>>> Saturday, Feb. 23

THE DEEP WILE

The Deep Wile make the kind of music that hits a sweet spot for me: that era in the late '70s when roots-y rock and humble pop were meeting up punk and DIY aesthetics, with the likes of Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe and Wreckless Eric, to name a few. There was a kind of shaggy charm to all those guys, and a looseness to their performances, even as their songs were pop gold. Likewise, the Deep Wile have a knack for penning that perfectly concise little pop song, without ever coming across as pandering or shallow. "My Loving Arms Again," off the band's latest EP, sounds like it would be at home on any Stiff Records compilation, the vocals as easy-going, yet elastic and effortless, as the hooks are immediate. - Rev. Adam McKinney

LE VOYEUR, W/ FULL MOON RADIO AND THE HAVE AT ITS, 9 P.M, NO COVER, 404 E. FOURTH AVE., OLYMPIA, 360.943.5710

>>> Saturday, Feb. 23

TAXI DRIVER

"It is challenging to lose a band mate," says pianist Nathaniel Dybevik. "In a jazz band, the singer is like another instrument. It's an interesting endeavor because everyone brings something to the table, adds their own character and imparts their own influence on the direction of the music during a performance." That's the situation Dybevik and his Tacoma jazz band Taxi Driver face. The band's singer Ricky German is headed to the Bay Area. The two new "instruments" stepping into the cab are Tacoma singers Najamoniq Todd and Del Brown. Todd has been a frequent guest during Taxi Driver sets. "They both have their own unique style and charisma," explains Dybevik. "Singers are able to connect with the audience in a way that's more accessible than instrumentalist are able to achieve, and performing with talented vocalists, like Naja and Del, can really take a show to a new level, and the audience has a great time." While Del can't make the show, you may hear Naja join Taxi Driver for a couple numbers Saturday, Feb. 23 at the "farewell show" for German at Magoo's Annex in Tacoma. German, rightfully so, will receive most of the spotlight. - Ron Swarner

MAGOO'S ANNEX, 8 P.M., NO COVER, 2710 N. 21ST ST., TACOMA, 253.759.0467

>>> Sunday, Feb. 24

R. STEVIE MOORE, LAKE, VISITING NURSES

Here are four reasons you should head to Northern on Sunday to catch a live performance featuring R. Stevie Moore, LAKE and Visiting Nurses.

1. R. Stevie Moore! Moore is the kind of outsider-genius-weirdo-musician that consumes whole websites and books. The son of famed Elvis sideman Bob Moore, R. Stevie Moore has recorded nearly 2,000 songs on more than 400 homemade albums since 1968. Self-releasing on every format imaginable, R. Stevie Moore is not only the "lo-fi legend," but a prolific songwriter who has worked in dozens of genres, collaborated with the likes of Ariel Pink and in this late-run of his career has been on magazine covers the world over.

2. LAKE. LAKE are perennial K Records Favorites. It's the type of band that strikes a perfect balance of naivete and pop-sophistication.

3. Visiting Nurses. Visiting Nurses are a collaborative effort from (ex)-members of Congratulations, Broken Water and Mona Reels. If you dig bands such as Big Star and Teenage Fanclub, I am certain you'll dig Visiting Nurses.

4. YOLO. How many times can you see such a great show? Not many. The whole show is all ages, starting at 8 p.m., and is only $7! - Timothy Grisham

NORTHERN, 8 P.M., $7, 414 1/2 LEGION WAY, OLYMPIA

>>> Tuesday, Feb. 26

UNKNOWN RELATIVES

The first song I heard by Unknown Relatives was called "New" - ironic, considering that it sounds like a dead ringer for a song you'd find hidden in one of those Nuggets compilations of long-lost '60s garage gems. It's all bopping guitar and bouncy rhythms, with cute little stop-start dynamics that pull you in and make you oddly invested in a song that's just a little over a minute and a half long. Getting in and out with as much punch as possible seems to be the M.O. of Unknown Relatives. There's not a whole lot to separate them from the barrage of garage revivalists these days, but when a style is done right (even if it might be overdone as of this point, in my opinion), it's worth taking notice. - Rev. AM

LE VOYEUR, W/ THE MATILDAS AND PACIFIC PRIDE, 10 P.M., NO COVER, 404 E. FOURTH AVE., OLYMPIA, 360.943.5710