KASHMIR

Thursday, Dec. 31
If the Mark Wahlberg flick Rock Star taught us anything — besides the fact that men really shouldn’t wear leather pants — it’s that there’s a contentious difference between cover bands (who play everybody’s hits) and tribute bands (who stick with one artist or group). Wahlberg’s character was plucked from the obscurity of fronting a small-town copy of his favorite heavy-metal band to join the real thing, but not before emphatically informing his less-enthusiastic band mates: “We are not a cover band; we’re a tribute band!”

Say it loud; say it proud.

In the South Sound, there isn’t a better Led Zeppelin tribute frontman than Terry Mriglot. When he snaps his fingers and tosses his mike over his shoulder draped with long golden locks — communicating a confidence unique to the rock deity who once proclaimed “Valhalla, I’m coming home” — it’s damn close to the golden Robert Plant experience.

His Zep tribute band, Kashmir, will perform tonight at Kamel Toe’s New Year’s Eve party.  “Besides all your favorite Zep hits, we’ll be performing “Stairway To Heaven at Midnight,” laughs Mriglot. “I also have some surprise guests showing up. The guys from AC/DC tribute band SoulStripper will drop by for a little Angus and co. And Liza Brown will belt out songs like  “I Love Rock n Roll,” “Don’t You Want Somebody to Love,” and “Crazy On You.” Not a bad chick set, huh?” — Ron Swarner
[Kamel Toe Bar & Grill, 9 p.m., no cover, 14422 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.536.1533]
 

Q DOT

Thursday, Dec. 31
A recent article called Federal Way-based rapper Q Dot a Kanye West look alike. I think he looks more like Skee-lo. Judge for yourself as Q Dot, a.k.a. Quincy Henry heats up the hip-hop stage at First Night Tacoma. Q Dot is a multi instrumentalist, producer, songwriter and performer, and made the ballot-cataloguing semi-finalists in five different categories for this past year’s Grammy Awards. Q Dot is an independent, do-it-yourself artist/producer from a corner of the country synonymous with coffee, software, bad weather and legendary rock music. He runs a small independent label where he records, produces, mixes, masters, writes, sings and pays the light bill. Whoever he looks like, Q Dot is a local original, and deserves your respect. — Paul Schrag
[Moroccan Treasures, with J2, DV, Josh Rizeberg, We 2 Fly, Evergreen One, Toddy Sykes, and Strik-N-Krusal, 7:20-11:30 p.m., $5-$10 First Night Buttons, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.682.1020]

XYLOPHONES

Saturday, Jan. 2
Xylophones. It’s a bold move, naming an indie rock band after an instrument. Novelty is good; so we’ll accept the name because Xylophones is a home-team, um, team. Band. Whatever, Xylophones are vocalist/guitarist David Bilbrey and drummer David Nichols. Both are Tacoma music veterans. You may recognize them as members of Destruction Island, Some By Sea, Tex., Claymore, Foray, Time to Fly, San Juan, and a slew of other crews. Two Davids — a prophetic metaphor if ever there was one. Small and mighty, ready to slay the lion or the giant Phoenician or any other great obstacle this week at The New Frontier Lounge with collaborators Piko Panda, a.k.a. Jacob, which is half of the Hebrew translation of Michael Jackson’s last name. I don’t know what that means. — PS
[The New Frontier Lounge, Greg’s Birthday Party featuring Oh Dear, Xylophones, Wheelies, Piko Panda, Saturday, Jan. 2, 9 p.m., 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

7 ON 7

Sunday, Jan. 3
The power of the horn section is too strong to be denied. If I had a time machine, I would travel back to the sixth-grade Adam and warn him to avoid the choir and embrace the band. If I had heeded my future self’s warning, I could be a happy trumpet player in a traveling band. As it is, I’m all thumbs when it comes to playing music and I’ve been relegated to a mere admirer of the ultra-cool horn section. Think about this: how many mediocre songs have been elevated by brass? Too many to count. 7 on 7 knows this and capitalizes on it well. See them in a sour mood and defy your spirits not to get raised. Truly. — Rev. Adam McKinney
[The Spar, 7-10 p.m., no cover, 2121 N. 30th St., Tacoma, 253.272.2122]