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 Humanities. From Monday through Saturday, the festival will explore theater within a hip-hop context by mixing live performance, dance, and poetry from local and national artists. Production highlights range from “Live From The Front,” in which journalist Jerry Quickley chronicles his experiences in Baghdad during the build up to and after the start of the Iraq war, to “The Actor’s Rap!”, a comedy about frustrated actors who aim to stop the rapper-turned-actor trend by kidnapping today’s hottest hip-hop star. The Festival kicks-off tonight at 7 p.m. with “Love Forever, Hip-Hop” at Howard University’s Environmental Theatre Space. It is followed by an opening night party at Andalu featuring Philly/New York-based DJ Rich Medina. These, as well as all of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival events, are free of charge. Check out the festival’s website for a full rundown.
>> Or if you’d like to hear some really terrible rap by a guy who dots his I’s with a heart, try Mickey Avalon at the 9:30 Club. He’s big in the L.A. club scene, which is about all we needed to hear. With Andre Legacy & Dirt Nasty, $15.
TUESDAY
>> We mentioned the Smashing Pumpkins’ “secret” show at the 9:30 Club and predictably it sold out almost instantly. You may be able to break open a safe deposit box and get some tickets off Craigslist, however.
>> Hooky locals Gist play the Black Cat backstage today, and members include the proprietors of currently defunct Revolution Records. Check out their set and ask them nicely when the store is coming back. With Lemonface and Malonius. 9 p.m., $8.
>> Scandinavian pop and rock night Hej Hej, usually at Saint-Ex, moves to DC9 to host Malmo, Sweden’s The Lovekevins along with Vikingfjord vodka specials. This is the Swedes’ only U.S. appearance besides New York. 9 p.m., $8
WEDNESDAY
>> Did we mention Unbuckled? Yes, we did. DCist’s sixth concert extravaganza is tonight at DC9, featuring hotter-than-the-sun D.C. band Le Loup, The XYZ Affair (whose Nickelodeon-themed video we shared with you this morning), and DJ sets by Unbuckled and Three Stars alumni Middle Distance Runner. It’s gonna be fantastic, and get there early – Le Loup’s last show at the Velvet Lounge was packed to the gills. 9 p.m., $8.
>> And the Black Cat is bringing a bunch of DCist faves to its stage this week, as Unbuckled vets Pela play with Two If By Sea (***) on the Backstage. $8, 9 p.m. Though we strongly encourage you to go to Unbuckled. Got that? Unbuckled.
