Jesy Fortino's bandonym, Tiny Vipers, is somewhat incongruous with her music, which gets into your blood not through swift, piercing fangs but soft, silent osmosis, and arrests your nerves not with the violent invasion of venom but the gentle insidiousness of carbon monoxide.

Fortino, of Seattle, writes small music for big spaces: Her 2007 debut album, Hands Across the Void, was a collection of solemn dispatches into the vast hollow of humanity. In her new album, Life on Earth–which is due out on July 7–Tiny Vipers continues to confront daunting expanses armed with minimalist acoustic compositions. Fortino's voice is somnolent and sweet, but as lullabies her songs are likely to bring about restless sleep. One is tempted to draw a parallel with Nick Drake, but Fortino's music is far more ominous, which is saying something. She deals in minor chords, deliberate picking, and grim assessments of the human condition that capture your attention not because they are catchy, but because they are bewitching.

If you make it to The Red and The Black tonight, don't expect toe-tapping folk rhythms. But just because Fortino's fangs don't take the shape of infectious hooks doesn't mean Tiny Vipers won't get under your skin.

TINY VIPERS, BALMORHEA, ARGOS @ THE RED AND THE BLACK, 1212 H ST. NW, 9 P.M. $8

• Never Too Late, Crimestoppers. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• Hermans Hermits featuring Peter Noone. Birchmere. $45.
• Pat Martino Trio (June 26-28). Blues Alley. $32.50.
• Ozric Tentacles. The State Theatre. $20.
• Anthony Nelson (second performance on June 27). Twins Jazz. $15.
• Sunsets with a Soundtrack: The U.S. Army Blues Band performs an Evening of Latin Jazz. West Steps U.S. Capitol. Free.
• Hot Coffee, Mississippi, The Convertible Jennifers, The Long Time Darlings. The Red & The  Black. $8. +21.
• Who's Bad Michael Jackson Tribute Band. 9:30 club. $15. All ages.
• Doris Justis, The Cold June Tomorrows, Colin Jenkins, h double, Flo Anito, Riots On U, Wesley Gentle, Paper Ship Armada, The Yawns, Pup Tent, Jay Paslay, Miss Jess, Reversal, Space Tigers, WATERPLANET, David Correy. Artomatic. Free, donations accepted. Check out WCP's Artomatic Manual for more info.

Saturday

• Femi Kuti & The Positive Force. 9:30 club. $27.50. All ages.
• The Big Cheese, Big Tow. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• The Seldom Scene, The Dillards. Birchmere. $25.
• The Lemonheads, Appomattox, Title Tracks. Black Cat. $15. All ages.
• Del Ray Music Festival. Mt. Vernon Recreation Center. Free.
• Buddham Sharanam Gachaami: “Celebrating Lord Vishnu and the Path of Peace.” Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. $40–$75.
• The Washington Korean Symphony Orchestra: Jeong-Won Suh, piano. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. $35.
• Lode Runner, Wild Fictions, Ribbons. Velvet Lounge. $8. +21.
• Dogs Without Boarders, Eagle and Talon. The Red & The Black. $8. +21.
• Nick, Solograph, Ember, Music Temple, Matt Ambrosio, Someone Special, Latricia Lee, Rob Martino, Andrea Zarkauskas, Treevibes, The Galt Line, James Stephen Terrell, Eubonics, Long Walks On The Beach. Artomatic. Free, donations accepted.

Sunday

• Blues Jam with the Idle Americans. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• The Soul Sista Summit: Conya Doss, SY Smith, Maya Azucena, M.C. YahZarah. Birchmere. $29.50.
• The Shondes, The Bitter Tears. Black Cat Backstage. $10. All Ages.
• Team B, New Numbers, Evan Voytas. DC9. $8. +18.
• The Kennedy Center Chamber Players. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. $35.
• 311, Ziggy Marley, The Expendables. Nissan Pavilion. $30-$45.
• The Church, Adam Franklin, Bolts of Melody. The State Theatre. $25.
• Sugarplums, Puffy Areolas, Nun Party, Secret Pop Band. Velvet Lounge. $8. +18.
• Tiny Vipers, Balmorhea, Argos. The Red & The Black. $8. +21.
• Daniel Gage, Organize, ALONA, SAW Showcase, Iritis, Copper Rose & Bone, Y. Misdaq aka Yoshi, Storm The Unpredictable, The Mesmers, Walker & Red, Moon Pie, Sweet Interference. Artomatic. Free, donations accepted.

Photo of Femi Kuti via MySpace.