Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak. Photo by Francis Chung.TUESDAY
Merriweather Post Pavilion hosts one of its strongest lineups of the season, headlined by the stately chamber-rock of The National, who continue to tour tirelessly behind their acclaimed 2010 release, High Violet. Hoboken, NJ’s Yo La Tengo offer a supporting set, presumably eschewing the sit-com reenactments this time around, and sticking to one of the strongest songbooks in the indie-rock canon. Arrive early to catch the evocative noise-folk sounds of Baltimore’s Wye Oak, whose profile deservedly continues to rise. $40/$30. 5 p.m.
>> 9:30 Club: Erasure, Frankmusik. $45. 7 p.m.
>> Black Cat Backstage: Drunken Sufis, Typefighter, Meta. $10. 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Usually known for his ear-shattering electric-guitar assault, Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis tones down the volume for an acoustic performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, sharing songs like “Is It Done” from his recent solo album, Several Shades of Why. Free. 6 p.m.
>> Rock and Roll Hotel: Twin Shadow, Diamond Rings. $15. 8:30 p.m.
>> Black Cat Backstage: Active Child, Com Truise, Young Athletes League. $10 advance / $12 doors. 8 p.m.
>> Red Palace: Eternal Summers, Reading Rainbow. $10. 8:30 p.m.
>> 9:30 Club: Erasure, Frankmusik. $45. 7 p.m.
Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls. Photo by Francis Chung.THURSDAY
A glut of sound-alike bands and a lackluster sophomore record may have dampened the buzz that Vivian Girls generated with their self-titled 2008 debut, but the trio has bounced back with a solid third album that adds some new dimensions to their signature low-fi aesthetic. Hear them run through material from Share The Joy along with older favorites at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Thursday night, with Widowspeak opening. $10. 8:30 p.m.
>> 9:30 Club: Ghostland Observatory. $27.50. 7 p.m.
>> DC9: Braids, Pepper Rabbit. $10. 8:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
Like Vivian Girls, Peter Bjorn and John may no longer be enjoying quite the same cachet as they did a few years ago, but the Swedish trio has lost none of its infectious pop tunesmanship, nor the surprisingly dynamic live chops that will be on display at the 9:30 Club on Friday night. Ontarian dream-pop outfit Memoryhouse opens. $25. 8 p.m.
>> Black Cat: Grouplove, Young Man. $13 advance / $15 doors. 9 p.m.
>> Red Palace: Beach Fossils, Warm Ghost, The Silver Liners. $10 advance / $12 doors. 9:30 p.m.
>> IOTA: Tommy Keene, Doug Gillard Electric, Sally Crewe and The Sudden Moves. $15. 9 p.m.
>> Rock and Roll Hotel: Chopteeth, Sahel. $15. 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
The Virgin Mobile FreeFest returns for its third year at Merriweather Post Pavilion, offering a diverse line-up headlined by TV on the Radio, The Black Keys, Deadmau5, and Cee Lo Green. James Murphy (who closed out last year’s festival with the since-retired LCD Soundsystem) returns for a DJ set, and punk-rock icon Patti Smith makes a must-see appearance. Other attractions include the irrepressible dance-punk grooves of !!! and the ultra-melodic indie-pop of Two Door Cinema Club. Free tickets are long gone, but fans can still gain entry with the purchase of the (ill-named) “Fan ePak,” which includes a general admission ticket and assorted festival paraphernalia. $49.50. 11 a.m.
>> Red Palace: Male Bonding, Love Inks, Hospitality. $10 advance / $12 doors. 9:30 p.m.
>> Black Cat: These United States, The Cassettes, Southeast Engine. $13. 9 p.m.
>> Comet Ping Pong: Grave Babies, Xray Eyeballs. $10. 10:30 p.m.
>> 9:30 Club: Buckethead. $25. 7 p.m.
SUNDAY
The Bay Area’s Man/Miracle made a name for themselves on the strength of their kinetic, high-energy live shows, and for doing a better sonic impression of Talking Heads than Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, even pulling off a scorching cover of “Crosseyed and Painless” at San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill a few years back. The quartet plays DC9 on Sunday night, showcasing songs like “Up” and “Hot Sprawl” from their debut album, The Shape of Things.
>> Black Cat: Toro Y Moi, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Coma Cinema. $15. 8 p.m.
