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The gothic, poetic rock of Mount Moriah captures the complicated relationship Southerners have with their history. On its self-titled debut, the North Carolina band reckons with what it’s like to worship in a church that’s not made for you. How to Dance, the group’s latest effort, reflects on a path to a brighter future. Its songs are tight and crisp, with a lightness that Mount Moriah hasn’t yet shown. Lead singer Heather McEntire, who used her Dolly Parton-meets-rock ’n’ roll vocals to help us understand her pain so well, now uses her power to unite all those who might feel out of place. Read more >>> Mount Moriah performs with Skylar Gudasz at 9 p.m. at Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. $12–$14. (202) 388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. (Justin Weber)
EAT THIS
Late night revelers on U Street NW have a new drunk food. The BBQ Joint debuts a to-go window tonight selling nothing but Frito pies (Frito chips topped with chili, cheese, and onions). The $6 Texas specialty will be available Fridays and Saturdays only from midnight to 3 a.m. Read more on Young & Hungry. The BBQ Joint, 2005 14th St. NW. (202) 747-2377. andrewevansbbqjoint.com. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
Friday: British rock band Banners performs at U Street Music Hall with Utah-based quartet The Moth & The Flame as part of the Alt Nation Advanced Placement Tour. 7 p.m. at 1115 U St. NW. $15.
Friday: Local folk duo The Sweater Set plays an intimate, two-set show of original compositions at Laurel’s Montpelier Arts Center. 8 p.m. at 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel. $25.
Friday: Monica Bill Barnes & Company brings its new work, Happy Hour, inspired by menswear and karaoke nights, to the Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at 2700 F St. NW. $59–$69.
Saturday: The Revelers, a joyful band out of Lafayette, La., play a lot of swamp pop—timeless Fats Domino-inflected rock ’n’ roll music but with Cajun and zydeco influences. Not a mere johnny-come-lately Americana outfit, all band members are proficient songwriters with deep roots in their region’s musical culture. Its roadhouse sound includes plenty of uptempo rockers punctuated with honking saxophone blasts, but it balances that with country, blues, and swing-jazz accented slow dance numbers. Read more >>> The Revelers perform at 8:30 p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. $20. (301) 634-2222. glenechopark.org. (Steve Kiviat)
Saturday: The Keegan Theatre begins performances of American Idiot, the rock musical set to music by Green Day about young adults at odds with the world. 8 p.m. at 1742 Church St. NW. $45–$55.
Saturday: The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington presents “Boots, Sass, and Class,” a tribute to country music featuring drag queens, clogging, and a performance by the DC Cowboys Dance Company, at the Lincoln Theatre. 8 p.m. at 1215 U St. NW. $25–$63.
Sunday: Now on its sixth studio album and well into its second decade of performing, Canadian rock band Metric’s sound has wandered into dancey electronic territory, even though its members have never given up their deep affection for their synth roots. Still, Emily Haines‘ sharp self-awareness keeps her from getting too mawkish with her lyrics and lends her infectious songs plenty of energy. Read more >>> Metric performs with Joywave at 8 p.m. at The Fillmore, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. $31. (301) 960-9999. fillmoresilverspring.com. (Allison Kowalski)
Sunday: Close out the weekend with a night of local rock at the Black Cat Backstage featuring sets by The Max Levine Ensemble, Worriers, and Thin Lips. 7:30 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $12.
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