Sound Choices for the Ticketless Crowd

Thievery Corporation, the local band that's gone big time, begins an impressive five-night stand Tuesday at the 9:30 club. And every show is sold out.

If you're not one of the lucky ticket holders, there are at least a few other musicians in Washington worthy of some attention.

We stumbled upon Pree through a video posted on the local Web site All Our Noise and found the band something of a cross between Joanna Newsom and Modest Mouse -- full of that warm, intimate twang perfect for this time of year. Led by May Tabol (formerly of Le Loup) and drummer Chris DeWitt with Vanessa Degrassi on mandolin and flute and David Barker on electric guitar, Pree plays the Black Cat on Wednesday.

$8. 9 p.m. Black Cat, Backstage. 1811 14th St. NW. 202-667-7960.

Fans of hip-hop have tonight's show at the Black Cat with all-female act Yo! Majesty, Floacist and local fave Flex Mathews ($15; 9 p.m.). But national act Jaspects has a show that will cost you nada Monday at the Kennedy Center. The act -- former jazz students from Atlanta who list Tony! Toni! Toné! and the Roots as influences -- has had its side work featured on records by Mary J. Blige and Chamillionaire.

Free. Monday at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. 202-467-4600.

And, well, if you're still dying to see Thievery, what harm could it do to stand outside and see if someone has spares?