If I could go to one or two or maybe three shows a night, this is what I would get to: 

May 29 - Sol Roots with Phil Wiggins at JVs - I've heard a lot about Sol Roots in this town but have yet to see him perform. Check out this review of his latest single, "Forgiveness," featuring Phil Wiggins and then go check him out live.

May 30 - Japanese Breakfast at the 9:30 Club - experimental pop, lo-fi heart and amazingness. Catch Japanese Breakfast live after checking out this amazing song and their NPR Tiny Desk concert.

May 31 - BOOMscat w/ The CooLots at Union Stage - I've been hearing about this dynamic DC duo and am really excited to finally see them live. Conceived in 2012, BOOMscat is made up of keyboardist/drummer/producer, Asha Santee (BOOM), and vocalist/songwriter Jennifer Patience Rowe (scat). As described on their website, together they, "...create a sound that ignites vulnerability, elevation and self-reflection. The mind requires emotional meditation. BOOMscat is the method. Press play." And to that I say, yes. Yes I will. 

June 1 - Kendrick Lamar, SZA & Schoolboy Q at Liffy Lube Live - You have the chance to see, hear, and feel Grammy and Pulitzer winning Kendrick Lamar, joined by SZA & Schoolboy Q, on a tour that Rolling Stone says, "shines." Do it. 

June 1 - John Prine & Margo Price at Wolf Trap - "Two-time Grammy-winner John Prine is among America’s premier phrase-turners with songs like “Angel From Montgomery” and “In Spite of Ourselves.” The post-Dylan musician is “one of the most critically acclaimed singer-songwriters of the last 50 years” (Los Angeles Times). At this special performance, he is joined by “one of Nashville’s biggest new stars” (Pitchfork), Margo Price."

June 1 - The OSYX with FuzzQueen, More AM Than FM, Honey Kill, RadaR at the Dew Drop Inn - The OSYX is a new, all-women, fierce, focused, and flat-out incredible band made up of members from the other bands performing on the bill. It's as if you took your top five super heroines and formed the most badass band ever. Go see this show. Support local music. I went to their rehearsal and was jaw-dropped the entire time. They are ready to pounce. 

June 1 and 2 - Life on Mars with Squaring the Circle on June 1 at the Broadberry (Richmond) and June 2 at Gypsy Sally's (DC) - Life on Mars is a Richmond-based cover band that performs all David Bowie songs from the 60’s to the present. That's the facts. Here's the feels: I love this band I love this band I love this band. Okay yes, I love Bowie, but I am VERY picky about how Bowie is covered and this band gets it right for me every single time. Prepare yourself for a night of immense fun with covers that pay incredible homage to the original. All the members of this band are gracious, connected to the audience, and committed. And joining them is the impeccable quartet Squaring The Circle, hailing from Baltimore, MD, who offers organic original jazz, blues, and funk  with a taste for the experimental jam. 

June 2 - Radiohead Tribute + Planned Parenthood Benefit concert at the Black Cat - As mentioned above, this Saturday night, dozens of DC’s top musicians unite to perform an evening of Radiohead to benefit Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington organized by DC's electro-funk, gritty psychedelic rock band Staycation. This is set to be a fully-immersive audio and visual experience, featuring a rotating cast of all-female lead singers and a backing band comprised exclusively of DC-area artists. (For more information about the show, check out this article and also the DCMR interview with two of the key organizers Stephanie Sasarak and Nikhel Sus about their plans for the concert.) If you want to support the local chapter of Planned Parenthood AND an insanely talented line-up of dedicated, local artists, this is the place to be.

June 2 - Primus/Mastodon at Pier Six Pavilion -- And if you're in Baltimore on June 2, do what I did and read  this review by Ming Lee Newcomb about the Primus/Mastodon show, start drooling, and get a ticket. 

And there are SO MANY more shows to see. Check out the calendar below to see ALL the DCMR staff picks and featured events for the week, including Revelator Hill, The Dirty Grass Players, Dirty Projectors, Don Zientara with nah. and Jackie & The Treehorns, The OSYX, Fuzz Queen, More AM Than FM, Honey Kill, RadaR, Booker T. Jones, Gina Sobel, The North Country, Taj Mahal, Pimps of Joytime, Chopteeth Afrofunk, Sunflower Beam with The Nude Party, Covered With Jam, Better Off Dead, John Fogerty with ZZ Top, Pacific Dub, Shamans of Sound, and much more!