MONDAY
>> We’re just going to quote directly from the Black Cat’s write up of mainstage headliners Firewater, because it’s pretty damned interesting:

Firewater was birthed in a Brooklyn basement in the long, hot summer of 1997. Depressed, broke, and desperate, ex-Cop Shoot Cop leader Tod A tossed away a major label deal and a free meal ticket to launch what – at the time – was a crazy proposition: a punk band fueled by gypsy and klezmer tunes. He wanted to combine the mystery and melodrama of these tragic-comic sounds with the energy of his first love: punk rock. Ten years later, Tod left everything he knew behind and hit the road. Recording with just a single microphone and a laptop, he captured performances with a vast array of musicians across India, Pakistan, Turkey and Israel. Bhangra and sufi percussion would form the basis for a new batch of songs he wrote along the way, and the result is The Golden Hour and the return of one of punk’s most interesting bands.

With Frog Eyes and Evangelicals, both of whom have impressed DCist reviewers in the recent past. $12, 8 p.m.

>> The Surge is a new heavily Pavement-influenced local band made up of two Washington journalists who hate the war and love dark, rhythmic indie rock. At the Velvet Lounge with Michael the Blind from Portland, and Unicycle Loves You from Chicago. $7, 9:30 p.m.

>> Three Stars alums The Beanstalk Library are gracing the stage of the Rock and Roll Hotel this evening, along with the Retribution Gospel Choir and the Weather Underground. $12, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY
>> Head to the Black Cat this evening to see Sloan and you’ll probably have as much fun seeing them as DCist Graham did last year. $15, 7 p.m. (early!)

>> It’s funky bass time when reunited ‘70s outfit Mandrill comes to the Birchmere. $37.50, 7:30 p.m.