If U.K. punk O.G.s The Mekons seemed to be running out of ideas in recent years—they rerecorded their earliest anthems (Punk Rock) and released an all-acoustic album (Natural)—Ancient & Modern 1911-2011 is a pleasant return to form. Which is to say it’s a welcome about-face, another 180 from a band that’s mostly made a career of them. But instead of exploring a single new idea, Ancient & Modern finds a litany of fresh directions within The Mekons’ twisted cowpunk rubric. “Space in Your Face” is the kind of valedictory fist-pumper Alejandro Escovedo might bring to Bruce Springsteen for a collaboration. “Calling All Demons” is a backwoods banger, all bravery and whiskey. “Geeshie” is straight outta Tin Pan Alley. Weirdly, the gruffer Jon Langford sings, the more he sounds like Joe Strummer, the late Clash frontman whose “White Riot” inspired the 1978 Mekons spoof “Never Been in a Riot.” How’s that for longevity? The Mekons play an acoustic show with Chris Mills at 8 p.m. at Iota Club and Café, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. $16.

MUSIC

Palatably destructive New Jersey punks Screaming Females are at the Black Cat with Underground Railroad to Candyland. $12. 8 p.m.

The Funk Ark plays around town all the time, but the Afrobeat-revival band's gig tonight is special: The ensemble from the musical Fela, currently on stage at the Harman Center, will play a set. 8:30 p.m. at Rock & Roll Hotel. $10.

Steve Kiviat says you should not miss tonight's Maracuyeah dance party at Napoleon, feauring a live set from Colombian cumbia DJ/singer Pernett. 10 p.m. $5.

THEATER/DANCE/FILM

Norman is a tribute by the Montreal-based directors Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon to Norman McLaren, the groundbreaking animator and filmmaker. The show involves a dancer, Peter Trosztmer, interacting with holographic shapes and characters. 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center. $30-$50.

ART

At 6:30 p.m. at the Mexican Cultural Institute, Alex Webb discusses his photographs of the U.S./Mexican border.

• Joey Cape (Lagwagon), Jon Snodgrass (Drag the River), Chad Rex. Black Cat Backstage. $10. All ages.
• Sol Blues. Bangkok Blues. $5.
• Yazarah. Blues Alley. $20. All ages.
• Noon:30, The Press, Achtung Panda. DC9. $8. +21.
• Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Free.
• Bob Perilla and the Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band (Every Wednesday). Madam’s Organ.
• 18th St. Singers. Mansion at Strathmore. $15.
• Edward J. Ricart (Guitar). Twins Jazz. Call for price. +21.
• Liechtenstein, Sundress. Velvet Lounge. $8. +18.
• Sinem Saniye, Ilhan Ozulu. The Red & The Black. $6. +21.
• Another Empty Box w/ Jongol and Super Bon Bon. Wonderland Ballroom. Call for price.
• Videohippos, Screaming Females, Eubonics. Big Bear Cafe.
• Birdman, My Favorite Dress w/ DJs Kathryn Wildt & the Holiday Girl, Casper Bangs. Cafe Saint Ex.

Photo of The Press via MySpace.

With the 2008 release of Ice Cream Spiritual!, Ponytail experienced a textbook case of Web-launched ascendancy: They've gotten plugs everywhere. But singer Molly Siegel's erratic pulsations and escapist chanting make the Baltimore foursome bigger than the Stereogum hype.

Along with drummer Jeremy Hyman's roto tom lightening speed shredding and the crafty, conversant guitar work of both Dustin Wong and Ken Seeno, Ponytail brought curious back-of-the-crowd dwellers up front and moved the Tenleytown spiritual basement to cathartic gyrations.

The no-stage floor setup was a good fit for Siegel, as she pushed through the arm-to-arm crowd and grabbed on to kids in the front row, almost as if she were christening them.

The songs transitioned with bouts of dizzying guitar loops and crescendoing delay bleeps. Siegel was laconic when she wasn't singing, saving her weeping/screaming non sequiturs for Ponytail's anthems.

The set was a part of American University's Capitol Punishment series, a semester-long group of free shows orchestrated by AU's student-run radio station, WVAU.

D.C.'s Mittenfields opened the night with Radiohead-influenced indie alt-pop (including a cover of "Bones") and the Screaming Females turned up the volume with one screaming female's howling vibrato and classic rock soloing. Instrumentally, the trio's stoner bass trilling and slow tempo pacing draws from late '60s Black Sabbath projects, but they break out of low-tempo with high-energy, in-your-face riot girl/poppy punk rock hooks. The band is currently on tour backing new LP, Power Move, and in May they'll play Big Bear Cafe.

Photos by Andrew Merrill

Critics have praised the Baltimore-based quartet's live show, most recently at SXSW 2009. Vocalist Molly Siegel's chords pack a primal punch that belies her pixie frame, and when backed by Ken Seeno and Dustin Wong's frenetic fret work and Jeremy Hyman's relentless assault on the skins, the result is a Dionysian dance-off. Suffice to say, you'll get your money's worth–and then some.

The show is the sixth of its kind organized by the student-run internet radio station in an effort to bolster AU's presence–and that of independent bands–in D.C.'s musical milieu. Past line-ups have included True Womanhood, These United States and The Subjects.

Saturday, March 28. Kay Spiritual Life Center at American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Metro: Tenleytown-AU. Doors open 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Open to the public, all ages.

*Photo by Frank Hamilton