LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>
Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. Amy Ray, with Lindsay Fuller. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15.
- We love "Closer to Fine" as much as the next dirt-kicker, but only ridiculous amounts of cash would have persuaded us to label the Indigo Girls as hard rockers. Which is why Amy Ray's solo albums are such a mind-blower - they pit one half of the pleasant-harmony duo against her previous hold-hands template, opting for more aggressive guitars and cutthroat lyrics. Ray arrives at the Capitol Theater Thursday some Olympia's musician alumni - Kaia Wilson and Melissa York from Team Dresch and The Butchies. Come get your folk punk on. - Weekly Volcano
The Eagles Hall Olympia - Downtown. Bangs, Survival Knife, Old Wars. 8 pm. $5.
- Bangs, one of the more popular rock bands to emerge from Olympia - having toured extensively and forged connections with all the other great bands of the '90s and 2000s - broke up in 2004 when frontwoman Sarah Utter moved to L.A. A brief stint of fundraising shows in 2010 brought the band back together, and now Bangs will again grace the stage at Olympia's Eagles Hall for a benefit show for Northern All Ages Project. "I'm super happy to be playing loud guitar with my friends Maggie Vail and Peter David," says Utter. "But, I'm MOST excited about the debut of Survival Knife, featuring one of my favorite drummers, Kris Cunningham, and favorite musicians, Justin Trosper from Unwound." She's right: Bangs will be playing with other Olympia legends - Survival Knife and Old Wars (featuring members of Gossip.) It will be a star-studded night for sure, one full of favorite rock bands, old-school K kids and newbie underagers. The event is all-ages with a 21-plus bar, and is for members and invited guests of the Eagles Hall. - Nikki Talotta
Harmon Tap Room Underground Tacoma - Stadium District. Gen Obata. 9 pm.
Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Black Tusk, East of the Wall, Witchburn, C.F.A., Deathbed Confessions. 8 pm. $8-$10.
- The music world has given us Black Uhuru, Black Mountain, Black Angels, Black Flag and Rush. Now comes rock's Black Tusk to Tacoma. The band plays hard and heavy and roams the realm of stoner/sludge rock. Its members are not into last names, but they are into abrasive quasi-harsh vocals rolling along with the thundering fuzz-toned, bottom-end heavy riffs. The Savannah band is touring behind Set the Dial, the brand new, Jack Endino (Soundgarden, High On Fire, Skeletonwitch) produced disk of hardcore meets technical trash tendencies. Black Tusk rolls into Hell's Kitchen Thursday, March 29. We caught up with the band on the road. Read our Q&A with Black Tusk on our blog, Spew. - WV
The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. Open Jam with Rafael's Gemini Trio. 8-11 pm. NC.
Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Micaela Cooley, with Justin + Ellie. All Ages. 6 pm.
Spar Cafe Olympia - Downtown. Louis Ledford. 8 pm. NC.
Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Billy Stoops Open Mic. 8 pm. NC.
Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Taco Thursdays with Jerry Miller. 7-10 pm. NC.
LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound