Sorry for the late arrival of this week’s agenda, but you see, I work in Tysons Corner and I was stuck in traffic. Now on to our picks!
TUESDAY
>> If you don’t think there is such a thing as hardcore klezmer music, Gogol Bordello are in town to prove you wrong. These Eastern European transplants to New York serve up Slavic ska, polka punk, and lots of other funky fusions, but those were the best alliterations we could come up with. At the 9:30 Club, $20.
>> In what we can only hope will become the tradition the name would suggest, Aimee Mann plays the first of two nights of her “First Annual Christmas Show” at the Birchmere. We’ll refrain from arguing the semantics of whether or not Wednesday night’s show should actually be called the “Second First Annual Christmas Show”. While Mann’s track record for downer balladry might not seem like a recipe for Christmas cheer, her recent record of holiday tunes is a surprisingly traditional reading of the classics, so be prepared for some heartfelt nostalgia among the melancholy. Grant-Lee Phillips opens, and Fred Armisen hosts. 7: 30p.m., $45.
>> If you find yourself on H Street, pop on over to The Red and The Black for a set from Three Stars alum Michael Jantz. With Adam Klein, $7.
WEDNESDAY
>> Thievery Corporation is coming home for the holidays, for four whole nights at the 9:30 Club. Tickets have been sold out for pretty much ever, but perhaps Craig or Santa could help you out.
>> Local band feast at the Black Cat backstage: The Alphabetical Order open with what they refer to as power pop but is really more like the quirky indie rock Tapes N Tapes brough back in style. Little Armadillo, out of Arlington, go next, followed by College Park hard rock vets Velvet, set to release their fourth full-length soon. $8, 9 p.m.
