Taylor Swift, 17, neither plays for cuteness nor exits out of caddies without panties; she simply uses her brain to express clearly her future goals, her worldly outlook and her realization that boys suck.

She opens for George Strait Saturday at the Tacoma Dome, but first stops by McCabes American Music Café to prefunc with The Wolf crew around 4 p.m. Check her out up close for free. â€" Suzy Stump