Car Seat Headrest. (Photo by Chona Kasinger)
Monday
Car Seat Headrest, Naked Days @ Black Cat 7:30 p.m $15. All ages, accessible venue.
There aren’t very many shows this week, but if there was one that is an absolute must-not-miss it’s this one. Car Seat Headrest is the project of Will Toledo, who released 11 albums while in college. Once Matador Records came knocking, Toledo issued a record with updated versions of old songs from Teens of Style, but that was all an appetizer for his latest release Teens of Denial. Don’t let the album titles confuse you: they are not companion records in any way, as Teens of Denial is such a leap forward for the band. Hands down, Teens of Denial is not only one of the best albums of this year but one of the finest collections of indie rock in a while. Though a sample clearance snafu fucked up the physical release and changed one of the best songs on the record, the 12-track album still knocks hard. I could spend the rest of this WMA just gushing about how much I love Car Seat Headrest, but I will end with this—see them tonight!
>>DC9: Palehound, Ursula, Snail Mail 8 p.m. $12. All ages, inaccessible venue.
Tuesday
BØRNS, Coast Modern, and Beau @ 9:30 Club 7 p.m. Sold Out. All ages, accessible venue.
Garrett Borns makes pop music under the name BØRNS, but don’t let the stylized name fool you. BØRNS is from Michigan and not from Scandinavia. Last year he released his first record, Dopamine, an album that took two years to create. It is full of catchy radio friendly tracks like “Candy” and “Electric Love” which has been featured on television shows and commercials. The show is sold-out, but you never know if someone has an extra!
>>Rock and Roll Hotel: Islands, Lushlife 7 p.m. $15. All ages, accessible venue.
Wednesday
Courtney Barnett @ Rams Head Live 7 p.m. $23. All ages, accessible venue.
Courtney Barnett’s 2015 release Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit hit all the pleasure centers for indie rock fans. Since then she has played sold out shows across the country, including two here, and was the music guest on the season finale of Saturday Night Live this past Saturday. Barnett’s style is laid back and her lyrics are witty observations, like searching for a home to buy (“Depreston”) or having an allergic reaction while gardening (“Avant Gardener”). The show is in Baltimore, but it’s worth the trek because it might be a while until Barnett returns.
>>Black Cat: The Effects, Des Demonas, Santic 7:30 p.m. $10. All ages, accessible venue
Thursday
>>Jiffy Lube Live: Daryl Hall & John Oates, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings 7 p.m. $15+ All ages, accessible venue.
>>Black Cat: Paperwhite, Cheerleader 7:30 p.m. $10. All ages, accessible venue
Friday
>>Black Cat: Kill Lincoln, Caustic Casanova, Psychic Subcreatures 9 p.m. $10. All ages, accessible venue
>>DC9: Memnon the Black, Dropping Ugly, Cold Beaches 6 p.,. $8. All ages, inaccessible venue.
>>U Street Music Hall: Four Tet, Anthony Naples 10 p.m. $25. 18+, accessible venue
Saturday
>>Rock and Roll Hotel: T.S.O.L., The Scandals, Walk The Plank 7 p.,. $13. All ages, accessible venue
Sunday
RJD2 @ 9:30 Club 7 p.m. $25. All ages, accessible venue
RJD2 is mostly know for providing the theme to Mad Men, but the turntablist/producer has been a prolific fixture in the scene since 1993. He released his first (and still best) album, Deadringer, in 2003. While he makes mostly hip hop beats, RJD2 has experimented in many styles including psychedelia and rock. His latest album, Dame Fortune, is a smorgasbord of genres, though it leans heavy on funk and hip hop. RJD2’s live shows are kinetic, sometimes involving the producer to manage 8 turntables at once, so Sunday night’s show will be nothing short of special.
