FRIDAY: >> New York’s Latin-funk collective Yerba Buena, the energetic offspring of Venezuelan-born producer Andrés Levin and his Cuban-born wife Ileana Padrón (aka Cucu Diamantes), is the only band touring the country today that could bring together a guest artist line-up for their latest album, Island Life, that includes M1 from Dead Prez, comedian and actor John Leguizamo, and gypsy punks Gogol Bordello. The combo may occasionally feel like its trying to be an Afro-Cuban…

This is the third installment of December’s Three Stars. On Wednesday, we covered The Bonapartes, and yesterday we discussed The Lucky Bastards. Today, we bring you Lejeune. Lejeune Not too long ago, several DCists headed to DC9 to listen to a trio of Three Stars candidates. By the end of the second act’s set, we felt comfortable about featuring either of the bands we’d heard. It was getting late, and we all had to get…

This is the second installment of December’s Three Stars. Yesterday, we covered The Bonapartes, and tomorrow we’ll be discussing LeJeune. Today, we bring you The Lucky Bastards. The Lucky Bastards DCist caught The Lucky Bastards at a laid-back show at the Black Cat one cold, late November evening. Having gone into the show not knowing much about the band, we came out pleasantly surprised at the group’s ability to comfortably mix sounds from 70s-tinged soul,…

Monday: Long before its Starship iteration, with all its associated abominable number one hits, the band called Jefferson Airplane (pictured) released some of the greatest psychedelic rock anthems of the late 1960s, fueled in part by the guitar and bass work of D.C. natives Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. The two left the Jefferson collective to work on their blues side project, Hot Tuna, full-time, an undertaking they’ve continued to today. The duo play an…

From DCist contributor Ryan Avent MONDAY: >> Monday is an excellent time to visit Fort Reno as Garland of Hours (featuring noted DC cellist Amy Domingues and a Fugazi rhythm section) take the stage. They’re joined by DCist favorite The Aquarium and by local songwriter-slash-St. Ex bartender Paul Michel. The show is free as always and begins about 7:15. Click here to read last week’s interview with Paul Michel. >> If tranquil melodies are your…