VIOLIN VS. VINYL

>>> Friday, Oct. 14

Show up at Jazzbones Friday and you'll encounter a pulsing, breathing, three-pronged attack of art-meets-music. The gist of this gig won't be much different than the image the name conjures up, combining the mastery of the "violinistextremist" known as Kytami, billed as "perhaps Canada's most diverse and engaging fiddle player," the DJ skills of The Phonograff, a venerable turntable wizard with almost two decades of experience in the game, and reggae-bred mic-master Mista Chatman - mixing the varied ingredients into a sight and sound rarely seen. Together, the group claims to be, "getting ready to bring their crazy ninja skills and infectious energy to you with a fresh new sound they're calling ‘Violin vs. Vinyl.'" Get it? You will. And you've never heard anything like it before. - Matt Driscoll

[Jazzbones, with Jay Tablet, 8 p.m., $7, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

VOXXY VALLEJO

>>> Friday, Oct. 14

You have to give it to Voxxy Vallejo: the local old school rock band knows how to throw a birthday party for lead singer Sherrie Voxx Minter. It's become a time-honored tradition of sorts, or at least it seems, with the Weekly Volcano databases revealing public birthday parties for Voxxy at local clubs in town as far back as 2009. And, as we all know, 2009 was an eternity ago. Friday, Voxxy will celebrate yet another birthday, but this time she'll have company - sharing the honor with the all-ages club set to host said birthday party, Louie G's in Fife. With a bill that includes Tacoma favorites Kurt Lindsay, Mom's Rocket, and - of course - Voxxy Vallejo, this is one night that's sure to rival any past celebratory effort. Some things just get better with age. The show is free, but throw down a donation if you're so moved. - Weekly Volcano

[Louie G's Pizzeria, with Mom's Rocket, Kurt Lindsay, 9 p.m., all ages, 5219 Pacific Hwy. E., Fife, 253.926.9700]

SIDE SHOW SPOOK-TACULAR

>>> Friday, Oct. 14

>>> Saturday, Oct. 15

A proper burlesque show - in the vaudevillian sense of the term, not the hipster reclaiming sense - is all about excess and spectacle. It's a variety show, featuring not just the burlesque dancers, but music, comedy and oddities. Tacoma's resident burlesque troupe, the Gritty City Sirens, will be throwing a Halloween-themed "Side Show Spook-tacular," which does well to reflect these different aspects of burlesque. In addition to the Sirens' always engaging performances, there will be appearances by Tacoma artist/juggler Jeremy Gregory, a fire dance display and magic. Thrown on top of all of this will be musical sets from DJ Buckets the Pony and country/reggae/punk rockers, the Fun Police. It will be a night of sensory overload and, perhaps, just a little bit of spectacular chaos. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Dessi De Vine, Heather Hostility, Dean Jameson, DJ Buckets the Pony, the Fun Police, the Mesmerizing Magic Steve, Jeremy Gregory, Tacoma Eclectic Flame, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

THE LOAD LEVELERS

>>> Thursday, Oct. 20

Was it always destined that bluegrass and punk would make such a happy marriage? In hindsight, it seems like a natural fit, but the first person to bring a banjo or washboard into a punk band had to have had such brilliant intuition. The Load Levelers continue in this tradition, slamming together the most recognizable tropes from punk and Southern music into a freakish amalgam that also finds the time to inject some speed metal into the affair. These parts have been privy to the Load Levelers for many years, in various incarnations. The band earned a reputation early on for wild and unpredictable shows. Though it's many years on, I think you can expect to see some pretty crazy s*** when they burn through Hell's Kitchen. - Rev. AM

[Hell's Kitchen, with Psycho 78, Holley 750, Gold Records, Klondike Kate, 8 p.m., $5, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]