Being called twee is kind of like being called a hipster: You never self-identify that way. In interviews, the members of London’s Veronica Falls frequently bristle at being lumped in with the cuddly indie-pop sound, and you can hear why. There may be jangly guitars and delicate boy-girl vocals throughout the band’s excellent debut on Slumberland Records—a label, by the way, that critics frequently connect with American twee—but Veronica Falls otherwise feels pretty sinister. When the topic is romance, singer Roxanne Clifford is falling for a ghost. There’s some pastoral scenery, sure—but then the protagonist jumps off a cliff. Melodies generally stay in minor key, choruses melt into zombie moans, but most songs eventually lock into fast, fist-pumping forward motion. It makes sense that two of Veronica Falls’ players met while watching Comet Gain, another band that can swing being cute, macabre, and cathartic. To borrow words from the latter band to describe the former: “Love to see you standing there/in your beautiful despair.” Veronica Falls performs with Brilliant Colors at 8 p.m. at Black Cat Backstag. $10.

MUSIC

The D.C. Music Salon focuses on an artist whose connection to D.C. is a little tenuous with a screening of the documentary Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune. In the 1960s, the folk singer was the anti-Dylan, sticking to topical themes as his competitor became an increasingly impressionistic lyricist. Tricia Olszewski reviewed the film positively last year. 7 p.m. at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Branch Library. Free.

FUNDING

A number of local arts heavies, including the D.C. Arts Commission Director Lionell Thomas, Busboys & Poets owner Andy Shallal, and Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, discuss arts funding. Free. 6 p.m. at Busboys at 14th and V streets NW.