Photo by staceyviera

MUSIC: We highly recommend tonight’s Black Cat Backstage show, featuring UK indie veterans Comet Gain. Their 2002 release, Realistes, was the sort of album that in-the-know record store clerks would direct like-minded customers to, back before music blogs completely took over that role in American society. Their long awaited follow-up, City Fallen Leaves, picks up where Realistes left off. Brooklyn’s extra hot Crystal Stilts and Philly’s Cold Cave open. $12, doors at 8:30 p.m.

CLASSICAL: Bummer. Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman, who vowed not to return to the United States until George Bush was out of the White House, was scheduled to perform here in D.C. tonight for the first time in years, but illness has forced him to cancel the recital. In his place, French-Canadian pianist Marc-André Hamelin will perform Haydn’s Sonata No. 32, Schumann’s Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17, Faure’s Barcarolle No. 3 and Nocturne No. 6, and excerpts from Book 2 of Debussy’s Preludes. Tickets for the Zimerman concert will be honored tonight at the Music Center at Strathmore; ticketholders who would like refunds should call WPAS Ticket Services at 202-785-9727. 8 p.m., $27-$77.

MUSIC: Both of Neko Case‘s shows tonight and tomorrow at the 9:30 Club are sold out, but there’s a rather active marketplace for tickets going on over on Craigslist. Doors at 7 p.m., with Crooked Fingers opening.

MOVIE: You can hardly do better at the cinema tonight than a special screening of Sidney Lumet’s The Verdict at the AFI Silver. Paul Newman gives the best performance of his latter day career as an alcoholic lawyer looking for a chance at redemption. 6:30 p.m.

FOOD & DRINK: Passover starts at sundown, and if you’re looking for an option for a seder out, your best bet is probably Dino in Cleveland Park, which is offering a special Passover menu (bring your own Haggadah).