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A lot has changed in the year since doll-haired Australian chanteuse Sia Furler postponed the tour behind her latest release, We Are Born, due to her struggle with Graves’ disease. For one, she got healthier and more confident behind a flood of support at home and abroad. She also landed a gig working with collaborator Christina Aguilera as the pop star judged divas-in-training on American Idol clone The Voice. Despite her flirtations with the karaoke set, Sia’s evocative jazz-pop and strange-girl-next-door schtick—-think a more eccentric Robyn ditching electro-pop for ornate, Kate Bush-derived freak-folk——has collaborated with artists ranging from Jamiroquai to Beck to Zero 7. Nevertheless, with a voice that makes for some seriously odd and cathartic moments, Sia seems most comfortable in the technicolor world of her own making. (Mike Kuntz) At 7 p.m. at 9:30 Club (sold out).
MUSIC
It’s another edition of Family Hemerlein at Gibson Guitar Room tonight. Main dude/multi-instrumentalist Matthew Hemerlein is, as always, co-host alongside comedian Seaton Smith. The guests: comedian Andy Haynes and musicians Terrence Cunningham and Cecelia Jeffrey. Doors open at 7 p.m. $15.
The very young Long Beach band Avi Buffalo—-who just released another pleasant 7″ on Sub Pop—-hits H Street NE tonight with L.A. singer/songwriter Nik Freitas. 8:30 p.m at Red Palace. $10 in advance, $12 at door.
Big country: Vince Gill plays bluegrass at Birchmere tonight and tomorrow, and Keith Urban is at the Verizon Center tonight. Urban is the cheaper option: It’ll run ya $25-$65 (plus fees) to see Nicole Kidman’s hubby at the sports arena, compared to $110 (plus fees) to catch Gill at the more intimate venue in Alexandria.
It ain’t supposed to rain tonight, or be chokingly hot, so go check out Foul Swoops at Fort Reno. They play second between The Burnside Shattered and The OK Corral. 7:15 p.m. Free.
FILM
Tonight’s the last night of the Capitol Riverfront outdoor movie series, and the film is cheesy and iconic, as expected: West Side Story shows at Tingey Plaza behind the U.S. Department of Transportation beginning at sundown. Free.
BOOKS
How is this for hyper-local: Five Hyattsville writers will read at the new Busboys & Poets tonight on Baltimore Ave. Authors include Julia Duin from the Washington Times, Economist, and Washington Post, and regional historian Andra Damron, who will share historic images of the city and read passages from her book, Hyattsville. 6 p.m. Free.
Author Jason Zinoman is at Politics & Prose to read and sign copies of his book about horror film, Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror. Our very own Benjamin R. Freed reviewed the book last week. 7 p.m. Free.