There may just be one D.C. Sound, but there are plenty of D.C. sounds—like neo-garage rock, a steady if never massive current of local indie rock since at least the days of Pussy Galore. In the early and mid-2000s, the masters of pseudomystic local grit were The Apes, who paired Iron Butterfly organs with Stooges strut. Members of the band briefly toyed with heavy, coked-out glam rock as Midnight Kids and now make up Heavy Breathing, whose manic electro at least retains some garage-appropriate scuzz. The group is paired tonight with Cane & the Sticks, whose Peter Hayes, once a member of Dischord act High Back Chairs, has drifted toward garage, not away from it: Hayes’ vocals are disaffected indie-pop cool, but his guitar playing—abusive, bluesy, slightly stoned—is straight-up Blue Cheer.

Heavy Breathing performs with Cane & the Sticks at 9 p.m. at the Ballroom at Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. $8.