It’s been more than 20 years since New York R&B trio SWV dropped its huge debut, It’s About Time. Tragically, the group split in 1998, turning its attention to things like school and parenthood. But after years of silence, Coko, Lelee, and Taj reunited in 2005 and last year released I Missed Us, their first group effort in 15 years. When they perform at Howard Theatre tonight, they’ll bring two decades of hits with them, most likely for a crowd that grew up listening to their songs (and possibly a few kids who were conceived to them). Read more >>> SWV performs with Lahla-Hadiya at 8 p.m. at the Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. $29.50–$35. (202) 803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. (Julian Kimble)
EAT THIS
Given that Cicada Brood II will largely skip the District, you probably won’t be eating them. But grasshoppers? El Centro D.F. is serving them in guacamole through June 30 as part of its Guacamole Festival. The insects add a crunch to the guac, which also has green tomatillos, cojita cheese, onions, lime, and red chile cascabel powder. Read more about it here. El Centro DF, 1819 14th St. NW. (202) 328-3131. richardsandoval.com/elcentrodf. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
Tonight: The International Contemporary Ensemble premieres a new work by American composer John Adams at the Library of Congress. (For background, read Mike Paarlberg‘s recent interview with the composer). 8 p.m. at the Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium, 10 1st St. SE. Free.
Tonight: Saturday Night Live‘s resident POTUS impersonator Jay Pharoah kicks off his weekend of stand-up performances at the Arlington Drafthouse tonight. With all this Beyoncé baby news, perhaps he’ll also pull out his Jay-Z impression. 10 p.m. at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. $25.
Tonight: Jazz vocalist Lena Seikaly performs a CD release show at Blues Alley tonight. For a taste of what’s in store, listen to “Here Again,” recently featured in City Paper‘s One Track Mind column. 8 p.m. (sold out) and 10 p.m. (tickets still available) at Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. $22.
Saturday: Remember electroclash? Listening to Ellen Allien’s latest LP, you’d think the veteran Berlin producer had forgotten all about that glammy strain of early-aughts dance music. But for a little while there, Allien specialized in the stuff—and sometimes I perversely wish she’d revisit it. Allien’s most recent album, LISm, is actually just one big piece of experimental sound. No fun! Tonight at U Street Music Hall, let’s hope she sticks to the jams—and maybe a little Fischerspooner. No? OK. Forget I said that. Read more >>> Ellen Allien DJs with Charles Martin and Sarah Myers at 10 p.m. at U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. $10. Free before midnight for 21-plus. (202) 588-1880. ustreetmusichall.com. (Ally Schweitzer)
Saturday: Chris Hardwick, former host of Singled Out and current co-host of The Nerdist podcast, mixes comedy with nerdiness at 9:30 Club tonight. 6 p.m. at 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. $25.
Saturday: Crankparty returns to Liv tonight with special guest Infuze, so get ready for a night of EDM and dancing. 10 p.m. at Liv Nightclub, 2001 11th St. NW. $10–$13.
Saturday: The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra kicks off the season at the Petworth Jazz Project. Kids reggae act Baba Ras D plays an opening set for the young and young at heart. 6 p.m. at Petworth Recreation Center, 8th and Taylor streets NW. Free.
Sunday: On his 2012 album En Yay Sah, Janka Nabay reimagined the bubu pop music of his native Sierra Leone with a group of Brooklyn-based art rockers, including members of Skeletons and Gang Gang Dance. Once a Sierra Leonean star praised as the King of Bubu, Nabay still retains the genre’s call-and-response chants and circular, clack-clacking rhythms, but has ditched bubu’s traditional bamboo shoots for synthesizers and the occasional programmed beat. Tonight’s Bubu Gang lineup includes experimental rockers both from New York and D.C. But whatever it sounds like, it’ll definitely still be bubu. Read more >>> Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang performs with Emmerson and Afro National at 9 p.m. at Plum Orchard Conference Center, 12210 Plum Orchard Drive, Silver Spring. $20-$65. (240) 423-8699. emmerson-janka-national-ramanu-eorg.eventbrite.com. (Jonathan L. Fischer)
Sunday: Pseudo-punk rockers Your Cousin, Marvin play at DC9 with A Happy Death, The Autonomics, and The Rumble. 8:30 p.m. at DC9, 1940 9th St. NW. $8.
Sunday: Feel up for braving crowds this Memorial Day? Then head over to the Capitol’s west lawn for the National Memorial Day Concert, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra, Gary Sinise, and a variety of former reality TV contestants. 8 p.m. at the U.S. Capitol. Free.
Monday: Close out your three-day weekend with a healthy dose of indie rock. The Black Cat’s hosting a quadruple bill, featuring performances by Blank Realm, Apache Dropout, Foul Swoops, and Thee Tsunamis. 8 p.m. at the Black Cat Backstage, 1811 14th St. NW. $12.
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