Rei Ami
Rei Ami’s silky vocals are a perfect fit for her electro-R&B, surprisingly rocker sound. The University of Maryland alum demands attention in the sharp angles of her songs. On “Dictator,” she growls over a warped bass line, “I’m not your queen, I’m your dictator.” But halfway through the song, there’s a sudden spasm of static noise and the mood morphs into a quiet, guitar-plucked ballad. “You say you love me, but I don’t know,” Rei sings. “You got me wishing I was dead, ’cause you’re a meanie head.” Her new album “Foil” is full of juxtapositions: subversive power anthems that transition into painfully vulnerable ballads, sometimes in the same song, fitting together like perfect puzzle pieces. One of the best songs on the album is “Do it Right,” featuring Portland rapper Aminé, an ambient confession of self-hatred and anxiety. Ami wants to live life to its fullest, but begs you not to forget the cry after the high. Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. (doors) at 9:30 Club,
815 V St. NW (early show is sold out). 930.com. $35.
Sheila the Band
The D.C. trio’s music, a blend of rock-and-roll, R&B, sick instrument solos with powerful vocals, begs to be performed live. Sheila the Band’s 2016 album “We Gon’ Be Alright,” ruminates on love, forgiveness and everything in between. Their new album “Protect Your Heart,” released in July, is about how art is anything and everything you need it to be — from the work you create, to your self-worth and more. The trio — Sha’Air Hawkins, Courtney Tucker and Rhea Tucker — creates music that soothes the soul, critiquing systems of power while weaving musical reveries that wash over you anew. On the defiant “With All Disrespect,” the band wants change, asking, “Why you telling me that this life ain’t fair, when my hands were already up in the air?” And in “Land on Your Feet,” there’s a steady drum buildup that explodes in a repeated vocal proclamation with an eternally relevant, universal question: “Do you see the light?” Yes, yes we do. Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. at DC9, 1940 Ninth St. NW. dc9.club. $12.
Jackie Venson
Venson didn’t pick up the guitar until her last year at Berklee College of Music, by then disillusioned with the ultracompetitive spirit of the school. The guitar has become the centerpiece for her blues-inspired, life-affirming songs. Borrowing from legends such as Gary Clark Jr., her guitar solos are masterful and are the slick, satisfying center in such songs as “Keep On.” Her lyricism is saturated with optimism devoid of naivete, particularly on her new album “Love Transcends,” a finger-wagging celebration of being alive, despite it all. Recorded with producer Tim Palmer, who has worked with David Bowie and U2, the album is dedicated to the Texas blues, but revamped with Venson’s sanguine flair. “One step forward is another step farther behind,” Venson croons on “One Step Further.” “And I’ll keep playing till the sun goes down on my life.” Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. at Songbyrd, 540 Penn St. NE. songbyrddc.com. $15.
Note: Proof of vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test is required for admittance to these shows. Check venue websites for specifics.