Sept. 28: The Felice Brothers You’d think the Low Anthem, Deer Tick, the Avett Brothers, Dawes, Middle Brother, Delta Spirit and the Decemberists’ newest album have wrung the current alt-country trend dry. The Felice Brothers attempt their own take on the Americana tradition with their new “Poughkeepsie Princess EP,” for which they recorded songs at their home in the Catskills. The brothers (yes, they’re actually brothers) will bring their 1960s-influenced folk rock to D.C. for a headlining show at 9:30, so expect plenty of raucous choruses and ramshackle guitars.
Oct. 3: Theophilus London
Filling in the hipster-rap space between Kid Cudi and Childish Gambino, Theophilus London makes hip-hop music with an electronic bent. London has toured with skate-rapper turned Top 40 star Lupe Fiasco, and seems to be headed down the same route from a buzzworthy critic’s favorite to a radio-friendly crowd pleaser. London, who hails from Brooklyn, is touring in support of his first full-length album “Timez Are Weird These Days.” If you find Cudi too mindless and Das Racist too abrasive, don’t miss London’s headlining set at 9:30.
Oct. 9: James Blake
Way back in early 2011, James Blake turned dubstep on its head. The London producer, who had previously released a string of excellent EPs that featured minimal beats and mind-bending samples, dropped his self-titled album that set the blogs ablaze trying to figure out how to describe Blake’s otherworldly iteration of dubstep. Eventually, Blake’s music was slapped with the “post-dubstep” moniker, a label that doesn’t do Blake’s producing genius and gorgeous voice justice. As impeccable as Blake’s recordings are, an entirely new dimension of his music is revealed live, and 9:30’s impressive set of speakers will meet their match in Blake’s bone-rattling bass.
Oct. 14: G Love & Special Sauce
Fall temperatures may be hitting D.C., but Philadelphia musician G. Love and his band Special Sauce are set to bring a slice of summer to the 9:30 club.
G. Love’s fusion of alternative blues and hip-hop is far less advanced than it sounds, and features lots of guitar strumming and foot stomping, accompanied by tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Fans of Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and backwards baseball caps will appreciate G. Love’s laid-back grooves. Nashville alt-country rockers the Apache Relay open.