Eighty-one years old and becoming exceedingly frail, Sonny Rollins still throws himself into his tenor saxophone onstage. It’s actually a little frightening to see a man of grandfatherly age thrusting head and shoulders down towards his horn with force that would cause back spasms in much younger men. Then again, listen to the sounds he’s making. Rollins’ sax tone is a brazen—at times even vulgar—display of muscle. His rhythms are not just powerful, but unique, and Rollins finds new uses for space and accent in tunes he’s played since adolescence. Spry young accompanists scramble to keep up. The 2011 Kennedy Center honoree chews melodies to bits and reassembles them, Frankenstein-like, before bringing them back home. Rollins’ body may be aging, but it channels his energy just as vitally as his horn. (Michael J. West) Sonny Rollins performs at 8 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $35-85. (202) 785-9727.

MUSIC

Local post-hardcore outfit Regents includes members of Frodus and Sleepytime Trio, which should pique your interest, but if it doesn’t, listen to this. “It’s not a matter of differentiating ourselves from what we’ve done or used to do,” drummer Jason Hamacher told City Paper recently. “It’s just doing what we do—not much thought or planning goes into the music that comes out of it.” Groovy. With Redgrave at 9 p.m. at Galaxy Hut. $5.

FILM

Latin American Film Festival at the AFI Silver continues! Asian Pacific American Film Festival is on pause until later this week.

THEATER

Woolly Mammoth’s season starts tonight with A Bright New Boise.