Fleet Foxes
Sunday, May 15, D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 7:30 p.m. doors

This concert is on the same day the residence halls close. Stay one more night to see Fleet Foxes! Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. on the 9:30 Club website. This is sure to sell out way ahead of the concert date. Fleet Foxes will release their second album, Helplessness Blues May 3rd. The album’s title track is already out now.

Lady Gaga
Thursday, February 24, Verizon Center (SOLD OUT, $115+ on StubHub), 8 p.m.

Lady Gaga stops in DC on the last leg of her year and half long Monster Ball Tour. The pop star is currently promoting her upcoming new album Born This Way, which will be released on May 23rd. Semi Precious Weapons are opening.

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Chromeo
Sunday, February 6, 9:30 Club ($25), doors at 7 p.m.

Chromeo is a dance music duo known for its retro stylings and near copycat influence from 80s stars Hall and Oates. Leave your high-brow at home and suit up for some yacht rock. This night is their second date, since their first show sold out so quickly. Hits include “Momma’s Boy” and “Bonafied Lovin.”

Talib Kweli
Tuesday, February 22, Black Cat ($20, on sale this Friday), doors at 8 p.m.

Talib Kweli is an MC from from New York City who has received critical acclaim for conscious, Afrocentric lyrics. His latest release, Gutter Rainbows, was released this Tuesday. The concert is labelled as the album’s release party. Over his career he has released collaborative work with artists as Mos Def, Madlib, and Hi-Tek.

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Concretes

Tuesday, January 25, Rock N Roll Hotel ($14), doors at 8:00 p.m.

Concretes are an indie pop band from Stockholm, Sweden. With eight band members who play horns and strings, their music is notably orchestral. Even if you haven’t heard of Concretes, you may already have heard their music, which has been featured in add campaigns for Target, and in the soundtracks major motion pictures.

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The B-52s
Wednesday, January 19, 9:30 Club ($45), doors at 7 p.m.

The B-52s have been legendary for their campy antics since their inception in 1976. “Love Shack” and “Rock Lobster” rank 243rd and 146th respectively on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Besides, how many more opportunities will you have to hear them live?

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The Walkmen w/ Tennis
Friday, December 3, 9:30 Club (sold out), doors at 8 p.m.

The Walkmen came up through the New York rock scene with a fresh sound filled with chords, beats, and vocals like you’ve never heard before. The Walkmen’s music is world-weary, yet genuinely dramatic. While they made it big in the New York garage rock scene their personal style is far from grunge. They keep things innovative by mixing classical instruments (such as the upright piano) with new sounds and adaptations. Rock fans should not miss this concert.

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WGTB presents Best Coast
Saturday, November 20, Bulldog Alley ($5), doors at 8:30 p.m.

The Los Angeles band Best Coast released its debut album Crazy For You in July. This beach-pop concert will make you temporarily forget the chilly temperatures, impending snow, and lack of daylight. Best Coast has an unrefined sound drawing influence from 60s girl groups and post punk bands. Their raw and fuzzy sound makes their lyrics incomprehensible, but the words “love”, “boyfriend”, “miss”, “weed”, and “cats” often make their way to the surface.

For more information, check out WGTB’s Facebook event.

The Frames
Sunday, November 21, 9:30 Club ($25), doors at 7 p.m.

Formed in 1990, The Frames is one of Ireland’s biggest indie rock bands with a sound comparable to Coldplay. They are doing a twentieth anniversary tour as a part of (RED)NIGHTS, which donates $2 from every ticket purchase to benefit the global (RED) fund. Buy you ticket as soon as possible because the Frames typically play sold-out concerts.

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Kokayi w. the Rising Suns, DJ Beach, and Sea Dog
Friday, November 12, Bulldog Alley (free with GOCard), doors at 10 p.m.

This Friday, the Georgetown Alternative Music Series presents Kokayi, a local Grammy-nominated emcee, producer, singer, and songwriter. Kokayi’s music combines elements of hip-hop, punk, rock, funk, and electro. D.C. student bands Sea Dog and the Rising Suns will open the show, while DJ Beach will spin throughout the night.

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Umphrey’s McGee

Friday and Saturday, November 5 and 6, 9:30 Club ($25), doors at 10 p.m.

In the mood for some late-1990s prog rock?

Umphrey’s McGee, an improvising band with songs that often trail past the ten-minute mark, is known for its unique concerts. (The band often asks for track recommendations from the crowd, for example.) In the tradition of Phish and the Grateful Dead—while drawing influences heavy metal, jazz, bluegrass, and country—Umphrey’s McGee adds a unique twist to traditional jam band fare.

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The Hood Internet w. Rafter and Stout Cortez

Friday, April 23, Bulldog Alley ($3), doors at 8:30 p.m.

WGTB presents another concert for your indie-loving, hipster friend. Starting with the Voice’s own Justin Hunter Scott (a.k.a. Stout Cortez), and ending with Chicago-based mash-up specialists The Hood Internet, it’ll be the hottest dance party in Leavey tonight.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone w. Magical Beautiful

Sunday, April 25, Black Cat ($10), doors at 9 p.m.

Owen Ashworth’s solo project has churned out albums for over a decade, with no end in sight. Check out Casiotone’s excellent Daytrotter sessions for a taste of what to expect next Sunday at the Black Cat.

Phoenix

Monday, April 26, DAR Constitution Hall (Sold Out), doors at 8 p.m.

“Dude! I fucking love that song on that one Cadillac commercial! I can’t get it out of my he—wait, the band that did it is playing next Monday? At D.A.R. Constitution Hall? Will they bring the Caddy?”

Shout Out Louds w. Freelance Whales

Sunday, May 5, 9:30 Club ($15), doors at 7 p.m.

Why not celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Swedish band that has no ties whatsoever to Mexico? For those curious about Shout Out Louds’ most recent album, Work, Nico Dodd’s got a solid review for you.

Hot Chip w. The xx

Saturday, April 24, 9:30 Club (Sold Out), doors at 7 p.m.

On this beautiful Friday afternoon, I’m in no mood to finish this post. Take it away, Justin Hunter Scott. (Or, download The xx/Notorious BIG mashup that Scott Munro plugged weeks ago.) Now go the hell outside.

Third Eye Blind w. Super Mash Bros. and Joshua James

Saturday, April 10, McDonough Gymnasium ($15—$30), doors at 9 p.m.

If you haven’t been through Red Square this afternoon, consider yourself lucky. GPB kids were out in droves, handing out fliers and talking up this Saturday’s Spring kick-off concert. Who cares if Third Eye Blind, Super Mash Bros., and Joshua James are the most ill-fitting, unlikely trio of artists to grace McDonough—at least it won’t be Coolio.

U.S. Air Guitar Championships — D.C. Regional

Saturday, April 10, 930 Club ($20), doors at 8 p.m.

Yes, air guitar. You know, the way people used to pretend to be rock stars before Guitar Hero came out. Don’t knock it until you try it—last year’s D.C. regional led to an air-off between eventual co-champions Sanjar the Destroyer and The Shred. But who will emerge as D.C.’s greatest faux-ax legend this time around?

Nickelback w. Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown

Tuesday, April 13, Verizon Center ($42.50—$77.50), doors at 6:30 p.m.

I’ll let Vox commenter Chad Kroeger handle this one:

As the front man of a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award nominated and Canadian Kidz-Bop-appropriate rock band, I feel I have the responsibility to strongly urge all Georgetown students to attend this leg of the Dark Horse Tour. I realize that April is busy for Georgetown students—you’ve got papers and you’ll probably still be recovering from the irrelevancy of Third Eye Blind—but I can personally guarantee you that this show will change your life.

I mean, if seeing me belt out “What if Today was Your Last Day” doesn’t cause you to reconsider every choice you’ve made in your life, then you really have no hope. And I can’t forget about the scathing cultural criticism of a song like “Rock Star.” I heard you Georgetown kids like scathing cultural criticism, so be sure to come out. Then there’s the timeless “Photograph,” which has literally caused fans to cry blood when they saw it live. (We even have a slideshow of old photographs behind us when we play it!)

Plus, if you’re looking for a more melodramatic brand of mediocrity, look no further my opening acts, Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown. Have you heard “45?” It’s the song I would have written had I grown up on the mean streets of Jacksonville, Florida. I’m Canadian, though, so we know not such misery. Anyways, I need to wrap up so I’ll just conclude with a solemn promise I will make to the Georgetown community: At one point in the show, I will take off my shirt. Now that’s a situation!

With a sincere invitation to rock out and change your life,

Chad

Beatallica w. Borracho

Monday, April 19, Black Cat Backstage ($10), doors at 9 p.m.

Beatallica, as its name suggests, is a Beatles cover band with a flair for the soothing heavy-metal sounds of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett. The concert will be better than St. Anger and absolutely better than anything Yoko Ono touches, but I think I’ll hold off on cover band mash-ups until some courageous musician forms The Rolling N.W.A.