Jens Lekman and Patrick Cleandenim – Black Cat; Oct. 25; $15
Still unconvinced that Sweden is cooler than America? Meet Jens Lekman, a 26-year-old Swede who constructs dreamy pop songs for a living. Touring in support of his latest album, Night Falls Over Kortedala, Lekman’s effortless sound and cutesy humor will turn you into an expatriate so fast you won’t have time to say “Take me down to Kokomo, captain.”
Boris and Damon & Naomi w/ Michio Kurihara – Black Cat; Oct. 26; $12
Boris may have softened the edges of their rough-and-tumble sound with Rainbow, a collaboration with legendary psych-rock guitarist Michio Kurihara, but their concerts still pack enough rock-and-roll carnage to be worthy of a Mel Gibson-produced rockumentary. Japan’s reigning lords of metal will be preceded by the delicate beauty of slow-core artists Damon & Naomi, here serving as the melodic calm before the fuzz-drenched storm.
The Tragically Hip – 9:30 Club; Oct. 26; $25
Extremely popular in Canada, the Tragically Hip still seek similar levels of fame in the States. Their rock recipe, which is equal parts rootsy and hard-driving, thrived during the grunge era, but since then they’ve mellowed out and quieted down. They once played a show for Queen Elizabeth II, so don’t expect nerves to be a factor.
New Pornographers – 9:30 Club; Oct. 27; Sold Out
Poptastic Canadian collective the New Pornographers are back in town, this time with a vengeance. Don’t let the slow pace of their latest effort Challengers fool you: this group knows how to get the heads bobbin’ in no time. As an added bonus, Neko Case will accompany the group, a real treat given her busy schedule (no Dan Bejar, unfortunately).
Ravens & Chimes – The Red & the Black; Oct. 28; $8
Yawn, another cadre of NYU art school grads, another upstart indie act, right? Well yes, but Ravens and Chimes have put themselves ahead of the field with debut album Reichenbach Falls, which bounces between close-mic’d intimacy and anthemic indie-pop. Rack up the hipster points now so in five years you can tell your friends, “I saw them back when they were small.” Yeah.
Comedians of Comedy feat. Patton Oswalt – Black Cat; Oct. 29; $20
Often booking shows at small indie rock venues instead of comedy clubs, the Comedians of Comedy are steadily acquiring a cult following. They have their own television show on Comedy Central and once included well-known funnyman Zack Galifianakis. He’s since left the group, and Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille, Zoolander) is now the group’s unquestioned leader.
The Go! Team – 9:30 Club; Oct. 30; $15
Led by a lady rapper named Ninja, The Go! Team mixes cheerleader chants, action theme vibes, horn sections and hip-hop pomp. Their critically acclaimed debut, Thunder, Lightning, Strike, virtually came out of nowhere, but by the time they released follow-up Proof of Youth this year, they were working with the likes of Public Enemy frontman Chuck D. Expect a riveting and energetic live show.
Viva Voce – 9:30 Club; Oct. 30; Sold Out
Italian for “word of mouth,” Viva Voce harnesses a blend of psychedelic dream pop, R&B, post-rock, among other things, ensnaring listeners with their infectious tunes. Husband and wife duo Anita and Kevin Robinson have shared the stage with Indie big names like Spoon and Built to Spill, and their intense, live performances make the 9:30 club next Tuesday “Someplace Worth Being.”
The Warriors-themed costume party w/ the Bravery and Be Your Own Pet – Rock & Roll Hotel; Oct. 31; $12 w/ costume, $15 w/out
Sorry guys, it isn’t R&R’s latest Underwear Party. Still, this Halloween special scores high in creativity and has great music to boot. Sure, the Bravery’s neo-new-wave posturing is pretty lame, but Be Your Own Pet’s juvenile jams pack a punch and a half in about a minute and a half. Dress like a gangster from The Warriors to maximize fun and minimize costs.
Dan Deacon – Hoya Court, Leavey Center; Nov. 2; $5
What do you call a cross between a human and a chimpanzee? A humanzee. A cross between a human and a 1983 Casio keyboard? Dan Deacon. Party with the man-machine himself in Hoya Court while chomping on subs. No joke—Subway will serve the munchies, and Dan will provide the electro-dance fuel for your feet. Georgetown’s own A Born Idler opens.
Band of Horses – 9:30 Club; Nov. 2; $20
Although this year’s Cease to Begin lacks the charm of 2006’s Everything All the Time, Band of Horses still deserve your undivided attention (and money). The group’s pleasant blend of indie-rock and alt-country continues to impress critics and fans alike despite the departure of founding member Mat Brooke in 2006. However, is it possible that the band only gained attention through Internet hype? Band of Horses: “Nay.”
The Thermals – Black Cat; Nov. 3; $13
It takes a lot of guts to make a concept album about fundamentalism these days, and even more to make it a blistering sonic tour-de-force that ranked among the best of 2006. The Thermals play their hearts out live, and their devoted fan base of crazy punk kids guarantees an intense crowd. Also, all three band members—male and female—are totally hot.
Phosphorescent and Bodies of Water – Black Cat backstage; Nov. 5; $10
This Monday, Black Cat patrons face a dilemma: spend $13 to see Rogue Wave upstairs or $10 to witness Phosphorescent and Bodies of Water backstage. The latter show wins out on sheer mathematics: two great acts for (half) the price of one. Bodies of Water cloth their jams with high drama and references to the Good Book, while Phosphorescent’s Matthew Houck dishes out pristine, atmospheric folk.
Menomena – Black Cat; Nov. 6; $12
Though their name sounds like the work of pure childhood whimsy (Sesame Street, perhaps?), Menomena craft indie-rock for the intelligent mind above the age of five. Mechanical precision and anthemic thrust equally define the Portland band’s sound, which pits tinny keyboards against angular shards of guitar.
Venue Information
9:30 Club
815 V St., N.W.
Black Cat
1811 14th St., N.W.
Rock & Roll Hotel
1353 H St., N.E.
The Red & the Black
1212 H St., N.E.
