Ariel Pink

"Well, then," I say. "Are you a team player or more of an individual?"

"Ahh, that's always a trick question!" said Pink. "What you gotta say is, 'I'm highly qualified for this position because…I can be here…all the time…and I got nothing better going on in my life…so you can hold me in this position indefinitely because I have nowhere else to go.'"

For a quick moment, it sounds like Pink is regressing—possibly years backward, before Animal Collective signed his lo-fi solo project to its record label Paw Tracks. Maybe to a period when he was searching for the right record deal, while continuously churning out hundreds of recordings from his home. Back when he struggled as an artist with a vision, trying to make a living.

Years, songs, and albums later, he's a regular subject of indie sites like Pitchfork, and he's becoming a sought-after enigma among the media. People want to know how he went from solo bedroom recordings to international tours with a full band. Animal Collective helped, of course, and even put Pink on the bill for next May's iteration of All Tomorrow's Parties in England, which the band is curating. Not that he's being feted and flown everywhere. He still drives his own tour van from city to city.

Europe was fun, he says, but he can't pick a favorite stop. "The only good thing about a town, really, is the people," he says. "Towns are all the same, boring. You know, we're all going to do the same thing anywhere."

And when it comes to his music, Pink thinks he's just as ordinary as every other musician. "I'm just another brick in the wall, just contributing. I'm not breaking new ground," he says.

Yet his latest record Before Today—his first recorded in an actual studio—sounds utterly unique. Certainly, there are sounds drawn from the past, and not just the psychedelic pop he clearly loves. Take the bass line of "Menopause Man," which isn't so different than the one from "Billie Jean". Observers tend to describe Pink's music as nostalgic and classic-sounding. He wouldn't necessarily disagree. "Everyone wants to be sincere, an individual. But how would you describe an idea, if you didn't have words already?"

Pink seems to think originality is unattainable because we "share language. We're all mind-fucking each other, and it's incestuous, really. Now I'm just leaving my little footprint, and I'm no better than anyone. I'm just here, to say hello".

Ariel Pink performs tomorrow with Os Mutantes at the 9:30 Club. 10 p.m. $20.

Friday

• Jakob Dylan, Three Legs, Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Mimicking Birds. 9:30 Club. $25.
• Lucy Kaplansky. Wolf Trap. $20.
• Gist, Gary B. & the Notions, The Courtesy Line. The Red & The Black. $8.
• Eilen Jewell, Little Pink. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.
• The Blue Line, Poor But Sexy, The Very Small. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10.
• Buckshot Blues. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• The Last Monarchs, Nick Coward and the Last Battle, Bobby Lee and the Sympathizers. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.
• The Tallest Man on Earth, Nurses. Black Cat mainstage. $12.
• Mavis Staples. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. $38.
• Oranges Band, Doug Gillard Electric, The Andalusians. Comet Ping Pong. $8.
• Cannibal Corpse, Skeletonwitch, Diabolic, Lecherous Nocturne, C.O.B.C. Jaxx. $24.50 in advance, $28 day of.
• Dragonette, Think About Life. DC9. $8. 18+.

Saturday

• Patti LuPone. Strathmore. $25-$85.
• Buskin & Batteau. Wolf Trap. $22.
• The Protomen, The Prigs. The Red & The Black. $8.
• The Walkaways, The Kate Moran Band, Stella Schindler. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.
• Amanda Blank, Ninjasonik, DJ Jackie-O. Rock and Roll Hotel. $16.
• Outliers. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• Quasi, Let's Wrestle. Black Cat mainstage. $12.
• The Nields, Trina Hamlin. Jammin Java. $15.
• In Alcatraz 1962, Lakeview, Behold the Flood, Discover Her Remains, Kendal Burke, Viliska, This Murder Means More, Anubis, Vile Infection, Failing the Fallen. Jaxx. $10 in advance, $12 day of.
• Charlie Wilson, Chuck Brown. DAR Constitution Hall. $45-$65.

Sunday

• Tim Be Told, Omar of Crash Boom Bang. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.
• Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust. Black Anvil. Rock and Roll Hotel. $12.
• Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Magical Beautiful. Black Cat backstage. $10.
• The Clark Sisters. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.
• Anais Mitchell and the Hadestown Orchestra, Michael Chorney Sextet. Jammin Java. $15.
• The RLC Explosion, Gomorrah, Zero Shift, Streaking on Seneca, Radamanthys, The Bourbon Devils, Failing the Fallen, Silence the Blind, The 6th Degree, Touching Elbows, Histrionic Witch. Jaxx. $8 in advance, $10 day of.
• Dosh, White Hinterland, Andrew Black and Malari Moore. DC9. $10 in advance, $12 day of. 18+.

Friday

• Martin Sexton, Ryan Montbleau Band. 9:30 Club. $25.
• Jamie McLean Band. Strathmore. $10 in advance, $12 at door.
• Livingston Taylor. Wolf Trap. $22.
• Horsehead, Hiding Places, Deutschmarks. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.
• Laura Tsaggaris, James Maddock. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.
• Pissed Jeans, Cloak/Dagger, The Wayward. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10 in advance, $12 at door.
• Rhododendron Road. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• Little Bigheart & the Wilderbeast, Sean K. Preston, East Coast Caravan. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.
• Shortstack, Birds of Avalon, Suns of Guns. Black Cat mainstage. $12.

Saturday

• Jedi Mind Tricks, Mr. Lif. 9:30 Club. $17.
• DeLeon, The Torches. The Red & The Black. $10. 21+.
• RPM, Brad Sanzerbacher and the Purveyors. IOTA Club & Cafe. $10.
• Beltway Rockers. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• Alvin Risk, TightenUp!/McWorm, City Rain. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.
• The Remnant Concert Choir of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.
• Strotter Inst., Pilesar, Blue Sausage Infant. Comet Ping Pong. $8.
• Jason Reeves, Chelsea Lee. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 day of.
• Crash Boom Bang, Conditions, Life on Repeat, Rescue the Hero, Escape the Armada. Jaxx. $10 in advance, $12 day of.
• Francis and the Lights, Ryan Holladay. DC9. $10.

Sunday

• Kidz in the Hall, 88-Keys, Izza Kizza, Donnis, Tabi Bonney. 9:30 Club. $20.
• National Philharmonic. Strathmore. $29-$79.
• Blankus Larry. IOTA Club & Cafe. $10.
• The Apples in Stereo, Generationals, Laminated Cat. Rock and Roll Hotel. $15.
• Jazz Jam. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• Greg Ginn and the Texas Corrugators, CSC Funkband. Velvet Lounge. $10. 18+.
• The Styrenes. Velvet Lounge. $10. 18+.
• Richard Smallwood & Vision. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.
• Heks Orkest, The Fordists. Black Cat backstage. $10.
• Jammin' 4 Haiti. Jammin Java. $8.
• Roman Candle, Paper Bird, Tao Seeger Band. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 at door.
• With the Black Kid, Awaiting the Aftermath, Siren to the Skies, I Am Imagination, Out Forever, Counting Out Loud, Legions Prevail, Vitality, The Grue. Jaxx. $10 in advance, $12 day of.
• Unwed Sailor, Common Loon. DC9. $8 in advance, $10 day of. 18+.

Ryan Montbleau Band photo by Chris Paul, via MySpace.

Friday

• Needtobreathe, Will Hoge, Matt Hires. 9:30 Club. $16.

• Gato & the Palenke Music Co. Strathmore. $10 in advance, $12 at door.

• Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Wolf Trap. $35.

• East Coast Caravan. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.

• Shwa, The Royal We. IOTA Club & Cafe. $10.

• Bonjour, Ganesh!, The Jones, Big Chimney, Blankus Larry. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10.

• Andy Poxon. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• The Caribbean, Ryan Holladay, Twins of a Gazelle. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Tamagawa University Taiko Drumming and Dance Troupe. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.

• Maybe Baby, Exactly, John Powers. Comet Ping Pong. Free.

• The Wedding Present, The Jet Age. Black Cat mainstage. $15.

Saturday

• Done & Done Festival. All Souls Unitarian Church. $12-$20.

• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Strathmore. $30-$90.

• Julie Murphy Wells. Wolf Trap. $25.

• The Honeyguns, The Grit Pushers. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.

• Honor By August, The Ruse, Luna Halo. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.

• Wicked Liquid featuring Fuzzy G, Pants Velour, The Canon Logic. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10.

• The Icemen. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Alex Gruenberg, Astronomers, Natives. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• bob (CD release show), Almost Kings, Feed God Cabbage. Jammin Java. $12 in advance, $15 day of.

• Harmonia Opera Company. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.

• Richard Bacchus and The Luckiest, Yell County, DJ Kid Congo Powers. Comet Ping Pong. $8.

• Noon:30, The Aquarium. Black Cat backstage. $8.

Sunday

• Blue October, Stars of Track and Field, Hurricane Bells. 9:30 Club. $25.

• Red Sparowes, Doomriders, Fang Island. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10 in advance, $12 at door.

• Caustic Casanova, Dark Sea Dream, Akris, Disco Machine Gun. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• I Saw A Ghost, The Kindness of Strangers, A Sense of Urgency, Light Up the Sky, Failing the Fallen, Thatswhatshesaid. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 day of.

• George Benson. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $20-$45.

• High on Fire, Priestess, Black Cobra, Bison B.C. Black Cat mainstage. $15.

• Rocky Votolato, Brooke Waggoner. DC9. $13 in advance, $15 day of. 18+.

Will Hoge photo by Drew Gurian, via MySpace.

Friday

• Nada Surf, Dawn Landes and the Hounds. 9:30 Club. $20.

• E.M. Spencer. Strathmore. $10 in advance, $12 at door.

• Christine Lavin. Wolf Trap. $20.

• The Bang, Chute. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.

• Justin Trawick Group, Jason Masi Band, Rene Moffatt, Jamie Marie. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.

• Midnight Sun, Nunchucks, Downtown Harvest, Blackbells. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10.

• Big Tow. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Bellflur, Drop Electric, Club Scout. Velvet Lounge. $8. 18+.

• Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun, Austin de Lone. Jammin Java. $20.

• Mountain Ridge Jazz Orchestra. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free

• Meow Vs. Meow, Delfields, Gary B & the Notions. Comet Ping Pong. $8.

Saturday

• Jonathan Edwards. Wolf Trap. $24.

• The Royal We, Black Dog Prowl, The Killer Balloons. The Red & The Black. $8.

• The U-Liners. IOTA Club & Cafe. $15.

• Rattler, New Rock Church Of Fire, Shokkher, DJ Stereo Faith. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10.

• Waverly Milor and The Hall Brothers. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Kids, Jackie O, Starks and Nacey, Lil El'. Velvet Lounge. $5. 21+.

• Willie Nile. Jammin Java. $20.

• National Symphony Orchestra. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $20-$85.

• Cyberstrike, Envy's Eye, We Have the Summer, Tiik with G.U.T.S, The Blackshire, Li[n]es, La Coterie, The Cliched. Jaxx. $8 in advance, $10 day of.

Sunday

• Sezen Aksu. Strathmore. $60-$120.

• Shapiro, The Winter Sounds, Achtung PandaFr. The Red & The Black. $8.

• In Alcatraz 1962, Life After Hours, Kodiak, A Gentleman Calling, Villiska. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 day of.

• Midlake, John Grant. Black Cat mainstage. $13 in advance, $15 day of.

• Anders Lundegård. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.

• Past Lives (Ex-Blood Brothers), Snack Truck. DC9. $8. 18+.

Nada Surf photo by Lionel Flusin, via MySpace.

Friday

• Kinoeye, Maximillion Dunbar, Protect-U, Steve Summers. The Cherch. $5 donation.

• Vladimir Feltsman. Strathmore. $27-$77.

• Ravenous, FOX Japan, Caustic Casanova. The Red & The Black. $8.

• Justin Jones, Down Dexter, Peter Bradley Adams. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.

• Shearwater, Wye Oak, Hospital Ships. Rock and Roll Hotel. $12.

• Next Door Ellen. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Imperial China, Cephalopods, Lo Moda, Busses. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• The Hint, Struan Shields, Ever Since Beginnings. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 day of.

• The Washington Chorus. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $15-$60.

• Moody Blues. DAR Constitution Hall. $48-$68.

Saturday

• Harper Blynn, Drink Up Buttercup. DC9. $12.

• The Dan Band. 9:30 Club. $25.

• National Philharmonic: Brahms' Requiem. Strathmore. $29-$79.

• John Eaton. Wolf Trap. $25.

• Killola, Sick of Sarah, Outernational. The Red & The Black. $8.

• Jupiter One, Heypenny, Kyle Andrews. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.

• WOODS, Real Estate, Surf City. Rock and Roll Hotel. $12.

• Deb Felz. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Ol Scratch, Cough, Nitroseed, Hollow Leg. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Cary Pierce (Jackopierce). Jammin Java. $20.

• John and Susie Beatty Competition for Classical Guitar. Kennedy Center Millenium Stage. Free.

• Death Row Reunion, One Slack Mind, Acid Queen, Make Like Murder. Jaxx. $17 in advance, $20 day of.

• Japanese Choral Society of Washington. Cherry Blossom Festival. Free.

Sunday

• A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Phil and the Osophers, Faux Slang. DC9. $10. 18+.

• Shemekia Copeland. Wolf Trap. $22.

• Benyaro, Chris Merritt. The Red & The Black. $6.

• Mr. Gnome. IOTA Club & Cafe. $10.

• The Escape Artist, Thought and Memory, Pilot Cloud. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Army of Me (acoustic), Colleen McCarron, Audra Mae. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 day of.

• National Symphony Orchestra. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $20-$85.

• Judge Smith. Cherry Blossom Festival. Free.

Imperial China photo by Abby Bysshe, via MySpace.

Friday

• Salt-N-Pepa. DAR Constitution Hall. $41.50-$70.

• Bellmer Dolls, Monozid, Bootblacks, We Fought The Big One (DJs). The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.

• Tom McBride and the Whig Party. IOTA Club & Cafe. $10.

• Perpetual Groove, Future, Poor Man's Lobster. 9:30 Club. $14.

• Junior League Band, The David Wax Museum, Lightfoot. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10 in advance, $12 at door.

• Stacy Brooks. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Antares. Wolf Trap. $35.

• Nunchucks, The Trillions (Ex Prabir), The Blue Line. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Steve Forbert. Jammin Java. $20.

• Black Lips, Box Elders, The Vermilions. Black Cat mainstage. $13 in advance, $15 day of.

• The Average White Band. Birchmere. $35.

• Kix, ZO2, Baby Jayne. Jaxx. $27 in advance, $30 day of. 21+.

• The Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Kennedy Center Millenium Stage. Free.

Saturday

• Chris Allen. Comet Ping Pong. $8.

• Velvet, Brave, Pseudostate. The Red & The Black. $8.

• Dead Heart Bloom, Aaron Thompson. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.

• Anvil, Misstallica. 9:30 Club. $20.

• Bio Ritmo, Funk Ark, Dende & Hahahaes. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10 in advance, $12 at door.

• Tha' Buds. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Jeri Sager. Wolf Trap. $25.

• Kingsley Flood, Threadbare Orchestra, Tall Tall Trees. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Fruit Bats, Blue Giant, The Singleman Affair. Black Cat mainstage. $12.

• Bonjour, Ganesh!, Milk Machine, Big Chimney. DC9. $8. 18+.

Sunday

• National Philharmonic: All Brahms. Strathmore. $29-$79.

• One For The Team, The Prisms. The Red & The Black. $6. 21+.

• David Ford. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.

• An Evening with Al Petteway and Amy White. Jammin Java. $20.

• Magik Markers, Buildings. Black Cat backstage. $10.

• David Wilcox, Patty Larkin. Birchmere. $35.

• Taking Saturn, A Sound of Thunder, Dance Party Hazard, Misanthrope, The Trouble With Satellites, Upon Disfigurement, Ashes of the Massacre, Radical Element, Silver Cyanide, Deep Down, Seven Days Past, All Out Chaos, The Shadow over Innsmouth, Vile Infection, Bound and Beaten, Once We Were Kids. Jaxx. $10 in advance, $12 day of.

• Barefoot Truth, Color School, Clifton Williams and the Blue Jams Band. DC9. $8. 18+.

For fans of  Latin and Brazilian sounds, Friday and Saturday nights offer a number of appealing choices.  Earlier in the week I highlighted the Monday appearance of Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Alexis y Fido, and now Friday brings another Puerto Rican reggaeton duo, Rakim y Ken-y (also known as  R.K.M. y Keny), who will be at El Boqueron II.  Together since 2004, these two offer a more pop-romantic take on the genre than Alexis y Fido. While Rakim offers standard, speedy Spanish-language rapping, Ken-y sings catchy melodies that are influenced by the lush feel of contemporary bachata and R&B.

The Strathmore has commissioned a different sort of romantic Latin evening. “Danzon” unites the Chicago-based Luna Negra Dance Theater with Cuban composer/saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera and jazz/classical outfit the Turtle Island Quartet. Danzon is an Afro-Cuban couples dance and music form with roots going back hundreds of years. Now considered a slow, classy style of movement to flute, horns, and percussion, this art form was criticized in the early 20th century because the folks dancing to it (occasionally prostitutes and their johns) engaged in  risqué touching and lascivious hip movements to African-derived rhythms. Reviews of earlier performances and a video trailer  of “Danzon” suggest that the program’s choreography will merge aspects of traditional pairs dancing with modern art-rooted theatrical dance techniques. Expect D'Rivera to blow up a storm as accompaniment.

Saturday night brings Puerto Rican salsa singer extraordinaire Victor Manuelle to the Galaxy Night Club in Takoma Park. A leading light of “salsa romantica” in the '90s, Manuelle was big enough just a few years ago to play D.A.R. Constitution Hall. But since the growth of reggaeton, bachata, and Latin pop, Manuelle’s popularity has diminished a bit. Since 2000 he has tried multiple approaches—crossover pop, duets, and old-school salsa—some with greater success than others. Still known for his ability to improvise vocally, this is a good opportunity to listen and dance to him in a room that’s not too large.

Richmond’s Bio Ritmo is headlining a dance party in an even smaller room, the Rock & Roll Hotel. With a great horn section, pianist, and percussionist, they should have folks moving late into the night to their classic salsa dura (hard salsa). Opening for them will be local act Funk Ark, an afrobeat-inspired combo led by keyboardist Will Rast,  and Hãhãhães ( led by Afro-Brazilian percussionist Dendê), who merge Bahian rhythms with Afrobeat and jazz.

Rakim y Ken-Y (Latin pop) perform Friday night 3-19 at El Boqueron II, 1330 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 301-424-0745. $30.

Danzón:  A special tribute to Cuban dance with the Luna Negra Dance Theater, Turtle Island Quartet, and Paquito D'Rivera is on Friday 3-19 at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD. (301) 581-5100. $27 – $67.

Victor Manuelle (salsa singing star) and Zone D’Tambura perform at 10 p.m.  Saturday 3-20 at the Galaxy Nightclub, 2031 University Blvd East, Hyattsville, Maryland, 301.439.6666 Age(s): 21+.  $25.

Bio Ritmo (Richmond salsa), Funk Ark, and Hãhãhães( led by Afro-Brazilian percussionist Dendê) perform Saturday 3-20 at  9:30 pm at the Rock n Roll Hotel, 1353 H Street, NE, Washington, DC USA – (202) 388-ROCK. $10 – 12.

Friday

• Al Green. DAR Constitution Hall. $70.

• Balkan Beat Box, Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew. 9:30 Club. $20.

• Mambo Sauce. Strathmore. $10 in advance, $12 at door.

• Greg Brown, Justin Wilber. Wolf Trap. $30.

• The American Space Cadets, American Speedway, Sin 4 Sin. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.

• Matthew Ryan, Garrison Starr. IOTA Club & Cafe. $15.

• RAMZY, The Method, Bad Rabbits. Rock & Roll Hotel. $10.

• The Big Cheese. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Sing Swan Song, Kuan. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Tyrone Wells, Tony Lucca, Roy Jay. Jammin Java. $15-$22.

• Suckers, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers, Laughing Man. Black Cat mainstage. $12.

• KC Jazz Club: An Evening with Delfeayo Marsalis. Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery. $25.

• Ghost Town, High Off Life. Jaxx. $10 in advance, $12 day of.

Saturday

• STS9, Two Fresh. 9:30 Club. $22.50-$40.

• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Cirque de la Symphonie. Strathmore. $30-$90.

• King Giant, The Resurrection Sorrow, Crimson Electric. The Red and the Black. $8. 21+.

• Rustbuckit, X-MC. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.

• Here We Go Magic, April Smith & Great Picture, Show, Glass Ghost. Rock & Roll Hotel. $10 in advance, $12 day of.

• Crimestoppers. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• The Sounds of Kaleidoscope, Kohoutek, Gondola, Inzinzac. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Girlyman. Jammin Java. $18.

• National Symphony Orchestra. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $20-$80.

• W.A.S.P., Rain, Hate the Toy, After Therapy. Jaxx. $24.99 in advance, $28 day of. 21+.

Sunday

• Signature Sings: 2000-2004: Ladies Choice: Priscilla Cuellar, Lauren Williams, Bligh Voth, Bayla Whitten. Strathmore. $28.

• The Very Best, Ninjasonik, Tabi Bonney. Rock and Roll Hotel. $15.

• Wolf's Blues Jam: Hot Rods and Old Gas, Hot Roddess Lisa Lim. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Kind Nugget, Blvd. B, Tarica June, A.I. Love You. Velvet Lounge. $7. 21+.

• An Evening with Red Molly. Jammin Java. $15.

• The American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.

• Cyberstrike, Spectral Vision, Envy's Eye, We Have the Summer, Tiik with G.U.T.S., The Blackshire, Li[n]es, La Coterie, The Cliched, Borderline. Jaxx. $8 in advance, $10 day of.

• Foreign Born, Free Energy, Clovers. DC9. $12. 18+.

Garrison Starr photo by Jeremy Cowart, via MySpace.

Friday

• Educated Consumers. Strathmore. $10 in advance, $12 at door.

• Big Bang TV, Bridges and Powerlines, The Jet Age. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.

• Taylor Carson, Peter Mulvey. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12.

• Rogue Wave, Avi Buffalo. 9:30 Club. $15.

• Sondre Lerche, JBM. Rock and Roll Hotel. $20.

• Stacy Brooks. Bangbok Blues. Call for price.

• Jon Carroll. Wolf Trap. $22.

• Bellman Barker, The Vermillions, The Armchairs. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Chase Coy, Struan Shields. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 day of.

• The Vita Ruins, Ra Ra Rasputin, Cobra Collective. Black Cat mainstage. $10 in advance, $12 day of.

• Leon Redbone, Brian Wendell Morton. Birchmere. $35.

• Hammerfall, Powerglove, Division, Pariah, Blood Corps. Jaxx. $27.50 in advance, $30 day of, $60 VIP.

• National Symphony Orchestra. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $20-$85.

Saturday

• Aunt Martha, The Last Monarchs, Zach Peterson. The Red & The Black. $6. 21+.

• Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express. IOTA Club & Cafe. $18.

• N2N. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Celtic Crossroads. Wolf Trap. $25.

• Navi, The New Retro, Watusi. Velvet Lounge. $10.

• Bowling for Soup, The Dollyrots, Pessimist Parade. Black Cat mainstage. $13 in advance, $15 day of.

• David Bromberg & The Angel Band. Birchmere. $35.

• Cleveland Institute of Music. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Free.

Sunday

• GoGirlsDC: Mindy Miller, Nila Kay, Carmen Calhoun, Annie Sidley & Mojo Nation. The Red & The Black. $8. 21+.

• Jonny Grave, Brian Franke, Ted Garber, Michael Yugo. IOTA Club & Cafe. $10.

• Wolf's Blues Jam: Hot Rods and Old Gas, Hot Roddess Lisa Lim. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.

• Old Crow, East of the Wall, Goes Cube, Eat People. Velvet Lounge. $8. 21+.

• Billy Woodward and The Senders, The Woodshedders, Chester River Runoff. Jammin Java. $10 in advance, $13 day of.

• Justin Townes Earle, Joe Pug. Birchmere. $22.50.

• Otep, Bury Your Dead, Through the Eyes of the Dead, Destrophy, No Stars Over California, Every One Dies, Salvation Through Struggle. Jaxx. $20 in advance, $23 day of.

• Justin Trawick, Rene Moffatt, Tiffany Thompson, Steph Modder, Ryan Walker, Victoria Vox, Joy Ike, Dan Fisk, Nathan Robinson. DC9. $8. 18+.

Rogue Wave photo by Sterling Andrews, via MySpace.