VANILLA ICE

Thursday, Dec. 10
As I write about this upcoming show, I worry that it may be something I conjured up in some kind of a fever dream. But, barring the prospect that the words “Vanilla Ice at Station 56” were a mirage, it looks like this thing’s really happening. Of course, it’s hard to predict which Vanilla Ice we’re going to get. Since he flew too close to the sun with “Ice Ice Baby”, he denounced his rap career and took up hardcore music. As everyone knows, he eventually came to peace with that classic single on season 2 of the trashy/hilarious reality show ancestor, The Surreal Life. Leaving us with what? What exactly will we see when Rob “Vanilla Ice” Van Winkle performs at Station 56? A spectacle that you will cherish forever, of course. — Rev. Adam McKinney
[Station 56, 8 p.m., $20-$30, 5602 S. Washington St., Tacoma, 253.474.1189]

BANDOLIER

Friday, Dec. 11
While some folks like to utilize the Internet to spread accurate information and generally make the world a better, more knowledgeable place — I’m a little different. Based on my previous record, at least — it would seem I prefer using the Internet to make embarrassing mistakes and let brain-farts become public. Like last weekend, for example, when I mistakenly wrote on the Weekly Volcano’s Spew blog that Bandolier was part of Girl Trouble’s Christmas show, last Saturday at The New Frontier Lounge. They weren’t, of course — that was the Dignitaries, a band that Bandolier’s Lino Fernandez also plays in with his brother, Reylan. The Fernandez connection may well be the root of my confusion, but really — that’s no excuse.   Bandolier deals in indie pop, while the Dignitaries sling yellow tinged garage rock — and that’s just one of many differences. On Spew, I first wrote that I secretly love Bandolier more than creamy peanut butter, but after my mistake I was forced to change that statement to reflect the Dignitaries — leading to the obvious confusion. Which band do I really love more than creamy peanut butter? The answer: both. It was a trick question. I’m a chunky man. —  Matt Driscoll
[Bob’s Java Jive, with M. Bison, Umber Sleeping, Hair Envelope, 8 p.m., $5, 2102 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

BULLETBOYS

Friday, Dec. 11
Quick — who wins in a cage match, ‘80s “supergroup” BulletBoys, or Tacoma’s Kevin and Andy Day, of Top Heavy Crush fame? I’m not a betting man, but if I was, all the money I had would be pushed into the Day Brothers corner. Let’s be real — the ‘80s were a long ass time ago, and Kevin and Andy stay fit with a hardcore regimen of rocking, hot-tubing, and, well, rocking. Either way, they’re quick like a cat and sharp like a tack — and even if BulletBoys tried to get all smooth up in them, something tells me the tenacity of Kevin and Andy would not be denied. On Friday, the Day Brothers — acoustic style — will open for the BulletBoys at Station 56 as part of the Freedom Records produced Rock ‘n Roll Christmas. — MD
[Station 56, with the Day Brothers, Atomic Outlaws, Resdeus, Third Law of Motion, 8 p.m., $10, 5602 S. Washington St., Tacoma, 253.474.1189]

TAB BENOIT

Friday, Dec. 11
Bobble Tiki is not sexy. Tab Benoit, on the other hand, is the pure definition of sexy — at least according to Mrs. Tiki, who swoons and drools every time she sees the world-renowned blues guitarist do his thing in Tacoma. This weekend at Jazzbones, she’ll get two more chances to do just that. Two shows with Tab Benoit in Tacoma may be enough to drive Mrs. Tiki completely wild with lust, and Bobble Tiki can see why. First off, there’s his beard. Rarely has Bobble Tiki laid eyes on a finer piece of well-groomed manliness. Then there’s his Southern charm. Every time Bobble Tiki has seen Benoit perform, there’s been a large gaggle of ladies in the audience — all as hot and bothered as Mrs. Tiki, and Benoit’s Southern charm has a lot to do with it. Other things that make Tab Benoit sexy include: The fact that he drinks Courvoisier, and the fact that his name is Tab. And did Bobble Tiki mention the beard? — Bobble Tiki
[Jazzbones, Friday, Dec. 11 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12 9 p.m., $20, 2803 Sixth Ave, Tacoma, 253.396.9169]