When Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Ian Hunter, Son Volt, and Calexico make a record to save your life, you’ve achieved icon status in the music world. Yet despite his performing in bands since the ’70s and solo since the early ’90s, Texas-native Alejandro Escovedo is hardly a household name for those who appreciate roots music. And he rarely sells out East Coast shows. But things are changing. Over the course of the past several months,…

What a weekend to be in Washington. No doubt we’ll be seeing a whole lot of you around the Mall for one event or another this weekend. DCist would like to take this opportunity to recommend sunscreen with a high SPF. We just can’t have all our readers looking like lobsters come Monday morning. Not a sexy look. FRIDAY: >> The D.C. music scene says farewell to Q and Not U tonight at Black Cat….

A day late, but no tickets short. The 9:30 Club finally released its grip on a slew of sought after tickets yesterday (no, not Death Cab). Spit shine your credit card and get yours before they’re gone. >> Run – don’t walk – for indie rock. The Decemberists’ Picaresque has been one of the most talked about albums of 2005, and they’re bringing their tales of pirate ships and barrow boys to the 9:30…

Goodness – there are concerts flying so fast at our head that we hardly know where to look. Should we go to Crooked Fingers at the Black Cat, or Steve Earle at the 9:30 Club? Indie Rock Karaoke at DC9, or Jump, Little Children at Iota? Or – the best option of all – the Backstreet Boys show at the 9:30 Club on March 30? Tickets go on sale this Saturday at noon, and we…