No Cover: Hip-Hop, Jazz and Harry Potter
February 18, 2013
The good thing about these articles is that I have to do research for “No Cover” on Sunday night instead of Tuesday night. The bad thing about these articles is that I start working on them on Sunday night. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised when I hopped on to the City Paper’s concert calendar to check out what was going on this week.
There are some great concerts happening and way more free shows than usual. Take these suggestions and party the week away. It’s not like you’re trying to earn a degree or anything!
Monday:
Harry and the Potters
6:30 p.m., $12
What could be better than Wizard Rock? NOTHING. Head to the Black Cat Backstage to get intimate with the band that launched a genre based entirely around the Harry Potter books. If you like being happy while feeling a little nerdy, then this is a no-brainer. Plus, the last time I saw them there was a ton of audience participation, which can be fun or terrifying (or both).
The Chuck Brown Band
8 p.m., $20-$25
If you live in D.C., you should: a) know who Chuck Brown is; and b) go his tribute band at the Howard Theater tonight! The Godfather of Go-Go is surely missed and not alive at all despite what an earlier version of this article might have said due to distracted editing.
Christylez Bacon, Nistha Raj and Wytold
6 p.m., FREE
While Christylez Bacon’s name may be off-putting (I’m tired of the bacon trend, guys), he’s clearly an incredible beatboxer and a talented hip-hop artist. Also, it’s a free concert! Seeing D.C. artists while spending $0 is always a good plan.
Tuesday:
The Spinto Band, Sun Club, Hurlebaus
8 p.m., $10
Solid (and cheap) indie rock! Listening to The Spinto Band is a vaguely nostalgic experience, while Capital Punishment Showcase alums Sun Club will make you think it’s 90 degrees and the middle of July outside. Take someone who you enjoy dancing with to DC9 and pretend it isn’t so cold outside you feel like you might die (or is that just me?).
Wednesday:
Kenny Rittenhouse Septet
8 p.m./10 p.m., $20
There are a ton of jazz concerts going on in the city every week and our personal goal is to make you go see them. Hit up some hip Georgetown bar and then stumble to Blue’s Alley around 10 p.m. for great jazz and some shelter from M street’s usual clientele.
The Dunwells (6pm, $15)
If you’re itching for some fun and inoffensive Brit-pop than you should probably be buying tickets for The Dunwells immediately. U Street Music Hall’s soundsystem makes any band and DJ sound amazing and their bar menu is unusual to say the least.
Boogie Reflex with All Good Funk Alliance
9 p.m., FREE
Thursday:
MURS, Prof, Fashawn, Black Cloud Music
7:30 p.m., $16
While I still haven’t been able to decipher D.C.’s hip hop scene, there are a bunch of hip hop artists heading to the district this week. If you’re interested, head to DC9 to check out MURS and company and get your hip-hop fix.
M.O.P., Smif-N-Wessun
8 p.m., $20-$23
Even more hip-hop! How could you possibly choose?!? If you want to spend a little more money and go to the swanky Howard Theater check out M.O.P. and Smif-N-Wessun. Props if you’re buy tickets to this and the MURS show and go back and forth from venue to venue.
UNIVERSAL: International Gay Pride Party with DJ Kostas
8 p.m., FREE
More free shows! Go celebrate gay pride and dance the night away for nothing at all. That leaves more than enough money to buy fancy drinks (or sodas, if campus security has swiped your fake).
