MEOWTAIN

>>> Saturday, Nov. 12

Meowtain is a restlessly churning ball of jittery exuberance. The band's music seems to benefit from an overabundance of ideas and whims - each member racing to bring them to the fore. Shouts emerge, breathless, from behind a wall of crackling guitars, the occasional trumpet and vigorously shuddering tambourines. It sounds, in a word, very much like Olympia. This lo-fi, homespun punk sound that has been steadily produced in the city for many years seems almost bred into the music of Meowtain. What Meowtain brings to the table is a kind of boundless energy, which I think you will find positively infectious. This is the second Olympia All Ages Project-produced show to be held at the Midnight Sun, while the Northern seeks out a permanent residence elsewhere. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[The Midnight Sun, with the Maxines, Basemint, Monster Trap, 8 p.m., $5, 113 N. Columbia St., Olympia]

FRANK FAIRFIELD

>>> Saturday, Nov. 12

You've got to give it to the folks over at The Warehouse. At this point a production company (of sorts) specializing in bringing intimate, artistic and artist-friendly shows to Tacoma, The Warehouse looks to have hit pay dirt again with Saturday's performance by Frank Fairfield, an old school (and I mean ooold school) gee-tar, fiddle and banjo player who many fell in love with last summer at Doe Bay Fest. "His music immediately transports you to a dusty trail stop and a crackling fire. He is well versed in early American music and fits the part perfectly. Trust me, you have to see it to believe it," says The Warehouse's Adam Ydstie in email. "We at The Warehouse have worked hard to create a special evening for a small audience to experience Frank Fairfield as well as a host of other amazing musicians from the area. This performance will be on the stage at Urban Grace sans any amplification and lit primarily by candles. We will have chairs and pillows on the stage for the audience to sit back, relax, and enjoy the music."  The show will also include members of Sons of Warren Oates and Ravenna Woods. - Matt Driscoll

[Urban Grace Church, with members of Sons of Warren Oates & Ravenna Woods, 7:30 p.m., $8-$10, 902 Market St., Tacoma, brownpapertickets.com]

VANCE GILBERT

>>> Saturday, Nov. 12

Everyone likes to be "in the know." It beats the hell out of being "out of the know," you know? Those "in the know" when it comes to the organization Olympia Acoustic Music no doubt secured their reservations early to see acclaimed acoustic guitarist Vance Gilbert this Saturday - one of the reasons the reservations-required show is wait-list only at this point. Of course, the other reason is Olympia Acoustic Music keeps things small on purpose. Described as a "volunteer-run concert series bringing outstanding folk and acoustic singer/songwriters to the Olympia area," Olympia Acoustic Music explains its approach, saying "Performances are intimate, seating about fifty people, and provide an opportunity to interact with the artist." This weekend that means a chance to get up close and personal with Gilbert - an opportunity not to be taken lightly. Gilbert will be busting out new material from his 10th album, Old White Men. Find Olympia Acoustic Music on the Internet for more information. - Weekly Volcano

[Olympia Acoustic Music - location sent with reservation, 7:30 p.m., all ages, suggested donation $20, olymusic@comcast.net, olymusic.home.comcast.net]

HOT VICTORY

>>> Saturday, Nov. 12

Hot Victory might be ambient if it weren't for all of those drums. A three-piece made up of two drummers and a guy on keys, the tones being produced are cold, futuristic and drawn out. They are accompanied by a two-person assault of primal, pounding drums - a stampede of sound, offset by a steady drone. It's a lot to take in, all at once. Hot Victory means to be overwhelming, I'm sure, and the band succeeds in spades. When they hit those breakdowns, where the drums start to sound more scattershot and disconnected, and the synths begin to pulse and stab, it's fascinating to watch them find the beat of the next song into which they'll go careening. All of this order and chaos, sharing space - one pushing the other, the other always resisting. - Rev. AM

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Solomon and Tummler, Helms Alee, Extralone, Argonaut, 8 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]