FRIDAY:
>> Bay Area songstress Goapele’s (pictured) musical background is almost as diverse as her ethnic background. Born to a South African political exile father and a mother whose parents survived the Holocaust, she studied at the Berklee College of Music and later would form musical partnerships with the likes of hip-hop acts like the Hieroglyphics crew and E-40. However her 2005 release, Change It All, established her as especially talented when it comes to writing songs regarding love and politics. 9:30 Club. 9 p.m., $25.
>> It’s a battle of the Unbuckled alumni! Olivia Mancini and The Housemates are playing the Black Cat with Junior League and the Apparitions’ Dylan-esque frontman Mark Charles Heidinger, aka Vandaveer. 9 p.m., $10. Then over on H Street Middle Distance Runner plays the Rock and Roll Hotel with The Epochs and Ravens and Chimes, opening for Mobius.
>> In the mood for some holiday season passive-aggressive family dysfunction, but can’t afford the plane tickets home to experience it first-hand? Don’t worry. Washington Improv Theater’s Seasonal Disorder, its longest running show, “brings together six characters of your creation for an evening of family and friends, love and betrayal, war and peace, kissing and killing… pretty much whatever comes up along the way.” Tonight and Saturday at the Source Theater. $12, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY:
>> God rock us, every one. A handful of D.C.’s best bands — Washington Social Club, Le Loup, Jukebox the Ghost, Laura Burhenn of Georgie James, The Dance Party, Caverns and Exit Clov — are coming together to share and give without prejudice Saturday night at the 9:30 Club. Dubbed a Washington Social Christmas, it won’t be a traditional show with openers and strict sets. Instead, the bands will intermix members, perform Christmas songs old and new, deliver interpretations of classic Christmas stories, and even give out presents to the crowd! You’ll want to get there early — the iPods and other gifts will be given out to the audience at the beginning of the show, and you never know what performances you’ll miss if you get there late. The soirée will culminate in a performance of The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” by WSC’s Martin Royle and Laura Burhenn. In short, this will likely be the coolest Christmas concert you might ever go to. $25
>> Local craft collective Craft Mutiny is presenting its 2nd annual Holiday Booty Market from 12-6 p.m. at Hilda’s Giftshop inside the National City Christian Church. 20 vendors, an ornament drive, music and food will be available. Admission is free.
SUNDAY:
>> Tickets are still available for the Kirov Opera‘s final performance of Otello at the Kennedy Center, $69-$195. 3 p.m.
Amanda Mattos, Shawn Westfall, Eddie Kim and W Jacarl Melton contributed to the Picks.
