Wild Belle plays Black Cat on Sunday.
Tuesday
Father John Misty, Tess & Dave @ Lincoln Theatre 6:30 p.m. Sold-Out. All Ages, accessible venue
Father John Misty put out one of the best albums of last year with I Love You Honeybear, and is still out promoting it. This time he plays two very sold-out shows at the Lincoln Theatre. Seeing FJM live is an experience, as he is an expert showman that is one part louche, another part tender balladeer. A Father John Misty show is all about mood and he brings it every time. Last night’s show was a treat, with FJM upping his production values with dramatic lights. One warning: he may still be under the weather, but unless he says anything you would hardly know, as he powered through his set like a true professional. This is one of those shows you spend what you can on Craigslist to see.
>>9:30 Club: Polica, Mothxr 7 p.m. $20. All Ages, accessible venue
>>DC9: Mothers, Palm, Brother M 8 p.m. $12. All Ages, inaccessible venue
Wednesday
>> 9:30 Club: Bob Mould, Ted Leo 7 p.m. $25. All Ages, accessible venue
>> DC9: Suuns, John Congolton 8:30 p.,. $12. All Ages, inaccessible venue
Thursday
Father, Lord Narf, Lui Diamonds @ U Street Music Hall 8 p.m. $20. All Ages, accessible venue
Father, a rapper from Atlanta, is known for explicit sex positive songs that are anything but juvenile. His 2014 project Who’s Gonna Get Fucked First? is a master class in raunchy rap, full of earworm hits like “BET Uncut” and “Everybody In The Club Getting Shot”. His latest record I’m A Piece of Shit is darker thematically, but still brings gems like “Why Don’t U (feat. Abra & iLoveMakonnen)”. Though he’s coming down from the party, he is still debauched as usual.
>> Rock and Roll Hotel: The Helio Sequence, Honduras 7 p.m. $15. All Ages, accessible venue
>> Black Cat: Hemlines, Shellshag, Teenage Halloween, Foster Carrots 7:30 p.,. $10. All Ages, accessible venue
Friday
Hudson Mohawke @ U Street Music Hall 10:30 p.m. $17 – $25. 18+, accessible venue
Scottish producer Hudson Mohawke has been an in demand producer since the release of his project, TNGHT, with Lunice. He has worked his success to produce for Kanye West, Drake, Lil Wayne, and more. His latest solo record, Lantern, packs dance floor bangers next to rap experiments, featuring high profile guests like Miguel and ANOHNI, whose latest album he co-produced. His DJ sets are a grab bag of trap, rap, and electro, and are always a sweaty party that goes late into the night.
DC9: Bear Mountain, Young Empires 6:30 p.,. $12. All Ages, inaccessible venue
Saturday
Broccoli City Festival @ Gateway DC Pavilion 12 p.m. Sold Out. All Ages, accessible venue
There aren’t too many festivals in D.C., but Broccoli City has been bringing it year after year since its inception in 2013. This year’s lineup is the most massive one yet, featuring some of the biggest names in the game along with a couple of upstarts who are having great years. Future headlines the bill, marking his second appearance in the area, but not his last as he is scheduled to return with Drake on the Summer 16 tour. With him is singer Jhené Aiko, rap group The Internet, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Compton breakout star Anderson Paak. The festival is sold out, but it’s worth asking Craigslist for a ticket or two.
Bluegrass & Folk Festival @ Kingman Island 12 p.m. $25 and up. All Ages, entrance, bridges, and main stage are accessible, though some of the paths leading to the stages are dirt
There’s no better way to ring in spring than heading to an outdoor venue for a day’s worth of Americana-infused music, and this festival—now in its seventh year—delivers. With six stages featuring packed performances, you can spend your whole day listening to bluegrass and folk. But if you want a more amphibious experience, Kingman Island also has kayaking and motorboating. There’ll be food trucks, too.
Fellowcraft, Technicians, Hundredth Nomad @ Rock and Roll Hotel 7 p.m. $12. All Ages, accessible venue
D.C. has had a boom in young hardcore bands of late, but there is also no shortage of rock bands of all styles. Saturday night’s show at Rock and Roll Hotel is a showcase of three bands emerging from the scene. Fellowcraft is a harder band with traces of blues and ’90’s post-grunge aesthetics. The Technicians makes angular post-punk and are set to release itsdebut album later this year. Hundredth Nomad recently put a four song debut EP of blistering rock tunes that would not sound out of place on a DC 101 playlist, and this show serves as its EP release party. If you are interested in discovering new bands this is the show for you.
>> Black Cat: The Thermals, Summer Cannibals, Amanda X 9 p.m. $15. All Ages, accessible venue
Sunday
Wild Belle, James Supercave @ Black Cat 7:30 p.,. $15. All Ages, accessible venue
Wild Belle is a brother and sister duo who play indie rock with reggae influences. While this may seem like cultural appropriation, it is more an appreciation of the sounds, as both Elliot and Natalie Bergman are well studied and trying to honor the music they love. The band’s 2013 album Isles was a treat, with breezy choruses and slick horns. This year, the band released Dreamland, a harder record with less of a reggae style and more rock influences like the dance-punk lead single, “Giving Up On You.”
>> 9:30 Club: M.Ward, NAF 7 p.m. $32.50. All Ages, accessible venue
