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ROCK: Fifteen months ago I went out on a limb and checked out the classic-rock inspired Midnight Salvage Co., which, at the time, had been on the Tacoma scene for scant more than four months. As I wrote back then, what I found was a "rocking alt-country posse that's staking a claim in this town," although, in hindsight, I like the band's personal description of, "the Heartbreakers meet Replacements meet the Hold Steady" is way better. While my use of the term "rocking alt-country" is a little embarrassing, I'd like to remove attention from that questionable qualification and point to the fact I was right about one thing: Midnight Salvage Co., now in its second year as a band, has definitely staked a claim in Tacoma. Coming to Jazzbones on Hump Day, Midnight Salvage Co is anchored by the co-creative forces of longtime friends Brason Alexander and Bryan Kiehl, who told me upon first introduction, "We've always kind of had that same love for music. And our differences complement each other." He seems to have been correct, even if I'd like to take back my part about "rocking alt-country." Wednesday, July 7, 9 p.m., Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169 - Matt Driscoll
EXPERIMENTAL POP: Experimental pop is, to me, an awfully murky term. I suppose it is to pop music whatever progressive rock is to rock music. Faithful readers should know that, whenever faced with a question of progression, I turn to my hippy-dippy dad. Upon being shaken from his "nap-time brain illusion," my father says, "Pop music is a magical, saccharine gnome made of Jujubes and other assorted fictional fruit. It's to be experienced by cattle-milkers with unfurnished teeth." Maybe my dad is right; maybe he's just delusional from lack of Vitamin C. What I do know is Chappo is experimental, but dammit it is pop music. It drags you kicking through the looking glass and onto the dance floor. And you've never danced harder than when you're confused about what you're hearing. With Bird by Snow, Us On Roofs, Caulfield and his Magical Violin, Wednesday, July 7, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, The Den @ urbanXchange, 1934 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.9987 - The Rev. Adam McKinney