When you think of art rock, bands like King Crimson and Genesis or Sonic Youth and latter-day Talk Talk tend to come to mind. The common thread that runs through most of these bands is a deadly seriousness. It's, you know, "art." It needs to be serious. And it needs to be taxing and difficult and all those other words we use to describe albums that just aren't any fun to listen to. Enter Japanther, an art rock band with punk leanings that's actually fun. The band (a duo) got their start in college, at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. They're a couple of art students who formed a band just to form a band. Before they knew it, they were opening up for bands like the Blood Brothers. On record, Japanther is lo-fi and noisy, and live it's not much different. Live, the duo play bass and drums, filling out the rest with their backing track on cassette. The rest I'll let you discover on Friday - a free, all-ages show that may be one of this year's best. 

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[Peabody Waldorf Gallery, with Muhummadali, the Wheelies, 3-7 p.m., all ages, no cover, 745 Broadway, Tacoma]