LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

C.I. Shenanigan's Tacoma - Ruston Way. Collaborative Works Jazz Trio. 21+. 8 pm. NC.

Cork! A Wine Bar Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Ricky Venture. 21+. 8 pm. NC.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Midnight Salvage Co. 21+. 9 pm. NC.

Emerald Queen Casino Tacoma -Eastside. Black Crowes. 8:30 p.m., $45-$95.

• Dude ... the Black Crowes are coming to the Emerald Queen Casino Saturday. I'm soooo going to let my hair down for that one. Wait! My hair is always down! I'm unemployed and rarely shower. I haven't cut my hair since Mellencamp dropped the "Cougar." Wait? What was I talking about? Oh, yeah! The Black Crowes! Dude, I'm sooo baked right now. Remember when frontman Chris Robinson was married to Kate Hudson? That was awesome for him. She was way hotter back then. He was too. Wait! What was I talking about? Oh yeah! The Black Crowes are coming to the Emerald Queen Casino. They haven't done anything relevant in years. Dude, I'm so baked right now. ... - Randy "Skeeter" McRandy, Black Crowes aficionado

Firwood Rock Lounge Tacoma - Downtown. Dimebag Darrell Memorial Event, with American Wrecking Co., Demented Souls, Psychonaut Deathtrip, Enemy Action, Demonic Whisper. 21+. 8 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Rock Showcase, with Unhailoed, Mechanism, Arisen From Nothing, Syztem 7, Riot In Rhythm. 21+. 7 pm. $7.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Doxology CD Release Party, with Roman Holiday. 21+. 8 pm. $10-$12.

• The Revolution is coming. No, I'm not talking about when anarchy takes control, the roads devolve into some sort of Mad Max scenario and R.R. Anderson finally gets the recognition he deserves; rather, I'm talking about Doxology's new record, The Revolution, which the band will officially celebrate the release of Saturday at Jazzbones. Always, ALWAYS a crowd pleaser, there's simply no reason Doxology's brand of ear-friendly, modern, new school pop rock shouldn't steal the show and carry the night. Put simply, Doxology, led by frontman Luke McPherson, is the kind of band the ultra-cool may not have the balls to endorse, but there's no doubt the band has mastered its craft and has all the tools necessary to sweat up the dance floor. Expect a lot of bodies, and a lot of new tunes from a band Tacoma has shown definite affection for in the past. - Matt Driscoll

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Mad Silence. All Ages. 8:30 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Countdown To Christmas Part 2, with Girl Trouble, The Dignitaries, The Riffbrokers. 21+. 9 pm.

• I've written about these guys before, but I'm gonna tell you again: The Riffbrokers make music that nourishes and soothes the soul. Sounding sort of like a Tom Petty meets R.E.M. meets Elvis Costello (meets the lazy music criticism of "blank meets blank," which I'm sure the Riffbrokers are tired of), they're the kind of band that sounds like they've been around forever. Their pop smarts are so keen and strong that those comparisons to veteran artists not only hold water, but function sincerely as compliments, and not as a sign that they are a lesser imitation of musical giants. The Riffbrokers are both radio-ready and uncompromising - traits that would have carried a lot more weight in the decades before the hook was eliminated from the airwaves. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Rhythm & Brews Tacoma - Downtown. Loose Gravel & The Quarry. 21+. 8 pm.

Swing Wine Bar & Cafe Olympia - Westside. Vince Brown, Greg Ruby. 21+. 8 pm. NC.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Locust Street Taxi. 21+. 8 pm.

Tacoma Community College Auditorium Tacoma - Westside. A Big Band Christmas, with Mike Vax, Rich Wetzel & His Groovin' Higher Orchestra. All Ages. 7 pm. $10-$15.

The Old General Store Steakhouse and Saloon Roy. Junkyard Jane. 21+. 9 pm.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Last Internationals. 21+. 9 pm.

The Vault Nightclub Olympia - Downtown. Tablao Flamenco, with live music & dance instruction. 21+. 8 pm. $15.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound