DIRTYCHANGEUP

>>> Friday, July 9

Quick, name three sure ways to spot a Northwest jam band before having heard them play. ... If you said a) their band photo was shot in the woods; b) Tommy Chong is their number one friend on MySpace; or c) the bass player often wears an oversized Seahawks jersey - you're right, and you just described Tacoma's DirtyChangeUp. With University of Puget Sound roots, and having shaken booties everywhere from Teva approved stages to dives like Bob's Java Jive - here is a band with a head of steam and lungs full of weed smoke, which is just about all you can ask from a jam band. DirtyChangeUp delivers, even if the oneword name leaves something to be desired, and Tatupu actually probably hates the Grateful Dead. - Matt Driscoll

[The New Frontier Lounge, with TBA, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

DREADFUL CHILDREN

>>> Tuesday, July 13

Have you ever heard a punk rock version of "Pink Elephants on Parade"? No, you have not. It sounds a lot better coming from those skuzzy amps than you'd think it would. Hearing Dreadful Children play those circus-like chords will be the first time your brain locates and combine the images of mosh pits and Dumbo. Then you'll dance. Dreadful Children are a punk band with uncommon respect for pop structures, and actually being enjoyable. It's telling, I think, that one of their guitarists, Tony Bag O'Donuts, took his name from a comedy bit performed by Mike Birbiglia - a smart, funny comedian and storyteller. Live, Dreadful Children will undoubtedly make your eardrums bleed. But beneath the noise, it's fun to see the inner pop band come shining through. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[Hell's Kitchen, with Red White & Die, Walk the Plank, Y.I.A., 7 p.m., no cover, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

HEAD AND HEART

>>> Thursday, July 15

The head and the heart - within the human body, they often compete. For example, your heart may pine for the curly haired, nerdy guy at Stadium Video, but your head tells you the truth: he'll never go for you - you like Vin Diesel movies. And so it goes. However, with Seattle's emerging Head and Heart, there's no need for competition. Folk and pop sensibilities tread together, negating any need for one to dominate the other amidst the harmony rich, indie hootenanny of a band often lauded for solid song structures, and balancing commercial hook with folk tropes. "It is amazing," says Adam Ydstie of Tacoma's mysterious, show producing, Warehouse Collective, which is helping make this show come to fruition. "I have seen their last three shows in Seattle and each one sold out and had to turn people away at the door. It will be a privilege to see these guys in Tacoma." - MD

[The Peabody Waldorf, with Not An Airplane, Matt Coughlin Band, 7 p.m., all ages, $8, 745 Broadway, Tacoma, thewarehousetacoma.com]

THE MEAT SLUTS

>>> Thursday, July 15

While I'm not against the idea, let it be known that I'm not specifically writing about San Francisco's The Meat Sluts because of the name - which is totally awesome, by the way. No, I'm writing about The Meat Sluts because - not surprisingly - the band fucking rocks. Don't you kind of have to rock with a name like The Meat Sluts? Almost certainly. Anyway, these four crass-as-hell and highly combustible female punks, who've been ravishing and ram-rodding the Bay Area for years, will be in town next Thursday to play what should be a knock down, drag out, punk rock brawl of a show with Tacoma's venerable Gold Teeth. Can you say awesome? I'd try it now before The Meat Sluts knock your teeth out. - MD

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Gold Teeth, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]