We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
Terry Malts functions like a comfort blanket for indie-pop fans still mourning the loss of The Shop Assistants and The Vaselines. The San Francisco trio’s chainsaw-pop sound is as familiar as it is fun, a messy melange of The Ramones and Buzzcocks with a touch of Psychocandy-era Jesus and Mary Chain. The group’s new album, Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere, is a cheeky play on the title of Neil Young’s second LP, but Terry Malts’ compact, crunchy music has nothing to do with Crazy Horse’s expansive jams. The California–based band does seem somewhat tethered to D.C., though: The group had one of the inaugural 7-inch releases for the Windian label’s subscription series, and both of the band’s LPs, including 2012’s Killing Time, were released by the formerly local imprint Slumberland, home to many other comforting indie-pop vets.
Terry Malts performs with Queen Kwong and Dot Dash at 8:30 p.m. at DC9, 1940 9th St. NW. $10. (202) 483-5000. dcnine.com.