FRIDAY
Singer/songwriter Nanci Griffith doesn??t push the envelope, but has picked up legions of adoring fans over the last three decades. Finishing up the last gig of a completely sold-out three-night stand tonight at the Birchmere, Griffith remains one of the biggest draws in the folk scene.
New York City new wave vets the Fleshtones may inspire a rare spectacle tonight at Iota ?? a local rock audience engaged in unabashed dancing. The retro garage-rock / rockabilly group are still cranking out energy-charged tunes nearly 30 years after their inception.
Local promoters MN8 are hosting a Masquerade Ball at Black Cat??s mainstage with dynamic Latin funk / dance group Los Amigos Invisibles and DJ Afro.
9:30 Club opens its doors at 4pm today for a Christian punk-pop After School Special featuring MxPx, Relient K, Rufio, and Over It. After kicking out the presumably well-behaved high schoolers, doors re-open at 10pm for a more-mature bill sponsored by VH1 Soul featuring Philly neo-soul acts Jaguar Wright and Kindred the Family Soul.
If you??re a fan of challenging avant-garde music, this weekend holds many treats thanks to the second 20 Buck Spin Festival, beginning tonight at Warehouse Next Door with doom metal favorites Unearthly Trance and other solid psych-metal groups like Mouthus and Test-Site.
SATURDAY
The 20 Buck Spin Festival continues tonight at DC9 with another big-time lineup of stoner rock featuring local heavy-hitters Wooly Mammoth, Distant Sun, RPG and many more. Doors open at 5pm and cover is only $12 for nine bands.
For a completely different concert experience, cross U street to 9:30 Club for Z104??s Bosom Ball. For those of you whose music collection hasn??t changed much since 1997, bands like Hootie & the Blowfish, Better Than Ezra, and Vertical Horizon will be good comfort food.
Post-hardcore group Medications, at Black Cat??s mainstage tonight, consists of former Faraquet members and other Dischord vets. Backstage at Black Cat is Razzmatazz, a Britpop costume party. Just don??t show up as Liam Gallagher, the costume??s been claimed.
DC knows how to celebrate Halloween, and the Foggy Bottom Nightmare on M Street pub crawl is always a good bet. Conscientious rapper Common hosts H20??s Halloween party and many local bars are hosting costume contests and slashing drink prices.
SUNDAY
Hanson is back. No, really. We have the band of brothers to thank for kicking off the teen-pop craze of the late 90s, but they??ve since tried to re-invent themselves as an indie pop collective. We??re sure the screams will be just as loud at the sold-out 9:30 Club tonight as they were eight years ago. Vanilla-rock locals Pat McGee Band open.
Kanye ??George Bush Doesn??t Care About Black People? West rode a wave of controversy to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and reap resounding success for his sophomore effort Late Registration. Kanye takes his politics and hook-filled hip-hop to the Patriot Center with American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino.
The 20 Buck Spin Festival comes to a close tonight at DC9 with psychedelic Japanese freaks DMBQ headlining featuring equally outrageous An Albatross and local indie group the Apes in support.
