(Chop Suey) When Capitol Hill denizens and show-goers reminisce about the neighborhood in the early years of this millennium, Pho Bang is apt to pop up in the conversation. The deranged punk-rock drag show of Ursula Android (Marcus Wilson) and Jackie Hell (David Latimer) was as intrinsic to the times as Murder City Devils and pints of Luckys at the old Cha Cha. Pho Bang may be no more, but vestiges of the depravity can be witnessed tonight in the raunchy rap of grizzled Texan queen Christeene. Fittingly, Marcus Wilson contributes to the evening as the vocalist for the cold, stark synth-wave and visual-mindfuckery of Ononos. Show up early for Dust Moth, whose upcoming Dragon Mouth EP combines the rhythmic heft of Quicksand with the lush guitar wash of Doves. BRIAN COOK
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(El Corazón) Here’s one for the real freaks. Since 1997, the combined weirdness of NYC misfits Jimmy Urine, Kitty, Lyn-Z and Steve, Righ? have produced one of the strangest, most indefinable musical entities circling the underground. MSI could be considered one part nu-metal, one part drum ’n’ bass, one part industrial, and 468 parts pornography. And if that sounds awful to you, MSI shouldn’t be too worried about it, as their fans—while nowhere near as rabid as the Insane Clown Posse’s faithful Juggalos—are diehard through and through. Let’s just hope they bust out their oddball cover of Method Man’s “Bring the Pain.” With Death Valley High and Iris. KEVIN DIERS
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(Chapel Performance Space) Experimental music collective GRID—led by Jen Gilleran—brings the noise to Fritz Lang's silent 1927 sci-fi epic. JEN GRAVES
Unstoppable Death Machines remind me of a slightly dumber, slightly less arty version of Liars circa their debut album. That’s not a slight: these guys’ pummeling guitar/drum squalls are equally suited to dancing like Ian Curtis or having an epileptic seizure à la Ian Curtis, and are catchy as hell in a sort of disaffected skate-rat way. MonoMTNS is the hydra-like beast formed by the combined members of punky troublemakers Monogamy Party and freaky noise wizards MTNS. Rumor has it they’ll play remixed versions of each others’ songs as well as some new compositions they’ve cooked up together. Los Angeles’ Select Sex will open, if you prefer your hardcore a little more late-’80s. Sounds like a classic Black Lodge show all around: lots of hair, sweat, beer, and maybe blood. KYLE FLECK
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The Shift Dubstep Session barges back into action with UK producer Commodo, who records for Deep Medi Musik, the excellent London label run by Mala of Digital Mystikz. Dubstep’s rep has suffered a beating in recent years, but artists like Commodo are maintaining the genre’s original impulses: atmospheres of brooding menace, beats that skitter madly and thud maliciously, and ocean-floor bass pressure. Experience some real-deal hardcore business, bruh. With Dubtek, Press, and Mind Mada. Contour, 10 pm, $10, 21+. DAVE SEGAL
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And here's all our recommended music events—tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, and beyond!
