Nomadic Massive, a collection of touring MCs that first came together in Montreal, includes two white dudes with sunglasses, films grainy videos on public transit, and recites the line “word to my mother” with straight-faced self-seriousness. But in spite of their earnestness, the group’s members should be forgiven for being a decade late to Slum Village’s corpus because, hey, they’re Canadian. Their bag is celebrating their clique of varied tongues and diverse backgrounds. Read more >>> Nomadic Massive performs with Kokayi at 8 p.m. at Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. $20. (703) 875-1100. artisphere.com. (Ramon Ramirez)
EAT THIS
Head out to Easton, Md., this Saturday for The BBQ Joint‘s “Kiss the Pig” party. In honor of his restaurant’s third anniversary, chef and owner Andrew Evans is celebrating with a pig roast (free samples for everyone), music, and a pig calling and squealing competition. And yes, you can even kiss a real pig. Snout kisses from Chloe, a 5-month-old pot-bellied pig, will cost $10 per person, with all proceeds going to the Neighborhood Service Center and St. Vincent de Paul Food Banks. The BBQ Joint, 216 East Dover St., Easton, Md. (410) 690-3641. andrewevandsbbqjoint.com. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
Tonight: Local label Bad Friends, run by City Paper contributor Ryan Little, celebrates its first birthday with an all-local showcase. Laughing Man, Tommy Siegel (of Jukebox the Ghost), and Little’s band Tereu Tereu (with Gordon Withers on cello) will take the stage at U Street Music Hall beginning at 7 p.m. tonight. 1115 U St. NW. 18-plus. $10.
Tonight: Go-go champs Backyard celebrate their 25th anniversary at the Howard Theatre with a set of all-time favorites. If you go, wear your best. Doors open at 11 p.m. at 620 T St. NW. $35-$65.
Saturday: For a decade, the H Street Playhouse has served as home base for some of D.C.’s most provocative theater companies, including Theater Alliance and Verbal Gymnastics. Tonight, actors and other theater insiders say farewell to their beloved black box. Read more >>> (Miriam Berg)
Saturday: Ex-Q and Not U duo Paint Branch—-which just released its debut album, I Wanna Live—-plays an in-store show at Red Onion Records. 6 p.m. at 1901 18th St. NW. Free. More information on Facebook.
Sunday: North Carolina bluegrass master Ola Belle Reed has enjoyed something of a D.C. revival in recent years. Now, 10 years after Reed’s death, D.C. theater artist Wyckham Avery is writing a solo show based on her life and work. She presents excerpts from her tribute today at the Luce Foundation Center. Read more >>> (Kriston Capps)
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