D.C. singer Carolyn Malachi has made long strides in a relatively short time. Her debut album, Revenge of the Smart Chicks, was self-released in 2008; by 2010, her song “Orion,” which detailed a complicated romance between a mermaid and astronaut, was nominated for a Grammy. Tonight, Malachi headlines a benefit show tonight to aid independent artists in developing countries. Read more >>> (Marcus J. Moore)

Carolyn Malachi performs with Jayarr at 8 p.m. tonight at Montserrat House, 2016 9th St. NW. $15. montserrathouse.com.

EAT THIS

It’s no Los Pollos Hermanos (what’s up, Breaking Bad fans!), but Pollo Campero is giving away free empanadas today at all D.C.-area locations. The Latin American fast-food chain is introducing three types of empanadas for you to try: spicy chicken, citrus chicken, and black bean and cheese. Pollo Campero has locations in Columbia Heights (3229 14th St. NW) as well as Manassas, Falls Church, Herndon, Gaithersburg, Adelphi, Laurel, and Wheaton, Md. (Jessica Sidman)

OH AND ALSO

The Olympics kick off tonight at 7:30 p.m., and you should be watching them with a beverage in your hand. Catch the opening ceremony at The Brixton, Biergarten Haus, Open City, Good Stuff Eatery, The Queen Vic, or Ping Pong Dim Sum, or tag along on the H Street Olympic bar crawl, which starts at The Argonaut at 5:30 p.m.

If you were Lemmy from Motörhead, you’d drink a bottle of Jack Daniel’s a day, too. Not because you’d have a giant growth on your face, or even because you were an alcoholic. No, you’d guzzle firewater because, after 37 years of writing countless iterations of the same great punk-metal anthem, you’re still only one slot above a turdcore band like Asking Alexandria on the Mayhem Festival tour. Read more >>> (Christopher Porter)

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival begins Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow. $26.50–$69.50. livenation.com.

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Photo by Darrow Montgomery