TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Prolific Austin rockers White Denim make music that quickly oscillates between garage rock, psych, soul, reggae, blues, prog, and other genres. The band has already dropped two releases this year: the high-octane studio set Side Effects and the live album In Person. U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. doors. $20. All ages, accessible venue.
Past and current members of the rock and soul outfit Tedeschi Trucks Band have spun off their jazzy tendencies for Whose Hat Is This? The group thrives on freeform improv, and at The Hamilton, they’ll be joined by D.C. emcee Kokayi, who appears on the group’s second album, Everything’s OK, which was captured live in Baltimore. 6:30 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. show. All ages, accessible venue. $12-$25.
Piano-playing singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles got political on her 2018 album Amidst the Chaos (the title is a reference to President Trump). On the record, the “Love Song” singer and Waitress actress and writer writes about President Obama (“No Such Thing”), the #MeToo movement (“Armor”), and the family separation crisis at the border (“A Safe Place to Land,” with John Legend). So don’t be surprised if her shows at The Anthem on Tuesday and Wednesday are extra politically charged. 6:30 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. show. $55-$125. All ages, accessible venue.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Since 2016, German pop singer Kim Petras has made waves for a string of fun-loving pop songs and personal ballads. Last month, she released her second album Turn Off the Light. Fillmore Silver Spring. 7:30 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. show. $38.50. All ages, accessible venue.
Booker T. Jones was an integral figure in shaping the sound of Memphis soul and Stax Records with his band Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Now a solo artist at 75, Jones just released his memoir, Time Is Tight, which he’ll read from at City Winery before performing songs from companion album Note By Note. 6 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. show. $45-$55. All ages, accessible venue.
Fresh off performing at the Soul Train Awards, K. Michelle will headline the Warner Theatre on her O.S.D. tour. The R&B singer (and former Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta star) released new single “The Rain” last month, which will appear on a forthcoming album. 7 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. show. $39.50-$59.50. All ages, accessible venue.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Rapper and singer Dessa is part of the Minnesota hip-hop collective Doomtree (which is also a record label she used to run). On her last album, 2018’s Chime, Dessa showed off her range—from slam poetry-style rhymes to Robyn-esque pop. She’s also familiar to fans of The Hamilton Mixtape for her take on “Congratulations.” Sixth & I. 7 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. show. $25-$28. All ages, accessible venue.
At 20, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is the latest prodigy to take the role of traditional blues guitar’s next big thing. On his debut album, Kingfish, Ingram trades licks with blues masters Buddy Guy and Keb’ Mo’—earning a stamp of approval from those who came before him. 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. doors. $20. All ages, accessible venue.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Funk collective Lettuce, touring behind this summer’s Elevate, has become a festival circuit fixture for the band’s improvisatory prowess. At The Anthem on Friday, the group is bringing along a pair of openers that represent different sides of the funk spectrum: Antibalas, which traffics in Afrobeat rhythms, and Ghost-Note, which leans jazzy and features members of Snarky Puppy. 6 p.m. doors. 7:30 p.m. show. $41-$61. All ages, accessible venue.
Indiana-bred rapper Freddie Gibbs and frequent collaborator Madlib teamed up this summer for Bandana, which features beats Madlib concocted exclusively on an iPad. Now the two are joining forces for the Album of the Year tour, presumably a reference to their latest collaboration. Fillmore Silver Spring. 7 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. show. $25. All ages, accessible venue.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23
It’s been a few months since local funk and soul band Aztec Sun played a D.C. gig. At Union Stage on Saturday, the big band, which released debut album In the Name of Everyone a year ago, will team with fellow local funk band Backbeat Underground for a concert in which $5 of every ticket and 10 percent of all bar sales will benefit DC Safe. 7 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. show. $20-$40. All ages, accessible venue.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Jaden Smith and his sister Willow Smith will share the stage at Echostage on Sunday (no word on if mom and dad will be in the audience). Jaden is touring behind July’s rap album Erys, which features Willow and continues the conceptual story he began with 2017’s Syre. Willow is also touring behind a July release, her third record of alt-R&B Willow. 6 p.m. doors. 7:30 p.m. show. $32.50. All ages, accessible venue.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Tool waited 13 years between albums and managed to score the No. 1 album in the country when Fear Inoculum was released in September, topping Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. Now Maynard James Keenan’s progressive metal act, whose heavy, psychedelic sound hasn’t changed much since “Schism” became a hit in 2001, is back to filling sold-out arenas (resale tickets are available). Capital One Arena. 8 p.m. Sold out. All ages, accessible venue.
