We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
There may just be one D.C. Sound, but there are plenty of D.C. sounds—like neo-garage rock, a steady if never massive current of local indie rock since at least the days of Pussy Galore. In the early and mid-2000s, the masters of pseudomystic local grit were The Apes, who paired Iron Butterfly organs with Stooges strut. Members of the band briefly toyed with heavy, coked-out glam rock as Midnight Kids and now make up Heavy Breathing, whose manic electro at least retains some garage-appropriate scuzz. The group is paired tonight with Cane & the Sticks, whose Peter Hayes, once a member of Dischord act High Back Chairs, has drifted toward garage, not away from it: Hayes’ vocals are disaffected indie-pop cool, but his guitar playing—abusive, bluesy, slightly stoned—is straight-up Blue Cheer. (Jonathan L. Fischer) 9 p.m. at the Ballroom at Artisphere. $8.
MUSIC
Now that we think of it, tonight’s pretty awesome for local and DIY music overall.
New Orleans garage/pop-punk group M.O.T.O. (Masters of the Obvious) plays Smash Records tonight with Baltimore’s Hollywood and D.C. band Highway Cross. 7 p.m. Free. (If you can’t catch M.O.T.O. tonight, see the band Sunday at Yards Park.)
D.C.’s America Hearts plays Bella Cafe & Restaurant alongside Derek Evry & His Band of Misanthropes, Borrowed Beams of Light, and Rob Cheatham & Gunchux. 9 p.m. Free, donations accepted.
Cigarette (D.C.), Tom Evanchuck (Ohio), and Ryan Ford (D.C.) are at Comet Ping Pong. 10:30 p.m. $8.
Possibly most awesome of all, Indiana’s Coffinworm and local band Ilsa play the Corpse Fortress tonight. 7 p.m. More information at DC Heavy Metal.
If you’re not into any of the above guitar-based music, noted New York house DJ Timmy Regisford is at U Street Music Hall for the Red Fridays series. Local DJ/man about town Chris Burns opens. 10 p.m. Free before 11 p.m. for 21+; $10 thereafter.
It’s not a local band, but a long-running local dance night: English pop-rock band Graffiti6 is the special guest at this week’s edition of Liberation Dance Party. The band is known largely for selling a lot of music to TV shows and for its male-modelish frontman Jamie Scott. 9 p.m. at DC9. $8.
If you’re in a sexy-dress-and-high-limit-credit-card mood, take a cab to Eric Roberson‘s performance at The Park at Fourteenth tonight. 8 p.m.
And finally, maybe if you stand outside the Black Cat and beg, you’ll be able to get a ticket to tonight’s sold-out Archers of Loaf show. 9 p.m.
ANIMATED .GIFS
The opening reception for the animated .GIF show “Repetition is a Form of Change” happens tonight at Artisphere. Drinks and .GIFs—-two things easily enjoyed at home, but enjoyed less pathetically in public. 6 p.m. Free.
Read more Arts stories
This isn't a paywall.
We don't have one. Readers like you keep our work free for everyone to read. If you think that it's important to have high quality local reporting we hope you'll support our work with a monthly contribution.