>> The Rock and Roll Hotel welcomes the country’s first deaf hip-hop group, locals Helix Boyz. Prince Darius and Sho Roc bring an energetic following from nearby Gallaudet University and fun beats that, as you might imagine, you can feel thumping in your body through the speakers. Doors at 8 p.m., $10. >> Daniel Levitin will be at Politics and Prose to discuss his latest book This is Your Brain on Music in conversation…

MONDAY >> Three Stars alums The Chance and J. Forté + the Secret Pop Band, D.C.’s favorite lofi power-poppers, are playing a great double-bill (bothThree Stars veterans) at the Black Cat Backstage. 9 p.m. $6. TUESDAY >> Yet another revival of West Side Story comes to Wolf Trap and stays there until Sunday. Apparently it’s the 50th anniversary. 8 p.m. with matinée shows at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. $18-68. WEDNESDAY >> The Rock…

>> The 3rd annual Can A Sista Rock A Mic? Festival kicks tonight off at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Bahamadia and Emoni Fela among others will be performing tonight, stay tuned for a full preview from us later. 9 p.m., $12. >> Like we mentioned in the jazz agenda, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim is one of the most influential jazz musicians to come out of South Africa, and tonight he’ll be at Blues Alley…

Alfonso Velez is an old soul. The former frontman from Monopoli recently stepped out of the indie rock scene and into the past, drawing upon various folk and blues influences in his solo career. He has the demeanor (and hair) of a young Elvis, the storytelling stylings of Bob Dylan, and the gritty vocals of George Harrison. These are but a few of the names that come to mind as you watch him on stage….

Today’s review was written by DCist contributor Jim Smalley, a patent examiner for the USPTO and aspiring local musician. For those who weren’t living on a prayer at the MCI Center Saturday night, the Black Cat hosted a classic matchup of local music, featuring three D.C. bands each armed with their own flavor of rock n’ roll. The temptingly-diverse bill drew from all circles of D.C. society, packing the Cat with friends and fans alike….

D.C. locals Monopoli are probably the envy of their musical peers, as they’ve earned a surprising amount of buzz and a loyal group of fans after only a year together. We’d heard a lot of things about the four-piece band; on paper they sound excellent, having been described as everything from polished indie rock a la Spoon to a post-shoegaze act not unlike Coldplay. So our expectations for their show Friday night at DC9 might…