Kennedy Center light fixtures. Photo by Rina Katz

MONDAY

Comet Ping Pong: Makeshift Shelters (record release!), Taking Meds, and Polyon. $12, 9 p.m.. All ages.

Black Cat Backstage: Perfect Pussy, Skating Polly, and Baby Bry Bry & the Apologists. SOLD OUT.

WEDNESDAY

U Street Music Hall: Moombahton Massive and Fort Knox Five. $10, 10pm. 18+.

CD Cellar: the Obsessives, Perspective, and A Lovely Hand To Hold

THURSDAY

Polyon, Solids, and Stronger Sex @ DC9. $8, 8:30 p.m.. All ages.

I love Polyon. They’re just great. Fuzzy, buzzy, bass-y pop rock that’s so loud you’ll feel empowered without even understanding the words. Montreal’s Solids walk that beautiful line between heavy and poppy that Canadian groups somehow always manage to master. Stronger Sex are the wildcard here, making electronic music somewhere in a sober-feeling space between Animal Collective and Of Montreal. — Tori Kerr

FRIDAY

Defiance, Ohio, Mischief Brew, High Dive, and Purple 7 @ St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church. 7 p.m.

Defiance, Ohio is one of my favorite bands from high school that I didn’t expect to be listening to in 2015. For a couple reasons. First, I assumed my tastes would develop towards grown-up music like jazz or something, but also because I just didn’t expect a folk-punk band to stay together for so long. But hark! They’re headlining a night of folk punk/ska/pop-punk insanity held together by collective spirit. Mischief Brew, occupying the common ground in the imaginary Venn diagram between Gogol Bordello, early Against Me!, and The Gaslight Anthem, recently contributed a cover of “The Fool” on a Neutral Milk Hotel tribute album. So you know they’ve got their priorities straight. High Dive speak the queer-friendly pop-punk gospel, which will be right at home in D.C. and at St. Stephen’s, specifically. You’ll also see members of Defiance, Ohio, Landlord, and Hot New Mexicans in Purple 7. Expect a little crust around the edges of this night of pop-punk. — Tori Kerr

Babe City: The North Country, Stranger in the Alps, Nighttime Adventure Society, and Big Mama Shakes. 7 p.m., all ages.

Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar: Rom, Afraid, Seaknuckle, Valencia. 7:30 p.m.. 21+

SATURDAY

Listening Party: the Music of Thelonious Monk @ Kennedy Center. 3 p.m., sold out.

Ever wondered about the difference between people who like music and people who love music? I do; whenever I meet people who say that music wasn’t “big” in their family growing up or that they don’t keep up with new music, I’m flabbergasted. Similarly, they might be shocked to hear that anyone would pay money to simply listen and discuss music. But, in the Kennedy Center’s African Lounge, jazz enthusiasts can do just that about the music of Thelonious Monk. What could be a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than in a lounge enjoying the passionate banter of jazz fans? The event is hosted by Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran. Tickets are sold out, but the Kennedy Center website hints that you could check online regularly for last-minute tickets. — Tori Kerr

RFK Stadium Festival Grounds: Shamrock Fest: Reel Big Fish, Carbon Leaf, Scythian, Street Dogs, Go Go Gadjet, Celtica, the Fighting Jamesons, Kilmaine Saints, bastard Bearded Irishmen, Gaelic Mishap, DJ James Nasty, Dave Russell, DJ Chris Styles and more. 3 p.m., $30. All ages.

SUNDAY

Iota Club and Cafe: South Rail, Evening River Band, and Roof Beams. 8 p.m., $10. 21+