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25
FRIDAY
There will be a number of performers in town this Caribbean Carnival weekend who will have people jumping to island beats, but there will be only one who will inspire people to laugh, think, and dance. For 40 years, Trinidad’s legendary Mighty Sparrow has matched clever, topical lyrics with the rhythms of the day, be they yesteryear’s calypso and pre-rock pop, or today’s fast soca. Encompassing rough-voiced singing and singsong chanting, Sparrow’s lyrical skill has made him an 11-time Calypso Monarch Competition winner. Best known for tough-minded tracks like “Neurosis of the Rich” and humorous social commentary like the recent “Doh Touch Meh President,” this old-school entertainer’s live show mixes such compositions with a bit of stand-up comedy and sincere but off-key lounge balladeering. At 9 p.m. at D.C. Live, 932 F St. NW. $15. (202) 347-7200. (Steve Kiviat)