Music - D.C. Shows and Reviews - Washington City Paper

One Track Mind: Spelling for Bees

This Week: Spelling for Bees' "Love at First Sight"

Music By Jonathan L. Fischer

Reviewed: Weezer's Raditude
Rivers Cuomo's youth movement
Music Review By Marc Hirsh

Reviewed: Supersilent's 9
The Norweigan struggles to make sense of its new configuration
Music Review By Brent Burton

Architect of the Capital: Wale's Attention Deficit
Wale helps put D.C. hip-hop on the map, but loses himself
Music Review By Ben Westhoff

Reviewed: Ariadne auf Naxos
At the Washington National Opera, a Strauss gem about the limits of tragedy.
Opera By Ted Scheinman

One Track Mind: Matthew Hemerlein
This Week: Matthew Hemerlein's "Silver
Music By Sadie Dingfelder

One Track Mind: Matta Gawa
This Week: Matta Gawa's "Home Soda Gifts!"
Music By Aaron Leitko

Reviewed: The Slits' Trapped Animal
The Slits fail to produce an instant hit
Music Review By Mike Kanin

Reviewed: The Swell Season's Strict Joy
The Swell Season delivers once more
Music Review By Marc Hirsh

Reviewed: Do Make Say Think's Other Truths
The awful truth about Other Truths
Music Review By Brandon Wu

One Track Mind: Tennis System
This Week: Tennis System's "Esoteric"
Music By Aaron Leitko

One Track Mind: Miss Jay
This Week: Miss Jay's "Sober"
Music By Sarah Godfrey

Reviewed: Shrinebuilder's Shrinebuilder
The self-titled debut from Wino and Co.
Music Review By Brent Burton

One Track Mind: Nine Strings + Pilesar
This Week: Nine Strings + Pilesar's "An Opening Profile Part One"
Music By Aaron Leitko

Reviewed: Baroness' Blue Record
Baroness has fun with colors
Music Review By Brent Burton

Reviewed: Vijay Iyer Trio's Historicity
Iyer's musical trip through time includes M.I.A. and Leonard Bernstein
Music Review By Michael J. West

Reviewed: Baroness' Blue Record
Reviewed: Baroness' Blue Record
Music Review By Brent Burton

Beat Streak: Om's "God Is Good"
Om's new drummer keeps pace on "God Is Good"
Music Review By Brandon Wu

One Track Mind: Last Tide
This Week: Last Tide's "A Traitor in My Mind"
Music By Jonathan L. Fischer

Safety in Numbers
In a grab for sales, Lil Boosie abandons his mixtape swagger
Music Review By Ben Westhoff

One Track Mind: Aaron Thompson
This Week: Aaron Thompson's "Vals"
Music By Aaron Leitko

Same As It Never Was: Polvo's In Prism
A reunited Polvo is still making music under the radar
Music Review By Brent Burton

Peak Performance: Patty Loveless' Mountain Soul II
Patty Loveless' voice is a revelation, even when her ideas are rehash
Music Review By Marc Hirsh

One Track Mind: Dennis Kane
This Week: Dennis Kane's "What Can Never Slip Away"
Music By Aaron Leitko

Imperfect Strangers: Alberta Cross' Broken Side of Time
The Brits of Alberta Cross move to a joyless city, record a joyless album
Music Review By Steve Kolowich

One Track Mind: Roofwalkers
This Week: Roofwalkers' "To the Quick"
Music By Aaron Leitko

Crisis Inverted: Vivian Girls' Everything Goes Wrong
Vivian Girls turns its troubles into sonic gold
Music Review By Mike Kanin

One Track Mind: Jukebox Serenade
This Week: Jukebox Serenade's "Crazy Completely"
Music By Sadie Dingfelder

Breath Analyzer: Gretchen's Parlato's In a Dream
Singer Gretchen Parlato makes every gasp and exhale count
Music Review By Michael J. West

Try Again: Big Star's Keep an Eye on the Sky
Big Star's box set is just more of the same old thing
Music Review By Marc Hirsh

Attention Headache
Joe Budden may outshine Slaughterhouse, but he underperforms on the group's debut.
Music Review By Ben Westhoff

One Track Mind: The Aquarium
This Week: The Aquarium's "Performer"
Music By Jonathan L. Fischer

Burying the Tradition: John Surman's Brewster's Rooster
British saxophonist John Surman plays fast and loose with jazz convention.
Music Review By Brent Burton

One Track Mind: The Low End String Quartet
This Week: The Low End String Quartet's "Paintbrush"
Music By Aaron Leitko

Reviewed: Savoir Amore's In the Wooded Forest
Savoir Amore's lovely timber
Music Review By Ben Westhoff

Rogue State: High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project and I’m Going Down to North Carolina
New releases pay tribute to North Carolina outlaw musicians Charlie Poole and the Red Fox Chasers
Music Review By David Dunlap Jr.

One Track Mind: JLaine
This Week: JLaine's "It's Over"
Music By Sarah Godfrey

One Track Mind: The Al Green Project
This Week: The Al Green Project's "Grits"
Music By Sarah Godfrey

Wizz Kids: Pissed Jeans' King of Jeans
Pissed Jeans adds a sprinkling of swagger to its latest
Music Review By David Dunlap Jr.

2008 Music and Arts In Review

Music Finder

Submit your event to the City Paper's Event Calendar.

Jeanne-Claude and Christo’s Work Will Continue
Nov. 20, 2009, at 2:57 pm
These United States Go 90s In New Video
Nov. 20, 2009, at 1:59 pm
In Theaters This Week
Nov. 20, 2009, at 12:21 pm
Arts Morning Roundup: Will Jeff Bridges Let Us Down Again?
Nov. 20, 2009, at 11:33 am

CP Music Picks

The Wrens at the Black Cat
Friday, November 20
The Wrens have been through a lot since rolling out of New Jersey 20 years ago. They were fired from an early residency as the house band for the ferry between Cape May, N.J.,/Lewes, Del., after...
The Vienna Chamber Orchestra at the Strathmore
Sunday, November 22
If you wrote 106 books over your career, most of them would be forgotten, even suck. And if you wrote 106 symphonies in your career, most of them, too, would be forgotten. Not so with Franz Joseph...
Eyedea & Abilities at the Rock & Roll Hotel
Tuesday, November 24
Stocked with the distinct brand of emo-kid rhymes and distorted guitars made popular by Def Jux rappers Cage Kennylz and El-P, By the Throat, the third full release from Rhymesayers duo Eyedea &...

Music Calendar: This Week in Rock

Fri. Nov. 20, 2009 - Thu. Nov. 26, 2009

Concerts

Daughtry
Featuring Theory of a Deadman and Cavo.
George Mason University Patriot Center,, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA. at 7 p.m., Thu., 11/19, $32.50–$42.50 (703) 993-3000
Jean-Luc Ponty
A classicist with an edge, this inventive artist revolutionized the violin's role in jazz and has collaborated with Elton John and Frank Zappa. With special guest Clara Ponty.
The Barns at Wolf Trap,, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. at 8 p.m., Fri., 11/20, $35 (877) 965-3872
Reliant K
With B. Reith, Stephanie Smith, and tobyMac.
George Mason University Patriot Center,, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA. at 7 p.m., Sat., 11/21, $25–$50 (703) 993-3000
Robbie Schaefer
Famed guitarist and songwriter from folk-rock band Eddie From Ohio, Schaefer entertains audiences with an energetic warmth and honesty in his music. With special guest Lucy Wainwright Roche.
The Barns at Wolf Trap,, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. at 8 p.m., Thu., 11/19, $18 (877) 965-3872
Steely Dan
DAR Constitution Hall,, 1776 D St. NW. at 8 p.m., Sun., 11/22, and Mon., 11/23, Call for price. (202) 628-1776

Clubs

BIRCHMERE
Thu., 11/19, Delbert McClinton with The Steve Bassett Band. Fri., 11/20, Kate Clinton. Sat., 11/21, The Del McCoury Band. Sun., 11/22, Jeffrey Osborne. Wed., 11/25, Tommy Castro & Coco Montoya.
3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. (703) 549-7500.
BLACK CAT MAINSTAGE
Thu., 11/19, Bishop Allen, Throw Me the Statue, Darwin Deez. Fri., 11/20, The Wrens (see page TK), Poor But Sexy.
1811 14th St. NW. (202) 667-4490.
BLACK CAT BACKSTAGE
Sun., 11/22, The Black Fortys, Goldspot. Mon., 11/23, Cub Country (ex-Jets to Brazil), Velvet. Wed., 11/25, Midnight Kids, the Cheniers.
1811 14th St. NW. (202) 667-4490.
CHIEF IKE'S MAMBO ROOM
Tuesdays, Conductor Pablo's Reggae Sweatshop. Wednesdays, "Locals Only" Live Music Showcase. Thursdays, "Mutiny."
1725 Columbia Road NW. (202) 332-2211.
COMET PING PONG
Sat., 11/21, The Jet Age Record Release Party w/ Petworth.
5037 Connecticut Ave. NW. (202) 364-0404.
DC9
Thu., 11/19, Hoots & Hellmouth, Milkmachine. Sat., 11/21, Shuttle, Outputmessage, Phil Real, See Him, Soohan. Sun., 11/22, Heavy Trash, Elliott Brood. Wed., 11/25, Free Energy, Radio Fatale.
1940 9th St. NW. (202) 483-5000.
EBENEZERS COFFEEHOUSE
Fri., 11/20, Molly Hagen, Ryan Brogan, Monty Wells.
201 F St. NE. (202) 558-6900.
FLANAGAN'S HARP & FIDDLE
Fri., 11/27, Sean Chyun and the Decivers.
4844 Cordell Ave., Bethesda. (301) 951-0115.
GALAXY HUT
Sun., 11/22, Quadruplestop (rock cello quartet), Lucia Lucia, We All Inherit the Moon. Mon., 11/23, We All Have Hooks for Hands, Sacred Harp.
2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. (703) 525-8646.
IOTA CLUB & CAFE
Thu., 11/19, Chuck Prophet, Timber Timbre. Fri., 11/20, The Reserves, the Walkaways, Melissa Branin. Sat., 11/21, The Reserves, No Second Troy, Joe Rathbone. Sun., 11/22, Chris Knight, Milton. Tue., 11/24, Ryan Montbleau Band, Nathan Moore.
2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. (703) 522-8340.
JAMMIN' JAVA
Thu., 11/19, Joe Purdy, Julie Peel. Fri., 11/20, Grant Lee Phillips, Winterpills, Passafire, MOJO. Sat., 11/21, Robbie Fulks, Drumfish. Sun., 11/22, Tracy Grammer, Pierce Pettis. Mon., 11/23, Push Play, Emily Osment, Phil Bensen. Tue., 11/24, The Dangerous Summer, Mercy Mercedes, Single File, Count Your Blessings.
227 Maple Ave. East, Vienna. (703) 255-1566.
JAXX
Fri., 11/20, GI9, Unskilled Professionalz, Pieces of Man, Radamanthys, Kellyn Ashpole / PMO, Undercurrent. Sat., 11/21, Fireworks, The Wonder Years, Memorial Show for Andrew Simmons. Wed., 11/25, Veil of Maya, Animals As Leaders, Escape Takes the Lead, Ends in Blood, Salvation Through Struggle.
6355 Rolling Road, West Springfield. (703) 569-5940.
MCGINTY'S PUB
Thu., 11/19, Johnny Graves. Fri., 11/20, Live Action Hero. Sat., 11/21, The Karma Issue. Wed., 11/25, Damian Grasso. Fri., 11/27, Jeff Miller.
911 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring. (301) 587-1270.
9:30 CLUB
Thu., 11/19, The Jesus Lizard w/ Noveller. Fri., 11/20, Dance Rawr Dance III featuring Family Force 5 w/ Valencia, Young and Divine. Fri., 11/20, & Sat., 11/21, Umphrey's McGee. Sun., 11/22, Skinny Puppy w/ Vverevvolf Grehv. Mon., 11/23, Bebel Gilberto. Wed., 11/25, Devendra Banhart and the Grogs. Fri., 11/27, The Mountain Goats w/ Final Fantasy.
815 V St. NW. (202) 265-0930.
RED & THE BLACK
Thu., 11/19, Kate Havnevik. Fri., 11/20, The Sometimes Favorite, Peanut Butter and Dave. Sat., 11/21, Aunt Martha, The Wayfarers. Mon., 11/23, Pariah Piranha, CTC, Emily Pakes. Fri., 11/27, Miseuphoria, Grendel Babies.
1212 H St. NE. (202) 399-3201.
ROCK & ROLL HOTEL
Thu., 11/19, Stellastarr, Drink Up Buttercup, Casper Bangs. Fri., 11/20, Melt Banana, The Deserts Of Maine, Sugar Dunes, Abiku. Wed., 11/25, Themselves, Eyedea & Abilities (see page TK), Educated Consumers. Fri., 11/27, Loose Lips, Typefighter, The Maida Vale, Lightfoot.
1353 H St. NE. (202) 388-7625.
SALOUN
Tuesdays, The Unforgiven Band.
3239 M St. NW. (202) 965-4900.
STATE THEATRE
Thu., 11/19, Amanda Palmer. Fri., 11/20, The Legwarmers. Fri., 11/27, The Nighthawks plus Bobby Radcliff.
220 N. Washington St., Falls Church. (703) 237-0300.
VELVET LOUNGE
Thu., 11/19, Mas y Mas, New Rock Church of Fire, Pretty Rude. Fri., 11/20, The Numbers Band (legendary Cleveland art-punk ensemble from the '70s, first DC show ever!), Kohoutek. Sat., 11/21, Puma Libre, Girl Loves Distortion, Noon 30. Tue., 11/24, Ambition Burning, Admiral Browning, Across Tundras, Akris.
915 U St. NW. (202) 462-7625.
WONDERLAND BALLROOM
Sundays, Jantz and Friends.
1101 Kenyon St. NW. (202) 232-5263.