WEDNESDAY:
Kirsten Carey's the
Ulysses Project
, dedicated to musically exploring the work of James Joyce, plays the Windup Space with Michael Formanek's
Four Cool Blue Maniacs
.
THURSDAY:
The Baltimore Scene's weekly open-mic event, the Movement, invites singers, MCs, and bands to the 5 Seasons. Massachusetts metalcore band
Killswitch Engage
headlines Rams Head Live, with Florida's
Trivium
opening. Local Americana singer-songwriter
Craig Cummings
performs at Joe Squared. Maryland-born country star
Maggie Rose
headlines Baltimore Soundstage. Ex-Fools and Horses frontman
Matt Hutchison
plays solo at the Windup Space with
Super City
and
Justin Trawick
. Local neo-psych rockers
Drone Theory
plays the Sidebar with
Calavera Skull
.
Don't miss:
Punk supergroup
Off!
(featuring members of the Circle Jerks, Burning Brides, and Redd Kross) headlines the Ottobar with
NASA Space Universe
and
Cerebral Ballzy
.
FRIDAY: Counting Crows
, the
Fray
, and
Annie Bosko
perform on Pimlico Race Course for Black-Eyed Susan Day as part of the Preakness weekend festivities. In case all these metalcore bands we mention every week aren't ridiculous enough, Michigan "electronicore" band
I See Stars
headlines Baltimore Soundstage with
Like Moths to Flames
and
Ghost Town
.
Mary Reilly
sings the Great American Songbook at the Cabaret at Germano's. Nashville garage-rock quartet
Those Darlins
play Metro Gallery. The
kisskiss players
put a contemporary spin on chamber music at Joe Squared. The
John Ginty Band
, led by sideman to the stars John "the Duke" Ginty, plays the 8x10 with
Cara Kelly and the Tell Tale
. Philly post-punk band the
Retinas
play the Sidebar.
Panda Bear
headlines the 9:30 Club in Washington, with an opening DJ set by Animal Collective bandmate
Geologist
.
Don't miss:
The 5th Dimension holds a fundraiser for this fall's High Zero Festival, with performances by
Matmos
,
Horse Lords
,
Dan Deacon
, and more.
SATURDAY:
Rap legend
Nas
has just been added to the bill of Preakness InfieldFest performers, along with
Lorde
,
Switchfoot
, and the
Eli Young Band
. "Shmeakness," one of the many unofficial Preakness after-parties, will bring D.C. band the
New Retro
to the 8x10 with
Hippie Life Krew
and
BTNP
. Jazz-trumpet veteran
Eddie Henderson
plays with Baltimore's own
Warren Wolf
at An die Musik. Schticky '90s alt-rockers the
Afghan Whigs
reunite to play some more tuneless, hookless songs at the Ottobar. The Cabaret at Germano's hosts an evening with jazz pianist
Larry Brown
. Local thrash-punks
Enemy Insects
play the Sidebar with
Corrupt Leaders
.
Blue October
, the band behind such brazenly awful singles as "Hate Me" and "Jump Rope," headlines Baltimore Soundstage. Local noise-pop band
Small Apartments
play the Windup Space with
Divining Rod
and
Plurals
.
SUNDAY:
Creative Differences presents jazz drummers
Gerald Cleaver
and
Devin Gray
, who in 2012 recorded the composition "Thickets (for Gerald Cleaver)," at the Windup Space.
Built to Spill
brings some of indie rock's finest beards and guitar solos to the Ottobar.
Dark Star Orchestra
, the long-running Grateful Dead tribute band that recently surpassed the Dead in total number of shows, headlines Rams Head Live.
Don't miss:
Club K presents Serial Experiments volume 1, featuring some of the Baltimore area's best experimental artists, including
Patrick McMinn
and
Comfort Link
.
MONDAY:
California alt-rockers
Augustana
headlines the 9:30 Club in Washington.
TUESDAY:
Chicago post-rock ensemble
Counterfeit i
performs at the Sidebar. The
Out of Your Head
collective throws a few musicians onstage at the Windup Space to improvise.
WEDNESDAY:
The very popular
Titus Andronicus
(see page 30) crams into the very small Charm City Art Space for what will surely be a wild night, with
Pure Junk
and
Baked
opening. HFS holds a "cheap date" night at Rams Head Live with
Sleeper Agent
, the Kentucky band of the excellent minor radio hits "Get It Daddy" and "Waves." Funky Ohio jam band
SassafraZ
plays the 8x10 with
Swift Technique
. Baltimore punk bands
Queen Wolf
and
Snakefeast
play songs from their 2013 split EP at the Windup Space.
Don't miss:
The Ottobar holds a Maryland DeathFest pre-fest party with
Immolation
,
Misery Index
,
Black Breath
,
Noisem
, and a special screening of the MDF documentary
Welcome to Deathfest
.
IN THE WINGS: Jay-Z
and
Beyonce
's On the Run tour will bring the power couple to M&T Bank Stadium on July 7. (For more information, visit ticketmaster.com or call [800] 745-3000.)
Neutral Milk Hotel
, who recently played its first concert in 15 years in a church in Baltimore, will play a much larger venue, Merriweather Post Pavilion, on July 25. (For more information, visit merriweathermusic.com or call [410] 715-5550.) The
Hold Steady
will rock and talk at WTMD's last First Thursdays event of the season, on Sept. 4, at Canton Waterfront Park. (For more information, visit wtmd.org.)