MONDAY
>> They put it pretty well themselves, and since it’s all about them anyway, we’re just going to repeat what the Black Cat had to say about their anniversary party tonight: “After 14 years of pouring you guys drinks, then picking up the glasses, working the doors, and sweeping the floors, we’ve decided that it’s time to dedicate a night to ourselves. Black Cat staff bands, staff DJs, and staffers will be hanging out and reflecting on 14 years well spent. You can come too.” Free, backstage, 8 p.m.
>> Indie rap’s man of the moment, Aesop Rock, is taking over the 9:30 Club this evening, brining his dense verbosity and slick beats right along with him. $20
>> D.C.’s Stewart Lupton and his band, The Child Ballads, are sharing the Rock & Roll Hotel’s stage tonight with psychedelic rockers Silver Apples and The Moon Upstairs. $10, 8:30 p.m.
>> The Velvet Lounge is hosting Not Bullshit, “the DJ night for people who hate DJ nights, curated by mem. of The Points and Kohoutek.” Judging by the comments on last week’s WMA, that describes several of you out there.
>> Lil’ Brian and the Travelers used to be known as Lil’ Brian and the Zydeco Travelers but since these Texans blend funk with zydeco they’ve decided to shorten the name. Their music will make you move no matter what they call themselves. At Iota, $10, 8:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
>> What we’ve heard of her new album hasn’t really convinced us of anything in the way of musical maturity, but we can’t help it. We love Mandy Moore. The actress, the spokesperson, the celebrity, the singer, the reality TV star, we love it all. Apparently, we’re not alone, because her show at the Birchmere is sold out.
>> The Noisettes at the Rock & Roll Hotel this week has been canceled. Check out their website for refund information.
>> DC9’s got a great indie rock lineup tonight, with locals The Daybreak Line and The Beanstalk Library, who we recently profiled in a Three Stars piece, and Athens, GA’s The Winter Sounds. $8
>> Brazilian college kids Bonde de Role’s blend of baile funk, schlock metal guitar riffs, techno and rap with sleezy Portuguese lyrics over top has some folks raving that they’re fun and others sneering that they’re a bad gimmick. Love ‘em or hate ‘em at the Black Cat. With the uncategorizable local wonder that is Edie Sedgewick. $12, 8 p.m.
