16

FRIDAY

Like so many suits, Chip Monk originally immigrated to D.C. on the promise of a full-time congressional staff post. But the native Tennessean never gave up his part-time singer/songwriter gigs, even after moving off the Hill to spend his days lawyering in a stuffy downtown high-rise. Call it a midlife crisis or a rearranging of his professional priorities, but last year Monk’s art got moved to the top of the list and he all but chucked the day job, just so he could spend more nights out honky-tonkin’ or in the studio. Throughout his eponymous debut, Monk makes a strong play for the John Hiatt crowd, never more successfully than on “Mickey Mantle Rookie Card,” a rollicking ode to the most collectible of jock memorabilia and a ditty that should have been picked up by sports-radio programmers by now. Leave your ties and wingtips at the office, and rock with Monk at 8:30 p.m. at the Birchmere, 3901 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. $13.50. (703) 549-5919. (Dave McKenna)