Wednesday, August 13
• Named after a manuscript by reclusive artist Henry Darger, Vivian Girls is a lo-fi/punk trio based in Brooklyn. The band’s picked up some blog buzz, and its self-titled LP will be reissued in early October. Currently on tour with Crystal Stilts for a couple of dates, Vivian Girls play at DC9.

Thursday, August 14
• New York magazine recently dubbed the Hold Steady NYC’s “most insightful party band.” Now, we’re not really sure how “insightful” the band’s lyrics are—the Hold Steady always plays on our iPod when we’re too drunk to make out the words—but we’ll take their word for it. Plus, the band’s throwback rock sound has clearly struck a chord: The show at the 9:30 Club is sold out.

• One of our favorites (we’re biased, what can we say?), Thao Nguyen plays the Black Cat’s main stage alongside her band, the Get Down Stay Down. It’ll be an awesome show. That’s all.

Friday, August 15
• Local band the Dance Party, known for its onstage and offstage antics, shares a bill with other area bands at the Rock and Roll Hotel as part of music blog Instrumental Analysis’s anniversary.

Saturday, August 16
• Mention of the Faint brings back memories of sleazy college dance parties where there was too much booze and not enough clothes on people. Some of us have moved on; others . . . not so much. Either way, it’s comforting to know the Faint will always be there with 30 different variations of the same catchy electronic dance tune. The Faint plays the 9:30 Club.

• The New Jersey band Titus Andronicus won us over with its punk sensibility and funny blog. Choice bit: “Titus Andronicus take their name from a minor Shakespearean tragedy, not, as many people believe, from some sort of killer robot from the future.” The band’s LP, Airing of Grievances, is out on Troubleman Unlimited, and the guys, who are touring the East Coast, stop by the Red and the Black tonight.

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