Thursday, April 1 Two If By Sea, The Dresden Dolls Black Cat Backstage, $7 1811 14th St. NW 9:00 p.m.
For those who just can't get enough of the Black Cat, check out the Dresden Dolls at the backstage venue on Thursday night. The duo of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione bring a spectacle of a show that's part punk rock, part German Cabaret. Also on the bill is rock band Two If By Sea.
Friday, April 2 Defiance Ohio, The Max Levine Ensemble Notasquat Basement, $5 4600 8th St. NW
It's a night of D.C. favorites with Defiance Ohio and The Max Levine Ensemble, and a plethora of other homegrowns. The Max Levine ensemble is a rock band far too large to boast as much as they do, but not to worry - they pack an energetic show. Watch out for drummer Mat Lewis - he's about to break into the big time with his traveling ventriloquism show. Word for the wise: when venturing over to the Notasquat House, take a buddy. Unless you run with gangs.
National Cherry Blossom Festival Chamber Music Program St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Free 6th St. & Maine Ave. NW 7:30 p.m.
Selected chamber works will be performed at St. Augustine's Epsicopal Church in honor of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. If you haven't taken the opportunity to check out the festivities on the National Mall, this is as good a reason as any. While the official Web site will not cite which selections are being played, classical music enriches the soul. Take note of one other key word: free.
Saturday, April 3 Smash Imperialism! Dance Party Supreme Imperial, $6 223 Pearl St., Baltimore 10 p.m.
For everyone with access to our neighbors to the north (Baltimore), semi-sketchy warehouse venue Supreme Imperial is hosting a dance party featuring a number of local DJs. A portion of this event's proceeds will go toward an organization called "CAGE," which stands for "Coalition Against Global Exploitation," so get your socially conscious groove on to the turntable stylings of DJs Cullen Stalin, Low Budget and Major Taylor. Featured genres include rock, electronica, hip-hop and more.
Sunday, April 4 Fantomas, Melt Banana Black Cat Mainstage, $17 1811 14th St. NW 8:30 p.m.
Fantomas and Melt Banana will be arriving at the Black Cat on Sunday to deliver a night of "challenging" music. If you aren't interested in anything easy enough to get your brain around on the first listen, check out these bands. Fantomas finds their home on Ipecac Records, also home to Dalek, and Melt Banana finds their home in the shadowy corners of men's hearts.
