In 2001, Dan Whitford, then the owner of an Australian graphic design company, toggled through the choices on his MacBook’s edit menu and stopped on two words: cut and copy. The words became a source of inspiration; Whitford traded in the computer keyboard for a musical one and formed the synthpop quartet Cut Copy. In just six short years, the group went from recording their own demo tapes to performing with Daft Punk. Tonight the band plugs in at Echostage and fills the venue with the sound of pounding bass and vamps off their latest album, Free Your Mind. Read more >>> Cut Copy performs with Jessy Lanza and Turkish Prison at 7 p.m. at Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Road NE. $35. (202) 503-2330. echostage.com. (Tim Regan)

EAT THIS

The Cherry Blossom Festival is in full bloom today, and with it comes a slew of drink and food deals. Izakaya and ramen shop Daikaya is featuring three special cocktails, including a $10 black cherry Old Fashioned. Jaleo, José Andrés’ tapas restaurant, has a variety of cherry-inspired dishes, such as a pork belly confit with cherry sauce for $11 and a $9 wild red berry soup with Idiazábal cheese ice cream. And District Commons celebrates the festival with the “Late Bloomer,” made with Leopold’s Maraschino Liqueur, Leopold’s Michigan Cherry Liqueur, and sparkling wine, served in a Champagne flute with house-made Maraschino cherries. Daikaya. 705 6th St. NW. (202) 589-1600. daikaya.com. Jaleo. 480 7th St. NW. (202) 628-7949. 7271 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. (301)-913-0003. 2250 Crystal Dr. Arlington. (703) 413-8181. jaleo.com. District Commons. 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (202) 587-8277. districtcommonsdc.com. (Quinn Kelley)

OH AND ALSO

Local bands Thee Lolitas and End Crimes celebrate the life of Travis Jackson with a memorial benefit concert at the Black Cat Backstage. 8 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $10.

It’s a night of Canadian rock at DC9: Toronto’s The Darcys and Calgary’s Reuben and the Dark perform with L.A. group NO. 8:30 p.m. at 1940 9th St. NW. $12.

Washington National Opera begins performances of The Elixir of Love, Donizetti’s comic opera about a man who uses a magic potion to win the love of a beautiful woman. 7:30 p.m. at 2700 F St. NW. $25–$300.

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