Chicago’s The Wedding Dress play DC9 on Wednesday. Photo via Lovitt Records.
MONDAY
Total Slacker, Paws, and Flashlights @ DC9. 8 p.m. $10
Mondays suck. Flashlights will help numb the pain with some go-away-mom-worthy emo rock. Scotland’s PAWS will then push you further from reality with melodic and filtered vocals. They have been steadily gaining buzz since 2012’s Cokefloat, although their pure, shout-along sound tightened in a fantastic way for this year’s Youth Culture Forever. Finally, bust out your flannel and your homemade drug-smoking paraphernalia for Total Slacker and zone out into their neon poster of noise. — Tori Kerr
>> U Street Music Hall: Sir Sly, Wolf Gang, Secret Someones. 7 p.m., $15.
>> Comet Ping Pong: Prince Rama, Video Love, Katie Macyshyn, DJ Joshua. 9 p.m. $12.
TUESDAY
Mineral, Into It. Over It. @ Black Cat. 8 p.m. Sold out, but check Craigslist.
It’s understandable if you’re burnt out about the so-called emo revival or even just the sheer amount of bands reuniting in recent years, but here’s why you should give a shit about Mineral. After the Austin, Tx.-based outfit disbanded in 1997 following two stellar records, The Power of Failing and EndSerenading, emo got kind of huge and Mineral never had the chance to ride that wave. Not that they would have, the band was known for playing intensely personal, melodic songs that was about as nuanced as mid-’90s emo ever got. Like fellow short-lived band Texas is the Reason, Mineral dissolved before they ever really hit their stride, but their short existence proved monumentally influential for the bands that followed. With their recent reunion, they’ll have the chance to prove why they’re one of the most important bands of the genre. Chicago emo revivalists Into It. Over It., who released this heartbreakingly beautiful music video on NPR last week, open the sold out show. — Matt Cohen
>> Gypsy Sally’s: All Things Local Anniversary Week Kickoff, benefit for “Living Classrooms” 8 p.m., 21+, $10.
>> The Hamilton: Fruition and Chris Kasper. 7:30 p.m. $15-$18.
WEDNESDAY
Soccer Team, The Wedding Dress, Puff Pieces @ DC9. 8 p.m., $10.
We recently listed Lovitt Records as one of the best record labels in the D.C. area, and we meant it. The independent label has been diligently releasing some of the most dynamic, interesting music to come out of the D.C. region since 1995 and age has only made them better. One Wednesday, the label will showcase three of its best and newest bands, featuring Chicago’s The Wedding Dress (featuring members of Maps & Atlases, Suns, Joan of Arc, and Gypsy Blood), D.C. post-punk trio Puff Pieces, and local veterans Soccer Team. Lovitt released the debut 7-inch of Puff Pieces in a April and one for The Wedding Dress in March, with a full-length on the way this fall. If you want to find out why Lovitt is one of the best labels in the D.C. area, come to this show. It won’t take you long to understand. — Matt Cohen
>> 9:30 Club: The Gaslight Anthem, Against Me!, TWOPOINTEIGHT. 7 p.m. Sold out, but plenty of tickets on Craigslist.
>>Echostage: Die Antwoord. 7 p.m. $40.
FRIDAY
Boardroom Heroes, Kill Lincoln, Walk the Plank, and Centerfield @ Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $12.
If you grew up worshipping the soundtracks of Tony Hawk Pro Skater video games, you should head to the Rock & Roll Hotel on Friday night. Local quartet Boardroom Heroes, who we highlighted recently with their new song, “Here and Now,” just put out a 10-inch record, New Wage, via Sinking Ship Records, and are playing a release show on Friday night. Their skate-punk sound harkens back to punk godfathers like Bad Religion, The Vandals, and early Offspring (before they got shitty), with huge hooks, anthemic choruses, and palpable lyrics. They’re playing with local ska-punk band Kill Lincoln, Walk the Plank, and Centerfield. — Matt Cohen
>> Black Cat: Black Cat’s 21st Anniversary Party, featuring staff bands and DJs. $10, 9 p.m.
>> The Howard Theatre: EPMD 1, NaVon Smith. 8 p.m. $25.
SATURDAY
All Things Go: Fall Classic @ Union Market. 12 p.m., $50.
Bummed out that Virgin FreeFest was canceled this year? Aching to scratch that fall music festival itch? You’re in luck, local music website All Things Go are putting on a music festival at Dock 5 @ Union Market, featuring buzzy headliners Future Islands. Rounding out the lineup are a combination of local and national pop acts including Haerts, U.S. Royalty, Young Summer, Tove Lo, Bear Hands, and More. Starts at noon, ends at 10 p.m. Buy tickets now while they’re $50, because they’ll jump up to $60 if snatch ’em at the door. — Matt Cohen
>> Comet Ping Pong: Paperhaus, The Sea Life, BRNDA, DJ Outputmessage. 10 p.m., $12.
