Concerts to Mark on Your Calendars

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Friday, February 29, 2008

In our ideal world, there would be concert after concert, filling our datebook and draining our life's savings (about $25) at least through the end of the summer.

With Daniel Johnston behind us and Kanye still months away, what has got our attention in the coming weeks?

¿ Alexandria's makeshift venue The Lab. With so many local clubs saying "Nuh-uh" to the underage set -- or laying down some strict rules -- this spot, a church by day, is like a refuge in the 'burbs (the only real marker is a glowing blue sign declaring "The Lab"). Singer-guitarist-about-town Carol Bui and Jay Smith, a guitarist with Middle Distance Runner, run the space, bringing in eclectic bands for, yes, all-ages shows. Since it's in a church, alcohol is off-limits and parents can relax. The venue joined with Washington-Lee High School's Music Club for tomorrow night's show, a benefit for Renew Our Music, which assists New Orleans musicians in getting instruments and gigs after Hurricane Katrina. Three bands perform: Washington-Lee's own Lady in the Radiator, and club regulars Greenland and Len Bias. $5 at the door. Doors at 8 p.m. The Lab, 1819 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria. For details, visit http://www.myspace.com/thelaballages.

¿ Canadian cads Born Ruffians at DC9. If you caught Caribou last fall at the Rock & Roll Hotel, you might have seen these spunky, baby-faced little boys, whose effusive, hootin-'n'-hollerin' Appalachian-style folk-pop (can't you just hear it?) left a major impression on us. And we're not the only ones: Their upcoming record, "Red, Yellow & Blue," was produced by Rusty Santos, who just happens to work with Animal Collective on the regular, and the guys just got a nod in Entertainment Weekly, of all places. (If you have to hear before you go: Visit http://www.myspace.com/bornruffians and click on their song "Badonkadonkey.") They return to Washington next Thursday. $10. Doors at 8:30 p.m. 1940 Ninth St. NW. 202-483-5000.

¿ Down the road, the must-see show might just be Wale, our home town's (if your home town happens to be Bowie) rap hope, who'll be hitting the 9:30 club March 16 on a bill that will also feature Koyaki. If you haven't heard the ubiquitous "Nike Boots," Wale sounds like Southern rap, with a tinge of go-go and the wordplay of Lupe Fiasco. $15. 815 V St. NW. 800-955-5566.

Save the Date

ON STAGE The Axis of Evil Returns The comedy tour featuring four comics of Middle Eastern descent comes back through town next month, a little bit bigger, a little bit better, a little bit Eviler, since the comics have released a DVD and headed off on a Mideast tour that took them through Cairo, Dubai, Kuwait and Beirut, among other places. Last here a year ago, Maz Jobrani (seen frequently on TV) , Ahmed Ahmed (recently in "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show"), Dean Obeidallah (creator of the New York Arab Comedy Festival) and Aron Kader ("The Shield") are at the Warner Theatre on March 8. $37-$42. 7 p.m. 13th and E streets NW. 202-397-7328.

ON STAGE "Stunning" In David Adjmi's play, opening at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company for previews March 10, a 16-year-old Syrian Jewish girl married, by custom, to a much older man hangs out with her African American maid and discovers a world beyond what she had always known. $24-$57; $15 tickets available for ages 25 and younger. March 10-April 6. 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939.

CONCERT Maysa The Baltimore native, whom you can catch in the area at such spaces as the Birchmere, is a soul crooner known for collaborating with the British soul-jazz outfit Incognito. And later this month, you can catch her singing for several days at Washington institution Blues Alley. Perhaps she'll play a little something from her latest record, full of covers of beloved vintage tracks such as Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine." $48 (plus a $10 minimum purchase per person and a surcharge of $2.50 per person before you can put your pocketbook away). 8 and 10 p.m. nightly March 19-March 22. 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-337-4141.

The District

Today

EXHIBIT That Color Looks So Good on You It's opening day for the "Color as Field: American Painting, 1950-1975," the long-anticipated retrospective examining the Color Field movement in abstract art (works are often identified by trademark thinned paint that's poured and spread to soak into unprimed canvases to create washy colorscapes). Works by some of the movement's stars, such as Sam Gilliam, Gene Davis, Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman, are included in the show at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Free. 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through May 26. Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-1000.

ON STAGE "The Chairs" The smallish Scena Theatre troupe takes on this mid-century one-act by French-Romanian absurdist Eugene Ionesco, in a run at the bet-you-didn't-know-it-was-still-somewhat-operational Warehouse. The play features a couple who plan to give a talk, through which the husband will impart his wisdom about the world through a surrogate. Ultimately, the chairs for people attending the talk pile up, but the actual delivery of the all-important message, well, that might be lost to the hubbub. $25-$30, seniors and students $20-$25. Today and tomorrow at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3. Various times through March 30. Warehouse Theater, 1021 Seventh St. NW. 703-683-2824 or 202-783-3933.

Tomorrow

ON STAGE Tracy Morgan The former "Saturday Night Live" comic and current "30 Rock" prima donna visits Lisner Auditorium tomorrow for a stand-up show that is nearly sold out. Fans have a shot, however, of getting the few remaining tickets at the door. The box office opens at 7. $29.50. 8 p.m. 730 21st St. NW. 202-994-6800.

Sunday

EXHIBIT "The Last Iceberg" Camille Seaman's photographs, which move into the National Academy of Sciences Rotunda Gallery on Sunday, document the "personalities" (individual characteristics) of icebergs she encountered on trips to Antarctica and the Arctic regions of Svalbard and Greenland. The show is just a segment of a larger Seaman project, "Melting Away," which explores the changing polar regions. Go Sunday, when there's a reception from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Free (note: ID required to enter building). Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., through June 1. National Academy of Sciences, 2100 C St. NW. 202-334-2436.

Maryland

Today

ON STAGE "Dirt" Washington Theatre Group, a Potomac-based troupe that just gave a performance of this one-man Robert Schneider play at Busboys and Poets, visits Clarice Smith tonight with the production. Shahin Shakibi plays Sad, an illegal immigrant from Iraq whose days are spent selling roses on the street for a living. Originally a German-language play, the work was first performed after the Persian Gulf War. After the show, there will be a talk with the actor and director. $25; students, $7. 8 p.m. Gildenhorn Recital Hall, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park. 301-405-2787.

Tomorrow

CLOSING "Closer" -- Big Ideas You Need a Magnifying Glass to See Gallery Neptune's latest show features works by Baltimore's Mars Tokyo, whose "Theaters of the 13th Dimension" portray, diorama-style, the imaginative mini-worlds found in literature, film and politics; Michael Janis's glass sculptures; and Willie Marlowe's abstract paintings inspired by the miniatures of the East. The show ends tomorrow. Free. Noon-7 p.m. today and tomorrow. 4901 Cordell Ave., Bethesda. 301-718-0809.

Sunday

CLOSING Take the Kids: "Lost & Foundling" Parents will also find something to crack up over with this Eric R. Pfeffinger play about a baby discovered at the local discount superstore and taken in by its employees, who name her Pryce, and raise her in the store. The show, which critic Celia Wren called a "snarky spoof of the mass-merchandising ethos," closes Sunday. $10-$20. 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday; also 7 p.m. tomorrow. Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. 301-280-1660.

Northern Virginia

Today

CONCERT Junior League A folksy, quaint Friday is what you'll have if you catch this local sextet (influenced by Hank Williams, Alison Krauss and, it seems, Columbia Heights . . . ) when it plays Iota Club & Cafe tonight. With High Society and Stella Schindler. $10. 9:30 p.m. Iota Club & Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-522-8340.

Tomorrow

FESTIVALS Alexandria St. Patrick's Day Parade The Ballyshaners and the city throw this family-centric parade, yes, more than two weeks before the actual Irish celebration -- so early that you might not be in the mood to drink green beer. But this celebration is about families, with its totally not-serious dog show (categories include dog/owner look-alike and longest ears), classic car show and parade. The 27th annual parade, with the archbishop of Baltimore as its grand marshal, is tomorrow in Old Town. Free. Car show, 10 a.m. (North Pitt Street at King Street); dog contest, 10:30 a.m. (North Royal and King streets); parade, 12:30-2:30 p.m. (King from West to Fairfax streets). For information, visit http://www.ballyshaners.org.

ON STAGE "Sound Walk" Jane Franklin Dance's latest work, "Sound Walk," is a high-concept, four-part piece that features marimbas, strings and youth choruses -- the sounds taking the spotlight and leading dancers' footwork. The work, with guest artist Florian Roullier, is performed tomorrow. $30; seniors and students, $27; ages 12 and younger, $16 (discounted tickets available through today at http://www.janefranklin.com). 8 p.m. Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. 703-933-1111.