BROTHA LYNCH

>>> Thursday, Feb. 16

February must be West Coast gangster rap month in Olympia. We've already had live performances by Andre Nickatina and Too Short, and next up we get the baby killa himself, Brotha Lynch Hung. Since releasing his debut album, 24 Deep, in 1993, and his sophomore release, Season of da Siccness, in 1995 (one of my favorites), Brotha Lynch has been a popular name in the world of gangster rap. In 2009 he signed a deal with Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne's Strange Music and has now released two albums with the label. Come see Brotha Lynch Thursday night at The Royal Lounge in downtown Olympia for a delightfully un-tasteful evening of horrorcore hip-hop. - Nic Leonard

[The Royal Lounge, 9 p.m., $25, tickets through brownpapertickets.com, 311 Capitol Way N, Olympia, 360.705.0760]

OLY MOUNTAIN BOYS

>>> Saturday, Feb. 18

Look, it wouldn't be fair for us to draw conclusions and/or reaffirm stereotypes about people who are big into bluegrass music just because the Oly Mountain Boys will celebrate the release of the band's new live CD at Buzz's Tavern on Mud Bay Road. No, that would not be fair and we will not partake in such blind musical bigotry. We'll tactfully avoid referencing the film Deliverance when discussing the musical genre, and we'll steer clear of family tree jokes that involve fans of bluegrass marrying cousins. Why? Because we're bigger than that. Plus, when the band proclaims its mission is to "reinvigorate the bluegrass genre by bringing the original bluegrass sound of the 1950s to a new generation of fans," we kind of believe them, especially after taking a listen to the passion guitarist Chris Rutledge, mandolin player Derek McSwain, banjo player Tye Menser, bassist Phil Post and fiddle player Josh Grice get down with. Yep, we're taking the high road on this one. As mentioned, Saturday's show will be a celebration for the release of a new Oly Mountain Boys live CD, recorded at the High and Dry Bluegrass Festival in Bend, Ore. - Weekly Volcano

[Buzz's Tavern, 9 p.m., NC, 5018 Mud Bay Rd NW, Olympia, 360.866.8335]

THE TRUE SPOKES

>>> Saturday, Feb. 18

Flowmotion is now the True Spokes. Got it? Good. According to the band's website, the change was made at the beginning of the year to allow the Seattle-based quintet more artistic freedom and wiggle room when writing songs. "The music the band is writing and recording has reached a point where the name Flowmotion is an unsuitable description for who the band is now. With a solidified line up and many members writing material, transitioning to a new band name allows us to evolve into whatever it is we want to become," reads an ultimately reassuring letter to fans. And a letter was probably a good idea, considering Flowmotion had existed for a decade and built a fairly sizeable fanbase. Now that the band has a fresh start as the True Spokes, expect a new record by the same name in early March from a band striving for the same "post-jam" spotlight currently occupied by the likes of Dr. Dog, et al. - Matt Driscoll

[The 4th Ave Tavern, 9 p.m., 210 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia, 360.786.1444]

AELOTROPE

>>> Saturday, Feb. 18

I will tell you all that I know about Aelotrope. What you do with that information is entirely up to you. May god have mercy on your soul. Here's what I know: the band is an experimental two-piece that utilizes drums, guitar and the didgeridoo. Ahem, again: THE MOTHERFUCKING DIDGERIDOO. Guess where they're from. HERE. Aelotrope hails from Tacoma, and yet the band harnesses the power of didgeridoo in a completely non-ironic (I assume) way. You know what? It kind of works. Vaguely metal-ish jams are accompanied by that familiar warbling drone, and it all manages to meld in some way into a cohesive unit of, er, something. Honestly, this is one of the more unique bands you'll find around here, and there's something to be said for being that, in and of itself. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[Tahoma Tea & Co., with Rending Sinew, 7 p.m., No Cover, 1932 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.9987]

HELL'S BELLES

>>> Saturday, Feb. 18

Adrian Conner, her searing axe and her band, Hell's Belles, have been through a lot - having toured clubs and rocked the asses from coast to coast as the world's premier all-female AC/DC tribute act. In all honestly, Hell's Belles has been doing this for long enough, and with enough expertise, that one could accurately attribute the tribute band explosion to the influence of Hell's Belles and a handful of the band's contemporaries. These days comprised of Conner, bassist Mandy Reed, rhythm guitarist Lisa Brisbois, drummer Laura D and singer Amber Saxon this is still one balls-to-the-wall, all-girl rock-hard revue. Breasts, beer and head-bangin' - all of life's pleasures in one place. - WV

[Jazzbones, two shows - all-ages 5 p.m. with Riot in Rhythm, $10, 9 p.m. 21+ with Phasers on Kill, True Holland, $12-$15, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

DUNGEON SCIENCE

>>> Saturday, Feb. 18

Dungeon Science is a part of the generation of garage rock bands being churned out of the factory that is Tacoma School of the Arts. Along with Apache Chief, they've started a collective not unlike the now mostly evaporated Team Unicorn Records from a few years back. Theirs is called Market Street Records, and their recruits are similarly fuzz-laden. Also like Apache Chief, Dungeon Science recently competed in EMP's underage battle of the bands, Sound Off! What separates Dungeon Science from the rabble is the soulful lead vocals from Aaron Berryhill, which recalls the early days of garage rock when the main influence being called to the fore was blues and R&B. Hidden in the distorted guitars is a young voice, filled inordinately with passion and throaty yearning. - Rev. AM

[Dorky's Arcade, with Si Si Si, the Loose Buoys, the Triple Sixes, 9 p.m., $3, 754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4156]

HALCION HALO

>>> Saturday, Feb. 18

It's hard to separate the music of Halcion Halo from the commanding voice that presides over it. Lead singer Jenson Charnell's voice can sometimes resemble the more mumbling, beat-poet-aspirations of Lou Reed - he never provides any release for the plodding, heavy alt-rock guitars, just ever-rising tension and downtrodden declarations. Musically, Halcion Halo sound similar to other hard-to-pin-down fixtures of those odd ‘90s negotiations between alternative rock and heavy metal. Bands like the Afghan Whigs and Queens of the Stone Age can't help but come to mind. But there is a minimalism that reigns at the heart of Halcion Halo - a minimalism that allows for creepy, little, stomping fuzz-bombs like "Someday I'll Learn to Put You Down." It's here where Halcion Halos weird ticks and affectations are most effectively put into sharp focus. - Rev AM

[The New Frontier Lounge, 9 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

J. PINDER

>>> Sunday, Feb. 19

Quite simply, if it wasn't for all those awesome presidents of the past, and the National Holiday we made to honor them, this Sunday's opportunity to catch Seattle hip-hopper J. Pinder at the Royal Lounge In OLYMPIA would be far less appealing. Sure, Pinder's swag and skill would still be abundantly evident on the mic, whatever day the show falls on, but the fact that you likely have no school or work on Monday makes this banger one not to miss at any cost. Sunday's bill also includes Dyme Def, Eighty4 Fly, GMK, Royce The Choice and DJ Vega the Virgo. - WV

[The Royal Lounge, with Dyme Def, Eighty4 Fly, GMK, Royce The Choice, DJ Vega the Virgo, 9 p.m., $5, 311 Capital Way, Olympia, 360.705.0760]