Tonight’s Pick: Imperial China at Velvet Lounge

Of the three members in Washington, D.C.’s Imperial China, only drummer Patrick Gough can claim to be an ex-member of the early-’90s rock quartet Pitchblende. As a whole, though, Imperial China derives more than its fair share of inspiration from Gough’s critically acclaimed, criminally under-appreciated former band. To describe Matt Johnson’s guitar work as “angular,” Brian Porter’s bass lines as “guttural,” and Gough’s drumming as “propulsive” would be entirely accurate—however, it would also mislead one into thinking that Imperial China is a straight-up rehash of its musical forebears, which is far from the case. From a dynamics perspective, the three instruments constantly change allegiances, occasionally veering off in three different directions at once. But the end result is always cohesive—and, more importantly, contemporary. Imperial China performs with Len Bias, Bound Stems, and Seeing Eyeballs at 10 p.m. at the Velvet Lounge, 915 U St. NW. $8. (202) 462-3213. —Matthew Borlik