Saturday, 10/29
Medications, Wilderness;
Black Cat
Led by Devin Ocampo of Smart Went Crazy, Medications just plays straightforward D.C. post-hardcore punk, while Wilderness sounds like XTC on downers or the Cure circa Disintegration. Its self-titled debut this year shows that there’s still fertile soil to mine in those ‘80s bands.
Tuesday, 11/1
Chuck Brown; 9:30 Club
The Godfather of Go-Go once again shows the District where the genre’s potent and peculiarly local mix of funk, soul, hip-hop and Afro-Cuban rhythms came from.
Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke; 9:30 Club
If you miss those hazily remembered teenage years eating gooballs in the Continental Arena parking lot before the Phish concert, come get a dose of Gordon’s dextrous bass-playing in support of Kottke’s incredible folky, acoustic finger-picking skills.
Wednesday, 11/2
Joan Baez; The Birchmere
This ancient matriarch of folk guitar needs no introduction. She’s here Thursday night, too.
Sunday, 11/6
Tom Vek; Black Cat
The blend of dance-punk and lo-fi indie rock on one-man-band Vek’s debut album has been coaxing equally rare adoration and dance moves out of critics; be hipper than hip and check him out before the album comes out (legally) in the States.
Tuesday, 11/8
Super Furry Animals, Caribou; 9:30 Club
The Furries dropped their seventh straight album of addictively weird, Flaming Lips-esque psychedelic rock earlier this fall, and for some reason Americans still haven’t quite caught on. Caribou’s mix of laptop electronica, funky indie rock and hypnotic, minimalist rhythms also makes for a good live show. BYO drugs
War; The Birchmere
If you’re willing to take the hike, the funky stalwarts behind “Low Rider,” “Spill the Wine” and countless other great (if goofy) classic rock anthems are surprisingly still alive and kicking.
Tom Jones; 9:30 Club
This is the show to end all shows on this week’s calendar. The undisputed but aging prince of lounge crooning will make YOU, yes, you, wet your pants. Or something. What’s new, pussycat?
