THE ART
The Crow Show
A crow study, by a flock of artists in various media coming together for an art party tonight at the Mad Hat. Sounds like the place to hang your hat. â€" Suzy Stump
[Mad Hat Tea Company, opening night party 5-10 p.m., 1130 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.441.2111]

MUSIC
Olympia Experimental Music Festival
It seems, judging by the lineup at least, this year’s festival â€" which stretches from Thursday, June 26 through Sunday, June 29 and utilizes downtown Olympia venues the Eagles Hall Basement, the Capitol Theater and the Midnight Sun â€" will be just as intriguing. Perhaps looking to quell last year’s cries from Olympia’s music scene, many bands and artists from the 360 will be represented. Highlights will likely include: Foque Mopus, Hobby Hobby, Departed Dog, KnotPineBox, and Beat Box Fred â€" who’s known around Oly for his remarkable beat boxing skills. Tacoma band L.A. Lungs is also scheduled to perform. â€" Bobble Tiki
[Downtown Olympia, June 26-29, www.myspace.com/olystrangemusic]

COWPUNK
The Snakebites
One of my favorite bands is the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. While they aren’t a blues band per say, they show love to blues legends like RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough with a raunchy nod. The Snakebites aren’t really country, but they give a similar raunchy nod to country legends like Hank Williams. I’m calling them cow punk as the Seattle-based duo of Skky Phoenix and Starr Harris relies on volume, distortion and probably Jack Daniels to create a bombastic sound akin to the Shams or 20 Miles. Their crunchy four-chord style is very much in vogue, but something tells me they could give a shit about being current or hip. Their debut, Love, Hate, Rage and Sorrow hits every emotion with a vengeance. After a nine-month hiatus, they are back, energized and ready to kick some ass. â€" Tony Engelhart
[Bob’s Java Jive, with Paris Spleen and The Freakouts, 8 p.m., $3, 2102 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

LINK: My Life In Black & White and others in the clubs tonight
LINK: Let's eat Italian today.