MONDAY

>> Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts return to D.C., and this time they're playing at a larger, more Metro-accessible venue. While critics don't exactly love the new album, Let's Just Be, Arthur puts on a great live show. Check him out at the 9:30 Club with Stars of Track and Field opening. 7:30 p.m. $15.

TUESDAY

>> Local upstarts Le Loup, fresh off signing with Hardly Art, are opening for The Rosebuds, the band constantly competing with Mates of State for indie rock's favorite husband/wife duo. At Rock and Roll Hotel, $10, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

>> The Boston-based quintet The Sterns will play DC9 with Maryland's The Skydivers and E. Joseph. $8.

THURSDAY

>> We'll use this space to say how surprised and upset we are that Melinda Doolittle got kicked off American Idol. Seriously, America. What's wrong with you? Melinda owned last week and you sent one-hit wonder Blake and the very mediocre Jordin Sparks through to the finale? You suck. But don't worry, Melinda. Chris Daughtry is proof that you don't have to win Idol to be a winner. Daughtry plays a sold out show at the 9:30 Club tonight with Day of Fire and Cinder Road. As our hero The Todd would say, Tough-Break Five!

>> The Rock and Roll Hotel will be holding a benefit for the Whitman-Walker Clinic, a non-profit community-based organization in Washington, D.C. that provides health care and social support services to thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS. Basjork, Conscious Structure, Synthetic Division and Bella Morte are scheduled to perform. 8 p.m. $15 at the door only.

>> Chapel Hill's The Old Ceremony are off their Midwest tour with Cake and coming to Iota, with Iowa's Death Ships opening. 9 p.m. $10

>> In need of an old-school ska fix? The English Beat plays the Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $20

FRIDAY

>> Head on over to the Black Cat for Middle Distance Runner, Telograph and The Hard Tomorrows. That's a solid lineup of local bands, and if you read DCist enough, you know we love all of them. Be there or be a rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles. 9 p.m., $10

>> Red and the Black features the roadhouse rock of The Bourbon Dynasty, along with The Timothy Bracken Complex and Little Pink. $8

SATURDAY

>> D.C. indie-pop band Bellman Barker is holding a record release party at the Rock and Roll Hotel with New York's The Subjects and locals Bellflur. 8:30 p.m. $10.

>> If you like your blues soulful, funky and lascivious, then head down to Lamonts, off of Indian Head Highway in Pomonkey, Maryland, for the Memorial Day Weekend Festival featuring Bobby Rush and Chick Willis. The Louisiana-born Rush may lustfully deliver “G-String” accompanied by his dancers while the Georgia-born Willis is likely to leeringly wail “Stoop Down Baby.” They’ll be joined by Richmond’s Big G, and local artists Jim Bennett & Lady Mary, Bobby Parker, and Jacques Saxman Johnson. (301) 283-0225

>> Newly signed to Saddle Creek Records, the Nebraska home of Bright Eyes, Georgie James will be bringing their sweet pop repertoire to St. Stephens Church, 1525 Newton Street NW, for a Positive Force sponsored benefit show for One DC and Books For America. Beauty Pill and the Roof Walkers will be joining them.

SUNDAY

>> D.C. psychedelic rockers The Slickee Boys are returning to the 9:30 Club tonight with Rustbuckit. While the band, which was formed in the 70s, disbanded in 1990, they used to play annual reunion shows around New Year's Eve. Since it's currently May, does this count as a comeback? 9 p.m. $15.

>> Math the Band will be bringing their They Might Be Giants-inspired 8-bit beeps and blips to Galaxy Hut. We're tempted to show up wearing our "The Code" shirt.

As always, feel free to mention in the comments section any shows we missed. Band promotional photos from JosephArthur.com and OldCeremony.com. DCist contributor Steve Kiviat added to this week's agenda.