GHOST FEET

>>> Friday, Dec. 3

Ghost Feet don't tread as lightly as their name might imply, but they do skip across subgenre boundaries with the ectoplasmic ease of something truly spectral. Theirs is richly textured electronic music, with resounding, chiming melodies and cascading bittersweet synth lines slipping and sliding around an ultra-dense carbon core of snare-happy, Boards of Canada-style beatwork. Wonkier bleeps and bloops - along with interjections of cut-up vocal samples - operate at their own figurative stratum entirely. Their stuff takes its cues from enough unique, notable ‘tronic talents (some Prefuse 73 here, maybe a little Lymbyc Systym there) that it feels fresh and original, and not too indebted to any one of its inspirations. They're well-matched on this bill by Sea of Oaks, Stepkid and the jazzy shoegazers in No Clouds. - Jason Baxter

[Northern, with Sea of Oaks, Stepkid, No Clouds, 8 p.m., all-ages, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia, northernolympia.org]

SALLIE FORD & THE SOUND OUTSIDE

>>> Friday, Dec. 3

When Sallie Ford came to the New Frontier for Squeak & Squawk earlier this year, I think the audience collectively fell in love with her. In addition to being just about the sweetest person in the world, Sallie Ford is an amazingly capable vocalist. Referring to herself as a "belter," Ford's voice is perfectly suited to the type of vintage soul, roots-rock and blues swagger that she and her band, the Sound Outside, have mastered. She'll be blessing the South Sound again. Local faves Basemint will be holding it down with them in Tacoma. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[New Frontier Lounge, Friday, December 3, with Basemint, Library, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.752.4020]

THE RIFFBROKERS

>>> Saturday, Dec 4

I've written about these guys before, but I'm gonna tell you again: The Riffbrokers make music that nourishes and soothes the soul. Sounding sort of like a Tom Petty meets R.E.M. meets Elvis Costello (meets the lazy music criticism of "blank meets blank," which I'm sure the Riffbrokers are tired of), they're the kind of band that sounds like they've been around forever. Their pop smarts are so keen and strong that those comparisons to veteran artists not only hold water, but function sincerely as compliments, and not as a sign that they are a lesser imitation of musical giants. The Riffbrokers are both radio-ready and uncompromising - traits that would have carried a lot more weight in the decades before the airwaves turned to crap. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[New Frontier Lounge, with Girl Trouble, The Dignitaries, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E 25th St., Tacoma, 253.752.4020]

DOXOLOGY

>>> Saturday, Dec. 4

The Revolution is coming. No, I'm not talking about when anarchy takes control, the roads devolve into some sort of Mad Max scenario and R.R. Anderson finally gets the recognition he deserves; rather, I'm talking about Doxology's new record, The Revolution, which the band will officially celebrate the release of Saturday at Jazzbones. Always, ALWAYS a crowd pleaser, there's simply no reason Doxology's brand of ear-friendly, modern, new school pop rock shouldn't steal the show and carry the night. Put simply, Doxology, led by frontman Luke McPherson, is the kind of band the ultra-cool may not have the balls to endorse, but there's no doubt the band has mastered its craft and has all the tools necessary to sweat up the dance floor. Expect a lot of bodies, and a lot of new tunes from a band Tacoma has shown definite affection for in the past. - Matt Driscoll

[Jazzbones, with Roman Holiday, 8 p.m., $10-$12, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

THE BLACK CROWES

>>> Saturday, Dec. 4

Dude ... the Black Crowes are coming to the Emerald Queen Casino Saturday. I'm soooo going to let my hair down for that one. Wait! My hair is always down! I'm unemployed and rarely shower. I haven't cut my hair since Mellencamp dropped the "Cougar." Wait? What was I talking about? Oh, yeah! The Black Crowes! Dude, I'm sooo baked right now. Remember when frontman Chris Robinson was married to Kate Hudson? That was awesome for him. She was way hotter back then. He was too. Wait! What was I talking about? Oh yeah! The Black Crowes are coming to the Emerald Queen Casino. They haven't done anything relevant in years. Dude, I'm so baked right now. ... - Randy "Skeeter" McRandy, Black Crowes Aficionado

[Emerald Queen Casino, 8:30 p.m., $45-$95 at Ticketmaster, 2024 East 29th St., Tacoma, 888.831.7655]