Dan Vidmar brings his latest project, Shy Girls, to Rock and Roll Hotel on Wednesday.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Dizzyride, Lokomoko, Bruisey Peets @ DC9. 8 P.M. $8. All ages, inaccessible venue.
Dizzyride is the NYC-based duo of Nicola Donà & Zoë Kiefl. Formed in 2014, the band’s first album, Dizzyride, was released just two weeks ago, following two previous EPs. The band mixes yacht-rock pop, Balearic electronic music, and hints of tropicalia. The album is an improvement over the EPs, taking all of the duo’s influences and creating a cohesive vision.
Rock & Roll Hotel: Every Time I Die, Knocked Loose, Harm’s Way, Eternal Sleep. 6 P.M. Sold Out. All ages, accessible venue.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Shy Girls, Flamgosis @ Rock and Roll Hotel. 7 P.M. $13. All ages, accessible venue.
Dan Vidmar is the mastermind behind Shy Girls. Vidmar turned heads in 2013 with his first EP, featuring the undeniable hit, “Second Heartbeat”. In 2015, he released a mixtape, 4wz, featuring collaborations with pop singer Tei Shi and rapper Antwon. Now, a full four years since breaking into the scene, Shy Girls has released its debut album, Salt. The album collects the many singles Vidmar released since 2016. The songs are fuller then his previous efforts, as evidenced by “Trivial Motion”, which could double as a sequel to “Second Heartbeat”.
Sampha, Mal Devisa @ 9:30 Club. 7 P.M. Sold Out. All ages, accessible venue.
How does one process grief? Sampha’s debut full-length, Process, is a meditation on grief spawning from the events of his life over the last three years. Previously a background player, featured heavily on the first SBTRKT album as well as guest spots for both Drake and Kanye West, Sampha’s career has been fruitful. Now ready to step out on his own, the soul singer has released one of the best albums of 2017 so far. The ten track set is full of hits, including the heart breaking centerpiece, “(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano”, and singles, “Blood on Me” and “Timmy’s Prayer.”. Sampha is just starting to get recognized and 2017 is going to be a big year for him.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
VHS Collection, Paperwhite, Bel Heir @ DC9 8:30 P.M. $12. All ages, inaccessible venue
VHS Collection is a synth-pop band consisting of three friends whose music is on par with bands like Cut Copy and Passion Pit. Debuting in 2015 with a three song EP, the band put out a second EP, Stereo Hype, last year. Stereo Hype is more assured then the band’s earlier work. The songs are tighter and the hooks are slicker. The singles, “Ghost” and “Waiting on the Summer”, are breezy pop songs. If you are a fan of synth-pop in the style of Miike Snow or Empire of the Sun, VHS Collection can fit right in.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Rock and Roll Hotel: Aztec Sun, Swift Technique, Oh He Dead. 8 P.M. $12. All ages, accessible venue.
U Street Music Hall: Savoy, Puppet, Seba Yuri. 10 P.M. $15. 18+ accessible venue.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Book of Love @ U Street Music Hall. 7 P.M. $25. All ages, accessible venue.
The Philadelphia-based Book of Love formed in 1983 and released their debut album in 1986. That record is home to the band’s first breakout single, “Boy”, a club hit. “Boy” led the band to a tour with Depeche Mode, earning enough money to record its debut album. Subsequent singles, “Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)” and “I Touch Roses”, were also club hits. The band went on to release its second album, Lullaby, in 1988 which carried the band’s biggest single, “Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls”. Now thirty-plus years on from their start, the band has reunited for a short tour. Book of Love deserves a reexamining, so this is the perfect time to discover the band.
Velvet Lounge: Underlined Passages, the St. Francis Social, Faft. 8 P.M. $12. 18+, inaccessible venue.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Verizon Center: Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, Johnny Gill. 6 P.M. $38+. All ages, accessible venue.
DC9: Lady Lamb, Henry Jamison. 8 :30 P.M. Sold Out. All ages, inaccessible venue.
