Talking about single shows is so 2009. In present day Tacoma - and by "present day Tacoma" I mean life here over the past two weeks - it's all about quantity. Who gets excited about single shows anymore? Not me. My pulse doesn't even rise unless an event means dedicating 16 hours of my weekend. We've been covered in Squeak and Squawk, and are about to be scuffed up for three days by Grit City Fest, and it's rewired my brain.

Case in point, the old me would have looked at this weekend's schedule at Hell's Kitchen, featuring the reunited and ultra-Northwest-classic Coffin Break Saturday, and the fuck-you country, real as the resin on my jeans Hank III show Sunday, and seen a dilemma. The old me would have felt obligated to choose one or the other for this column, without the newfound perspective brought on by two weeks of local music festivals.

I pity the old me. What a simpleton.

Luckily, it's a new day, full of new possibilities. That's why I'm proud to announce ...

The First Annual Fucking Kick-Ass Weekend of Shows at Hell's Kitchen Festival!

I figure even if it's make-believe, and only brought on by contrived delusions, an event like The First Annual Fucking Kick-Ass Weekend of Shows at Hell's Kitchen Festival deserves it!

Coffin Break

The term and idea of "grunge" often gets misused and misunderstood, as if everything emanating out of late '80s, early '90s Seattle sounded like Mudhoney and wore ridiculous amounts of flannel. It's simply not true. Anyone who was there can tell you so.

Coffin Break was there.

Staples of that now world-famous, rainy moment in Seattle music history, Coffin Break wasn't built on the prototypical grunge sludgery and drudgery, rather they came at the g-word with the searing power of punk - eventually landing a deal with major label Epitaph for their effort and ass-kicking.  With six records to their name, most of which were released by the classic C/Z Records, Coffin Break — through six or seven years — made a name in the Northwest music scene that still raises eyebrows and intrigue today. The band, which was led by Peter Litwin on guitar and vocals and Rob Skinner on bass and vocals, officially broke up in 1994.

The band has rarely played since; when it has always to the delight of the horn-and-glass-raising faithful. Saturday, Coffin Break will once again return, plugging in at Hell's Kitchen and setting a flame underneath the slumbering asses and memories of longtime Northwest music fiends.

Adding to the magic, Coffin Break played its first show ever at Tacoma's Community World Theater. You've got a chance to welcome the band back this weekend.

Hank III

If you're a tool, Hank III probably doesn't like you. And he'll tell you that, to your face, through middle finger or song. It's exactly the reason - only aided by a famous name and blue-collar approach to turning the Pop-Country Music Establishment on its ear - why Hank III is one of the most refreshing presences in music. Anywhere. Period.

"I've always said an outlaw or a rebel is someone that marches to their own beat," Hank III told the LA Weekly in 2008. Earlier this year Hank III, who practices country music the way it was meant to be practiced, but is no stranger to metal circles and kids dressed in black and covered with tattoos, celebrated his final album for Curb Records (see: long, contentious, rant-filled history), Rebel Within. "(Rebels) do things for themselves. They're not trying to write songs for the radio or make everybody happy. They just play their music, say what they say, do what they do, and they believe in themselves."

That sentiment, a trademark of Hank III, is as evident as ever on Rebel Within. While Hank III's previous efforts have been pleasantly full of odes to drug use and hell raisin', Rebel Within comes off like a message from an original who's been there and done that. Hank III doesn't turn his back on his wild history and genetics - far from it - but his latest effort proves it's no longer the main trick in his bag. Perhaps it's simply the fact that he's grown older, or maybe it's more, but with Rebel Within Hank III sounds more at home in his skin than ever - and that's a good thing, and also kind of hard to believe.

Sunday's show at Hell's Kitchen will be one to remember.

Hell's Kitchen

928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003

COFFIN BREAK

with Jet City Fix, Blanco Bronco, Pioneers West, Saturday, June 19, 9 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS

HANK III

with Assjack, Izzy Cox, Sunday, June 20, 9 p.m., $20