You can’t accuse Winnipeg punks Propagandhi of complacency. Ten years into its career, the band stormed the States in the mid-1990s with a hummable blend of pop punk and fiercely leftist politics, urging oblivious suburbanites to up their awareness via incendiary lyrics, undeniable hooks, and Noam Chomsky quotes. The band has gradually shed its skate-punk tendencies over the past decade, opting instead for a more aggressive thrash-metal sound, but has retained the fervor that made its earlier records—1996’s Less Talk, More Rock in particular—so essential. Propagandhi plays with Off With Their Heads and The Menzingers at 8 p.m. at Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. $18–$20. (202) 388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Read more >>> (Matt Siblo)
EAT THIS
Following a week-long soft-opening, the grand opening of new Adams Morgan ramen joint Taan is tonight. The kitchen is helmed by chef Jonathan Bisagni, an alum of Kushi Izakaya & Sushi, Morimoto Waikiki, Sticky Rice, and Toki Underground. The menu consists of kushiyaki (skewered meat), onigiri (rice balls), various small plates, and three types of ramen (we’re fans of the pork belly). Also look for cleverly named cocktails ($12-$14) like “There are Hippies in Asia” and “Second Place is Not First Place.” Taan, 1817 Columbia Road NW; (202) 450-2416; taandc.com. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
Tonight: Stop by the cozy VeraCruz Gallery near the 9:30 Club to catch a robust lineup of women stand-up comics performing for Comedy On the Table, a benefit for Martha’s Table. 7:30 p.m. at 2108 Vermont Ave. NW. $5.
Saturday: French artist Xavier Veilhan’s work is an elaborate investigation of the relationship between the constructed and the created, the engineered and the organic. So it’s appropriate that Veilhan’s first major presentation at an American museum is part of the Phillips Collection’s “Intersections” series. Read more >>> (Neda Semnani)
Sunday: There are few video artists as tragic or as visionary as Ernie Kovacs. Posthumously known as television’s original genius, he invented many tropes of television entertainment that are still used today. In honor of the 50th anniversary of his death, AFI hosts a series of his greatest hits this weekend. Read more >>> (Kriston Capps)
Sunday: Remember the punk-rock history walking tour we spotlighted in our arts section a couple of weeks ago? The tour rides again this Sunday in Ward 1. A group will meet at 3 p.m. at the CVS near Columbia Heights Station. Check out our map of some highlights from the tour, and RSVP by emailing marka@wearefamilydc.org.
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