TWINK THE WONDER KID

>>> Friday, Aug. 6

As far as reunions go, I'm not sure where the return (kind of) of Dick Rossetti's Twink the Wonder Kid ranks. Somewhere behind the first time the Pixies did it, surely, but probably well ahead of the 87th time the Pixies did it. Either way, Tacoma can bask in the knowledge that Twink The Wonder Kid - purveyors of pure rock magic like "Pretty Neat on Your Motorcycle," and not far removed from the previous incarnation, Guns N Rossetti - have chosen Tacoma and The New Frontier (kind of) as the place to re-unleash themselves, celebrating what Rossetti refers to as a "soft return" Friday night. Although Twink (with Rossetti on the skins, Marsh Gooch on bass and Richard Troy on guitar) wasn't scheduled to take the stage until later this month at Seattle's International Pop Overthrow festival, Lino Fernandez of the Dignitaries' recent scooter vs. car accident drew the band out of hibernation a tad early. "Dude from the Dignitaries got all fucking hit and shit. We said we'd help if need be," says Rossetti. "I gotta tell you I fucking LOVE TACOMA." - Matt Driscoll

[The New Frontier Lounge, with the Dignitaries, the DTs, the I Love Myselfs, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

COLONIES

>>> Saturday, Aug. 7

Seattle and Tacoma band Colonies (who we like to think of as more of a T-Town act, because that's how we roll), has some definite fans here at Weekly Volcano World Headquarters - and it's not just because they're at least half from Grit City. No, rather, the band's smart but not snooty songwriting and penchant for the atmospheric is strikingly easy on the ears, and after Colonies debuted with Sleep Patterns, and came back strong with 2009's Thirty Thousand, the band made some fans for life amongst Volcano ears - including me. When reviewing the band's first record back in the day I wrote, "Sleep Patterns (is) a seven song warning, announcing Colonies' ambient and intellectual arrival to the world of new-school indie rock." Impressively, I still believe it. - MD

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

THE SPEED OF SOUND IN SEAWATER

>>> Sunday, Aug. 8

A while back, I wrote about a band called Mr. Frederick that combined disparate genres like rap-metal, folk and chamber pop. The Speed of Sound in Seawater is similarly confusing, but in a more insidious way. Listening to the band's second album, Red Version, their weirdness sneaks up on you. For the first song, they sound like a twee-pop band with a singer who sounds a little like Ben Gibbard. Then the compositions start getting a little more complex, and by the end of the second song, the singer's screaming. The rest of the album continues in this vein of math-twee-pop interspersed with bits of hardcore vocalization. It's legitimately surprising stuff. And a little creepy, if you ask me, but I couldn't tell you why. Go figure. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[Le Voyeur, with A Lot Like Birds, 10 p.m., no cover, 404 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.943.5710]

COTTON JONES

>>> Wednesday, Aug. 11

Travel and transition. Weary miles on the road and brief stops of respite, enjoying truck stop beauty or the way taking three steps back from a chugging city can reveal a majesty normally reserved for nature. Country. Folk. Pop. And especially melodies. Cotton Jones, naturally on tour and headed to Olympia on a Wednesday night, posses all of it. With a new record soon to be released on Suicide Squeeze, Tall Hours in the Glowstream, band pillars Michael Nau and Whitney McGraw, both originally from Western Maryland Shore with a musical connection built on an intriguingly mysterious relationship (a kind of Jack and Meg White feeling). Cotton Jones has been all over, seen most everything and has the sun-faded and wise sound to prove it. Check this band out. - MD

[Northern, with the Parson Red Heads, the Quiet Life, 8:30 p.m., all ages, $8, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia, northernolympia.org]