BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLACK SQUIRREL

>>> Friday, Feb. 24

Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel's second record, The Dust Bowl Ghosts, released last April, is described as "a trip through the dreams and nightmares of a down-on-his-luck circus comedian with a bum leg and child support payments." If that doesn't sound like a musical good time, I don't know what does. But Friday at The New Frontier Lounge it's likely to get even more real, with word on the street suggesting the five members that makes up this rodent-like brotherhood - guitarist and vocalist Patrick Baldwin, drummer Eric Thompson, bassist Jimmy Hughs, guitarist Stanford Mead and Wurlitzer wizard Andrew Childs - have been holed up recording a follow up to Dust Bowl Ghosts and are is ready to unleash the rock this weekend. Epic-ness seems certain to ensue. Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel will be joined on the bill Friday by singer-songwriter and great-beard-grower James Coates and Ghostwriter. - Matt Driscoll

[The New Frontier Lounge, with James Coates, Ghostwriter, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25^th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

FREE WHISKEY

>>> Friday, Feb. 24

Volcano music scribe Nic Leonard is perhaps better known as Nicatine of Olympia-based rap outfit Free Whiskey. Or, we mean, he's the dude with the mustache. Now are you picturing him? Good. Anyway, Free Whiskey has been gaining steam for a while now, thanks, in no small part, to Nic's mustache and the track "Man's Best Friend (Mustache Song)."  In October Free Whiskey released a much anticipated EP, What Am I Going To Tell My Mom?, which raised as many questions as it answered. Friday Free Whiskey returns to the stage with the group's first-ever all-ages headlining performance at the Capitol Theater. The always entertaining Billy The Fridge and Night Fox are also on the bill. Sure, it's a conflict of interests of sorts to promote the show of someone who writes for us, but it's also going to be dope - so we did what we had to do. Free Whiskey for all. - Weekly Volcano

[The Capitol Theater Backstage, with Billy The Fridge, Night Fox, Lord Nock, 8:30 p.m., $5, 206 Fifth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.6670]

VERSUS THE NOTHING

>>> Friday, Feb. 24

Vancouver B.C.'s Versus The Nothing comes to town from the Great White North, intent on proving not everything from Canada is uber-lame. OK, OK ... so the band never claimed to be fighting for Canada's good name, but they are Canucks, and they do come to town this week looking to throttle hard rock fans with a blistering repertoire of power chords and wife-beater style undershirts. They're calling it "The Grind Stone Tour." Versus The Nothing released its most recent record, The Black Gloves EP, in July 2011, classifying the effort as a "tease to our upcoming sophomore album," according to a press release. "We have been living the ups and downs of being a touring rock n roll band," the release continues. "We eat, drink and almost die doing what we love. Our upcoming release is laced with those life experiences on the road." Friday, that life on the road brings Versus The Nothing to Uncle Sam's in Spanaway. They've finally arrived. - WV

[Uncle Sam's, with BND Band, Far From Given, 8 p.m., 16003 Pacific Ave. S., Spanaway, 253.507.7808]

COOLIO

>>> Saturday, Feb. 25

OMG YOU GUYS. Coolio's in town! Everyone's favorite Insane Clown Posse-affiliated performer (excluding Vanilla Ice and Gallagher) is coming to town, and he is just as Coolio as you remembered. How Coolio is he? CHECK LIST: Weird, Dr. Seuss stick-hair; being still kind of mad at "Weird Al" Yankovic; coming in second on the deplorable Food Network program, Rachel vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off; probably still collecting residuals from the theme song of Kenan and Kel; spending several days in the desert with Juggalos on purpose-motherfucking checkity check check! He's pretty goddamn Coolio. OK, having said Coolio as much as I have, surely you must have made up your mind about whether or not you'd like to check out this madness. If you haven't, I have just one more word for you: Coolio. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[Hell's Kitchen, with Tom Hutch, guests, 10 p.m., $20 advance, $25 door, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

BEACH PARTY

>>> Saturday, Feb. 25

In times like these, we need the possibility of getting all druggie and blissed-out in the sun. We're not afforded these opportunities in February in the Northwest, so The New Frontier is manufacturing one for you. Saturday, there will be an assemblage of beach-appropriate bands to carry you kicking and wading through the more unfortunate months of our year. On the bill are local favorites the Night Beats - no strangers to ignoring the elements in favor of stoned riffs and acid-rock journeys through the mind. Also on the bill are accomplished surf-rock troubadours, Orca Team. The Hotels bring a cleaner, more upfront pop sensibility to the party. If this weren't enough to keep you from succumbing to Seasonal Affective Disorder, there will also be a limbo contest. Pro tip: don't go as low as you can go. - Rev. AM

[The New Frontier Lounge, with the Night Beats, Orca Team, the Hotels, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25^th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

TAHOMA TEA CO. GRAND OPENING

>>> Saturday, Feb. 25-Sunday, 26

Remember The Den? You know, that all-ages space inside Tacoma's urbanXchange? Of course you remember the Den. It was awesome. Well, the good news is the Tahoma Tea Co. - which is essentially the Den with a new and improved moniker - has taken T-Town by storm, providing a shot in the arm to the Tacoma all-ages scene and producing some memorable shows in the process. This weekend, Saturday and Sunday to be exact, Tahoma Tea Co. will celebrate two grand-opening shows, bringing Patrick Galactic and Death By Stars to the stage Saturday and welcoming the one-man indie awesomeness of Tito Ramsey Sunday. Both gigs are not to miss. And both gigs, hopefully, are simply a sign of the good things yet to come from Tahoma Tea Co. (FYI: Sunday's event also promises an open house, tea workshops and "baked goods" - which we interpret as cookies and such.) - WV

[Tahoma Tea Co., Death By Stars, Sliide, Dark Snack, Saturday, Feb. 25, 7-10 p.m., 1934 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2477]

[Tahoma Tea Co., Tito Ramsey, H8R, tea workshops and baked goods, Sunday, Feb. 26, 12 to 5 p.m., 1934 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2477]

BONE THUGS N HARMONY

>>> Wednesday, Feb. 29

Holy crap! The South Sound has suddenly become the epicenter for slightly-past-their-prime touring hip-hop artists. Not only will Coolio turn Hell's Kitchen into a "Gangsta's Paradise" this week, but mid-'90s favorites Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will also be in town, sing-songing their way through a collection of hits designed to take you back to a time when this group was one of the biggest in the land. Surely you haven't forgotten gems like "Tha Crossroads" and "1^st of tha Month." Surely you'll be in the house when Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone and all the other bones hop in the flashback machine and bust out the classics. Surely you'll have your sister put cornrows in your hair for the occasion. - MD

[Hell's Kitchen, with Normal Bean, Island Trybe, Pink Bead Federation, 8 p.m., $15, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]