MONDAY
>> Hockey Night, the Minnesota band making waves for drenching their songs in the sounds of classic rock and mid-90s Pavement and Dinosaur Jr, visit Iota tonight. You can read an interview with them over at You Aint No Picasso to catch up on the bluzz. Rumor has it a few DCists may be in attendance, so don't forget your blogger bingo card. $10, 8:30 p.m.

>> Has science done anything to you lately? If so, head on over to the Birchmere and sympathize with Thomas Dolby. Fun fact: the Live Aid alum has made his fortune off of ring tone technology. $22.50, 7:30 p.m.

>> DCist's good buddy Mike Grass interviewed local punk band Mass Movement of the Moth this morning. You can check them out tonight at Death Star in Silver Spring, for the bargain basement price of $2. 7 p.m.

>> If you're in the mood for local rock in a more local setting, check out former Three Stars-featured Lucky Bastards on the Black Cat's back stage. $5, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
>> Beloved Scottish post-rockers Mogwai come to the 9:30 Club tonight. Just don't get them wet. $18, 7:30 p.m.

>> It's the start of the semifinals of the Emergenza Festival, setting up shop at DC9 after being in residence across the street at Velvet Lounge. The whole line-up can be found here, though we have to say, none of the earlier Velvet Lounge evenings enticed us enough to take much notice. Readers? Anybody in here worth noting? $10.

>> The eds over at Austinist, our boot-wearing, bbq-loving sister site to the south, tell us that Ghostland Observatory is the not-to-be-missed "sex pop/rock" hotness. Outside of New York, Austin's pretty much the epicenter of hip culture these days, and has already given birth to my favorite band, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to offer. In the mean time, check out Austinist's interview with the band. At the Velvet Lounge.

>> Remember way back in the old days of last July when we talked to baby faced rockers Lemonface? Well, they're (presumably) 15 now, and still gigging. Head out to Jammin' Java tonight and see the wunderkinds in action. $8, 7:30 p.m.

>> If you're willing to head up to Baltimore for your bluzz fix, Cleveland's Brandtson is playing at Ottobar. Or you can just visit their MySpace page and play "Earthquakes and Sharks" over and over and over, like we have been. $12, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY
>> We're not familiar with Pelican, but the Black Cat's description of the band makes it seem like a really bad idea to be anywhere but there this Thursday:

The first time I listened to Pelican - I mean, really listened - I laughed out loud for the sheer joy of it all. Here are four dudes from Chicago who decided that the guitar solo was the highest form of musical expression. So they chucked the idea of the lead singer, strapped on their axes and picked up their sticks, and went for it, full speed. It's loud, it's soft. It'll make you cry and make you bang your head. Sometimes all in one song. If you've ever claimed to love rock'n'roll, I double-dog-dare ya not to come to this show. Yeah, you heard me.

>> Not gonna lie -- I loved Toad the Wet Sprocket once upon a time. Now's your chance to walk on the ocean with Glen Phillips. At the Birchmere. $19.50, 7:30 p.m.

>> We're not very well versed in the way of the noodle, but from what we understand, the 9:30 Club will be the spot for all noodle-enthusiasts this week as the Disco Biscuits take the stage. $25, 7:30 p.m.

>> The first of this summer's new concert series by DCene starts off this week at the Arlington Cinema and Draft House, with Mancino, The Sikes, and Mike Moore. The series will feature local bands at the draft house (who take the week's top prize for Most Unnecessarily Busy Web Site) and on a hotel rooftop near you. $10, 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY
>> We're all friends here, so you don't have to hide the fact that you have all of the O.C. soundtracks. If you're partial to track 3 on mix 4, then get yourself to the Black Cat for Pinback. Inexplicably, Pinback, about as standard emo-indie as you can get, is paired up for this show with Pleaseeasaur, a guy who sings hilarious ditties about child molesters and islands made entirely of meat. $15, 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

>> New D.C. label Gypsy Eyes is starting with a bang. Their launch party at the 9:30 Club features Shortstack (***), Revival, Brandon Butler, and These United States. The label's looking to fill a need in the area for bands that have been otherwise overlooked. So far, their taste is pretty damn good. No surprise coming from some of the minds behind Eighteenth Street Lounge Records. $10, early show -- 6:30 p.m.

>> Stephen Stills is winding down his spring tour in Virginia. Catch his next-to-last stop at the Birchmere. It's touted as "A Very Special Evening." If the subjects of teen pregnancy or the evils of underage drinking come up, don't say we didn't warn you. $65, 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY
>> Who doesn't love Ice Cube? Whether you're partial to N.W.A., Barbershop or "You Can Do It" -- arguably the most inspirational song of our generation, put your ass into it at the 9:30 Club. $35.

>> Stretch your cheek muscles to avoid a strain before you go see Leo Allen, Eugene Mirman (of hilarious media stunts) and Michael Showalter (of Stella) at the Black Cat. $10 in advance, $12 at the door, 8:30 p.m.