Photo by Joe Newman.
Tuesday
Shopping, Priests, Puff Pieces, and DJ Paul Krolian @ Black Cat. 7:30pm $15. All ages, accessible venue.
There really can’t be a more perfect bill than UK’s Shopping and D.C.’s Priests together. Each mine post-punk with Shopping taking cues from Wire and Delta 5 in equal measure and Priests adding more surf rhythms. While both bands are political, each do it in a way where politics don’t overshadow everything, and it is all about having a good time in a safe space. It is a great thing to see two like-minded bands sharing a bill, and this show is sure to please.
>>Rock and Roll Hotel: Hiss Golden Messenger, Frazey Ford. 7pm $14. All ages, accessible venue.
>>Comet Ping Pong: U.S. Girls, Escape-ism, Elmapi. 9pm $12. All ages, accessible venue.
Wednesday
Made of Oak and Tuskha @ DC9. 8:30pm $15. All ages, inaccesible venue.
Nick Sanborn was once known for his band Megafaun. But in recent years, Sylvan Esso, his collaboration with Mountain Men’s Amelia Meath, took over the scene—kick starting both Sanborn and Meath’s careers. While Sylvan Esso take a break from the whirlwind year of touring, Sanborn has returned with a new project—Made Of Oak. Unlike the danceable party crashing of Sylvan Esso, Made of Oak blurs the line between Megafaun’s acoustic orchestral indie-rock and Sylvan Esso’s electronics. Made of Oak just released the debut EP, Penumbra. The four tracks have a dream-like feel, mixing acoustic guitars with sheets of noise. Folks looking for party jams might be disappointed but “Pinebender” and “Blue Zipper” retain some of the textures of Sanborn’s Sylvan Esso Beats.
>>Songbyrd Music House & Record Café: 2 Inch Astronaut, Infinity Girl, Wing Dam. 7pm $12. All ages, inaccesible venue.
Thursday
Frankie Cosmos, All Dogs and Foozle @ Comet Ping Pong. 9pm $12. All ages, accessible venue.
Frankie Cosmos suffers from a bit of nepotism, as the band is fronted by Greta Simone Kline, the daughter of Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cats. But listening to the band’s solid lo-fi bedroom tracks, you wouldn’t know you are listening to a celebrity’s daughter. The band have a deep Bandcamp discography, releasing records at such a quick quip, it is hard to keep up. Last year’s Zentropy and the just released Fit Me In EP are good starting points. Tour mates All Dogs are no slouches either. Frontwoman Maryn Jones has released three albums this year, one as her solo-project Yowler and another with her band Saintsceneca. But of all three, All Dog’s Kicking Every Day is the highlight. The ten song pop-punk alum is a ripper from the shout along chorus of “That Kind of Girl” to the Fleetwood Mac sampling “Leading Me Back To You.”
!!! and Stereolad and Heavy Breathing @ Black Cat. 7:30pm, $18. All ages, accessible venue.
!!! (chk chk chk) know how to throw a party. Part of the first wave of dance punk, the band have survived line-up changes and death, but they remain a powerhouse band—releasing six records since 2001. Currently, the band are touring their sixth record As If, released a month ago. While not as immediate as their previous releases, there are at least four solid jams like “Sick Ass Moon” and “Freedom 15.” Opening the show is a special treat, Stereolad, a Sterelab tribute group featuring members of !!!. There are a lot of shows Thursday night, but this is your hot ticket if you want to dance.
>>Rock and Roll Hotel: Health, Pictureplane. 7pm $15. All ages, accessible venue.
>>Songbyrd Music House & Record Café: Florist, Hello Shark, Stranger in the Alps, Tall Friend. 7pm $12. All ages, inaccesible venue.
Friday
Polyon, Hurry, Homosuperior, and Governess @Songbyrd Music House & Record Café. 7pm $10. All ages, inaccesible venue.
D.C. three piece Polyon are one of the most buzzed about area bands, and they just released a new EP Blue last Friday. The four track EP is sludgy rock with reverb drenched vocals, giving the effect you are floating in space. The EP has undercurrents of 90’s bands like Failure. Polyon know how to let tracks gradually build until everything locks into place and doesn’t let go. Supported by Hurry and Homosuperior, this is going to be one hell of a show.
Saturday
Diarrhea Planet and Music Band @ Black Cat. 9pm $15. All ages, accessible venue.
There are bands that excel on record, and then bands you just have to see live. I would argue Diarrhea Planet fall into the live category. While their records are full of hooks and good times, live the band takes the fraternal spirit to the next level—turning their shows into less of a concert and more of a party. Between drunken sing-alongs and moshing, DP is the live show to lose your mind to this week. Also Hot-Dog Guy might be there.
>>Rock and Roll Hotel: Hemlines, Company Calls, Psychic Subcreatures. 7pm $12. All ages, accessible venue.
>>DC9: Alex Bleeker & the Freaks, Gingerlys, Go Cozy. 6pm $10. All ages, inaccesible venue.
Sunday
The Max Levine Ensemble, Sundials, and Maneuvers @ Black Cat. 7:30pm $10. All ages, accessible venue.
Black Cat is fitting place for D.C. pop-punk lifers Max Levine Ensemble to celebrate the release of their last album, and first in eight years, Backlash, Baby. The album, which is officially released on Friday, has been in the Black Cat jukebox since May, but just now sees a proper release. With the retirement of singer David Combs’s Spoonboy project, it is high time for more Max Levine Ensemble.
>>Fillmore Silver Spring: Kevin Gates Solo Lucci, OG Boobie Black. 8pm $20. All ages, accessible venue.
