[HIP-HOP] + THURS, JUNE 26

The Pacific Northwest underground hip-hop scene has continued to develop and grow with a myriad of different styles, trends and characters. Landon Wordswell is one such character with a unique style.  Hailing from The Rose City, Wordswell combines enthusiasm with sharp craft and delivery on the microphone. Billed as Landon Wordswell's "Return To Olympia," and joined by his homie Mo Stafa, they picked Jezebels for their return, with a flock of local openers including Dr. Roks, Syncopated Knock, Mistervits, MC Swamptiger, Soulless Kings and Krucial Bars. {JOSE GUTIERREZ}

LANDON WORDSWELL & MO STAFA "RETURN TO OLYMPIA," 8:30 p.m., Jezebels Bar and Grill, 414 Fourth Ave., Olympia, $5, 360.915.6503

[STONER ROCK]  + FRI, JUNE 27

Sometimes, with this arms race of who can nail the heaviest stoner rock to the wall, things can get muddy in a way that interferes with the visceral thrill promised by these tectonic riffs. Gladiators Eat Fire bring it with the massive sound, but they have smarts enough to parcel things out in more digestible bites. In between melting faces, they'll introduce a notably nimble bit of guitar wizardry to break up the wall of sound. Granted, melting faces is still most bands' first priorities - and no one could blame them for wanting that - so there's still the requisite eardrum-testing cacophony at play with Gladiators Eat Fire. At their heaviest, they even approach some demonic heavy metal, but they always back off before they totally blow their wad. {REV. ADAM MCKINNEY}

GLADIATORS EAT FIRE, w/ Death By Stars, the Lion in Winter, 9 p.m., The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, $5, 253.572.4020

[ROCK] + SAT, JUNE 28

To see Mosquito Hawk in person is to see the workings of four dedicated rockers, each bringing a stage presence that engages more than just your ears. Watch as Jerry Zeigler pile-drives his drums, float off with John Merithew as he noodles a guitar solo into your being, catch the rocker stance and bass manipulation of Sean McCoy, and just try and look away when Olivia Love dances and croons into the mic, "Don't try to love me ... just fucking suck on my tongue." Now put that intimate arrangement in a punk rock living room with four other bands, including Seattle fuzz-masters Ancient Warlocks, add the sweet sweat of a summer night, and see how that treats you. You can thank me later. {NIKKI MCCOY}

MOSQUITO HAWK, w/Ancient Warlocks, Sioux, Holy Grove, Shadows, 8:30 p.m., Track House, 511 Seventh Ave., Olympia, $3

[EXPERIMENTAL POP] + SAT, JUNE 28

I wonder if the people in Wei Zhongle know how to pronounce their band name, or if it's just a guessing game every time. Listening to their music, it certainly seems like they'd be cagy if you asked. Describing their music as "nu trance" -which, frankly, I do not approve of - the sounds of Wei Zhongle are hard to pin down. The Illinois trio frame their repetitious instrumental experimentations in a way that's precise to the point of abstraction. Utilizing a clarinet's trill as the analog version of a glitchy techno melody, they build songs that have the unsettling quality of electronic music, while still planting one foot in the flesh-and-blood world. They're a nightmare chamber act, concocting dizzying mood pieces that are as rich in texture as they are off-putting in their shifting structures. {REV. AM}

WEI ZHONGLE, w/ Scout's Honor, Slugjob, Polyan, 10 p.m., Le Voyeur, 404 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia, no cover, 360.943.5710