While D.C. is no New York or Philadelphia when it comes to live music, and though many major tours skip over this little malarial swamp, your college years will still be filled with great live music. From U Street to AU's own campus, the District offers up a variety of venues, showcasing local acts (see guide to the local music scene) as well as touring bands on major and independent labels. Here's a list of some of the more obvious (and not so obvious) places to catch a show.
Warehouse Next Door 1017 7th St. N.W. Metro: Gallery Place (red-green line) www.warehousenextdoor.com Upcoming Show: Hot Cross and Amanda Woodward, Sept. 30
The Warehouse Next Door is an independent venue, bringing in local and touring punk, hardcore and indie bands. It's seen the likes of Xiu Xiu, An Albatross and Pig Destroyer. Shows are cheap, running between $5 and $8. The Warehouse itself, which the venue is surprisingly located next door to, is an art gallery and independent theater space that is definitely worth checking out.
Black Cat 1811 14 St. N.W. Metro: U Street/Cardozo (green line) www.blackcatdc.com Upcoming Show: Joan of Arc and Owen on Sept. 5.
In the heart of D.C.'s once-prodigious jazz community, the Black Cat is where you'll be able to catch smaller national indie acts. Upcoming shows this fall include The Gossip, The Mountain Goats, Art Brut and Architecture in Helsinki. The venue is outfitted with a larger stage upstairs and a smaller "backstage" space downstairs, as well as three bars and a caf?. If you're looking for a break from skeevy night clubs with names that sound like cheap assorted toilet waters, the good ol' BC has themed dance nights every week on the backstage for a $5 cover, plus you can smoke throughout.
9:30 Club 815 V St NW Metro: U Street/Cardozo (green line) www.930.com Upcoming Show: X and Henry Rollins Band on Aug. 15th
A larger and more pricy version of the Black Cat, the 9:30 brings in larger acts and larger audiences. This summer it saw the likes of Ani Difranco and Sleater-Kinney. There's a balcony upstairs that offers seating and a separate bar. It's a little less intimate than the Black Cat, but would you really want to be intimate with Michelle Branch?
Kay Basement The Basement of AU's own Kay Spiritual Life Center www.thekaybasement.org Upcoming Show: Good Clean Fun, An Alarm and I Object at AU's Tenley Campus on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.
AU's own campus has historically been a tour stop for the DIY punk community and a long-standing friend to the D.C. music community. Old timers remember the good old days when Q and Not U played in the Tavern, or Henry Rollins played in a dorm room. While those golden days may be gone, the acts that people bring in to campus these days are still phenomenal. Local D.C. thrashers An Alarm will be on Tenley campus during Welcome Week for their last show. Keep your eyes peeled for flyers during the year.
WMUC 3130 S Campus Dining Hall, College Park Metro: College Park (green line), wait for courtesy shuttle www.wmucradio.com Upcoming Show: Life at These Speeds, Aug. 27
University of Maryland College Park's radio statio, WMUC 88.1, not only has great radio shows, but also great live shows (which, then, are turned into great radio shows). Whether in the studio itself or in a larger hall on campus, the organizers at WMUC bring great acts and create a positive atmosphere. While College Park seems a world away at times, it's really only a handful of Metro stops. Tune in during the year for show listings.
Before It's Too Late People's Media Center Where: 4132 Georgia Ave. N.W. Metro: Georgia Ave/Petworth (green line)
Before It's Too Late is a radio cooperative and Internet caf? operated by social justice activists. The D.C. Infoshop hosts weekly shows at the space to raise money for various causes. The space used to be a strip bar, so there are a lot of mirrors and dancing poles, giving the venue its own unique character. For an extra $5 to the usually $5 ticket, you can get a vegan meal and beverage. This past year the Media Center was host to Requiem, Ghost Mice, Los Gatos Negros and Defiance, Ohio.
