Photo by Kevin A. Koski

MUSIC: Kurt Vile will be at the Black Cat’s Backstage tonight with his full band, The Violators. D.C.’s own Benjy Ferree opens. 8:30 p.m., $10 in advance, $12 day of show.

Or head to Asylum for the return their free “Cakes & Kisses” hip-hop open mic night, featuring The Five One, Green Tea, Madam Madon, Laelo Hood and DJ Jav, with free cake and Hershey’s kisses for all. 9 p.m.

TALK: The Marian Koshland Science Museum hosts Dan Goods, the “Visual Strategist” at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Kevin Finneran, Editor-in-Chief of Issues in Science and Technology, tonight to discuss the interface between data and art. A pre-discussion happy hour runs from 6 – 7 p.m. with a $5 cover, with the talk starting at 6:45 p.m. for an additional $5.

JAZZ: Nicholas Payton, a veteran trumpeter in the tradition of Bolden, Armstrong, and Marsalis, performs at Blues Alley tonight. Tickets to the 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $30 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.