THE WEEK AHEAD 5/5

Live

Monday I think you should go to this because this band says what the darkest, deepest reaches of your brain are thinking: Margot & the Nuclear So & So's w/ Empires and Kate Myers, Rock & Roll Hotel, 7 p.m. doors, $15

Avant-garde folk: The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger w/ Jeffrey Lewis, U Street Music Hall, 7 p.m., $15

Alt-rock/post-punk: The Dead Women and Nice Breeze, Galaxy Hut, 9 p.m., $5

Metal DJ night (yup): Heavy Metal Mondays, Satellite Room, 9 p.m., FREE

R&B with an electronic touch: Jessy Lanza w/ Ricky Eat Acid, Black Cat backstage, 8 p.m. doors, $12

In which the frontman of Foo Fighters hosts a party: Big Tony's Birthday Celebration hosted by Dave Grohl ft. Trouble Funk + more, 9:30 Club, 8 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Tuesday Folk takes a synth turn: Wye Oak w/ Braids, 9:30 Club, 7 p.m. doors, $22

Garage rock: Leopold and His Fiction w/ Sunwolf, DC9, 8:30 p.m. doors, $10

Wednesday I think you should go to this because you should get into post-rock: Mogwai w/ Majeure, 9:30 Club, 10 p.m., $25

Or this, because there are some killer tracks on his debut: SOHN w/ Mr. Little Jeans, Rock & Roll Hotel, 7 p.m. doors, $13

Indietronica: Jumpcuts w/ WhoaBear and Maryjo Mattea, Velvet Lounge, 7:30 p.m. doors, $8 DOS

Mostly local guitar-driven folk: Marisa Anderson, Marian McLaughlin, and Alex Tebeleff, Bathtub Republic (3119 11th St. NW), 7:30 p.m., donations por favor

British alt-rock: Blood Red Shoes w/ Radkey, DC9, 8:30 p.m. doors, $12

Rock with an Americana flare: Animal Years w/ Wild Adriatic and The Higher Concept, Black Cat backstage, 8 p.m. doors, $10

Folk: Stu Larsen w/ Adam Burrows, U Street Music Hall, 7 p.m., $15

Israeli songstress: NOA, Howard Theatre, 6 p.m. doors, $25-$45

Sold-out soft rock: HAIM w/ Shy Girls (Wednesday and Thursday), 9:30 Club, 6/7 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Thursday HOLY SHIT GO TO THIS ALL OF YOU: The Dillinger Escape Plan w/ Tera Melos, Vattnet Viskar, and Black Clouds, Rock & Roll Hotel, 6:30 p.m. doors, $10 DOS

Or go to this if you prefer synthpop to metal: Haerts w/ X Ambassadors, U Street Music Hall, 8 p.m., $12 ADV/$15 DOS

The French Elvis, basically: Jonny Hallyday, Lincoln Theatre, 6:30 p.m. doors, $55

Indie/acoustic: Matt Pryor (of The Get Up Kids) w/ Blue of Colors and Wanted Man, DC9, 7:30 p.m. doors, $12

Dance, Dance

Monday Latin reggae + cantina opening + Cinco De Mayo: KICKOMAN, Impala Cantina (1358 H St. NE), 7 p.m., FREE

As always: S.I.N. (Service Industry Night) ft. DJ Earic Patten, DC9, 8 p.m., $5 (FREE before 10)

Wednesday Alt-80s dance night: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Little Miss Whiskey's, 9 p.m., FREE

JUST ANNOUNCED FROM 9:30/I.M.P.

Thursday, June 5: Washed Out w/ Wunder Wunder @ 9:30 (chill/trip-hop)

Tuesday, June 10: People Under the Stairs @ UHall (hip-hop)

Saturday, June 14: tUnE-yArDs w/ Sylvan Esso @ 9:30 (second night added)

Saturday, June 28: No Scrubs ft. DJs Will Eastman and Brian Billion @ 9:30 ('90s dance party)

Thursday, July 24: Flume @ 9:30 (venue change; was at UHall)

Friday, July 25: The Antlers @ 9:30 (lush indie rock)

Sept. 29: Bryan Ferry @ Lincoln (second night added)

WEEKEND PLANNER 5/2

In which I don't even try to list all of the cool stuff happening for Funk Parade. Check it out via DCist. AGAIN: FUNK PARADE SHOWS ARE NOT LISTED BELOW BECAUSE THIS POST WOULD BE FIVE MILES LONG. 

Live

Friday Aimee Mann and Ted Leo got together and made: The Both w/ Nick Diamonds of Islands, 9:30 Club, 8 p.m. doors, $20

Dreamy synthpop: Broods w/ Meg Myers, U Street Music Hall, 7 p.m., $15

Eleven gongs on one stage (seriously): Nakatani Gong Orchestra, Back Alley Theater, 7 p.m. doors, $10 ADV/$12 DOS

This is pretty fucking amazing if you think about it: Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Artisphere, 8 p.m., $25

Local groove rock: Spanish Noir w/ Round About and South Rail, Velvet Lounge, 9 p.m. doors, $8 DOS

Garage rock: The Whigs w/ Nikki Lane, Rock & Roll Hotel, 8 p.m. doors, $15

Retro indie rock: Smartbomb w/ Erik Weinberg, IOTA Club, 9 p.m., $12

Indie pop: Bad Veins w/ Ghost Hotel, DC9, 6:30 p.m. doors, $10

Saturday Local garage/fuzz pop: Typefighter w/ Shark Week, Sunset Guns, and Teen Mom, Rock & Roll Hotel, 7 p.m. doors, $12

Indie rock: Matt Pond PA w/ The Lighthouse & The Whaler and Dot Dash, Black Cat mainstage, 9 p.m. doors, $15

More indie rock, but from Canada: The New Mendicants w/ Skylar Gudasz, IOTA Club, 9 p.m., $15

Rootsy folk: Sean Hayes w/ Deer Creek, Sixth & I, 7 p.m. doors, $18 ADV/$20 DOS

A Tool tribute show: Wild Eyes w/ Cyrenic, Scott Lester and What Army and others, Fillmore Silver Spring, 7:15 p.m., $10

Local blues and roots rock: Stereosleep w/ Big Country Express and Jackknife Sympathy, Velvet Lounge, 9 p.m. doors, $8 DOS

Funky stuff off of U Street: Redline Graffiti, Go Cozy, and DJ AYESCOLD, Union Arts, 8 p.m., $15

RiYL festivals and radio music: DC 101 Kerfuffle ft. 311, SOJA, Cage the Elephant, and others, Merriweather Post Pavilion, 1:30 p.m., $40-$75

Both nights of this sold out very quickly: Nickel Creek w/ The Secret Sisters (Saturday and Sunday), 9:30 Club, 8/7 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Sunday Local chamber pop and rock: Teething Veils, Frankie & Betty, and The Red Fetish, The Pinch, 4 p.m., $6 DOS

Women for women: We Rock So Girls Rock! ft. lots of female artists, U Street Music Hall, 6 p.m., $20 ADV/$25 DOS

Touring againnnnnn: A Minor Forest w/ Two Inch Astronaut (math rock/loud), DC9, 8:30 p.m. doors, $14

Psych and noise: Kohoutek w/ Taiwan Housing Project and Tulsa, Velvet Lounge, 7:30 p.m. doors, $8 DOS

Heavy metal: Black Label Society w/ Devil You Know and Down, Fillmore Silver Spring, 7:30 p.m., $35

Doom/stoner metal: Floor w/ Hot Victory and Darsombra, Rock & Roll Hotel, 7 p.m. doors, $14

Experimental jazz: Trio OOO and Andrew Barker/Michael Foster Duo, CD Cellar, 4 p.m., $8 suggested donation

Prog rock/groove: Happy Body Slow Brain, Gavin Castleton, Exit Salida, and No Stranger, Tree House Lounge, 7 p.m., $8 DOS

British singer/songwriter: David Ford w/ Jarrod Dickenson, IOTA Club, 8 p.m., $15

Dance, Dance

Friday Techno: Divergence ft. Symmetrical, Darius Twin, and DJ Octane, Backbar, 11 p.m., $5

Funk-influenced techno: Sety w/ DAVI and Raffi, Flash, 10 p.m., $12 (FREE before 11)

Eastern music to get you moving: OTTOMANIA ft. DJ BEATrix, Inda Nile, and DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid, Zeba Bar, 10 p.m., FREE

Groovy deep house: Walker & Royce w/ Alamont, Charles Martin, and Jus Nowhere, U Street Music Hall, 10 p.m., $10 (FREE before midnight for 21+)

Grooves of the Latin variety: Bio Ritmo w/ DJ Crown Vic, Tropicalia, 8 p.m. doors, $10 DOS

'80s and '90s jams: Tainted Love, Dunya, 9 p.m., FREE

Party party party: CLSTRFCK ft. DJs BillyDoll and LanceDontDance, Rock & Roll Hotel (2nd floor), 9:30 p.m., FREE

Saturday House from Germany: Tensnake w/ Ray Casil and Man & Woman, U Street Music Hall, 10 p.m., $10 (FREE before 11 for 21+)

Trap/moombah/heavy bass: Backbar (Trapped in the Basement) ft. Dopethrown, DJ Syck Turtle, and Daed Digital, Backbar, 11 p.m., $5

A no-pants, Kentucky Derby-themed dance party: Pants Off Dance Off ft. DJs Shea Van Horn and Devon Trotter, DC9, 11 p.m., $5

Big deal at the backstage: Rich Morel's Hot Sauce, Black Cat backstage, 10 p.m., $8 DOS

M.I.A. collaborator and club wizard: BLAQSTARR w/ Ozker, Mista Selecta, and Shawn Smallwood, The Lodge at Red Rocks, 9 p.m., FREE

Club night: Pop Off ft. Micah Vellian, Rock & Roll Hotel (2nd floor), 8:30 p.m., FREE

Straight from Amsterdam: Dance Spirit, Nuno Dos Santos, Justin Bright, and Edo, Flash, 10 p.m., $8

As always: DJs Rex Riot and Basscamp, Rock & Roll Hotel, 11:30 p.m., FREE

JUST ANNOUNCED FROM ROCK & ROLL HOTEL

Wednesday, June 25: Peter Matthew Bauer (of The Walkmen)

Saturday, June 28: Circa Survive (post-hardcore)

Thursday, July 3: Fucked Up (punk)

Wednesday, July 9: Avers (spawn of Head and the Heart; psych-ier)

JUST ANNOUNCED FROM THE BLACK CAT

Friday, June 6: Booty Rex Pride Party @ BOTH FLOORS (yeahhhh)

Monday, June 9: My Gold Mask @ the backstage (garage rock-ish)

Monday, June 16: Asgeir @ the backstage (Icelandic dream pop)

Tuesday, June 17: Painted Palms w/ Saint Pepsi @ the backstage (sunny psych)

Wednesday, June 18: Tweens @ the backstage (garage-y pop)

Thursday, June 19: Gemini Club w/ The Griswolds and Speak @ the backstage (indie dance)

Monday, June 23: Wreckless Eric @ the backstage (rock is as simple as I can get)

Wednesday, June 25: Old Man Canyon w/ The Modern Electric @ the backstage (folk)

Monday, June 30: Pattern is Movement @ the backstage (indie rock)

Tuesday, Sept. 9: Mineral w/ Into It. Over It. @ the mainstage (emo, the real kind)

Saturday, Sept. 27: Pomplamoose @ the mainstage (literally everything)

JUST ANNOUNCED FROM U STREET MUSIC HALL

Thursday, May 15: Compa, Asylum, and Kursk (dubstep/D&B)

Saturday, June 7: J. Phlip w/ Kill Frenzy (house/booty house)

Friday, June 20: Lee Foss w/ El_Txef_A (underground house/techno)

Thursday, June 26: Goldroom (synthpop)

Friday, June 27: Miguel Migs (soulful electronics)

Venue Guide: Rock & Roll Hotel

R&R is a love or hate sort of venue. People who hate it complain about the sound system (we'll get to that), the location, and other more minor things. People who love it like the intimacy, the variety of acts, the lack of pretentiousness, and the mac and cheese...or maybe that's just me. Let's move on, shall we?

Disclaimer: Some parts of this are concrete fact, and other parts are based on my personal experiences at the club. Your mileage may vary.

Venue Guide: Black Cat

The Black Cat (particularly the backstage) is probably my favorite venue in town. It's grungy, full of character, and all about the music. (And the burlesque. And the cult TV shows. And a bunch of other awesome ish.) As always, drop me a line if you have tips of your own, and I'll add them in.

Disclaimer: Some parts of this are concrete fact, and other parts are based on my personal experiences at the club. Your mileage may vary.

Venue Guide: 9:30 Club

I'm shaking things up a little bit with some handy-dandy venue guides in lieu of reviews. These are obviously aimed at newcomers to our fine city (welcome, welcome), but I hope show veterans will also find some tidbits of use. And if you have additional tips, do message me and I'll add them in.

Up first: 9:30 Club, because everyone in the DMV will end up there eventually.

THE WEEK AHEAD 4/28

Live

Monday I think you should go to this because it's like the Black Keys on steroids: Band of Skulls w/ SACCO, 9:30 Club, 7 p.m. doors, $22

RIP The Dunes. Love The Dunes. Live The Dunes.: Goodbye Party ft. Rain Tears, AG/LG, and Jonny Grave, The Dunes, 8 p.m. doors, $5

Killer guitar work: Raul Midón w/ AVERY*Sunshine, Howard Theatre, 6 p.m. doors, $22.50 ADV/$27.50 DOS

Acoustic rock: Paulo Franco and Rob Williams, Galaxy Hut, 9 p.m., $5

Tuesday Garage rock: The Standells w/ Jake Starr and the Delicious Fullness, Black Cat backstage, 8 p.m. doors, $15

It's a great week for guitar aficionados; here's some work from Costa Rica: Strunz & Farah, Howard Theatre, 6 p.m. doors, $25 ADV/$30 DOS

Folk rock with punk touches: Art Decade w/ Wise Eyes, Velvet Lounge, 7:30 p.m. doors, $8 DOS

Rock 'n roll: Loi Loi, Run On Sentence, and David Klinger, Bathtub Republic (3119 11th St. NW), 8 p.m., donations por favor

The first night of this sold out before it was officially on sale: CHVRCHES w/ The Range, 9:30 Club, 7 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT (also sold out on Wednesday)

Sold-out British indie rock: David Gray w/ John Smith, Lincoln Theatre, 6:30 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Wednesday Noise + other heavy sounds: Full of Hell, Column of Heaven, Nyodene D, and D.O.C., Casa Fiesta, 8 p.m., $7

Indietronica: Chrome Sparks w/ Infinity Shred and LanceNeptune, DC9, 8 p.m. doors, $10

Folk rock: Jessica Lea Mayfield w/ Gambles and The Petticoat Tearoom, Rock & Roll Hotel, 7 p.m. doors, $15

Rap: The Lox w/ NaVon Smith and K.O.V.E., Howard Theatre, 7 p.m. doors, $30 ADV/$35 DOS

Thursday Dream pop/art rock/shoegaze: Go Cozy, The Dig, Conveyor, and BRNDA, Paperhaus, 8 p.m., donations por favor

Mostly local funk and lo-fi fuzz: Foul Swoops, Flesh Panthers, Neonates, and SNEAKS, The Dougout, 8 p.m. doors, $5 suggested donation

Indie rock: Say Hi w/ Big Scary, Black Cat backstage, 8 p.m. doors, $15

Semi-local rock/psych/blues: Soup of the Day w/ Raoul and the Dukes, Jacob Panic, and Sweatshop Inferno, Velvet Lounge, 7:30 p.m. doors, $8 DOS

Psych folk: Megafaun w/ Grandma Sparrow, DC9, 8 p.m. doors, $14

Rap: Tayyib Ali, Fuze the MC, G-3, and JDVBBs, Howard Theatre, 6 p.m. doors, $15

Sold-out Baltimore synthpop: Future Islands w/ Ed Schrader's Music Beat and Oh Hang, 9:30 Club, 7 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Dance, Dance

Monday As always: Service Industry Night ft. DJ Earic Patten, DC9, 8 p.m., $5 (FREE before 10)

Tuesday Hip-hop/heavy bass: Jack Beats w/ AC Slater and Harry Ransom, U Street Music Hall, 9 p.m., $15

Wednesday House: Lane 8 w/ Caleb L'Etoile and Baronhawk, U Street Music Hall, 10 p.m., $10

Euro/German club hits: Maifest, Döner Bistro, 7 p.m., FREE

Thursday Electro house/glitch/moombah: Pegboard Nerds w/ RaceCarBed, Massacat, and DJALLA, U Street Music Hall, 10 p.m., $12 ($15 for under 21)

'90s industrial and techno: Club 90, Little Miss Whiskey's, 9 p.m., FREE

I told myself that, whatever I reviewed this week, I wasn't going to jump on the Galantis bandwagon. BYT did. CUFF did. Of course, 9:30 did, but UHall jumped in too. Newdust, All Things Go, and even Hailo did giveaways. Galantis everywhere, Galantis always. I am above the fray, I said, and will continue to do what I usually do: give some press to smaller acts. 

But fuck that noise, because Galantis is kind of brilliant.

Let me be clear: Galantis is not small. They're half international indie pop powerhouse Miike Snow and half guy-who-produced-"I Love It"-plus-a-bunch-of-other-songs-you've-heard. It would be shocking if they didn't produce a stellar catharsis of an EDM EP. (They did. Don't worry.)

At first listen, Galantis' EP is upbeat, uplifting, and endlessly fun. But it's the intricate, expert production that makes it a standout in the sea of electronics-driven pop that is today's mass music market. (Even Avril Lavigne has jumped on the bandwagon. I am not responsible for the three minutes of your life that you will never get back if you click that link.) When everyone is trying slap synthesizers and drum machines on traditional pop song structures, rising above means layering sounds so smartly that it seems easy until you start picking apart how many different instruments and effects make up each track. That they come together seamlessly is a testament to Galantis' skill and a true treat for pop grazers and nightlife veterans alike. 

Unless you've managed to avoid the Internet for the past month (impressive, and sad), you know that Galantis is playing tonight at 9:30 Club. You also know that it's a late show and you have work tomorrow. You also know that the ticket price--$30--is on the high end for a show at 9:30. Go anyway. If you're a casual music consumer, you'll feel so good at the end of the night that you'll ride the wave through Friday with ease. If you're more in-tune with the EDM scene, you'll learn something from some of the industry's finest. Either way, it'll be a killer time. 

WEEKEND PLANNER 4/25

In which I discriminate against bands who use racial slurs in their names. And country music. Which are pretty much the only reasons I ever discriminate. Sorry not sorry.

Live

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: M3 DEATH FEST TESLA, KIX, EXTREME, MORE @ MERRIWEATHER DETAILS

Friday Semi-local psych and experimental: Big Tusk, Cigarette, Cain/Scheible Duo, and Louis Weeks, Communiverse (14th and Webster NW), 8 p.m., donations por favor

Diverse local indie rock: StereoRiots w/ Electric Grandmother and Catscan!, Velvet Lounge, 9 p.m. doors, $8 DOS

Pop/rock/feel-good music that makes you feel like you shouldn't be feeling good: Art Sorority for Girls, Dan and Rachel, and Kissing Fractures, Radio Shock (3169 18th St. NW), 7 p.m., $5 suggested donation

She's opening for Nick Cave in July; see her headline: Nicole Atkins w/ Shilpa Ray and Davey Horne, Rock & Roll Hotel, 8 p.m. doors, $12 ADV/$14 DOS

Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors got together and made "power jazz": Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks w/ Dustin Wong and Geologist, U Street Music Hall, 7 p.m., $15

Singer-songwriters: Nathaniel Rateliff w/ Erin Weston, DC9, 6 p.m. doors, $12

Rap: Yg w/ DJ Mustard and Fat Trel, Fillmore Silver Spring, 8 p.m., $33

Both nights sold out super fast; well: Alabama Shakes w/ Lee Baines & The Glory Fires, 9:30 Club, 8 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Saturday I think you should go to this for sometimes beautiful, sometimes disturbing, always interesting experimental sounds: Sontag Shogun, Aaron Martin, and Br'er, Union Arts, 8 p.m., $9 DOS

A killer local indie rock/dream pop lineup: Baby Bry Bry & The Apologists, The Walking Sticks, Haile Supreme & Sun Cycle, and Farma Wesley, The Lot at Union Kitchen (1110 Congress St. NE), 5 p.m., FREE

Crazy French disco + local electro rock: Zombie Zombie, Young Rapids, and Heavy Breathing, Comet Ping Pong, 10 p.m., $12

Local power pop ft. former Minor Threat bassist: Dot Dash w/ Alarms & Controls, Regents, and Highway Cross, Black Cat mainstage, 9 p.m. doors, $12

Folk rock: Woods w/ Quilt, Rock & Roll Hotel, 7 p.m. doors, $12

Pretty decent indie rock: Fanfarlo w/ Lillies on Mars, U Street Music Hall, 7 p.m., $15

These guys are kind of a big deal, so: Perfect Pussy w/ Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Green Dreams, and Golden Looks, DC9, 8 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Also these guys: Kindred the Family Soul w/ Moses the Comic, Howard Theatre, 6 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Sunday I think you should go to this because duh: M.I.A. w/ A$AP Ferg, Echostage, 7:30 p.m., $45

You should also go to this because it will haunt you in the best way: Timber Timbre w/ Fiver, Rock & Roll Hotel, 7 p.m. doors, $15

Riot grrl post-punk/power bass: Company Calls w/ Crunk Witch and Hiphopmcdougal, Velvet Lounge, 7:30 p.m. doors, $8 DOS

Electro/classical pop: Lo-Fang w/ Kate Berlant, Sixth & I, 8 p.m., $15 ADV/$18 DOS

Legendary grunge: Toadies w/ Supersuckers and Battleme, Black Cat mainstage, 8 p.m. doors, $20

Southern rap: Nappy Roots w/ Hannah J and LX, Howard Theatre, 6 p.m. doors, $15 ADV/$20 DOS

Guitar-driven folk: Steve Gunn w/ Marian McLaughlin, DC9, 8:30 p.m. doors, $12

Sold-out '90s rock that keeps on going: Better Than Ezra w/ Jon McLaughlin, 9:30 Club, 7 p.m. doors, SOLD OUT

Dance, Dance

Friday I think you should go to this because if you don't think it's cool you have no soul: New Order/Duran Duran Dance Party, Black Cat mainstage, 9:30 p.m., $10

I'm also a big fan of this: COALBXX (indie dance party), DC9, 10 p.m., FREE

Also this, as it's a consistently deadly bass night: Forecast ft. Atticus, Jett Chandon, D. Martin, and DENMAN, Backbar, 11 p.m., $5

Hip-hop + opportunity for a discussion with the artist: Diamond D, Sammy Needlz, and Sharkey, The Lodge at Red Rocks, 8 p.m., FREE

Indie club music: Lightwaves, Little Miss Whiskey's, 9 p.m., FREE

A women's LGBTQIA dance night: glittHER, Zeba Bar, 9 p.m., FREE

Minimal house: Art Department w/ Jubilee (DC), U Street Music Hall, 10 p.m., $20

Saturday I think you should go to this because it's a bhangra party, hello: U.S. Department of Bhangra ft. DJ Beta-G, Black Cat backstage, 9:30 p.m., $7 DOS

The producers on this bill make different, weird, awesome electronic music: Hz So Good. ft. Outputmessage, Canine Teeth, Micah Vellian, and DJ Ayescold, Backbar, 9 p.m., no cover listed but everything at Backbar is $5

Sexy techno (yup): Sensual Session 1.0 ft. DeepCutta, Darius Twin, Sinestro, and Ron Jackson, Rosebar (1215 Connecticut Ave. NW), 10 p.m., FREE with RSVP (plus free open bar for earlybirds)

Blissful house/nu-disco/etc.: BLISS ft. MK, Will Eastman, and Jackson Ryland, U Street Music Hall, 10 p.m., $10 (FREE before 11 for 21+)

Let's just say a shark and some of the DMV's best DJs are involved #CRANKPARTY11 ft. Rex Riot, Basscamp, Jon Kwest, and James Nasty, Liv Nightclub (2001 11th St. NW), 10 p.m., $5 ADV/$10 DOS

Sundays Because parents should have fun too: Baby Loves Disco, Rock & Roll Hotel, 11 a.m. doors, $18

Funk and deep house fusion: Sleazy McQueen w/ Joe L and Keenan Orr, Flash, 9 p.m., $10.49 ADV/$12 DOS

Bass music/hip-hop: Survival and Homemade Weapons w/ Rogue State b2b Julez, High Tolerance b2b DJ K, and MC Concept, U Street Music Hall, 10 p.m., $8 ADV/$10 DOS

UPCOMING: DOT DASH WITH ALARMS & CONTROLS, REGENTS, AND HIGHWAY CROSS THIS SATURDAY, 9 PM @ BLACK CAT (MAINSTAGE) $12 VIA TICKETFLY

For once, let’s forget about layers of meaning and rock out. The place: the Black Cat this Saturday. The soundtrack: Dot Dash’s Half-Remembered Dream, an impeccable piece of power-pop musicianship.

You’d expect Half-Remembered Dream to be a solid record, given that the band’s members have been collectively in half a dozen other groups. The recent addition of Minor Threat’s Steve Hansgen on bass is bound to make for some explosive new tunes. Seeing what he’ll add to the lineup is reason enough to head to the mainstage this weekend. (P.S. I really like Minor Threat. #statingtheobvious)

But don’t think that Dot Dash is just a ripoff of other groups’ sounds. They describe themselves as “post-punk pop,” a nod to the more melodic nature of songs like the aptly named “Do Re Mi” that hints at the garage-y, lo-fi goodness of “Light in the Distance.” In essence, this is a riotous bit of power-pop with tight guitar work, smart arrangements, and a classic punk nonchalance.

Amidst the tight musicianship, it’s useful to remember that Dot Dash is still a young band; despite having put out three full-lengths, they only formed in 2011, and they’re still growing. The group’s one weakness is in its lyrics—someone decided that every line should rhyme, regardless of how forced those rhymes may be—and while this doesn’t intrude on the jammability of the songs, it does create an artificial ceiling for the band. But Dot Dash is bright, talented, and guaranteed to smash that in a storm of drums and guitars.

JUST ANNOUNCED FROM 9:30/I.M.P.

Sunday, June 15: BadBadNotGood @ UHall (jazz with electronic touches)

Monday, June 16: The Knocks and ASTR @ 9:30 (funk/trip-hop/disco)

Thursday, July 3: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong with Cabinet w/ B Side Shuffle @ 9:30 (psych funk)

Thursday, July 17: Puss N Boots ft. Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson, and Catherine Popper @ 9:30 (jazzy pop/folk)

Friday, July 18: Camera Obscura w/ Laura Cantrell @ 9:30 (indie pop)

Saturday, July 19: Mac DeMarco w/ Calvin Love and Delicate Steve @ 9:30 (indie rock)

Sunday, July 20: Bebel Gilberto @ 9:30 (bossa nova/Brazilian pop)

September 28: Bryan Ferry @ Lincoln (Roxy Music frontman)

August 6: Passenger @ Echostage (let her/it/some pronoun go)

JUST ANNOUNCED FROM ROCK & ROLL HOTEL

Thursday, May 8: The Dillinger Escape Plan w/ Tera Melos, Vattnet Viskar, and Black Clouds (heavy heavy music)

Saturday, June 14: Crystal Stilts w/ Juan Wauters (noisy post-punk)

Tuesday, June 17: Dead Kennedys w/ Reagan Youth and Burning Streets (legendary hardcore punk)

Sunday, June 22: Jolie Holland w/ Shy Hausers (soulful Americana)

Friday, June 27: Black Taxi (pop punk)

Pop music is popular because it gets stuck in your head. It's lasting when it resonates. PLOY's achieved both with "Friend of a Friend," the brand-new single from the Hyattsville electropop duo. Typically, PLOY's tracks are a bit more atmospheric, each note drawn out and milked for every decibel of feeling. "Friend of a Friend" is upbeat, danceable, and endlessly catchy--all the makings of a summer jam. Lyrically, though, it reflects on a fleeting relationship that still manages to linger, much like the song itself will do in your head. It's somewhere we've all been, and dancing and sharing make for great medicine.

Mindless summer pop? Not at all. Have a listen.