🎸#15: Live Bands this Weekend

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Weekend of Friday the 11th, 2025

Sorry I missed last week. This is a lot of work, so for now, I am cutting the list down to just live bands (no solo artists).

Featured shows this week:

• Flex Matthews: a local DC legend, and playing a great new outdoor venue.

• Black Masala: Caught them at PSW last month. The highlight was when 4 brass instruments came out onto the dance floor to battle. Incidentally, Flex joined them for a song or two to free-style.

• Ladywood: Hyperlocal Arlington legends, now adding drumming to their harmonizing, in a cool and underused dedicated live music venue.

Friday (7/11)

ARLINGTON

• The Renegade: Uncle Jesse (9:30pm-1:30am; 80s/90s party cover band)

• Ballston Local: Could Be Down (9pm-11; Debut show; covers from Tyler Childress to Green Day to the Grateful Dead)

• Westover Beer Garden: Sprinting Turtles (6pm-9)

• O’Sullivans Irish Pub: Retropop Trio (9:30pm; Covering The Beatles to Taylor Swift)

• Three Whistles: Alpha Dog Blues (8pm-10; old-time acoustic blues/jazz)

• Rhodeside Grill: Somethin’ Shiny (8:30-11:30pm; Acoustic bass/guitarist duo’ Eclectic covers)

• Lubber Run Concert Series: The Sidleys (8pm; Indie Rock and Soul family band from Bethesda)

• Fridays at the Fountain (National Landing Water Park): Flex Matthews (5:30pm-8; DC-Based Hip Hop institution and free-styler)

FALLS CHURCH

• The State Theater: Tusk ($43; 8:30; Fleetwood Mac Cover Band; Erin and I went last time…amazing show; lead singer is a goddess)

• Clare and Don’s Beach Shack: The Breakdown (6pm; Rock/Blues/Funk/Jazz)

Saturday (7/12)

ARLINGTON

• The Renegade: Black Masala w/ Minka ($5; 6pm; High-energy Brass band; amazing live) and Hot Cactus (10pm-1:30am; Arlington Rock and Roll, Party cover band)

• Westover Beer Garden: Take Two (5pm-9)

• The Filling Station: Ladywood (8pm-11; Covers, but no requests; Featuring The Walkaway’s drummer, John Cunningham)

• Lubber Run Concert Series: King Soul (8pm; 8-piece Southern Soul)

• O’Sullivans Irish Pub: Dead Eye Stare (9:30; Modern rock cover band)

FALLS CHURCH

• The State Theater: Trial by Fire ($20; 8:30pm; Journey Tribute Band)

• Clare and Don’s Beach Shack: The Pacsons (5:30pm)

• Solace Outpost: King Moon Racer (8pm-11; DC Power Rock & Roll band)

Sunday (7/13)

ARLINGTON

• Galaxy Hut: Secret wilderness, Atograph, J&R’s music world ($10; 9pm)

Wednesday (7/16)

ARLINGTON

• Westover Beer Garden: Malarkey (6-8pm; All-female Irish Jig Band)