Prinze George, a band comprised of area natives, performs at Saturday’s Sweetlife Festival.
Monday
Old 97s, Heartless Bastards, BJ Barham (of American Aquarium) @ 9:30 Club.7 P.M. $30. All ages, accessible venue.
The Old 97’s and The Heartless Bastards have toured before, but this time the two are linking up in a co-headlining situation that sees both bands perform full sets. The Heartless Bastards is a four-piece that mixes country twang with rock and roll, led by singer Erika Wennerstrom and her beautiful voice. The band released their fifth album Restless Ones last year. The Old 97’s is a band of alt-country lifers who are known for putting on excellent live sets. The band is touring its most recent release Most Messed Up. Both acts are incredible performers, so this show is an early highlight of the week.
>>U Street Music Hall: Låpsley, Morly. 7 P.M. Sold -Out. All ages, accessible venue.
>>DC9: Avers, the Can’t Tells, Wanted Man 8 P.M. $12. All ages, inaccessible venue.
Tuesday
Ought, Priests, and Sneaks @ Black Cat 7:30 P.M. $15. All ages, accessible venue.
Post-punk rippers Ought return to D.C. but this time the band is supported by D.C.’s own Priests, which is fresh off recording a new record. Ought and Priests dabble in political music. Ought’s tracks are long and build, eventually coming together where everything clicks together and gels. Priests makes songs in short blasts, taking on a variety of injustices, but in a way that is upbeat and sometimes danceable. A Priests show is always a good time, and with Ought it is sure to be all the more epic.
>>9:30 Club: Animal Collective, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith 7 P.M. Sold-Out. All ages, accessible venue.
Wednesday
Wild Nothing, Charlie Hilton @ Black Cat 7:30 P.M. $18. All ages, accessible venue.
Wild Nothing is the project of Blacksburg, Va. native Jack Tatum. The band dabbles in an updated take on dream-pop and shoegaze. After a four year wait, Wild Nothing released its third record, Life of Pause, in February. The record was inspired by Tatum’s love of Philly Soul, and it shows in songs like “A Woman’s Wisdom”. Tatum’s songwriting has never been stronger. He has evolved and pushed himself into his own zone, away from his peers.
>>9:30 Club: Animal Collective, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith 7 P.M. Sold-Out. All ages, accessible venue.
Thursday
Hop Along, Speedy Ortiz, and Two Inch Astronaut @ Black Cat 7:30 P.M. $15. All ages, accessible venue.
Philadelphia’s Hop Along is a special band. Last year’s Painted Shut was one of 2015’s best records. The band returns to Black Cat, co-headlining with Speedy Ortiz. Speedy Ortiz is still touring in support of Foil Deer, and the band has just announced a new EP, Foiled Again, with two remixes and two new tracks. Rounding out the bill are local rockers Two Inch Astronaut, who just released their best record by far with Personal Life. Three great bands on one bill, this show is sure to sell out.
>>Rock and Roll Hotel: Screaming Females, Aye Nako, Nox 7 P.M. 15. All ages, accessible venue.
>>9:30 Club: Parquet Courts, B Boys 6 P.M. $20. All ages, accessible venue.
Friday
>>Rock and Roll Hotel: We Are Scientists, Prism Tats 8 P.M. $18. All ages, accessible venue.
>>U Street Music Hall: Half Moon Run, Jesse Mac Cormack 7 P.M. $20. All ages, accessible venue.
Saturday
Sweetlife Festival: the 1975, Halsey, Flume, Grimes, PartyNextDoor, Blondie, Eagles of Death Metal, Mac DeMarco, Thundercat, Vince Staples, Shamir, Wolf Alice, DIIV, Prinze George @ Merriweather Post Pavillion. 12 P.M. $100.00 – $150.00. All ages, accessible venue.
Music festivals come and go in this area, but Salad Fest Sweetlife has stuck around. Once a small event in D.C., it is now full day-long affair at Merriweather that brings top talent to the area. Like most festivals, it hits all the bingo boxes. Acts the kids want to see: Haley, check. Dinosaur act that provokes a “WTF? They are still around:” Blondie. Loud rockers: Eagles of Death Metal. Rapper that also appeals to the hip crowd: Vince Staples. Local act thrown on to give a spotlight to the area’s talent: Prinze George. As of now, it doesn’t look like Saturday is calling for rain, so it could be one of the first dry Sweetlife festivals. The line-up is diverse but one of the better ones they have pulled together.
>>Rock and Roll Hotel: Fruit Bats, Promise Land Sounds 7 P.M. $15. All ages, accessible venue.
Sunday
>>DC9: Astronautalis, Ceschi & Factor Chandelier 8:30 P.M. $14. All ages, inaccessible venue.
>>Lincoln Theatre: Ozomatli, Big Tony & Trouble Funk (JusticeAid Concert Benefit for the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth and National Juvenile Defender Center). 6 P.M. Doors. $30-$250. All ages, accessible venue.
