From DCist contributor Ryan Avent
MONDAY:
>> Monday is an excellent time to visit Fort Reno as Garland of Hours (featuring noted DC cellist Amy Domingues and a Fugazi rhythm section) take the stage. They’re joined by DCist favorite The Aquarium and by local songwriter-slash-St. Ex bartender Paul Michel. The show is free as always and begins about 7:15. Click here to read last week’s interview with Paul Michel.
>> If tranquil melodies are your thing, but you can’t take another second outdoors in this heat, then visit Iota to see the Natural with Shwa who, we’re told, sounds a lot like Travis. $10, 8:30.
TUESDAY:
>> So, the Embrace show is cancelled. Crap. Really the only thing for it is to head over to Black Cat for a good old-fashioned mind-blowing, courtesy of arty noise rockers Skeleton Key (at right) and Alcian Blue. Listen to Skeleton Key’s “Sawdust” here. $7 on the backstage at 9:00.
WEDNESDAY:
>> Head to the Black Cat to check out soulful hip-hop songstress Malene Younglao (at left) and tough-to-pin-down local genre-benders The Lucky Bastards. Listen to The Lucky Bastards here. $5 on the backstage, 9:00.
THURSDAY:
>>The acoustic Liz Phair show at Birchmere is sold out, but there’s always a chance Craig can hook you up, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll be Exile-era Liz once more, for old times’ sake. But if you can’t get in, never fear. Luckily, there are tickets available to see Vertical Horizon and the local-ish Pat McGee band, if you’re so inclined. $25. 7:00, with an additional show on Friday just announced (shocking). DCist interviewed Pat McGee here.
>> If that doesn’t suit you, there’s always Big Yawn night at DC9 featuring the cleverly named Brian Jonestown Massacre. Great things about BJM: their lead singer, Anton Newcombe, might go crazy on stage, and you can listen to all of their music in mp3 format here. With The Quarter After and Innaway. $10.
FRIDAY:
>> Friday is the show DCist has been craving. The much buzzed about pop-rock band Washington Social Club takes the stage at the Black Cat, supported by indie melodicians Monopoli and Cartel, the latter fresh off their performance at DCist’s Unbuckled. DCist will be in the house, folks, with a limited supply of the coolest t-shirts you have ever seen. Come for the hot bands, stay for the hot bloggers. $9 on the mainstage at 9:30.
>> If you can’t get in to Black Cat, take heart. There’s always the Anger Management tour (version 3.0, we believe) at the Nissan Pavilion. Come see Eminem (before he “retires”), $0.50, and Lil Jon. And yes, this DCist is doing Chappelle doing Lil Jon as he types this. What! $54-83; show starts at 7 p.m.
SATURDAY:
>> Finishing off the indie smorgasbord that is this week, Ian Svenonius brings Weird War to the Black Cat. Bring your Parliaments, your tight jeans, and your hair gel and hope to god you’re cool enough to get in. Listen to a few of their songs here. $9, 9:30.
>> David ‘Fathead’ Newman, a Texan tenor saxophonist who played with the likes of T-Bone Walker and Ray Charles, completes a two-night stand at Twins Jazz on U street. Listen to several mp3s here. $20, 9 and 11 p.m. Purchase tickets here.
SUNDAY:
>> Legendary combo the Funk Brothers, the backing band who played on some of Motown’s most famous recordings, is at the Birchmere this evening. $45, 7:30 p.m.
