Almost exactly one year ago, Big Hush celebrated the release of its Wholes EP with a house show at the Babe City Records venue. This year, the group has moved to Black Cat’s Backstage to welcome the arrival of another cassette EP, Who’s Smoking Your Spirit?, on DZ Tapes. Bigger stages aren’t reached without work, and the D.C.-based quartet has grown from a group reliant on a noisy aesthetic to one that uses it to flesh out strong songwriting. Now its mournful, sighing melodies sink deep as they play with surf and post-rock rhythms, while shoegaze feels more and more limited as a descriptor with every release. Read more >>> Big Hush performs with Wildhoney and Cigarette at 7:30 p.m. at the Black Cat Backstage, 1811 14th St. NW. $10–$12. (202) 667-4490. blackcatdc.com. (Justin Weber)
EAT THIS
It’s Dumpling Monday at The Source. The recently renovated Wolfgang Puck restaurant has a number of new happy hour specials in its downstairs lounge. Today from 4 p.m. to close, all ten dumplings are available for $5, including the chili “dan dan” chicken dumplings with roasted peanuts and Sichuan pepper, scallop siu mai, and smoked beef wontons. Drink specials are available from 4 to 7 p.m. Stop by throughout the week for Tiki Tuesdays, Wok & Wine Wednesdays, BBQ Thursdays, and Fish Fridays. The Source, 575 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (202) 637-6100. wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/fine-dining/3941. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
D.C.-raised R&B artist Kelela returns home for a performance at U Street Music Hall in support of her latest EP, Hallucinogen. 7 p.m. at 1115 U St. NW. $20.
Standup comedian and 30 Rock co-star Judah Friedlander discusses his new collection of drawings and stories, If the Raindrops United, with readers at Politics & Prose. 7 p.m. at 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. Free.
Celebrate Mark Twain‘s 180th birthday or just come out and dance at Clarendon’s Galaxy Hut, where rock bands Proxy States and Breakup Season perform. Find more details on Facebook. 8 p.m. at 2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. $5.
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