Reasons to Leave Home, May 1 - 7
This week offers plenty of Reasons to Leave Home, though they’re mostly at commercial venues. If you want to see it all you might have to scrounge around for some change under the couch or just find a convincing DJ costume (note: please don’t actually try that).
First, tune into 97.5 Radio CPR tonight for a very special episode of 20k Under DC. Sean Peoples of Sockets Records will be on the program during the first hour to discuss the label and play some tunes. Online streaming is still down, but we’re sure someone in your neighborhood has a terrestrial radio. As always, things get started at 9:00.
On Wednesday, abject-pop band Xiu Xiu brings its unique blend of self-loathing and uncomfortable lyrics to the Rock and Roll Hotel. Dirty Beaches, a band V. Paschall of the DCist accurately describes as “Elvis Presley through a Suicide filter,” opens. Show at 8:00; $15. Across town Casa Fiesta hosts Metal Wednesday with Ilsa, Zruda, Auroboros. We don’t know how long this has been going on, but a tacos and guitar shredding seems like a better mid-week pick-me-up than any number of happy hours. Show at 7:00; $5.
Thursday night offers another chance to catch local favorite’s Hume, this time at the Black Cat. Manic sound collagist Co La opens. We caught this one-man act a few months ago at Subterranean A, and it was pretty heady, intricate, and fantastic — but what else would you expect from a former member of Ecstatic Sunshine? Also on the bill is the Brooklyn psychedelic drone outfit The Dreebs. Doors at 8:00; $10. Also happening Thursday: Ugly Purple Sweater take the stage at Rock and Roll Hotel with Philly seven-piece Southwork and the rambunctious Presto Bando. Show at 8:00; $10.
On Friday, H Street once again corners the market on indie rock. Psych-rock superstars Acid Mothers Temple headline at Red Palace; local act Buildings supports with some soaring, complex guitar work of its own. Show at 8:30; $12. For a quieter night, head back to Rock and Roll Hotel for the icy dream-pop of Lower Dens. Show at 8:00; $10.
If you’re not tired out yet, on Saturday you can catch the multifarious sounds and textures of Weed Tree at Paperhaus. If you missed this duo’s appearance at the Back Alley Theater because of the monsoon-like conditions a few weeks ago, this is your chance to make up for it. Also taking the stage is The Torches, Br’er, and Deep Chatham. Weed Tree will probably be the outlier here: The rest of the bill takes its cues from a traditional/Americana tradition as opposed to joining Weed Tree out on experimental limbs. Show at 8:00.
