The Black Cat 20th anniversary party is Friday and Saturday night. It’s sold out, but you should try for a ticket anyway.
MONDAY
People with the fear of direct eye contact, stay away from this show. Devon Walsh, who performs as one half of the sparse synth duo Majical Cloudz, has a directness on stage that moves as much as it makes you squirm. The duo’s latest effort Impersonator is a strikingly simple, moody listen. Toronto’s Moon King and Three Star alums Paperhaus share the bill at DC 9. $10-12, 8 p.m.
>> Rock And Roll Hotel: The Rosebuds, Dark Rooms. $14, 7 p.m.
>> 9:30 Club: Blondie, X. $43, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY
Few people have taken genre experimentation as seriously as Richard Youngs has over the years. Youngs has followed every itch and creative tug to its fullest extent over his 20 year career, managing to sound very much like himself with each release. From sparse folk to experimental electro pop records, the Glasgow native rarely produces something tossed off despite taking such divergent paths with each release. Youngs will be at the Black Cat backstage in support of his latest Summer In My Mind, a collection of relatively straightforward Americana songs. Locrian’s Terrence Hannum will open the show. $15, 8 p.m.
It’s hard to imagine a world where Depeche Mode isn’t making music or touring. The ageless synthpop legends will be headlining Jiffy Lube Live in support of Delta Machine, easily the group’s strongest record this century. Aging this gracefully has never looked so easy. Mercury Prize nominee Natasha Khan, who performs as Bat For Lashes, will open the night with her brooding pop songs. $29.50-138, 7:30 p.m.
>> 9:30 Club: Savages, Duke Garwood. $20, 7 p.m.
>> Patriot Center: Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, twenty | one | pilots. $39.50, 5:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Los Angeles’ Chelsea Wolfe will headlining the Rock And Roll Hotel behind her latest release Pain Is Beauty. The often changing stylistic directions from Wolfe show on Beauty, opting for a more full sound instead of the dark desolate space of her last full length Apokalypsis. Riff heavy, Austinites True Widow who released their latest album Circumambulation in July will open the bill. $14, 7 p.m.
>> Verizon Center: Muse, Cage the Elephant. $63-80, 7 p.m.
>> Wolf Trap: ZZ Top, Tom Principato Band. $30-45, 8 p.m.
THURSDAY
If you need your Bon Iver fix, Volcano Choir, the Justin Vernon collaboration with Milwaukee’s post-rock veterans Collections of Colonies of Bees, will headline the 9:30 Club. The project that spawned a pretty, but mostly inessential collection of songs in 2009, feels less like a side-project with their sophomore release Repave. Sylvan Esso, a collaboration of Mountain Man‘s Amelia Meath and electronic musician Nick Sanborn who recently released a killer 12″, will open the show. $25, 7 p.m.
>> The Hamilton: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. $35-37, 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
The Black Cat turns 20 this week and to celebrate they’ve decided to throw a two-day party stacked with D.C.’s finest and honorary second sons/daughters of the District. Just look at the line-up: Gray Matter, Girls Against Boys (w/ David Yow), Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, The Shirks, The Max Levine Ensemble and a DJ set by Alec MacKaye. It’s been sold out for months, but tickets can be found on Craigslist. 8 p.m.
>> The Pinch: Coke Bust, Ruidosa Inmundicia, Genocide Pact, Protester. Free but donations are encouraged. 8 p.m.
>> Echostage: Datsik. $30, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY
Night two of the Black Cat’s 20th anniversary is equally strong with Shudder To Think, Tuscadero, New Wet Kojak, Mary Timony and Nathan Larson, Coup Savage and the Snips as well as DJ Name Names (Ian Svenonius) and DJ Kid Congo Powers. Again, Craigslist is your best bet. 8 p.m.
>> Rock And Roll Hotel: Destruction Unit, Ukiah Drag. $10, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY
And just when you thought this week couldn’t pack any more shows worth your time, there’s the always reliable Pinback to round out your weekend. The ultra-precision bass and guitar interplay that is found on the band’s latest Information Retreived has been the band’s calling card since the late nineties. They’ll be sharing the 9:30 Club stage with D.C. glam rock aficionados and celebrity house lusters Deathfix. $20, 7 p.m.
