MONDAY
>> A year ago, Rolling Stone called The Whigs one of ten bands to watch and “the best unsigned band in America.” The Athens, GA trio has since been taking their pure rock-and-roll on the road in support of Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip, winning comparisons to the Replacements, the Strokes, REM, and the Drive-By Truckers along the way. The break hasn’t come yet, but we’ve got a feeling it could be right around the corner. With North of Canada and Concrete Valley, @ Rock and Roll Hotel. Doors at 8 pm, show at 9. $10/12.
>> At the height of 1960’s cold war tension between Fidel Castro and the United States, a Cuban group heavily inspired by American doo-wop sounds had Cuban teenagers shrieking with delight. While the band is no more, a poignant movie documentary about them, “Los Zafiros: Music from the Edge of Time,” will be showing at the Library of Congress’ James Madison Building’s Mary Pickford Theater for Free, Independence Ave SE, between 1st & 2nd Streets (but seating is limited to 60 seats). Reservations may be made by phone, (202) 707-5677.
>> As we mentioned last week, tonight Blues Alley begins a three night stand of the big bands from the Army, Navy and Air Force (the Marines are, presumably, too busy being the toughest hombres around to have a big band). Not only that, but all three concerts are free. Blues Alley recommends reserving tickets in advance. Tonight it’s the Army Blues Big Band, tomorrow the Navy Commodores, and Wednesday the Airforce Airmen of Note. 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.
TUESDAY
>> The Black Cat fields a huge bill of some of D.C.’s best singer-songwriter talent. With six artists for just $8, that’s just a buck thirty-three apiece. Such a deal! On the roster for the evening: Vandaveer, the solo persona of Mark Heidinger from The Apparitions, Laura Burhenn of Georgie James, longtime local standout Sarah Azzara, Stella Schindler, Sean McArdle, and Brandon Butler. $8, 9 p.m.
>> Loreena McKennitt was doing the elfin-girl-with-a-harp-thing long before Joanna Newsom made it trendy for the indie-rock set. She’s been making her celtic-tinged folk for over 20 years now, and while her popularity may have peaked a decade ago when she had an unlikely radio hit with “The Mummer’s Dance,” and she took a number of years away from recording through the first part of the decade, last year’s An Ancient Muse was released to a number of excellent reviews. Tuesday she performs at Constitution Hall. $55-75, 8 p.m.
