tells us heading out to see a concert put on by a man who, due to a struggle with Hepatitis C, thought he might never be able to go on tour again will be an awfully positive, life-affirming experiece. And who couldn't use a little of that? The Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra (he's pictured at right) is at 9:30 Club, with Lenny Kaye & Jon Dee Graham. $25, 8 p.m. >> Film Festivals!... more ›

, and you can catch them Sunday night at Iota in Arlington with openers King of France. Doors are at 8:30 and tickets are $11. In advance of the show, lead singer Ben Trokan was nice enough to answer some of our questions via email. more ›

We're certain there is someone out there who was able to figure out yesterday's DCist pre-St. Patrick's Day Happy Hour trivia question/riddle. But from what we've heard, this DCist has sure stumped a lot of people with our perplexing questions. While we aren't going to give any big hints, if you can figure out the relationship between the two places on "Grover's Nutmeg High Street," you should be able to figure out the rest of the clue by some basic Google-sleuthing or just locating a telephone book. The Post's Going Out Gurus, considering their accumulated bar tabs over the years, should be able to nail this one on the head, or at least refer the questions to the Post's research department. more ›

As we've mentioned before, DCist will be hosting a pre-St. Patrick's Day happy hour this Friday, 5-8 p.m., at Biddy Mulligan's at the Jurys Washington hotel on Dupont Circle. We hope you can make it. more ›