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Reggaeton lives! Although the fast-paced Spanish-language rap genre has not had a recent single affect the English pop world like Daddy Yankee’s 2004 hit “Gasolina” did, the style remains a sonic fixture thanks to newer acts like Farruko, as well as more established groups like Puerto Rican duo Alexis y Fido. Over the last ten years, they’ve built a cultural presence thanks to the way their most ubiquitous hits have melded Alexis’ hard-edged braggadocio with Fido’s more sing-song flow over beats and melodic embellishments. With Fido sometimes producing, these guys have added dashes of mariachi and cumbia to their pounding island rhythms. Read more >>> Alexis y Fido perform at 8:30 p.m. at Cococabana, 2031-A University Blvd., Hyattsville. $25–$60. (301) 431-1882. clubcococabana.com. (Steve Kiviat)
EAT THIS
Drink Christmas beers in Christmas sweaters tonight at The Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital. Beer Historian Mike Stein of Lost Lagers will lead an educational session and tastings of five seasonal ales from breweries in the U.K., Denmark, and Brooklyn. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes an ugly Christmas sweater contest and some snacks. Tickets are $37.92, but if you buy before 3:30 p.m., you can use the promo code “beer” for a $10 discount. Tickets and additional info are available here. The Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
Friday: Begin your night with a series of humorous readings from local authors during happy hour at DC9. 7 p.m. at 1940 9th St. NW. $10.
Friday: RDGLDGRN, the local act that blends go-go rhythms with hip-hop and indie rock, performs at U Street Music Hall with local jazz vocalist and saxophonist Masego. 7:30 p.m. at 1115 U St. NW. $18.
Friday: Sudanese pop group Alsarah and the Nubatones takes the stage at Tropicalia to play two sets from its upcoming release. Find more details on Facebook. 8 p.m. at 2001 14th St. NW. $15.
Saturday: The District duo of Mellen Funke and Lyell Evans Roeder—known together under the clumsy and curious moniker Tigers Are Bad For Horses—not only draws a lot of comparisons to North Carolina’s Sylvan Esso, it seems to welcome them. It’s a useful comparison as there aren’t many other well-known electronic groups that sound more like jazz than dance music. Sylvan Esso uses space in creative ways to give its songs an open feel. TABFH ventures in the opposite direction, layering vocals, samples, synths, and piano to build dense pop anthems. Read more >>> Tigers Are Bad for Horses performs with ITFLOATS at 8 p.m. at Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. $12. (202) 388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. (Justin Weber)
Saturday: Rorschach Theatre premieres Kleksography: The Island of Misfit Toys, a series of seven short plays written and produced by local artists in a week, at Atlas Performing Arts Center. 7 and 9 p.m. at 1333 H St. NE. $15–$20.
Saturday: Rock act The Walking Sticks headlines a quadruple bill of local performers including Redline Graffitti, Cautious Clay, and Moonlight Mask at Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe. 9 p.m. at 2477 18th St. NW. $10–$12.
Sunday: Whether you’re new to D.C. and looking for an introduction to what makes this music scene tick, or you’re a regular who’s been in the know for years, there’s no better place to be than U Street Music Hall on Sunday. It starts with a screening of Metrozine founder Scott Crawford’s Salad Days, a documentary about the city’s hardcore and DIY scenes during the 1980s, and continues with a who’s who and who’s next of jazz, hip-hop, punk, and go-go. Read more >>> The performance begins at 5 p.m. at U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. $15. (202) 588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com. (Justin Weber)
Sunday: Moroccan group Innov Gnawa squeezes in two D.C. shows in one night: an early offering at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage followed by an afterparty at Bossa Bistro. 6 p.m. at 2700 F St. NW. Free. 9:30 p.m. at 2463 18th St. NW. $10.
Sunday: Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon pay tribute to one of Colorado’s most famous musicians when they bring their “John Denver Christmas” tour to Gypsy Sally’s. 7:30 p.m. at 3401 K St. NW. $20–$23.
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