Flaming Lips, Pharrell Williams + More Respond to Government Shutdown With Specially Priced Tickets

When Congress fails the people, rock 'n' roll is there to pick up the pieces. Such was the case yesterday in Washington, D.C., where the 9:30 Club responded to the government shutdown by offering two-for-one tickets to five upcoming shows. The U Street Music Hall, Lincoln Theater and Merriweather Post Pavilion also signed on for the "Affordable Ticket Act," allowing possibly furloughed fans to bag two-fers for shows by the Flaming Lips and Tame Impala, Steve Aoki and Pharrell Williams, Marky Ramone and more, the Washington Post reports.

D.C. rock enthusiasts had until midnight last night (Oct. 2) to take advantage of the deal by using the promo code 930ATA. Tickets for the nine shows -- listed below -- will be available at will call.

Thanks to petty bureaucratic bickering, some 700,000 "non-essential" government employees are on unpaid leave, and many national parks and monuments have been closed. It remains to be seen whether the government shutdown will continue through Oct. 25, when Aoki and Williams rock the Merriweather in what amounts to the last of the "Affordable Ticket Act" shows, but either way, this episode proves once again that musicians care more for their fans than elected officials do for their constituents.

The "Affordable Ticket Act" Shows:

Oct. 2: Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg with Andrew W.K. at the 9:30 Club
Oct. 3: Chazz Palminteri's 'A Bronx Tale' at the Lincoln Theatre
Oct. 3: BOY and Greg Holden at the 9:30 Club
Oct. 4: Middle Distance Runner and Teen Mom at U Street Music Hall
Oct. 4: The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala and The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger at Merriweather Post Pavilion
Oct. 5: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at the 9:30 Club
Oct. 9: Soul Asylum, Fountains of Wayne and Evan Dando at the 9:30 Club
Oct. 17: Lee Fields and the Expressions at the 9:30 Club
Oct. 25: Steve Aoki with Pharrell Williams, Waka Flocka Flame, Borgore and Garmiani at Merriweather Post Pavilion.