A sort-of-D.C.-based band featuring the founders of the sort-of-D.C.-based Underwater Peoples, Family Portrait makes skuzzy, sun-kissed art pop that’s of a piece with the woozy romanticism (Real Estate, Air Waves) the label peddles. Family Portrait killed time last year as a two-piece while half the band traveled abroad. Now back to its original lineup, the group makes music that’s too wistful, layered, and spacey to qualify as indie-rock primitivism—even if, at times, it feels like the only thing standing between the band’s id and your ears is a healthy dollop of tape hiss. —-Jonathan L. Fischer
Read the full City Lights pick here; show details after the jump:
FAMILY PORTRAIT PERFORMS WITH ANDREW CEDERMARK AT 8:30 P.M. AT DC9, 1940 9TH ST. NW. $8. (202) 483-5000.