Our music staffs lays out their favorite local releases of the year.

This weekend the Black Cat invited old D.C. music stalwarts and promising new bands to celebrate the club’s 20th anniversary. Across the board, the performances from the weekend were spirited and the joy and reverence for the space, genuine. However, throughout the weekend-long party a few moments stood out.

The Shirks leave the American South and hit the Midwest in this installment of thoughts and photos from the road.

As The Shirks continue to make their way across the country, they’ve sent DCist more words and photos from the road.

Raucous garage rock quartet The Shirks are making their way through the American South. Here are some thoughts and photos from Alabama and Mississippi.

The Shirks will be sending us photos and tour diary entries every few days from the road. Here’s their first chronicling Bristol, Asheville and Nashville.