Ted Leo at Sacred Hearts Church in November 2011. (James Calder)
TUESDAY
If you miss the days of bombastic Britpop and the Gallagher brothers’ new projects just aren’t doing it for you, go see The Boxer Rebellion tonight at the Black Cat and relive the sonic glory days of the 1990s. Canon Blue opens. $16, 8 p.m.
DC9: Keep Shelly in Athens, Beach Week. $12, 8:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Although Meshell Ndegeocello’s early success in the ‘90s came as a result of her hip-hop/funk/rock fusion, these days her music, like that on Weather is more serene. Her lyrical content is just as brave, tackling political distress and the personal strength and she’ll be at the newly restored Howard Theatre. $28 in advance/$35 day of show, 8 p.m.
9:30 Club: Lucero & J Roddy Walston and the Business. $25, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY
Not only were Allo Darlin charming when they and America Hearts interviewed each other last summer, but their live set was enough to make anyone with severe hatred of the word “twee” retrain their gag reflex. Think a less depressing Camera Obscura, Wave Pictures opens the show at the Black Cat. $12, 8 p.m.
Red Palace: Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Heavy Breathing, Lenorable. $12, 8:30 p.m.
Birchmere: Nellie McKay. $25, 7:30 p.m.
9:30 Club: The Weeknd. Sold Out, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
The silver lining in last year’s dissolution of art-punk live behemoths Double Dagger was the rise of Roomrunner. Fronted by former Double Dagger drummer Denny Bowen, they sound less like that band and more like a combination of a faster Hot Snakes and a grittier Nirvana. So basically, it’s the best new thing we’ve heard from Baltimore this year. They’ll be at American University with Dan Deacon. Students only, 10 p.m.
Black Cat Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Mary Christ, The Tender Thrill. $15, 9 p.m.
St. Stephen’s Church: Trophy Wife, War on Women, Fell Types, Teenage Foot (A benefit for the DC Trans Coalition). $5, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Last year’s Sweetlife Festival was a cold, rainy affair highlighted by the only D.C. appearance by The Strokes. There’s no rain in the forecast for Saturday (yet) and we have higher hopes for this year’s festival which includes electronic powerhouse AVICII marquee hip hop acts Kid Cudi and A$AP Rocky (who has already sold out his 9:30 Club show tomorrow), near-chart toppers Fun. (who have also sold out two upcoming 9:30 Club shows) plus a lineup that ranges from the sonically edgy (Bluebrain, Zola Jesus) to the predictably catchy (The Shins, Fitz and the Tantrums). Additional acts include Explosions in the Sky, The Delta Spirit, Twin Shadow, The Knocks, RAC, U.S. Royalty, Yuna, Haim, LP and Ben Browning (of Cut Copy) and Action Bronson. The festivities happen again at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $75-$125, 12 p.m.
9:30 Club: Miike Snow and Penguin Prison. Sold Out, 8 p.m.
Red Palace: Retribution Gospel Chior, District Lights, Maple. $10, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY
To be honest, hearing that Ted Leo and the Pharmacists would be participating in the “Play a ‘Classic’ Album In Its Entirety” trope outright dismayed us initially as this is the sort of trick usually reserved for bands that had been in retirement looking for a quick cash grab or active artists that haven’t released a high quality work in some time. Meanwhile, Ted is one of the hardest working musicians in the business, usually guaranteed to hit the DC/Baltimore area twice in one year and put out a high quality offering in 2010, The Brutalist Bricks that’s right up there with his early aughties releases. But before we could send tweets asking, “Why, Ted, why?” we saw a description of the festivities on the , Black Cat website and realized that he’s not throwing other material out of the set…and that Brendan Canty, Tyranny of Distance engineer, Fugazi drummer and curator of the Burn to Shine series will be filming this show. All is forgiven, Ted. This show is sold out but the Friday night show still has tickets available. noon:30 and Sun Wolf open. Sold Out, 8 p.m.
9:30 Club: A$AP Rocky & Schoolboy Q. Sold Out, 7 p.m.