By Fritz Hahn, Rhome Anderson and David Malitz
washingtonpost.com Staff Writers
Thursday, May 18, 2006 12:00 AM

Thursday, May 18
Fur's trance- and techno-heavy Glow night is usually on Saturday, but a special appearance by Dutch trancemaster Tiesto means fans get two chances to dance this week. (If the name sounds vaguely familiar, it could be because he performed at the opening of the Olympics in Athens -- or because he captured the world No. 1 ranking from DJ Magazine three years in a row.) Tiesto's hawking his new "In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 5" CD, but what people really care about is what's happening on the dance floor. Thankfully, Tiesto's going on relatively early (midnight, instead of the usual 1 or 2 a.m. start), so work the next morning could still be a possibility. Tickets are $30 in advance from www.clubglow.com and more at the door. The best reason to buy early: the club's promising VIP treatment and priority entrance to the building.

Before we get to the next event, take some time to read (or reread) this fascinating little piece by Style's Roxanne Roberts about a social organization called the Madison. One of us -- we'll let you guess who -- has  actually been parties hosted by this particular group of women. In any event, while all the hype is about bluebloods and blondes and cocktails -- and Wonkette's new favorite, Dustee Tucker -- we shouldn't forget that the Madison does throw parties in support of charities, like tonight's gathering at Smith Point, which can be considered both a philanthropic and sociologic excursion. There's a $5 cover at the door for Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, and no reservations are needed. Doors open at 10.

If your wrist is feeling a little empty today and you don't have time to hit Tiffany's after work, maybe you can forgo Smith Point for something a little more laidback but just as charitable. Mister Days is hosting a happy hour for the Susan. G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A $5 donation at the door gets you a pink breast cancer awareness wristband, which you show to the bartender to receive discounted drinks. (The usual free bar-snack buffet is laid out from 5 to 7.)

So we've written about the death of the Blue Room and the doubling of Bourbon, and tonight is the grand opening of the expanded two-level space. (Yes, it's been open for parties, but this is the formal dedication.) From 6 to 10 tonight, check out the newly remodeled upstairs with DJs and two of our favorite words in the English language: "free bourbon." (Runners-up "free beer," "free food" and "free wine" also appear on the invite.)

It was probably wrong of David to do so, but he dismissed the Hickories even before he heard them -- solely because his first exposure to them was through a poster on the bulletin board of his local Starbucks. Eventually he realized that it was extremely hypocritical to think less of a band for hanging a poster in such a high-traffic place, and only a few seconds into "Killers," the first song on the band's debut EP, "Lost in Pennysylvania," David realized he might have to be a bit more open-minded in the future. In The Washington Post, Buzz McClain wrote that the band combines "the best of folk and country," and the band's sound also has pop sensibilities and an undercurrent of '80s college rock. These are easy songs to like, with sweet harmonies, tight hooks and just a bit of twang. Get acquainted with the group at Iota.

Friday, May 19
When Fritz did a roundup of bars at local golf courses last year, here's how he described Penderbrook Golf Club's 19th hole, which features cheap beer and a deck overlooking a large pond: "If a bar with this patio and view was anywhere but a golf course, I'd expect it to be one of Fairfax's most popular happy hour spots." Fast forward a year, and I have a feeling it could be. The new Penderbrook Twilight happy hour, which will take place on the third Friday of the month, combines live music, drink specials, a two-man scramble tournament and a longest-drive competition. Golf, drink specials and live music sounds fantastic on a warm summer evening. Roots-rock favorites the Grandsons perform at this inaugural event. There's a $5 cover charge, plus $5 to participate in the longest-drive competition and $30 per team for the two-man scramble.

Drum 'n' bass DJ Andy C's legend was assured back in 1993 when he (as one half of Origin Unknown) dropped "Valley of the Shadows," a seminal d'n'b track with thunderous drums anchored by an evil-sounding sample repeating "I felt that I was in this long, dark tunnel." Instead of resting on his laurels, though, Andy C keeps looking forward, releasing jaw-dropping mix CDs, championing a smooth, vocal-driven style that's perfect for dancing and translates brilliantly to live shows. "Nightlife 3" is his latest compilation, and it's everything you'd expect: deft transitions, catchy vocals and relentlessly jumping beats. Andy C takes the stage at Nation tonight to promote this new disc, and adding Metalheadz's MC GQ as a hype man only makes his appearance in Cubik's main room more promising. Ken of the East Coast Boogiemen and Tom B of ESL and Rhythm and Culture are among the DJs dropping house music science in the front room. Buy your tickets in advance from www.wanttickets.com: They're $12 ahead of time, $20 at the door before 11 and $25 after.

Lil Wayne was the youngest Hot Boy back in the late '90s when New Orleans's Cash Money rap crew was just introducing America to the concept of "bling" and supplying Fritz with some of his favorite catch phrases. Now in 2006 Lil' "Weezy" isn't so little, and as the president of Cash Money Records he's added a surprising amount of sophistication to a flow that rarely strayed from the Cash Money topical formula of fast cars, money and women. His new prominence among some of the South's best wordsmiths is often the subject of heated debates among hip-hop intelligentsia. None of that matters in the club, though, where booty-shaking anthems generally trump displays of lyrical mastery. With hits like "Go DJ" and "Hustler Music," Lil Wayne will fill the dance floor real quick. Catch the Fireman at Love tonight.

This week's double serving of underground hip-hop at Five starts tonight when local rhyme trooper K-Beta brings some out-of-town heat for one of the biggest shows he's had in recent years. (Back when he was known as K-Skillz, K-Beta and his partner Dr. Beckett recorded an EP that made some noise in the extremely crowded late-'90s indie hip-hop market.) Joining K-Beta tonight will be Kosha Dillz and Insight and New York's C-Rayz Walz, a member of highly decorated rap battle crew Stronghold who now represents for Definitive Jux.

Saturday, May 20
We love Party Slave's semiannual James Bond-themed parties because they're so over the top. Women painted gold a la "Goldfinger." Aston Martins parked outside the club! Free Bond books and DVDs! Free admission for guys in tuxedos! Free drinks for two hours! There's another installment tonight at Home, dubbed From Russia With Love, and this time around anyone showing a passport from Russia or the former USSR gets VIP admission. (The rest of us can get free admission and drinks by RSVPing at www.jamesbonddc.com.) Also back is the costume contest -- the best James Bond and accompanying group of Bond Girls receive $500 cash. Doors open at 9, Mister Bond.

Where do you find the Brazilophiles in this town? South American partying in Washington is generally stacked on the Spanish side of things, and Lusophones have a lower profile. Occasionally, we've heard about "Brazilian parties" that jump off in the megaclubs from time to time, featuring popular Brazilian club tunes, caipirinha specials and sometimes foam machines. At tonight's Brazil Party at Love, you can dance to a Brazilian dance pop mix courtesy of DJ Fabiosoul and sip on Brahma beer and mixed drinks made with Brazil's popular Guarana brand of soda pop. Passes are available from MasoudA.com.

If your taste in West Coast hip-hop skews more towards Jurassic 5 and the Visionaries than Snoop or the Game, then you probably already have a ticket for the People Under the Stairs show at Five tonight. Rather than using "old school" as a crutch or a gimmick, this L.A. duo simply strives for classic rhyme styles and an allegiance to sampled breakbeats. The early show runs until midnight, and then the main room is taken over by the house sounds of Sam "The Man" Burns and DJ Tom B. That's definitely a combination that's out of the norm for a Saturday at Five and well worth your time.

Sunday, May 21
Record fiends who love dusty grooves and adventurous future-funk have a Pavlovian reaction to any slab of vinyl that bears the Ubiquity imprint. This talent-packed label just keeps killing the market with waves of releases bearing the most compelling organic dance, soul and hip-hop jams heating up dancefloors around the globe. Ubiquity's newest group is called Nomo, and its sound is a collision of an Afrobeat band, psychedelic rock and jazz fusion. Catch the group in the cozy confines of the Black Cat's backstage tonight.

There's something haunting about the self-titled debut from Philadelphia avant-jazz quartet Shot x Shot. Perhaps it's because the record was recorded in a spacious, old church, but it's just as likely due to the calm pacing, open spaces and gently shifting dynamics that the four young musicians employ. It could serve as the soundtrack to an especially bizarre scene in a David Lynch film, or even a pensive scene in an early John Cassavetes movie. But just because the group's members are young and untraditional, don't expect much free jazz skronking. Shot x Shot (consisting of two saxes, bass and drums) is always in control and will reward those who make it out to Twins Jazz on a Sunday night with a fresh, unique performance.

Tuesday, May 23
Need a fix of chaotic Japanese neo-progressive rock? Of course you do! Well, you're in luck because Tokyo's Green Milk From the Planet Orange is in town tonight and does it as well as anyone we've ever heard. That's not faint praise, either -- the Land of the Rising Sun is well known for its booming experimental/psych rock scene. Green Milk can be heady and out there, but for the most part it's a full-on assault by a trio of highly accomplished musicians. The songs will zig and zag but will always rock -- hard. Improvisational noise trio Kohoutek opens at DC9.

Local trio Koshari probably isn't going to wow you with big hooks, but there are plenty of more subtle pleasures to enjoy on the group's most recent CD, "Unless," one of the best local releases of the past year. Koshari makes expert use of guitar effects and non-classic song structures, and singer Barbara Western's voice serves as simply another element in the overall sound instead of a focal point. The Alphabetical Order and Lejeune round out this solid all-local bill at Iota.