Thursday night offered a reprieve from the sweltering heat -- a blessing for anyone at the Black Cat with functioning olfactory bulbs -- as two similar but distinct factions of punk fans converged: the young and crusty (literal) and the old and crusty (attitudinal). more ›

Portland punk band The Thermals makes progression look easy. Beginning with its 2003 lo-fi debut More Parts Per Million, the band has gradually expanded its sonic palate with each subsequent album, be it 2006's epic The Body, the Blood, the Machine or 2009's death-centric Now We Can See while retaining its core identity: explosive energy, loud guitars, sing-a-long choruses, all delivered in three minutes or less. more ›

In a year that saw its fair share of Springsteen-inspired punk, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists might be one of the few bands that can hold their own in such weighty lineage. If Springsteen mesmerizes tens of thousands as a workhorse of the arena, Leo's gregarious charisma and sweat-drenched performances are entrenched in the glory of packed, low-lit clubs. Over the course of a marathon 20+ songs at the Black Cat on Thursday, Leo even put on his best Bruce affectation to rally the troops, encouraging them to hold on just a little longer -- though the receptive crowd didn't need any prodding. With his anarcho-inspired t-shirt and faux–faux hawk (words cannot aptly describe his current do), he led the Pharmacists through a career-spanning set that included the standards (“Timorous Me,” “Me and Mia,” “Little Dawn”) but emphasized the forthcoming album, The Brutalist Bricks, to be released on Matador in March. more ›

MONDAY >> Those looking to kick the month off with a bang might be out of luck, as it looks like there's not a whole lot going down tonight. Still, it's not a total wash, as all the usual suspects — the Black Cat, DC9, the Velvet Lounge and the Rock and Roll Hotel — will have their bars open and waiting for the District's disillusioned masses. >> DJ Jahsonic has a new Monday night... more ›

>> The Black Cat's backstage is going to be pumping out the punk noise tonight as Antelope stops by, with Thank You and The Andalusians. $8, 9 p.m. >> DC Scores, a local nonprofit that provides innovative after-school programming to Washington kids, is hosting its 10th Annual Poetry Slam tonight. The event will feature 300 of the District's public elementary and middle school students competing for the coveted Golden Mic trophy -- obviously it... more ›

It's hard to identify Jim Fairchild without first acknowledging that he was formerly the guitarist in the Modesto, Ca. group Grandaddy. Fairchild, however, has kept himself busy since the group's demise in 2006, touring with numerous other bands and also finding the time to record and release his first solo record under the moniker All Smiles. The resulting Ten Readings Of A Warning, a collection of charming, laid back lo-fi pop that belies his... more ›

We were as surprised as anyone to discover we had never done a Three Stars feature on Georgie James. With a big, heralded entrance onto everyone's radar last year fueled by lots of live shows and an EP that won the hearts of pop lovers throughout the city, they became one of D.C.'s premiere bands. The band is driven by Laura Burhenn and John Davis (formerly of Q and Not U), doing their best take... more ›

>> The Black Cat's backstage will be a bit twangy tonight, as The Starlingtons stop by to play some of their alt-bluegrass with Portland Oregon’s folksy Casey Neill. 9 p.m., $7. >> One of the weeks few interesting author appearances is tonight at Olsson's in Dupont Circle, when Pushcart Prize-winning writer Katherine Taylor stops by to read from and sign copies of her debut novel, Rules for Saying Goodbye. 7 p.m. >> It's possible... more ›

On an October evening in 2002, I found myself driving down picturesque Route 29 with two good friends. Mirah was on tour, but not stopping anywhere closer to D.C. than Charlottesville. And we simply had to see her. Five years later, the singular singer-songwriter with the beautifully delicate voice is on the road again, and while she's stopping in D.C. this time, I can't go, so I had to make a side trip to... more ›

MONDAY >> If you'd like to see how infinity is treating them, Souls of Mischief, of the album '93 to Infinity fame (released in 1993 of course), will bring mid-90s hip-hop to the Black Cat tonight. We assume they've updated their sound a bit since then, but quite frankly, we'll take some throwback hip-hop any day. With DJ Lex, Icon the Mic King, Kaze and Zeph & Azeem. 9 p.m., $10. TUESDAY >> For our... more ›

MONDAY >> Today's Fort Reno show features local indie poppers Greenland (***) with Statehood and Kitty Hawk. The weather report calls for clear skies, but bring water. 7:15 p.m., free. >> How about another free event? The Black Cat backstage will feature movies about punk rockers Murder City Devils and Anti-Flag. 9 p.m., free. >> This week marks the sixth year of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival, sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and... more ›

As you'll recall from last summer's round of Crime Emergency-associated legislation, teens in the District were forced to obey a curfew of 10 p.m. throughout the summer months in an effort to stem the tide of law breaking that was often blamed on youths being out on the streets, up to no good. Did it help? Not particularly as far we could ever tell, though it did allow police to release figures about how many... more ›

It's summer and our beloved Arts Editor is away this week, so the agenda is a little on the short side. Here are a few things to see. >> We have written before about the Washington Project for the Arts\Corcoran's Experimental Media project. Starting this week, WPA\C is hosting a new show called SiteProjects DC. Curator Welmoed Laanstra has asked 15 local artists to create site-specific outdoor artwork, both installations and performances, through July 28,... more ›

By DCist Contributor Mehan Jayasuriya It's about an hour before The Pipettes are set to take the stage at the Black Cat and by rights, the band should be exhausted. This is the second gig on their first major North American tour and having flown in from their hometown of Brighton, England only a few days prior, you'd think that the band would be succumbing to the effects of trans-Atlantic jetlag. Unlike the dozing... more ›

FRIDAY: >> At 11 a.m. today or noon tomorrow, grab the kids and a box or twelve of tissues and head down to the National Archives for a screening of An American Tail. Part of their celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, they're sharing the story of Fivel and his cheese-paved streets with the next generation. We can only assume they'll watch it over and over like we did, each time hoping Fivel doesn't go... more ›

>> After bitching about extreme lack of tickets to Friday's sold out Arcade Fire show, our friends at Washingtonian Magazine alerted us to their ticket giveaway. Only one seat is up for grabs, you didn't want to bring your girlfriend anyway, right? Contest ends Thursday at noon. >> Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora Internet radio, hosts a meet up tonight at Be Bar. Open to listeners and non-listeners alike, guests can chat about the... more ›

MONDAY >> A year ago, Rolling Stone called The Whigs one of ten bands to watch and "the best unsigned band in America." The Athens, GA trio has since been taking their pure rock-and-roll on the road in support of Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip, winning comparisons to the Replacements, the Strokes, REM, and the Drive-By Truckers along the way. The break hasn't come yet, but we've got a feeling it could... more ›

MONDAY >> Anthony Pirog's (one of our recent Three Stars artists) many music outlets are coming together tonight at Iota. Head to Arlington's cozy club to hear rock music from The Bang. With Le Loup. $10, 8:30 p.m. >> Mark Mallman, Twin Cities veteran and spastic-rock-showman-turned-synth-pop-afficianado, plays DC9 with fellow Minneapolis rockers the Honeydogs in one of the week's best bargains. 8 bucks gets you a whole lot of rock and probably some ringing eardrums... more ›

Born from a high school friendship, The Chance is the product of years of tooling around on instruments and mucking with the lineup. As they stand today, the band is Joshua Padgett on lead guitar and vocals, Viraj DeSilva on drums and Finley Martin on bass. The band's gone through several incarnations over the years, but Padgett and DeSilva are the constants. They grew up together, cultivating a friendship and learning how to play. As... more ›

FRIDAY: >>Do you like Hall and Oates and Haddaway? Who doesn't? The Black Cat is hosting Crap, a dance night of bad music on purpose. We advise loosening your Macarena muscles and preparing your ears for "singers" like Don Johnson, Eddie Murphy, and Bruce Willis. 10 pm, free. SATURDAY: >>There are more art openings than we can shake a sculpture at today, so check out our Arts Agenda for a rundown. >>Anything called "Underwear Party"... more ›

Monday >> NY jazz pianist Marc Cary returns home to D.C. for back to back Blues Alley shows. Cary has built a strong following on a willingness to explore other genres, and has released records infused with electronic and latin rhythms, in addition to more straightforward post-bop jazz. 8 and 10 p.m., $20. >> Metal Church was lighting up Seattle's dreary nights with thunderous guitars a decade before everyone started paying much attention to the... more ›

Monday >> Milwaukee-based indie pop quartet Maritime will be bringing their brand of sweet melodies to the Rock and Roll Hotel accompanied by the Swervedriver-inspired rock of Kansas City's The Life and Times. We rarely get to make a Swervedriver reference, so enjoy it while you can. 8 p.m. >> Drive-By Truckers' frontman Patterson Hood drops by the area for a show at the Birchmere in Alexandria. If you're not familiar with the live stylings... more ›

By day Eric Boucher is a typical DC office drone but by night he is a music impresario. The audiophile’s passion manifested itself first in the music site BigYawn.net (a site I occasionally contribute music reviews to) and now is the force behind the District's Awake Music Festival (DAM Fest). The event features more than 40 bands on four stages over three days (not counting the pre and post parties). As this is DC, there... more ›

MONDAY >> If you like your electroclash sample-free, head to the 9:30 Club for Liverpool's Ladytron. $20 >> Not quite sure what to make of it, but the Bodog Battle of the Bands rolls on this Monday and Tuesday at DC9. $15 each night >> The last time Architecture in Helsinki came to the Black Cat, they tested the stage's human-holding capacity. Though Lambchop and the Tosca String Quartet may have given them a run... more ›

Benjy Ferree is a seasoned local musician of whom you may not yet know. While he regularly plays local gigs, you will surely never be met head on with advertisements promoting his next show unlike other bands in D.C. -- his music already speaks loudly enough for him. Fans of Ferree’s music will attest to his robust voice and his ability to paint a warm emotional picture with his folk rock music and vivid lyrics... more ›

A sentiment, as defined by Houghton Mifflin is "a thought, view, or attitude, especially one based mainly on emotion instead of reason." The title is quite apt for the local DC rock outfit of the same name. The band is the brainchild of frontman Mike Medlock, and is as much his cathartic medium as his weekend playpen. Medlock is a passionate frontman, but doesn't take himself too seriously, and wears his heart on his sleeve.... more ›

Being a tourist is all about surprises. The excitement of seeing things you've only read about, like historic buildings and imposing monuments. The stimulation of learning about local culture and tradition. The fun of discovering a region's dining options and watering holes. Perhaps it all comes down to how you define "fun." Quote of the Week Connecticut Avenue, walking towards Dupont Circle: Elderly Man: "I'm starving." Elderly Woman: "I'm sure we'll find someplace to... more ›

Today Curbed clued us into the many rivalries that exist in New York City, from the basic Manhattan vs. Brooklyn to the L train vs. the F train. This got us to thinking -- what rivalries exist in the Washington area? What really provokes heated debates? What, when mentioned on DCist, yields a flood of comments both pro and con? Today we present some of the basic rivalries that keep things interesting. Of course, this... more ›

TUESDAY >> The Black Cat's making good use of its Backstage this week. Before you go check out the Alphabetical Order tonight, read DCist's interview with the band and see where their heads were about a year ago. Any band that gives their site a dot-org domain is worth at least a cursory glance. With Omega Band, $5, 9 p.m. >> If you buy your music at Starbucks, you may be one of the many... more ›

We couldn't help but be intrigued when we stumbled upon the following item listed on the agenda for Thursday night's ANC 1B meeting (emphasis ours). ABRA Applications 71866 Sala Thai, Entertainment Endorsement 36085 Black Cat, Substantial Change Voluntary agreement review, El Paraiso Market Voluntary agreement review, Daily Fish of Chesapeake Voluntary agreement review, Eleven Market Substantial changes? To one of our favorite music venues and venerable watering holes? Say it ain't so. But wait a... more ›