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January isn’t known as a great month for live music. It’s frigid out there, and the postholiday recovery time is real. But this January offers a popping lineup of local acts that are keeping the city’s stages warm. Look no further than this weekend for proof: Local bands are headlining at nearly every small venue in town.
Then of course, there’s Mosh Madness, the charity basketball tournament and concert featuring local artists—one of the more out-of-the-box local music festivals in recent memory.
Even better news: Not one of these shows will cost you more than $20.
Tonight:
Deep Dive Live: Pretty Bitter, Drook, Flo Petite at the Atlantis
For $10 you can catch Pretty Bitter in all their synth-pop meets punk sensibility glory. The indie dreamo band headlines the latest Deep Dive Live, Atlantis’ occasional showcase of emerging local talent. Having seen Pretty Bitter mesmerize a crowd before, I’m certain they’ll dominate the space with their signature dance-moshy vibe that will add some much-needed euphoria to your January doldrums.
Pine Apple EP Release Show at Pie Shop
Pine Apple have only recently popped up on my radar, but their bluesy guitar riffs and jazzy piano melodies immediately caught my attention. The vocals hint at love of great jazz singers past and the slight funk groove invites you to step out on the dance floor. Tickets are $15.
Saturday:
Mosh Madness at Takoma Park Presbyterian Church
Attending this event is a no-brainer, IMO: Tickets cost $16.30, and the money goes to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Some of D.C.’s greatest musicians—hello, Bartees Strange—will square off against each other on the basketball court, making for a fun shakeup to showgoing and a reminder of just how cool and creative D.C.’s music scene really is. Plus, Pretty Bitter, Flowerbomb, Massie, and Pinky Lemon are some of the bands soundtracking the basketball game (and some are playing ball, too).
“My money’s on Massie. They’re gonna rock your eyebrows off both on and off the court,” says Flowerbomb‘s Rachel Kline. “Also, I’ve seen Emily [Yaremchuk]’s three point shot and it’s insane.” Noting she’s excited to play for cause she cares about, Kline adds, “Free Palestine!”
Miri Tyler, of Pretty Bitter, tells City Paper she suspects some teams will surprise folks. “I think Pinky Lemon, for example, is going all the way to the finals. Sam Elmore and his Ghosts will probably put up a good fight too. I’m a little worried for anyone going up against Dorinda or Bartees though.”
Mystery Friends With Daphne Eckman, ViRG at the Atlantis
Celebrating the release of their new EP, this indie dance-pop rock band have been enthralling D.C. music lovers for a few years now, and they’re not stopping. Out today, On the Floor! shows that Mystery Friends have what it takes to dominate late-night playlists and DJ sets. But they’re also worthy of your headphones. And if the Annapolis-based singer-songwriter Daphne Eckman hasn’t entered your consciousness yet, I highly recommend you remedy that. Tickets are $20.
Rock Creek Kings Single Release Show at Union Stage
A year ago, WCP Beats Me contributor Serena Zets said this rock ’n’ roll band “represents the powerful present and promising future of the city’s music scene.” Known for fusing folk harmonies and funk via saxophone solos, Rock Creek Kings continue blending these genres on their new single, “Fool,” offering a glimpse at what’s to come. Tickets are $20.
Sunday:
Doll Apartments at the Pocket
Rockville’s indie-punk band Doll Apartments are as new to me as they might be to you. As highlighted in Thursday’s City Lights newsletter, the band mixes elements of emo, hardcore, and shoegaze with pop sensibilities for an approachable vibe. Tickets are $13 in advance; $17 at the door.
Tuesday:
Equal Beats: ERA Now With Boy Meets Pearl, Grief Cat, La Marvela, Ammonite and Quattracenta at Songbyrd
Rescheduled from Jan. 7, this showcase calls for the Equal Rights Amendment, passed by Congress in 1972, to be ratified as the 28th Amendment. Ammonite became a favorite of mine last winter when I saw them heat up the insides of DC Brau. They rock like punks, but their vocals are mesmerizing. Tickets start at $6.44 and support a good cause.
—Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Credit: Darrow Montgomery
Page Three Photo, 2025
Page Three is our regular column from staff photographer Darrow Montgomery.
The man who took an AR-15 rifle into Comet Ping Pong in 2016, and fired it, in search of an alleged pedophilia ring in the restaurant’s basement, was shot and killed by police in North Carolina. Edgar Maddison Welch was shot Saturday by Kannapolis police officers, who said he brandished a handgun during a traffic stop. He died in the hospital two days later. The nonexistent child sex ring in Comet Ping Pong’s basement was part of a bogus conspiracy theory linked to Hillary Clinton. [Washingtonian, Observer]
D.C.’s LGBTQIA community is preparing for the incoming Trump administration and Republican control of Congress. About 100 people gathered in the Eaton Hotel in December to plan for the next four years with a president who has been openly hostile to trans people and has expressed support for anti-LGBTQIA policies. [51st]
Many of the people convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6 insurrection are seeking more than pardons—they want restitution. At a press conference in a D.C. hotel ballroom this week, a host of right-wing conspiracy theorists, influencers, and other prominent figures continued to spin an alternative (and false) narrative of what happened that day. [Slate]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing the federal government for its role in polluting the Anacostia River, arguing that the U.S. has spent more than 150 years dumping cancer-causing chemicals into the water. He wants the feds to help pay for the river’s cleanup. [ABC News]
The D.C. National Guard’s commander and 17 of its retired leaders are decrying the deal struck in Congress to cede the city’s fighter jet squadron to Maryland’s control, a key bargaining chip in securing the state’s support for legislation giving the District the chance to redevelop the RFK Stadium site. They claim it would produce unnecessary disruptions to the city’s air defenses. [Post, Politico]
As many as 11 D.C. public schools across the city are dealing with heating malfunctions in the middle of this cold snap, pointing to the city’s persistent problems in making such repairs in school buildings. [WUSA9, WJLA]
By Alex Koma (tips? akoma@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Credit: Crystal Jones
Carryout Critic Finds a Contender for the Best Steak and Cheese Sandwich
George’s King of Falafel and Cheesesteak is a staple of late-night snacks.
Bird Song, a new Thai restaurant that will open in Chevy Chase, started as a series of pop-ups. Chef Kitima Boonmala, who grew up in the Thai city of Ayutthaya, uses her mother’s noodle soup recipe, which has become one of the most popular dishes. [Washingtonian]
Some D.C.-area grocery stores are limiting the amount of eggs that people can purchase at one time. The bird flu has reportedly claimed more than 20 million laying hens in the fourth quarter of 2024, creating a supply and demand problem. Eggs in grocery stores are still safe to eat, according to the FDA. Local farmers markets can be a more reliable source because small operators are better able to protect their flocks. [Axios]
By City Paper staff (tips? editor@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Making Art For Art’s Sake
ART MATTERS, the latest exhibition at gallery neptune & brown, might sound political, but the work offers a respite from current affairs.
Half Waif’s See You at the Maypole landed in my top five albums of 2024. The gorgeous album, written by Half Waif’s alter ego Ananda Rose “Nandi” Plunkett, grapples with her devastating miscarriage and subsequent search for hope during the darkest hours. You can see the singer-songwriter at Songbyrd tomorrow night. [Post]
Meryl Gordon’s just-released biography, The Woman Who Knew Everyone, digs into the life and legacy of Perle Mesta. Known as one of the city’s most famous socialites, Gordon reminds readers that Mesta was also a feminist and an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment. [Washingtonian]
British playwright Nick Payne loves to play with time and timelines. The writer of A24’s We Live in Time, starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, is also the mastermind behind Constellations, the play that will open Constellation Theatre Company’s 18th season on Feb. 6. D.C.’s Nikki Mirza directs the star-crossed lovers story. [DC Theater Arts]
By Sarah Marloff (tips? smarloff@washingtoncitypaper.com)
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