Best of Friday:
Last weekend marked Christoph Eschenbach‘s debut performance as National Symphony Orchestra‘s music director. Tonight, he will play piano in a free all-Beethoven program on the Millennium Stage before the NSO performs in the Concert Hall. He’ll be joined by violinist Christian Tetzlaff. NSO members Joel Fuller and Alexandra Osborne, violin, Mahoko Eguchi, viola, and Rachel Young, cello. Free. 6 p.m.. Kennedy Center.
The Cascade. Satori Trova. Tereu Tereu. $10. 9pm show. Rock & Roll Hotel.
Best of Saturday:

Kid Congo Powers has played in a coterie of quirky bands, including the Cramps, the Gun Club, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and now latest Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds. Señor Congo spins alongside Baby Alcatraz for a DJ happening  at Velvet Lounge. $8. 10:30 show.

The Deadmen. Olivia Mancini and the Housemates. Stripmall Ballads. $10/ $12 doors.9 pm.  Rock & Roll Hotel.

Best of Sunday:

We Were Promised Jetpacks launches a series of rhythmic assaults with its strident, heavily (Scottish) accented rock anthems. The formula is simple: keep the lyrics uncomplicated and play really fast. The combination comes of as slightly roguish and sincere. Opinions may vary, depending upon how you feel or once felt about the band’s past and future touring mates, Jimmy Eat World. The band will be at the Rock & Roll Hotel with Bronze, formed from the ashes of The Detachment Kit. Naturally, the bar was set pretty high for the band’s 2010 release Horses. The stuff is distilled Brian Eno—-catchy and outre and bevertheless danceable. 8 pm. $15.

Former Pink Floyd bassist and vocalist, Roger Waters performs with The Wall at the Verizon Center The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets range from reasonable to astronomical.

Rest of Friday:
  • Kenny Werner Benjamin Koppel. 9 and 11 p.m. Also Oct. 9. Call for price. Twins Jazz.
  • Built to Spill. Revolt Revolt. Doors. $25. 8 p.m.  9:30 Club
  • Luka Bloom. 8 p.m. Call for price. Wolf Trap;
  • Duane Eubanks; 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Also Oct. 9. $18/22 door. Bohemian Caverns.
  • Rachelle Ferrell. $60. Thursday – Sunday. 8pm and 10 pm. Blues Alley.
  • Dance For the Dying $10. 9pm show. Rock & Roll Hotel
  • 36 Crazyfists. Straight Line Stitch. Taking Dawn. Behind the Madness. No Stars Over California. Sachpit. 6:30 pm$12/$14 door. Jaxx.
  • SAW Young Artist Showcase: Jonny Grave, Alison O’Brien, Ryan Hammer, Nila Kay, Micha Subar and Margot MacDonald. $2. 7 p.m. Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse. All ages.
  • Buskin & Batteau. 7 p.m. Jammin Java.
  • Juniper Lane. No Second Troy.  Emily Greene.  $12. 9 pm. IOTA Club.
  • Trihexyn. Apothys. Immortal Decay. Deranged Theory. State Theatre

The Rest of Saturday:

  • Mambo Sauce.The Five One.10 pm. Jammin Java.
  • Ra Ra Rasputin. Casper Bangs.$10. 9 p.m Black Cat.
  • The Jean Marie. Modern Man. $8. 930 show. Velvet Lounge.
  • Hank Williams Jr. Jamey Johnson. Colt Ford. Josh Thompson. $27-$131.50. 7pm. Patriot Center
  • Speidel, GoodricH, Goggin & Lille.  7:30 p.m. Call for price. Wolf Trap;
  • Southern Culture on the Skids. The Fleshtones. Doors 8 p.m. $20.9:30 Club.
  • Gregg Hammond & Amber Dutton ; 8:30 p.m. Donation based. BloomBars.
  • Hoodoo Gurus  9 p.m. $20. IOTA Club & Café
  • Mavis Staples & Bettye LaVette $25 -$45. 8 pm. Lisner Auditorium.
  • Where Winston Stood. Powder Kegs. Robert Blake. $8 10pm show. DC9.
  • Cobra Collective.Bellman Barker.Screen Vinyl Image. Sansyou.$10. 8pm show. State Theatre.

The Rest of Sunday:

  • K’NAAN .Paper Tongues.  SOLD OUT. 9:30 Club.
  • Bert Jansch, Pegi Young. 7:30 pm. Jammin Java.
  • Pierced Arrows ; 9 p.m. $8/ $10 door.  DC9. 18+. DC9.