Hometown Sounds

Monday 12/30:
The day before the excitement of 2020’s impending arrival, four bands play tonight at Galaxy Hut for “Happy This Year! Music Festival”. See Freddy Hall, Cartesian Theater, Sly Samudre and Drew Jenkinson starting at 9 PM.

Tuesday 12/31:
If you’re still without elaborate, expensive and overrated plans for New Year’s Eve, head to Evening Star Cafe in Del Ray for the 10th (!!) annual NYE show hosted by classic folk rock band The Beanstalk Library, along with very special guests Uptown Boys Choir. There’s no cover charge! You cannot go wrong.

Wednesday 1/01:
In association with the inaugural National Bell Festival that rings bells all over DC on New Year’s Day at 2 PM, Mr. Henry’s hosts a free and super-chill late afternoon show by Griefcat, the sparkly new duo of singer-songwriters Louisa Hall and Nardo Lilly.

Thursday 1/02:
Get a jump on your New Year’s resolution to see more live music this Thursday night with three kick-ass rock bands Thursday night at the Pie Shop. See Company Calls, Ménage À Garage and Venray, and ruin your New Year’s diet with delicious pie too.

Friday 12/27:
Ace #DCmusic photog Roxplosion promises “The Greatest Concert Ever” tonight at Slash Run with RVA band Shagwüf and three fine rock bands from our town, Sheila, More AM Than FM, and the final performance by beloved psychedelic punks Pagan Reagan. Pretty unmissable, we say.

Saturday 12/28:
Sanctuary DMV is a grassroots organization fighting to protect our undocumented sisters and brothers here in the DC area. Support their mission and see Dischord Records newest bands Saturday night at St. Stephen’s Church on Saturday night with a benefit show featuring The Messthetics, Hammered Hulls, Philly’s Rainbow Crimes, and a special set by Blacksmyths/Low Ways Quartet/Janel Leppin. The suggested donation is $10 but bring more if you can afford it.

Sunday 12/29:
Instead of live music, how about a movie? Director Mark Robinson first saw Butch Willis and the Rocks perform in April of 1985 as a high school student opening for seminal DC post-punk band No Trend. He became an instant life-long fan. At a basement show in 1988, he saw a microphone not being used, walked on stage uninvited and started dueting with Butch on the song “The Gardens Outside.” After meeting Butch that night, the two stayed in touch and Butch joined Mark’s Teen-Beat record label in 1989. In 2006, Mark had the idea to create a documentary film about Butch. He started interviewing Butch, Rocks band members, and other primary characters that next year. After years of collecting rare audio and video footage, the film was finally completed in 2019. See a screening of Amateur On Plastic Sunday evening at Songbyrd.

Friday 12/20:
It’s queer DC indie pop night tonight at the Black Cat with sets from Lightmare, Lotion Princess and Born Dad. Sooooo many great show options tonight, but these three bands together are too good to miss.

Saturday 12/21:
College Park indie rock band with the snappy name ¿bruce take nap? celebrates the release of their new album nearing at AdMo’s SongByrd Saturday night along with Dali and Will Kobus.

Sunday 12/22:
Rock, pop-punk and modern ska collidein the mosh pit at the Pie Shop on Sunday night with the all-DC lineup of Accidents, The Can’t Evens and Mona Speaks Mountains.

Monday 12/16:
The fine gents in post-rock band Ice Out will bring all their favorite holiday hits to Clarendon’s Galaxy Hut tonight, with Tyler Garing’s experimental shoegaze-y moniker Lizard Hands opening the show.

Tuesday 12/17:
Jam bandleader Gordon Sterling organizes the final open jam at Georgetown’s Gypsy Sally’s on Tuesday night. Raise a glass and bid a sad farewell to another DC music institution that brought folks of all stripes together.

Wednesday 12/18:
Rhizome’s Wednesday night lineup offers innovative takes on the American Primitive guitar style from Pittsburgh duo Pairdown, Andy McLeod from Staunton VA and Verses Records‘ Doug Kallmeyer, performing a rare moniker-less solo set of pieces written for tenor guitar a decade ago on piccolo bass.

Thursday 12/19:
Listen Local First and Justin Trawick‘s The 9 Singer-Songwriter Showcase return for their 8th annual Holiday Extravaganza show at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. The free show at 6 PM on Thursday features Daphne Eckman, Tula Pisano, Steelosoul Music, Carly Harvey, Grover, Brassie, Abigail Furr, Sara Ghebremichael, and of course Mr. Trawick himself.