Here are some of the can’t-miss shows, concerts and other musical events happening in the early months of 2007:
» The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gnarls Barkley. The two acts had so much fun at the Virgin Festival at Pimlico this past fall that they teamed up for a tour. The four funk-rockers and the duo known for their hit “Crazy” — and their penchant for dressing up in crazy outfits, inspired by everything from “Star Wars” to “The Wizard of Oz” — roll into D.C. on Jan. 25 for a date at the Verizon Center (601 F St. NW, Washington; 7:30 p.m.; $68; 800-551-7328).
» The Who. Verizon Center also hosts arguably the most important band still in existence. With old-school hits “My Generation,” “Who Are You,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and more, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend will still be rockin’ like it’s 1969 on March 8 (601 F St. NW, Washington; 7:30 p.m.; $55 to $205; 800-551-7328).
» Washington National Opera. The company brushes off the classics “Jenufa,” “MacBeth” and “La Fille de Regiment” later in the season, but starts it off in glorious Wagnerian style with “Die Walkure,” the second in director Francesca Zambello’s “American Cycle” trilogy. WNO head honcho Placido Domingo stars as “Siegmund” in the run from March 24 to April 17 (Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F St. NW, Washington; $45 to $300; 202-467-4600).
» The National Symphony Orchestra. The group’s season is a tasty one, with Tchaikovsky’s fifth and sixth symphonies, “Pictures at an Exhibition” and other masterpieces. From March 15 to 17, though, violin prodigy Julia Fischer makes her NSO debut with Khacaturian’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, and the ensemble has also programmed Dvorak’s magnificent “New World” Symphony (Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW, Washington; $20 to $80; 202-467-4600).
» Snow Patrol. The Irish band is a favorite on that side of the pond and this one, with the tunes “Chasing Cars,” “Hands Open” and “Chocolate.” Even better, the group is bringing OK Go (they of the much-ballyhooed video with the treadmills) and the up-and-comers of Silversun Pickups to American University on March 23 (Bender Arena, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington; 7:30 p.m.; $35; 800-551-7328).
