>> The Black Cat’s backstage is going to be pumping out the punk noise tonight as Antelope stops by, with Thank You and The Andalusians. $8, 9 p.m. >> DC Scores, a local nonprofit that provides innovative after-school programming to Washington kids, is hosting its 10th Annual Poetry Slam tonight. The event will feature 300 of the District’s public elementary and middle school students competing for the coveted Golden Mic trophy — obviously it…

>> Fort Reno has Antelope, Scanner Freaks, and OmegaBand tonight, at the usual 7:15 p.m. start time. Check out our Three Stars interview with Scanner Freaks and album review of Antelope for a preview of the show. >> The Bang — featuring Three Stars veteran Anthony Pirog — is playing at Wonderland Ballroom with Pilesar and the Quagmire, 10 p.m. >> Former Washington Post writer Jeffrey Frank, now a senior editor at The New…

There’s a certain charm that comes with stripping music down to its simplest form, but pulling it off can be difficult. For many bands, their music is their cover — something to hide mediocre lyrics and vocals behind. But if you take away that cover, the general consensus is that you better be an amazing songwriter. MTV executives take note: This is why something like Korn Unplugged simply doesn’t work. On the album Reflector, Washington,…