MONDAY
>> At the ripe young age of 24, Patrick Wolf has already achieved a lot: three albums of brooding electronica and orchestral pop, modeling campaigns for Burberry, headlines in the British tabloids and at least one on-stage altercation that found the lupine violinist attacking his strung-out drummer with a cymbal. Drama notwithstanding, Wolf’s latest, the surprisingly upbeat The Magic Position, is undoubtedly one of this year’s best. Come see what all the fuss is about at the Black Cat with fellow Brit Bishi. 8 p.m., $15.
>> Shoegazers The Twilight Sad bring their pop hooks and dense guitar riffs from across the pond to the Rock and Roll Hotel. 8:30 p.m., $12.
>> Philly via New York City’s Matt Pond PA (above) haven’t gotten much notice for their chamber pop, but they’ve put out a bunch of solid discs since 1998. The band, with only original member, Matt Pond, left (the PA stands for Pennsylvania), is touring behind their latest, “Last Light,” and will be at the 9:30 Club along with quirky singer Jesca Hoop. And they covered Neutral Milk Hotel and Oasis on the O.C., so there’s always that. 7:30 p.m., $15.
>> No one knows quite what to expect when bearded folk rocker Devendra Banhart takes the stage, as he’ll do at the Historic Synagogue at Sixth and I tonight. Rest assured, however, he’ll let that freak-folk flag fly, one way or another. 7 p.m., $27.50.
>> We’ve gushed about local Carol Bui plenty of times before, so we’ll hold ourselves back this time. CD release show with Roofwalkers (formerly Pagoda) and Pygmy Lush at the Black Cat’s Backstage. 9 p.m., $8.
TUESDAY
>> Remember that great commercial for Sony TVs where they unleashed hundreds of thousands of colorful rubber balls on the streets of San Francisco? If you’ve spent the last year wondering whose achingly sincere cover of the Knife’s “Heartbeats” soundtracked that ad, tonight is your chance to find out, as Swedish songwriter José González plays the 9:30 Club. 7:30 p.m., $20.
>> Czech Republic band Bengas offer a lively take on Gypsy/Romany sound that incorporates reggae as well as traditional Eastern European and Spanish flamenco influences. Check out their international meld for free at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. 6 p.m., Free.
