Monday
>> You can be fairly certain that when a rapper takes a stagename that is a play on Hawthorne, you’re going to be dealing with a hip-hop experience concerned with more than just the next glass of Courvoiseir. Hesta Prynn and her cohorts in Northern State take the Black Cat backstage with Bitch and the Exciting Conclusion, the new project from half of the fantastic Bitch & Animal. This ought to be a mainstage show, so we recommend you fill up the backstage tonight so that next time around they play the big room. 9 p.m., $10.
>> Keb’ Mo’ has become one of the most well known of modern blues artists largely by keeping one foot firmly grounded in the genre’s distant past. Tonight he opens a two-night stand at the Birchmere, and while tomorrow’s show is sold out, there’s still time to get into tonight’s show. 7:30 p.m., $49.50.
>> Also sold out is tonight’s Shins show at Constitution Hall. Provided you didn’t get tickets when they went on sale, and didn’t feel like lining the pockets of the dirty Craigslist scalpers ($100 for Dismemberment Plan tickets? It’s a benefit for a sick kid, people), we wish you luck finding an extra ticket tonight.
Tuesday
>> Hej Hej, D.C.’s only Scandinavian pop DJ night, is teaming up with the Embassy of Sweden to present Ane Brun, a songwriter, guitarist and vocalist from Norway who has lived in Sweden since 2000. She was nominated as best Norwegian Act on the European MTV Music Awards in 2005. Hej Hej fans should note that they are not spinning at this event, but keep your eye out for more collaborations between them and the Swedish Embassy. 7:30 P.M. (Doors at 6:45), House of Sweden, 901 30th Street, NW, $5.
>> Elkridge, MD’s own pop-punkers Amateur Phone Hussies (who really need to snatch up that prime URL before some phone sex company takes it first) join up with Kali Celeste and The Greys at the Velvet Lounge.
>> Classical singing prodigy turned unlikely pop phenomenon Josh Groban seems to share in the same mystifying appeal as Celine Dion, Michael Bolton and Andrea Bocelli. If that’s your particular cup of tea, though, you can join the masses of Groban fans tomorrow at the Verizon Center. 8 p.m. $38-98.
>> Arlington singer/songwriter Justin Trawick celebrates the release of his new CD, How to Build a Life With a Lemonade Stand with a party at Iota Club & Cafe opening for The Nice Jenkins. 8 p.m., $10.
