JAPAN! Culture + Hyperculture – Kennedy Center; Feb. 7-17; Free
A theatre/dance/music/art/poetry/robot extravaganza, this festival celebrating Japan’s “hyperculture” (a mesh of ancient traditions with crazy technological advances) will host 450 artists and 40 performances in the Kennedy Center. Free highlights include bamboo sculptors, polka-dot-covered mixed-media installations by the iconic Yayoi Kusama, a Nintendo-style 8-bit pop music performance by YMCK, and lots of sophisticated robots that fill the stair-climbing and trumpet-playing void in our world (nice, but where’s the one that can write my Spanish paper?). There’s also a range of priced events like Sankai Juku ($15-55), a dance theatre with fascinatingly distorted movements and dramatic staging.
2700 F Street, NW
Sex Workers’ Art Show – The Rock & Roll Hotel; Feb. 7; $15
Don’t be fooled by the title—the Sex Workers’ Art Show doesn’t stop at visual art, but includes a cabaret-like mélange of music, monologues, video and (obviously) stripping. The show began as a grassroots campaign to raise awareness about the creative talents of sex workers, including prostitutes, film stars and phone sex operators. Describing itself as the “New Whore Order” geared towards the “sex nerds” among us, the Art Show promises to share anecdotes of the diverse sex worker experience, while commenting on our conceptions of class, gender, labor and sexuality. But beware, there’s also something called “anal beads made of money” involved.
Barry Manilow – Verizon Center; Feb. 9; starting at $9.99
Barry Manilow has become something of a pop-culture icon today more for his absurd appearance than for his singing ability. After all, his skin is so plastic it probably has a Tupperware seal on it somewhere. But don’t be fooled—the man can still rip through hits like “Mandy,” as the fans who flock to his Las Vegas show can attest.
BJ Novak – GW’s Lisner Auditorium; Feb. 9; $20
You probably know him as Ryan, the temp-turned-ridiculously underqualified VP of Regional Sales from The Office, but BJ Novak also tours with his very own stand-up routine. Although Ryan’s possibly the least-funny office member (what more could you expect from the awkward subject of Michael’s man-crush?), Novak has been a writer for the show since it’s inception and is a high school friend of John Krasinski (The Office’s Jim), so he’s sure to be a hilarious antidote to the current Office drought.
730 21st Street, NW
Liars – 9:30 Club; Feb. 12; $15
Liars hits D.C. as part of their nationwide tour promoting the release of their fourth and arguably best album yet. This dance/punk/experimental/rock trio brings an energy and eccentricity to the stage that will likely leave you feeling strange … in a good way. The show will be beat-through-your-brains loud, but leave the earplugs at home—sacrifice your hearing in the name of a profound musical experience. You won’t regret it.
The Cinema Effect: Illusion, Reality, and the Moving Image – Hirshhorn; Opening Feb. 14; Free
Kerry Brougher, chief curator of the newest Hirshhorn exhibition, reflects on the omnipresence of cinema found everywhere from computer screens to iPods, and decides that “we have no need to enter a movie theater to escape into an illusory world; life itself is just like a movie.” Artists turned this idea into moving-image works that explore the distinction between illusion and reality using techniques from news broadcasts, surveillance footage, feature films and reality TV, among others. This is an unprecedented look at contemporary moving images, and your first chance to see an animated interpretation of the O.J. trial.
Independence Avenue at Seventh Street SW
Bon Iver – Rock & Roll Hotel; Feb. 19; $12
Bon Iver, aka Justin Vernon, is a folk singer/songwriter who improbably manages to inject a little neo-soul into his tunes. His 2007 debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, was recorded in solitude in a remote Wisconsin cabin, and it drew wide praise for its fragile beauty. Vernon’s vocals are frequently compared to those of Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio.
Spice Girls – Verizon Center; Feb. 21; starting at $72.50
Who doesn’t miss 1996? After a six-year hiatus, the Spice Girls are back, with a few babies in tow. The UK’s Daily Mirror raves “If you see the show and don’t love every single second, check your pulse please because you might actually be dead.” Indulge in the glory days of elementary school. You can even enter to win an autographed Spice Girls headrest from their tour plane.
Daniel Johnston – Black Cat; Feb. 23; $20
Daniel Johnston may be 47 years old and live in a house adjacent to his parents’ home in Waller, Texas, but don’t let that deter you from seeing him live. His performances are noted for their emotional immediacy and his songs are both wonderfully childlike and inflicted with a dark, somber mood. Kurt Cobain was an especially big fan.
Wilco – 9:30 Club; Feb. 26 and 27; Sold Out
Wilco’s latest record, Sky Blue Sky, wasn’t universally acclaimed in critical circles, but its potential as a live album was acknowledged by almost everyone who reviewed it. Wilco’s current tour will focus on the record’s more laid-back jams, which features the exquisite soloing talents of new Wilco guitarist Nels Cline. The show quickly sold out but you can pick up an astronomically priced ticket on eBay.
Via Audio – Mitchell Hall Theatre; Feb. 29; Free
With the release of their first full-length album Say Something (2007), Via Audio puts forward a charming indie juxtaposition of poppy beats and mellow tones. Their sweet duets and catchy rhythm will make for a chill and enjoyable show. A Friday night of live music by solid performers with free admission—the perfect recipe for celebrating the onset of your spring break freedom.
514 19th Street, NW
Concert Venue Information
9:30 Club
815 V St., NW
Black Cat
1811 14th St., NW
Rock & Roll Hotel
1353 H St., NE
The Red & the Black
1212 H St., NE
Verizon Center
601 F St., NW
