FRIDAY
The fall music scene kicks into overdrive this weekend with a full slate of shows, starting with the ubiquitous Coldplay at Nissan Pavilion. Tickets are scarce, but avoid the parking mess by getting out of work early and catching openers and indie darlings Rilo Kiley.
Well-respected Americana vet Alejandro Escovedo comes to 9:30 Club with an orchestra to fill out his lush country masterpieces. Roots rock legend Jon Dee Graham and celebrated rock journalist / punk innovator Lenny Kaye warm up the crowd.
On Black Catâ??s mainstage, world fusion stars Zap Mama filter music from around the world into a fascinating and completely unique a cappella sound. Hotly tipped neo-soul newcomers Platinum Pied Pipers open.
At Iota tonight, Aaron Espinozaâ??s Earlimart carries on the tortured and brooding spirit of deceased singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. If youâ??re trying to avoid tears in your beer, head farther up Wilson Blvd. to Clarendon Grill for U2 tribute band 2U.
From rollicking bop to gritty jazz-funk fusion to radio-friendly smooth jazz, pianist Joe Sample, performing at the Birchmere, has played nearly every imaginable jazz style over the last half-century.
SATURDAY
After three days of music, the first annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival culminates today at the National Mallâ??s Sylvan Amphitheatre with a marathon free concert beginning at noon and featuring a diverse lineup including the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and local go-go great Chuck Brown.
9:30 Club hosts an early show with baby boomer favorite and alternative folkie Dar Williams. Doors to the club re-open at 10pm for NYC dance quartet Brazilian Girls, who mix dozens of styles into a quirky and oddly infectious mix.
Trance master and Glow resident DJ Armin Van Buuren comes to Fur for an action packed evening on the dance floor.
Iota hosts an afternoon benefit show for Red Cross Hurricane Relief with local artists donating their talents and time. A suggested donation of $10 gains entrance to see Jon Kaplan of the Bicycle Thieves, Maurice Magnum of Evenout and countless other DC-area musicians.
SUNDAY
Constant touring and regular releases of exceptional records have taken the Decemberists on a meteoric rise to the top of the indie world. Donâ??t fret if you missed out on tickets to this sold-out 9:30 Club show, Colin Meloy and his merry band of literature majors will surely be back to the area soon.
Legendary UK punks New Model Army, named after Cromwellâ??s 1600s-era anti-royalist militia, were one of the great 80s British post-punk groups who never broke big on this side of the pond. At Black Cat with Elkland, NMA havenâ??t lost any of their virtuous fury.
Robbers on High Street are one in a long line of hipster bands flowing out of trendy New York City clubs to conquer the great unknown over the Hudson River. At the gloriously un-hip Iota tonight, Robbers do show some spark in their take on the getting-tired 80s post-punk revival style.
