Do you remember your first trip to Tacoma? Your impressions? The sensation in your gut? The things you saw and the way this place made you feel?

Blinded by the Hilltop hysteria of the time, of course, I remember my first trip to Tacoma. There was the Aroma, naturally, and also that sense of fear that comes when privileged, suburban white kids step outside their cul-de-sac comfort zone. I remember hoping to see hookers, and hoping my mom wouldn't stop the car too long at K Street stoplights.

Luckily for Song Sparrow Research, times have changed dramatically. While - in uber-hip places like Seattle, where the often folky, yet always developing band is from - Tacoma may still be a dirty word, the impressions visitors to our gritty city are left with is nothing like it was only 15 years ago.

"I've been to some shows in Tacoma and have been impressed by some of the musical taste," says Song Sparrow Research frontman Hamilton Boyce. "We don't have huge expectations, but we're going into it pretty open minded. I hope people will get it, and I think a lot of people will."

It bears mentioning Boyce was speaking of Tacoma's music scene, not drug houses or drive by shootings. Still, the mere fact that conversations like this are taking place - discussion about Tacoma's developing music and arts scene, and discussions about Tacoma's positives as opposed to simply strings of one-liners about the Tacoma Aroma - is a mark of progress. And the fact that a band from Seattle, that's doing just fine in Seattle, is intrigued enough to travel south for a show in the City of Destiny is a clear example of that progress.

In this instance, some of the credit for luring Song Sparrow Research to town falls on $2000 Puma, a band that will share the bill Saturday at The New Frontier along with Santee and Xylophones. Greg Merrell of $2000 Puma seems to have been the one to sell Boyce and Song Sparrow on Tacoma.

"This will be the first time this group has ever played Tacoma. Greg was really persistent," says Boyce. "At first we weren't sure because we don't really have a following down there, but Greg talked me into it. Now I'm excited."

And Tacoma should be excited too. A show featuring $2000 Puma, Santee and Xylophones should be enough to make any T-Town music fiend's heart flutter, but throwing one of Seattle's more captivating and original bands into the mix only sweetens the pot.

This show will be legit - and it would be in Tacoma or anywhere else.

What can one expect from Song Sparrow Research, now that we have some idea of what the band may be expecting from us?

The answer to that question isn't as simple as you might think. Created in 2006 as a three-piece, Song Sparrow Research originally cut its teeth as just that - a band exploring the rock based possibilities of a three person, drum, bass, guitar trio. Over time, however, and as is usually the case - interests fluctuated, and new sounds emerged. These days - including Saturday's show at The New Frontier - listeners are likely to hear and see a standup bass, glockenspiel, cello, keyboard and more when the band takes the stage or ventures onto your stereo.

It's a transformation Boyce and Song Sparrow Research - somewhat unintentionally - feel right at home with.

"Whatever we've been, we've been really excited about it at the time. When we were playing as a trio we were really into that," explains Boyce. "Over the last couple years our creative process has changed a little, and we've started playing with more people. The newer stuff feels thick and folky. We've actually developed our sound quite a bit, which is exciting."

Meet Song Sparrow Research, and introduce the band to Tacoma, Saturday at The New Frontier.

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Santee, Xylophones, $2000 Puma, Saturday, Feb. 27, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]