Hume’s music is incredibly thought-out. It has to be. It’s impossible to combine such disparate influences as prog-rock, free jazz and Afro-beat and achieve such a unique result without putting in significant mental energy. Yet, for all its debt to complex composition, the most impressive thing about Hume’s first fully realized recording, Penumbra, is its keeping of rock and roll’s rawer essence. Penumbra is emotional, but never sterile. As it twists and turns, unearthing new layers as tight polyrhythms give way to grandiose soundscapes, Penumbra still maintains a spirit of spontaneity.

The Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music came to its conclusion on Saturday, the same night that many other District residents attended some free event out in Columbia. While one of the highlights of the festival is the caliber of the talent that comes in from overseas (such as Magma, Merzbow, Fennesz and Richard Pinhas), a large chunk of the festival lineup hails from the D.C. metro area and Sonic Circuits regularly showcases these artists throughout the year. The third District of Noise compilation almost succeeds in being as sonically wide-reaching as the festival lineup, while also giving D.C. residents a taste of the very talented local experimental music community.

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Telograph’s first EP, Little Bits of Plastic (review). Since the release of that recording, the band has gone on to build a name for themselves in the D.C. music scene and play shows with Gomez, Robbers on High Street and O.A.R. We gave them the *** treatment back in ’06, so it warms our hearts to see them doing so well. Now with their second release,…

As always with the end of summer, there have been slim pickings in the art world, and most galleries are banking on you using Labor Day weekend for one final trek to sunny beaches. We scrounged up a few options for those of you sticking around town, which you may want to consider using as a warm-up for next week, when the fall art season opens with a bang. >> G Fine Art is warming…

Monday >> Canada’s post-punk four piece Uncut just released their latest album Modern Currencies in the U.S. on July 17th and will be at DC9 tonight with special guest Patrick Krief of The Dears. Just like their name says, they are raw: loud, bold, and off the wall. Check out the stopmotion animated video for their recent single, “Darkhorse” which includes a fire bombing Ronald McDonald and an army of pissed off Care Bears. 8p.m.,…

Saturday at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Dr. Dog with The Teeth and Hoots and Hellmouth. $12. Doors at 8:30, Music at 9:30. Depending on the circles you run in, Dr. Dog are either busy working a tired formula of lo-fi and late-period Beatles nostalgia or are one of a host of Philly groups artfully resurrecting the heady psych-pop era of the late 60s and early 70s. Both camps need to do themselves a favor…

MONDAY >>The alternately whimsical and dark Decemberists (who DCist caught the last time they came to town) perform their second show at the 9:30 club tonight in support of their recently released album The Crane’s Wife. While this show is sold out, you can try your luck with both craigslist or enjoy the show from the comfort of your own couch on NPR. Lavender Diamond opens. 8:30pm >> Apples in Stereo will be playing with…

How does a band that hasn’t released an album in six or seven years tour the U.S. and pull in large crowds at venues like the 9:30 Club – all without the financial support of a record label? Two words: Matt Sharp. You probably remember Sharp playing bass in a little band called Weezer, circa 1994, before people stopped caring. Back in the Blue Album days, Weezer singer Rivers Cuomo commanded attention for crafting pop…

You may recall a little fun we had back in March with a campaign to name the song “Come to Washington” by Lincoln Ross the city’s unofficial anthem. To jog your memory a bit, we here repeat the song’s first verse: Washington, D.C. A really great place to be, So if you’re into having fun, Come to Washington. Awesome. After telling you all about this, we solicited nominations for other potential anthems and then voted…

MONDAY >> His life is brilliant. His love is pure. And if you want to hear British pop singer James Blunt call you “beautiful” in person at the 9:30 Club tonight with The Boy Least Likely To, you’re going to have to try your luck on Craigslist, because this show is sold out. >> Iota hosts a triple 80’s Brit pop, garage rock inspired lineup with DCist Three Stars alum, The Bonapartes, with Metropolitan and…