ALTERNA-POP
The Posies
If you haven’t heard, the Posies are turning 20 years old, and they’re celebrating with a string of Northwest shows to celebrate the occasion. They’ll bring that celebration to Hell’s Kitchen tonight.

Though the band started in Bellingham and has earned a spot on the lengthy list of acts that have come from the Northwest and gone on to national and international success, a Tacoma birthday party isn’t as easy as it once would have been for the Posies. For one, Ken Stringfellow lives in Europe â€" and has for the last five years. He’s a frequent traveler, but still. That presents some logistical difficulties. Secondly, these guys are busy. Super busy. Stringfellow and his Posies partner, Jon Auer also play in Big Star. Not to mention they both have solo careers and Stringfellow is about to release a new record with his Paris-based band the Disciplines.

There are plenty of reasons why the Posies could have decided a 20th birthday party in Tacoma was too much work. But the important thing is they didn’t. They’ll bring the same jangly, alterna-pop power to Tacoma that made Frosting on the Beater a classic, and has given the Posies enough staying power to survive 20 years in the music business. Read my interview with the band here. â€" Matt Driscoll
[Hell’s Kitchen, the Posies, The Joshua Cain Band, Bumma Stooge, 9 p.m., $12, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

LINK: Billy Farmer and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Let’s eat Mexican today.