MARK THOMAS DEMING: PLENTY OF POTENTIAL >>>

The next time you feel like shaking your head, shuffling your feet and muttering about hell and handbaskets, don’t. It ain’t that bad. Really. Need proof? Try this: Yet another promising band, Thee Intrepid Young Sleuths, has emerged from teenage Tacoma. (Three members attend SOTA, the other two Stadium â€" all sophomores.) They are smart, talented and charismatic, and steeped in the finest traditions of rock and roll: Elvis Costello, the Ventures, Girl Trouble, Roy Orbison, the Sonics and many, many more. They say they’re working on a concept album set in early ’60s Las Vegas. (What’s not to like about that?) And best of all, you can see them live this afternoon at small, locally-owned and independent Rocket Records. That’s one hell and one handbasket I think we can all be very, very excited about.

[Rocket Records, with Zane Savage and the Rippers and Hippo Crit, 3 p.m., no cover, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186]