Drake comes to the Verizon Center this weekend.
Monday
>>DC9: Gringo Star 8:30 P.M. $12. All ages, inaccessible venue.
Tuesday
>>DC9: Sumac, Jaye Jayle, nordra 8 P.M. $12. All ages, inaccessible venue.
Wednesday
Beat Connection, Kodak to Graph @ DC9 8:30 P.M. $14. All ages, inaccessible venue.
Seattle four piece Beat Connection makes tropical pop music with catchy bass lines. The band evolved from a duo to a full on band and have doubled down on their beach loving sounds. Their last album Product 3, has touchstones of chillwave but as with other purveyors of the scene, think Neon Indian, it is more interesting. Summer is almost over, but Beat Connection makes summer last forever.
Thursday
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, Escape-ism @ Comet Ping Pong 9 P.M. $12. All ages accessible venue.
Baltimore’s Ed Schrader’s Music Beat is the duo of Ed Schrader and Devlin Rice. The band make sweaty party music with just bass and drums. Their tracks, short jolts of post-punk and dance rock, are perfect for getting the night started. The band is also hilarious and bring their comedic energy to every show. While they do play the area frequently, this is a slow time of year and this show is an exception.
>>Verizon Center: Barbara Streisand 6:30 P.M. $102-$513. All ages, accessible venue.
Friday
Drake, Future, DVSN, Roy Woods @ Verizon Center 6:30 P.M. $49.50-$179.50. All ages, accessible venue.
Drake is arguably the biggest rap star in the game. His slog of a record, VIEWS , has topped the billboard chart twelve times non-consecutively, and his track “One Dance” is not only his first solo number one hit, but it too has topped the chart twelve times, making it the “song of the summer.” The Summer Sixteen tour is not just another rap tour but a meeting of two of the biggest forces in the game, Drake and Future coming together. Future had a hot streak in 2015 and though his 2016 output isn’t reaching the same heights, there is no doubting his power. Both acts released the joint mix tape, What A Time To Be Alive, last year in addition to everything else, so hearing the two play tracks from that together is a treat. The two rappers are here both Friday and Saturday night, and it might be worth it to check out both days, because you never know what surprises will occur.
The Julie Ruin, Olivia Neutron-John, Sneaks @ Black Cat 8 P.M. $20. All ages, accessible venue.
The Julie Ruin is the latest project from Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill/Le Tigre and Kathi Wilcox, also of Bikini Kill. It is some of the best music either has made in years. The band’s first album Run Fast was released on the beloved Dischord label and now they have followed it up with a new album, Hit Reset. Hit Reset takes girl-group sounds and blends them with punk and a dash of dance rock, erring closer to Bikini Kill then Hanna’s last group Le Tigre. The lyrics are political and personal, and are expertly sung. Hanna is legend and while she could just phone it in, instead she is releasing some of the best music of her career.
>>Eagle Bank Arena: Prophets of Rage, AWOLNATION 7 P.M. $20-$69.50. All ages, accessible venue.
Saturday
Prinze George, Higher Education @ Rock And Roll Hotel 7:30 $12. All ages, accessible venue
Synth-pop trio Prinze George hail from Prince George’s County and has been making waves since its formation in 2013. Now the band has released its debut LP, Illiterate Synth Pop, and this Saturday’s show is a homecoming of sorts. The album is full of soaring electronic based pop songs that would not sound out of place on a TV drama or a packed dance floor. Look for a story on the band this week.
>>Howard Theatre: Dru Hill 6 P.M. $37.50 – $60. All ages, accessible venue.
Sunday
Ex Hex, Flasher, Simon Doom @ Rock and Roll Hotel 7 P.M. $25. All ages, accessible venue.
The Rock and Roll Hotel is turning ten, and to celebrate it’s hosting a week of concerts ranging from locals to bigger touring bands. The first show is D.C.’s finest power-pop band, Ex Hex. Ex Hex’s brilliant 2014 album, Rips, still knocks. If you forgot about it, throw it on and see how it can brighten any day. It is unclear if the band is working on any new material, but let’s hope it does. Ex Hex hasn’t been touring as much so this might be the last chance to see them play for a while.
>>U Street Music Hall: Lil Yachty 7 P.M. Sold Out. All ages, accessible venue.
>>9:30 Club: The Bangles and Cardiac 7 P.M. $35. All ages, accessible venue.
