LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. The Smokin' Js. 9 pm.

Caffe Dei Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Tacoma Noise Rodeo featuring Bagger288, Full On, Firedrill and Infradead. All Ages. 8 pm. NC. To read the full story on the Tacoma Noise RAdio, click here.

Dorky's Arcade Tacoma - Downtown. One-year anniversary party featuring IDon'tKnowWhoTheyAre, MC Mike Kopf, Phantom Twin, Gonken, SliiDE, Kitty Cats in Pirate Hats. 9 pm. NC.

• Dorky's Arcade has been on a role as of late. As Dorky's near its one-year anniversary (can you believe it's already been a year?), the arcade has finally acquired a liquor license and started throwing rock shows. To celebrate the first year in existence, Dorky's is having a typically nerdy anniversary show, featuring the silly pop-punk of Gonken, the sci-fi electronics of SliiDE, the tongue-in-cheek rap of Cutwinkles member MC Mike Kopf, and a comedy troupe called Kitty Cats in Pirate Hats. Of a certain note will be electro-pop Phantom Twin, featuring Brandon Beauchesne. Eagle-eyed readers will recall that I wrote about him for 2010's Best of Tacoma issue - about what, I will not say. Just know that this show will tickle your dorky cockles in the least weird way possible. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Halfway To St. Patrick's Day, with Blvd Park. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Chris "Cricket" Johnson's Birthday Blowout, featuring Unhailoed, No Living Witness, Osama Bin Rockin, Deathbed Confessions, Bloodhunger, Deathmocracy. 9 pm. $5.

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. Tai Shan. 9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Aces Up, Rae Solomon. 8:30 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Klover Jane, Kertson & The Immortals, Riot In Rhythm, J.T. Phillips, Rane Stone. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Ten Pound Note. All Ages. 8 pm. $10.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel, Ghostwriter, Russ Dahler, John Walker. 9 pm.

• The one-man-folk-band thing is getting a wee-bit played out. There's only so much banjo-plucking and foot-stomping - coming from a single person with an "Isn't it impressive how many things I can do at once?" look on their face - that a set of refined ears can appreciate. After a while, unless you're actually on a porch somewhere and drunk on moonshine, the head pat-tummy rub shtick just gets old. That said, Ghostwriter is NOT played out - and the shtick is anything but boring. While Steve Schecter - the man who is Ghostwriter - has the country-fried, chicken feather bit down - there's also a gloominess to what he does that keeps things interesting. Saturday Ghostwriter plays twice, for the all-ages crowd early at Rocket Records, and later for the drunks at The New Frontier for a 21+ engagement with Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel. Both shows are worthy. - Matt Driscoll

Northern Pacific Coffee Co. Tacoma - Parkland. Stephen Robert and the Other Ones. All Ages. 8-11 pm. NC.

O'Malley's Irish Pub Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Gnar at the Bar with Wheelies, City Hall, Revengers and Overboard! 8 pm.

The Red Room Tacoma. Icarus The Owl, Shrouded In Veil, True Love & High Adventure. All Ages. 6:30 pm. $6-$8.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Billy Farmer. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Devil on a Leash, Animals in Cars, Love and the Lords of Chaos. 8 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Chuck Stentz, Steve Luceno. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. 100th Monkey. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound