Events Calendar
|
Latest Issue
|
Membership
|
Log In Sign Up
  • Play

    Play

    • A Beginner’s Guide to Soccer
    • You Spin Me Right Round: D.C. Roller Skating 101 in 2021
    • Leading the League: The WNBA’s Natasha Cloud on Breaking Barriers + Inspiring D.C.
    • Spring Has Sprung: 10 Ways To Get Outside in the DMV
    • Play Week Combines Games + Social Impact
    • High and Go Seek Illustration
    • O Captain, My Captain: Washington Spirit’s Andi Sullivan
  • Life

    Life

    • Local Entrepreneurs Infuse CBD into Wellness
    • 19 Entrepreneurs Shaping D.C.’s Cannabis + CBD Industries
    • Upcycling in D.C.: Transforming a Culture of Consumption
    • The Green Issue: Experts + Advocates Make Case for Cannabis Legalization + Decriminalization
    • The District Derp Story
    • Grassfed Media Champions Cannabis Clients
    • Nat Geo Explorer Gabrielle Corradino on Plankton, the Anacostia + Conservation
  • Eat

    Eat

    • The State of Takeout in the District
    • A New Twist on Food Delivery: MisenBox
    • Next-Level Home Dining Experiences in D.C.
    • Foxtrot Market Is Officially Open for Business in Georgetown
    • Food Rescue + Assistance Programs Fill the Gaps in a Pandemic Food System
    • Hungry Harvest Helps to End Food Insecurity
    • Notable Summer Bar + Restaurant Reopenings to Try this Spring
  • Drink

    Drink

    • Pandemic Drinking: Derek Brown Leads the Way to Low-ABV Future
    • D.C.’s St. Vincent Wine Creates Covid-Conscious Experience
    • A New Way to Binge: Sobriety Anchors Business + Being for Gigi Arandid
    • King’s Ransom + The Handover in Alexandria Celebrate a First Year Like No Other
    • Wines of the World Are Just Around the Corner
    • Open-Air Drinking + Cocktail Delivery Changes in the DMV
    • Denizens Brewing Co.’s Emily Bruno: Brewing Change for Community + Industry
  • Culture

    Culture

    • The Artistry Behind D.C.’s Cannabis Culture
    • The Best Movies of 2021…So Far
    • The Survival of the Brutalist: D.C.’s Complicated Concrete Legacy
    • Plain Sight: A Street-Front Revolution in Radical Arts Accessibility
    • A Touch of Danger in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Romeo & Juliet”
    • Artgence + Homme: Where There’s Art, There’s a Story to Share
    • 21 D.C. Makers + Curators to Follow
  • Music

    Music

    • Emma G Talks Wammie Nominations and the D.C. Music Community
    • J’Nai Bridges: A Modern Mezzo-Soprano in a Changing Opera Landscape
    • Punk Legends The Go-Go’s Talk Four Decades of Sisterhood, Resilience + Zero Fucks Given
    • Ellen Reid “Soundwalk:” Exploring the Sonic Landscape at Wolf Trap
    • SHAED Releases First Full-Length Album in a “High Dive” of Faith
    • Obama + Springsteen Present “Renegades”
    • Christian Douglas Uses His “Inside Voice” on Pandemic-Inspired Debut Album
  • Events

    Events

    • Play Week 4.17-4.25
    • Midnight at The Never Get 4.30-6.21
    • Cannabis City Panel Presented by BĀkT DC + District Fray
    • Browse Events
    • DC Polo Society Summer Sundays 5.9
    • National Cannabis Festival’s Dazed & Amused Drive-In Party
    • Vinyl + Vinyasa 4.30
  • Log In
    Sign Up

Log In Sign Up
Explore All Four Quadrants of the District
QB Jordan Ta’amu Leading D.C. Defenders to Dream Season
Disruptively Weird: Anthony Le’s “Golden Looking Hour” Exhibit
Reboot Beverages Brings Whiskey Back to Mt. Pleasant
True Luxury: Afternoon Tea in D.C.
The Kennedy Center’s RiverRun Festival Inspires Aliveness
Home » Articles » Music » Big Show, Little Show: Your D.C. Concert Roundup // 2.11-2.22

Music

shows Tommi Tsunami. Photo courtesy of subject.

Big Show, Little Show: Your D.C. Concert Roundup // 2.11-2.22

Share:

February 10, 2022 @ 5:00pm | Brandon Wetherbee

There’s a great show every night in D.C. In fact, there are multiple great concerts every night in D.C. Unfortunately, some folks only care about the big ones. We’re here to let you know about the smaller, just as worthwhile gigs. Here are 10 shows over the next two weeks that should get you from the stadium to the tiny club. 

1. If you’re going to Hot In Herre: 2000s Dance Party at 9:30 Club on February 11, you might like Seven Nation Army at DC9 on February 11

Does your taste in music from the 2000s sway more Nelly or New Pornographers? Black Eyed Peas or Bloc Party? Gwen Stefani or Gwen Stefani (both pop and alt-rock claim her)? Either way, you have very good dance party options this Friday night in D.C. Whether you want to spend $16 to dance to “Hollaback Girl” in the large 9:30 Club or $5 to dance to “Hella Good” on the cozy DC9 dance floor, you’ll most likely hear Gwen Stefani this weekend near the corner of 9th and U. 

Hot In Herre. 9 p.m. All ages. $16. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club
Seven Nation Army. 11 p.m. 21+. Free in advance, $5 day of. DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; dc9.club // @dc9club


2. If you’re going to K. Flay at 9:30 Club on February 16, you might like Magdalena Bay at Black Cat on February 19

K. Flay creates dramatic rock-influenced electronic pop. Her vocals are reminiscent of Sia mixed with Kesha. Her newest work, specifically “Four Letter Words,” sounds like the harder edge of the aforementioned artists. Magdalena Bay creates dramatic rock-influenced electronic pop. Mica Tenenbaum’s vocals are reminiscent of Halsey mixed with Billie Eilish. Their newest work, specifically “Secrets (Your Fire)” sounds like if the Spice Girls were stripped down into a solo artist. It’s difficult to find two more similar performances locally in the next two weeks. Both acts are sure to evoke impromptu dance breakouts among the crowd in their respective venues. 

K.Flay. 7 p.m. All ages. $25. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club
Magdalena Bay. 8 p.m. All ages. Sold out. Secondary market tickets start at $72. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc


3. If you’re going to Tedeschi Trucks Band at Warner Theatre on February 17-19, you might like Stripmall Ballads at Songbyrd on February 12

Tedeschi Trucks Band is a 12-member touring juggernaut, sharing the same musical traditions as the Allman Brothers Band and the North Mississippi Allstars. They make American music, full of guitar and keyboard solos — and more guitar solos. It’s music rooted in seemingly every form of acoustic music and appeals to seemingly every type of jam band fan. On the other hand, Stripmall Ballads is one guy, Phillips Saylor Wisor. He does not have a 12-member band behind him. For this show though, Wisor will have a full band performing his 2021 Wammie Award-winning album “Distant.” The record won Best Folk Album. Tedeschi Trucks Band is not folk but steeped in folk traditions. If Stripmall Ballads did have 11 more musicians surrounding him, it might sound less like folk and more like blues. Either way, the musical traditions between these acts are evident in the songwriting, just maybe not in size. 

Tedeschi Trucks Band. 8 p.m. All ages. Tickets starts at $39. Warner Theatre: 513 13th St. NW, DC; warnertheatredc.com // @warnertheatre
Stripmall Ballads. 7 p.m. All ages. $12-$15. Songbyrd: 540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc


4. If you’re going to Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt at The Anthem on February 19, you might like Tommi Tsunami at The Pocket on February 17

Action Bronson is hands down, the best living chef turned rapper. No contest. Related, he does have some of the best food-related raps today (79% of his songs contain references to food). This recommendation doesn’t have anything else to do with food, it’s just difficult to think about Action without thinking of his former career and current television show “Fuck, That’s Delicious.” Earl Sweatshirt is hands down, the best rapper from Odd Future that released an album in 2022 (his newest, “Sick,” is great and fellow Odd Future member Tyler, The Creator’s “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” was released in 2021). The 10 song, 24-minute record is all killer, no filler. The Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt double bill is a great pairing of two somewhat different rappers. Tommi Tsunami is sharing a bill at The Pocket but she’s the reason we’re writing about the show. More Earl than Action, her most recent release “MBG (Take Time)” has the confidence and introspection of Earl. 

Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt. 8 p.m. All ages. $35-$55. The Anthem: 901 Wharf St. SW, DC; theanthemdc.com // @theanthemdc
Tommi Tsunami. 8 p.m. All ages. $12-$15. The Pocket: 1508 North Capitol St. NW, DC; 7drumcity.com // @thepocket_dc


5. If you’re going to Tool at Capital One Arena on February 22, you might like The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble at Rhizome on February 16

Disclaimer: We’re not recommending this for the metalheads, we’re recommending it for everything else. If you omit Maynard James Keenan from the group, Tool makes incredibly intricate jam band music for people that tend to dismiss jam bands (more songs on their newest record clock in over 10 minutes than under). A modern-day Rush, Tool is not afraid of going long in different time signatures. Hell, if you listen to the first 2 minutes of Tool’s most lauded record, 2019’s “Fear Inoculum,” you might think it’s the group playing at Rhizome on February 16. The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble makes incredibly long grooves the listener can get lost inside. The trio was founded by percussionist Kahil El’Zabar in 1976 and the drum foundation is evident in what they’re making today. Quite similar to Tool, they are not afraid of going long in different time signatures.

Tool. 7:30 p.m. All ages. $59.50-$399.50. Capital One Arena: capitalonearena.com // @capitalonearena
The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. 7 p.m. All ages. $25. Rhizome: 6950 Maple St. NW, DC; rhizomedc.org // @rhizome_dc

Enjoy this piece? Consider becoming a member for access to our premium digital content. Support local journalism and start your membership today.

Share:

Related Articles

No Articles

DISTRICT FRAY MEMBERSHIPS

District Fray members receive unlimited access to our digital content, including new articles published daily. We also have membership options available for locals interested in our print magazine, member events, or first-access tickets and giveaways.

Join Today
COMPANY
About United Fray Team Hiring: Join Our Team!
GET INVOLVED
Become A Member 2023 Media Kit 2023 Editorial Calendar Corporate Wellness Contact: Media Pitches + Advertising Inquiries
EXPLORE
Eat Drink Music Culture Life Play Events Calendar
OUR CITIES
Washington D.C. Jacksonville Phoenix
Subscribe

By clicking submit, you agree to receive emails from District Fray and accept our web terms of use and privacy and cookie policy.

© 2023 District Fray.