Young Rapids play an album release show Saturday night. Photo courtesy of the artist
MONDAY
You Blew It!, Tiny Moving Parts, and Rozwell Kid @ DC9. $12-$14, 8 p.m.
Something-something-emo-pop-punk-revival. Come cheer, cry, and shout your heart out with an all-star melodic power pop lineup. Each of these bands occupy a different slot on the “MACrock to Fest” spectrum, guaranteeing quality performances and also a proud sense of seeing bands on the rise. Plus, if you didn’t hear YBI!’s Blue Album, you’re not doing it right. — Tori Kerr
TUESDAY
The Dodos and Springtime Carnivore @ Black Cat. $15, 8 p.m.
So you got shut out of the Sleater-Kinney show at the 9:30 Club (and for that matter, both Kyle Kinane shows at U Street Music Hall) and a $133 StubHub ticket just isn’t in your price range. Luckily, there is a high quality show coming to the Black Cat and it doesn’t have that irritating “Sold Out” sign next to it. San Francisco duo The Dodos are making their return to D.C. this week and their newest release, Individ, adds some different sounds and textures (like dance-y synths and weird psychedelic riffs) to the combination of deft fingerpicking, masterful drumming and warm melody creation that we’ve come to expect from them. Springtime Carnivore opens. — Valerie Paschall
Jammin’ Java: The Circus Life presents Justin Trawick and Sam Burchfield with Brittany Jean. 7:30 p.m., $10.
WEDNESDAY
George Smallwood @ Anacostia Branch D.C. Public Library. Free, 6:30 p.m.
Hyattsville soul man George Smallwood has hundreds of songs in his repertoire, originals as well as covers of everything from Hank Williams to Michael Jackson. But whatever the 73-year old sings becomes original, so thoroughly does he gives his own voice to anything he plays. Smallwood performs Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Anacostia Branch of the D.C. Public Library (1800 Good Hope Road SE) as part of the Capital Fringe Music in the Library series. Read about DCist’s visit with Smallwood here. — Pat Padua
Cancer Can Rock! Benefit @ Jammin’ Java with Justin Trawick, The Michael Sheppard Band, Christian Lopez and Paul Pfau. 7:30 p.m., $15.
If you think about all the things that rock, cancer (which does the opposite of rock) is at the bottom of the list. But this Northern Virginia-based nonprofit is out to get cancer to sing another tune. Cancer Can Rock, lead by Jim Ebert and Bruce Parker, supports musicians battling cancer with the opportunity to record music with some of the industry’s top producers. Wednesday’s benefit concert, which features an all-star lineup of all-local talent, is not one to miss. — Tori Kerr
THURSDAY
GWU’s Marvin Center: WRGW Presents Laughing Man, The North Country and Stranger in the Alps. 7 p.m., $5.
Milhouse: BRNDA, Warehouse, Breathers, and Dan Gleason. $5, 7 p.m.
Rock & Roll Hotel: The Twilight Sad and Port St. Willow. 8 p.m., $14.
FRIDAY
Swami John Reis & The Blind Shake with The Seeers and Le Yikes Surf Club. $12, 9 p.m.
“Swami” John Reis and The Blind Shake would each be worth the night out at the Rock & Roll Hotel on their own. Reis has a recurring role on Yo Gabba Gabba! as the Music Swami, but more importantly, Reis is the brains behind Swami records, the voice leading the riotous party machine known as Rocket from the Crypt and one of the two guitarists that bring the blistering riffs to Hot Snakes. Meanwhile, The Blind Shake is one of the best power trios currently touring and their ominous LP, Breakfast of Failures, was one of 2014’s most criminally overlooked releases. Collectively, they have just released an album called Modern Surf Classics that strays from the usual niche of either act but has the stamp of both on the ’50s-inspired instrumental tunes. In short, expect a party. The Seeers and Le Yikes Surf Club open. — Valerie Paschall
Tyson’s Corner: 2015 D.C. Bluegrass Festival. Friday – Saturday, $35-$95.
Comet Ping Ping: Two Inch Astronaut, Alarms & Controls, and French Horror. 10 p.m., $12.
SATURDAY
DC9: 2:54, Honeyblood and Company Calls. 9 p.m., $10-$12.
Black Cat Mainstage: Trash Talk, Ratking, and Lee Bannon. 9 p.m., $15-$18
SUNDAY
9:30 Club: Aesop Rock with Rob Sonic, DJ Abilities. 7 p.m., $20.
Dance Institute of Washington: Priests, Tenement, Vacation, and Post Pink. 6 p.m., $10
Union Arts: DZ Tapes, Creative Music in D.C., and In It Together Fest present: Pile, The Effects, Radiator King, Moor Mother Goddess, Hypercolor, and Ian G. McColm. 3 p.m. (matinee!) $8
