THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2012 >>>

1. Dick Dale created the surf guitar sound. This is a statement that is irrefutable (a rare commodity in music). As it's been documented and retold, Dick Dale began by playing the drums and then transferred this percussive quality to the electric guitar - the result being the breakneck strumming and picking that has become irrevocably associated with surf guitar. As a style, surf guitar as endured and informed generations of guitarists, from heavy metal to garage rock and every rock-minded station in between. Tonight Dale plays Hell's Kitchen with Girl Trouble, the Coloffs and Graceland 5.

2. Olympia's Christian Mistress, purveyors of old school metal of the purest and most potent kind, will release their sophomore LP, Possession, on Relapse Records Feb. 28. Expect it to be scorching, and like a literal flashback to the glorious 1980s. Anchored by the darkly feminine vocals of Christine Davis, Christian Mistress has built a name on authentic riffage and plodding power chords. A listen to "Haunted Hunted," the first available song from Possession, indicates more of the same is on its ways to the surely-thankful, devil-horn waving masses. Presented by Owl Lodge, catch the band at the Capitol Theater Backstage with Thou, The Body and Dreamdecay next week. Prepare to head bang. Tonight, Christian Mistress will rock the hell out of the Capitol Theater Backstage.

3. Comedian Chris Mata performs at the Tacoma Comedy Club. The show starts at 8 p.m. and will cost you $15 to get into.

4. Ian Moore will be across the bridge at Morso Wine Bar in Gig Harbor- promising to be a show not to miss.

5. As has become tradition, one of the South Sound's favorite blues musicians, Jerry Miller, will be in Spanaway tonight for Taco Thursday at Uncle Sam's American Bar and Grill.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound