Nothing beats your favorite band singing your favorite song directly to you – and well, 500 other people. A concert is far more than trying to catch the attention of the lead singer, it’s the ability to hear and see the music with all the passion and emotion with which the artist(s) wrote it. We’ve all been to concerts and been disappointed by the realization of how much digital correction happens in the studio, or how much makeup the artists wear, but then there are some artists that sound exponentially better live, which makes all the other let-downs worth it. This spring, stop making excuses and change up your weekly schedule. Collegiette™ to collegiette™, here are some shows and venues in the district that won’t disappoint you.
U Street’s 9:30 Club always has quite the line-up of popular bands and this spring is no different. It’s a great venue with reasonable prices and a more intimate feel than a bigger stadium or theater. You’ll want to check out their site to find the most up to date info and schedule, but here are some recommendations of bands that will put on a fantastic show at the 9:30! You can buy tickets from the club’s website (subject to a service fee) and directly at the club box office.
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The People and Things Tour featuring Jack’s Mannequin along with Jukebox the Ghost and Allen Stone
- Date: February 10th and 11th (11th is already sold out!)
- Time: 6:30 pm
- Price: $30.50
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“Next Big Thing” – For something a little different, this is a all day show (come and go as you please) that features 20+ local alternative and punk bands
- Date: February 19th
- Time: 11:00 am
- Price: $15 – can be purchased day of show only
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O.A.R. Extended Stay – $0.50 of each ticket goes to the Heard the World Fund, which was created by O.A.R. to support education, youth, and sustainable programs in the U.S. and abroad.
- Date: February 28th, 29th (both sold out) and March 1st
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Price: $40.50
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The Ting Tings
- Date: April 12
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Price: $25
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Hot Chelle Rae w/Action Item & Electric Touch
- Date: April 11th
- Time: 6:00 pm
- Price: $15
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M83
- Date: May 12th
- Time: 11:00 pm
- Price: $25
Another venue that I trust for a good spring concert line-up is the Black Cat also in the U Street neighborhood. This venue likes to showcase all types of local, national, and international indie and alternative artists. These are my picks, but be sure to check out their website for the full schedule and maybe discover some new artists!
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White Rabbits w/ Tennis
- Date: March 7th
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Price: $18
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Say Anything w/ Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band along with Fake Problems and Tallheart
- Date: April 17th
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Price: $18 advance / $21 at doors
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Chairlift w/ Nite Jewel at U Street Music Hall
- Date: April 21st
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Price: $13
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Boxer Rebellion
- Date: April 24th
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Price: $16
For bigger shows, the Verizon Center has a few noteworthy performers, but with a bigger venue, you are going to pay more. If you can afford to get seats, theses two shows will definitely be worth your time and money.
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The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys
- Date: March 9th
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Price: $82 & up
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Van Halen
- Date: March 28th
- Time: 7:30 pm
- Price: $56 & up
If you’re not into big name artists and would rather sip espresso and listen to a local acoustic guitarist, you might want to check out Afterwords Café at Kramer Books in Dupont Circle. They feature live entertainment every night! Some other noteworthy concert venues in the district are The Kennedy Center, which features an array of symphony orchestras, ballets, and dance performances this season. You should also check out the schedule for The Warner Theater, near the Archives Metro stop, which is featuring Rodrigo y Gabriela on April 25th!
So this semester, change up your usual schedule and go discover what the DC concert scene has to offer!