BANGS

>>> Thursday, March 29

Bangs, one of the more popular rock bands to emerge from Olympia - having toured extensively and forged connections with all the other great bands of the '90s and 2000s - broke up in 2004 when frontwoman Sarah Utter moved to L.A. A brief stint of fundraising shows in 2010 brought the band back together, and now Bangs will again grace the stage at Olympia's Eagles Hall for a benefit show for Northern All Ages Project.  "I'm super happy to be playing loud guitar with my friends Maggie Vail and Peter David," says Utter. "But, I'm MOST excited about the debut of Survival Knife, featuring one of my favorite drummers, Kris Cunningham, and favorite musicians, Justin Trosper from Unwound." She's right.  Bangs will be playing with other Olympia legends - Survival Knife and Old Wars (featuring members of Gossip.) It will be a star-studded night for sure, one full of favorite rock bands, old-school K kids and newbie underagers. The event is all-ages with a 21-plus bar, and is for members and invited guests of the Eagles Hall. - Nikki Talotta

[The Eagles Hall, with Survival Knife, Old Wars, $5, 8 p.m., 805 Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.239.9907]

STONE AXE

>>> Friday, March 30

Stone Axe claims to be "seventies rock preservationists," which is entirely true. Tony Reed and Dru Brinkerhoff's combined stoner-rock roots and classic rock inspiration lift listeners into that '70s realm - long and winding stories with soulful vocals and classic guitar riffs strummed with skill. Even UK's Classic Rock Magazine backs that up, noting, "... These Washington based groove-riders mix up a tasty cocktail of mid-70s rock, as fuzzy and warm as your crackly old vinyl version of Bad Reputation" - proving this local band has made its mark on the world.  Friday at Hell's Kitchen, in what will surely be an enjoyable twist, Stone Axe will perform as Stone Axe and also as Stone Free, a Free tribute band. "Their material is pretty obscure," says Reed of his favorite band, "We'll play American standards, such as ‘All Right Now,' as well as B-sides - it'll be well rounded." The show at Hell's Kitchen will be Stone Axe's last local show before the band's second European tour. Watching these guys live is the best thing you could do for yourself this weekend. - NT

[Hells Kitchen, with Plaster, Electric Falcons, Ancient Warlocks, $5, 9:30 p.m., 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.579.6003]

MELLON COLLIE AND THE INFINITE SADNESS TRIBUTE

>>> Saturday, March 31

An album as astonishingly overblown as the '90s Smashing Pumpkins landmark, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, is uniquely suited for the astonishingly overblown treatment being given to it on Saturday. The over two-hour, 28-song concept album will be covered in its entirety by a cavalcade of local artists and bands. After the bands are done fighting over who gets "1979" and "Tonight, Tonight," the rest of the album will be divvied up between Tex, Colonies, Monogamy Party, Xylophones, Piko Panda, and members of Canon Canyon, Destruction Island, and Oh Dear! and more. Such a wide range of musical voices (from the whacked punk of Monogamy Party to the sincere singer-songwriter tones of Piko Panda) is ideal for presenting the sprawling sounds of Smashing Pumpkins and the band's towering double album. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Colonies, Tex, Monogamy Party, Burle Haggard, Xylophones, the Belmont Whips, Piko Panda, Michael Cooper, Kye Alfred Hillig, Justin Martin, Smiling Politely, 9 p.m., cover TBA, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

THE BACK POCKETS

>>> Thursday, April 5

Last year, I was melting in Austin, Tex., during South By Southwest. In a sticky haze, I found myself outside a blue theater. There, in the parking lot, I saw the best performance of my time at SXSW: the Back Pockets, from Atlanta, Ga. Some 10 or a dozen members fill out the band, including some people seemingly specifically recruited to wear masks and make whooping sounds. The band's music can be poorly encapsulated as art-folk-punk, but the performance adds up to so much more than that. The Back Pockets create a deliriously interactive environment in their live performance, and it's one that you likely won't forget. I know, because (full disclosure part) the Back Pockets were the first band I thought of to book for the third installment of the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival. - Rev. AM

[New Frontier Lounge, with Wimps, the Cutwinkles, 9 p.m., $5 advance, $7 door, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]