The Black Keys take the stage at the Verizon Center Friday. Photograph by John Wilwol.
Thursday, March 8
They’re not imaginary but they’re friends you can’t see—although you can certainly hear Los Amigos Invisibles tonight at the Black Cat. Originally from Venezuela, the New York–based band play dancey Latin pop music that has a shameless ’80s feel.
8 PM at the Black Cat, $22.
Local bloggers All Things Go are known for putting on good shows, so trust them with tonight’s concert at U Street Music Hall. Swedish duo Niki & the Dove’s first single, “DJ, Ease My Mind,” features Malin Dahlström’s sparse vocals over rat-a-tat, droning drums.
9 PM at U Street Music Hall, $10 in advance, $13 at the door.
Friday, March 9
Friday’s Black Keys show at the Verizon Center is probably the most anticipated concert of the month, judging from the rate at which the bluesy band sold out the arena. Prices have been falling on StubHub, so if you were late to the party or just want to participate in the water cooler chat Monday, you can get in for about face value. El Camino, the band’s latest, peaked at number two on the Billboard charts, with “Lonely Boy” getting lots of radio spins. The Arctic Monkeys, stars in their own right, open the show with their infectious guitars and irresistible English accents.
8 PM at Verizon Center; tickets start at $40 on StubHub.
They’re probably competing for a lot of the same fans, but Britain’s Kaiser Chiefs still managed to sell out 9:30 Club on the night of the Black Keys show. The band’s straightforward, punk-influenced sound has landed them spots at some of the biggest European festivals.
Doors at 7 PM at 9:30 Club, sold out.
A lot of the other clubs punted on the night, opting for dance music instead. If you’re dying to see a live band, local roots rockers Crooked Tree are playing Rock and Roll Hotel.
Doors at 8 PM at Rock and Roll Hotel, $10.
Saturday, March 10
You know you’ve made it when your song gets remixed by Diplo, one of the best deejays in the business. In 2011, the Philly-based deejay also made some original tracks, including the otherworldly megahit “Look at Me Now” and Wale’s “Slight Work.” He’ll spin at Fur Saturday, so bring your dancing attire.
10 PM at Fur, $20.
There must be a really-popular-but-not-quite-ubiquitous-rock-band convention in town, because they’re all here this week. Mutemath is next on the list—and if you saw Kaiser Chiefs or Black Keys, this show at 9:30 Club was probably already on your radar. It’s sold out, but lots of tickets are floating around Craigslist.
Doors at 7 PM at 9:30 Club, sold out.
Tereu Tereu have become regulars at some of Washington’s best local shows. If you didn’t see them open for Dismemberment Plan or if you’re just a fan of their sound, which recalls ’90s indie rock, check out their headlining show at the Dunes.
7 PM at the Dunes, $5.
Sunday March 11
Young the Giant’s first CD came out just over a year ago, and they’re already selling out tours. The band got the chance to play “My Body” at the MTV Video Music Awards last year, proving good ol’ fashioned rock and roll is alive and well, and they haven’t looked back since. They’re at the 9:30 Club tonight.
Doors at 7 PM at 9:30 Club, sold out.
Herbie Hancock’s spell in Miles Davis’s quintet catapulted him to prominence, but the jazz pianist is a star in his own right—his 2008 tribute to Joni Mitchell beat out Kanye West and Amy Winehouse for the Best Album Grammy. He’ll be performing Sunday at the Kennedy Center.
7 PM at the Kennedy Center, $35 to $85.
Monday, March 12
It’s been 15 years since Gomez was formed, and they’re celebrating with a “choose your own set list” tour, allowing fans to vote for what they want to hear at the 9:30 Club. The indie rock band has had albums go platinum in the UK, but they haven’t achieved widespread popularity in America.
Doors at 7 PM at 9:30 Club, $20.
Folky singer-songwriter Jay Farrar makes the kind of music you pop into your car stereo when you’re heading on a road trip out West. He plays at the Birchmere Monday, so even if you’re going to be stuck in the office all week, you can get a temporary escape.
7:30 PM at the Birchmere, $29.
Tuesday, March 13
As Four Tet, Kieran Hebden has made a name for himself with his often abstract, slow-building electronic arrangements—the kind of songs artists put behind their stop-motion YouTube videos. Besides his original stuff, he also remixes tracks by indie bands such as Radiohead, Tegan and Sara, and Andrew Bird. He’ll be showing off a little of everything at U Street Music Hall, which is celebrating two years of being open this week.
9 PM at U Street Music Hall, $20.
Wednesday, March 14
They’ve been through countless lineup changes, but at least part of Jefferson Starship is still around and touring. As Jefferson Airplane they were the first really huge San Francisco band, opening the door for groups such as the Grateful Dead before they spun off into Jefferson Starship in the early ’70s. It’s not Woodstock, but the Hamilton’s live show space will do.
6:30 PM at the Hamilton, $48.50.
Despite Washington’s rich hardcore history, it’s been a while since we’ve had a band worth talking about. In the few short months since their formation, Pharmacists have been making waves, and their first EP will be available at Wednesday’s DC9 show.
Doors at 8 PM at DC9, $8.
