Arts Desk: News and Criticism on D.C. and Beyond

Tonight’s Pick: Bellman Barker at Fort Reno

Image-wise, the members of Washington, D.C., quintet Bellman Barker have carefully-defined roles: There’s the mustachioed cowboy frontman, the Rushmore-esque intellectual guitar player, the Weezer power-pop guy, the cutesy-costume-wearing Belle and Sebastian twee type, and, well, the schlubby drummer dude. Not surprisingly, all of those elements make their way into the band’s happy-go-lucky-except-when-it’s-sad pop as well, and make for a pleasant—if not necessarily thought-provoking—combination. Even if the band’s latest record, New Magic, doesn’t exactly fulfill the promise made by its title, tracks such as “Top of the Stairs” and “Two Bees” certainly show that the same old tricks can still have some effect. Bellman Barker performs with Ex-Motorcycle Couriers and Memories From the Space Age at 7:15 p.m. at Fort Reno Park, 3950 Chesapeake St. NW. Free. (202) 355-6356. —Matthew Borlik

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