FILM
Girls Rock!
The act of picking up a guitar and making some noise becomes a life-changing experience in Girls Rock!, an irresistible new documentary from filmmakers Arne Johnson and Shane King that showcases the transformative power of rock ‘n’ roll.

The film’s subject is the Rock ‘n’ Roll School for Girls; every girl between the ages of 8 and 18 should be required to check it out.  The weeklong summer sessions, which began in Portland, Ore., and now are offered nationwide, give girls the chance to learn an instrument, form a band, write a song and perform before an audience.

The deeper motive, however, is to help girls work on confidence and self-esteem issues.  As the camp’s assistant director, Jen Agosta, explains, the camp is a place where “it is 100 percent OK to be exactly who you are.” Rated PG. Three-and-a-half stars. â€" Mary Houlihan
[The Grand Cinema, 5:10, 7:10, 9:10 pm, $4.50-$8, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

NEWGRASS
Montana Slim
A mandoline is a French kitchen tool used for cutting vegetables ultra-thin. A mandolin is a musical instrument, prominent in bluegrass, which looks like a mini-guitar. Got it? If you need a demonstration of the latter, I suggest catching Montana Slim at Jazzbones tonight.

Montana Slim from San Francisco positions a mandolin between dueling melodic fiddles, an acoustic guitar improvising with a solid bass line with firm roots in newgrass. 

It’s so mando! â€" Suzy Stump
[Jazzbones, Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

LINK: Left Alive and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Movies on local screens.
LINK: Let’s drink wine tonight.

FORUM: Steph DeRosa’s chatter.