HAIRSPRAY BLUES
>>> Friday, Sept. 30
Here's another band that manages to boil rock 'n' roll down to its essence. It's nothing but hard-hitting electric guitar and bass, combined to extract every last bit of energy that can be obtained with such a small unit. There's brazenness at play with Hairspray Blues - a kind of snotty confidence that propels the band forward even past the extent of their musical ability. Dipping into punk rock as equally as heavy blues, Hairspray Blues seem to have a deep affection for the sound of the guitar, over almost any other quality they possess. It's simple, stupid and utterly guttural stuff. It's meant to affect you on an animalistic level, and it comes quite close to perfecting this goal. My advice would be to bring earplugs. - Rev. Adam McKinney
[The New Frontier Lounge, with Destruction Island, Guests, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]
THE VIOLET BURNING
>>> Friday, Sept. 30
Dig on "vibey space rock" with a decidedly Christian bent? Of course you do. You read the Weekly Volcano right after bible study every Thursday night. You've got two posters above your bed, one of Rush and one of Jesus Christ. You're, like, our main demographic. This Friday in Olympia, The Violet Burning - a band that's toiled in the rarely-recognized indie Christian rock genre for over 20 years - will rock (presumably for a higher calling) at the Reality Church on Franklin Street. To be honest, I don't know anything about The Violet Burning other than what a quick Google search has yielded: guitarist and songwriter Michael J. Pritzl is the main force behind the band; the Violet Burning released The Story of Our Lives - Liebe uber Alles, Black as Death and The Fantastic Machine, a three-album box set (with a crazy-long title), earlier this year; and, well, they're way down with JC. Tristan McNabb (formerly of Waves and Radiation and currently of the band They Rise We Die) sent me an email earlier this week asking me to help get the word out about this show. I said I would. I'm assuming I get into heaven now. - Matt Driscoll
[Reality Church, 7:30 p.m., $10, $5 with student ID, 620 Franklin St. SE, Olympia]
NOMEANSNO
>>> Friday, Sept. 30
NoMeansNo is a band that should need no introduction. Unfortunately, even though they've been around for well over 20 years, they've remained hidden in the underground. Unfortunate for you, I mean, you poor ignorant soul who's never heard of NoMeansNo. There are hordes of people gunning to beat you in line and fill up Hell's Kitchen when NoMeansNo comes to town. I am telling you to be prepared. What does NoMeansNo sound like? Fine, newbie. Theirs is a heavy rock sound incorporating the subversive energy of Frank Zappa with the time-signature-molding habits of math-rock bands. NoMeansNo has created, in their tenure as unfuckwithable godfathers, a genre-snapping hybrid that begs to be seen live. For the love of Pete, get off your duff and learn you something. - Rev. AM
[Hell's Kitchen, with the Fucking Eagles, Pioneers West, 6 p.m., $12 advance, $15 DOS, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]
NWCZ ROCKTOBERFEST
>>> Saturday, Oct. 1
The urge for music freaks (including many employed at the Weekly Volcano) to combine the word "rock" with the month October whenever its referenced is almost too strong to deny. It's like Pavlov's dog shit. It just makes so much sense. It feels right in so many ways. The guys over at NWCZ Radio obviously subscribe to this theory as well, and wasted no time in bringing their Rocktoberfest to life this year - claiming the first night of the month at Hell's Kitchen and reserving it for devil horns and fist pounding (and beer pounding). Expect crushing sets from local-favorites Mahnhammer, Dethproof, Parlooka, Fox and the Law, Burn the Harbor and headliner, The Screaming Starts - a four-piece band of hell-raisers known for doling out self-described, "heavy, riff-driven" rock. What else would you expect out of Rocktoberfest? - MD
[Hell's Kitchen, with The Screaming Starts, Mahnhammer, Dethproof, Palooka, Fox and the Law, Burn the Harbor, 6 p.m., no cover, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]