THURSDAY, JUNE 5 2014 >>>

1. Portland band Ages and Ages, without getting all touchy-feely, has eschewed apathy in favor of forthright optimism. Like the Arcade Fire did a decade ago, Ages and Ages recruit their entire band to sing at once, less for the sensation of catharsis, and more for the feeling of togetherness. Isn't it still sort of remarkable that all of these people have gathered together for a united experience of musical revelry? This magic seems to have gotten left behind, long ago, and now we all sit in cynical judgment of an art form that chiefly means to enrich. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's features on Ages and Ages in the Music & Culture section, then catch them with Stephen Steinbrink and French Quarter and Oh Rose! at 8 p.m. in Northern.

2. Tacoma Green Drinks provides a social and networking opportunity for Tacoma-Pierce County residents interested in sustainability, conservation, environmental issues and booze! Join them at 6 p.m. when they hang at Chamber Bay Grill to learn about the awesome happenings of the Tacoma Audubon ... over drinks.

3. Think running and drinking don't mix unless there's a K-9 unit involved? Not true. The Tacoma Runners - a group of T-Town pavement pounders - meet every Thursday for a 3-mile loop at a "social pace" at one of Tacoma's favorite watering holes. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. the starting and finishing line will be the Narrows Brewing Co.

4. Amazon employee Tom Nissley ended an eight-episode Jeopardy winning streak in December 2010 when he answered a question about American landmarks incorrectly. Alex Trebek asked: "Finding the spot for this memorial caused its creator to say, ‘America will march along that skyline.'" All three contestants wagered the correct answer was the Lincoln Memorial. "Oh, I'm sorry. The correct answer is Mount Rushmore." (Audience moans.) Don't feel too bad for Nissley. He won more than $250,000, making him the game show's third biggest winner. This personable, bookworm specimen from the next phase of human evolution will be at University Place Pierce County Library at 7 p.m., signing his book, A Reader's Book of Days, and generally reminding you what a moron you are by comparison.

5. Want to watch bands exchange CDs then listen to a band that melds reggae, hip-hop metal and funk? Good news!  Ted Brown Music presents the North & South CD Swap Meet Networking Party from 7-9 p.m. at Louie G's Pizza, followed by a live performance by The Approach.

LINK: Thursday, June 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

B Sharp Coffee House Tacoma - Downtown. Malibu Manouche, with Peter Pentras, Neil Andersson. All Ages. 8 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Wishbone Ash. 8 pm.

Louie G's Pizza Fife. Gossamer, Resisting Ordinary. All Ages. 8 pm.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Bobby Meader, The Waywards, Sullivan Street, Non The Yes Man, Divided Heaven. All Ages. 8 pm. $5. Monk Warrior, Belda Beast. 10 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Death By Stars, The West, Cloud Person, Bandolier. 9 pm. $5.

Olympia Ballroom Olympia - Downtown. Andy Coe Band, Psychedelic Shadow Show. All ages, bar w/ID. 9 pm. $18-$10.

• I have a confession. I love The Grateful Dead. I own Steal-Your-Face shirts. I have dropped and been "enlightened" by Garcia. I sometimes sing "Ripple" as a lullaby to my kids. The reason I'm telling you this is because the Andy Coe Band is coming to the Olympia Ballroom for a night of Dead covers. Coe (Skerik's Bandalabra, McTuff) can noodle a guitar like nobody's business and skillfully channels The Dead; his band backing up in all the right layers. To compliment this already awesome night is The Psychedelic Shadow Show, a band that covers Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Cream, Buffalo Springfield and other famous ‘60s bands, complete with light show and lasers. Starchild Creative will also provide a backdrop of live show entertainment on a big screen. Groovy baby. - Nikki McCoy
  

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Ghost 211. 9 pm.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Afrodisiacs. 9 pm.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Transcribing The Nega, Violent Hallucinations, Massacre At The Opera, Vaginal Defecation. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music Friday, May 9 in the greater TAcoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. Dead To Fools, Zook, Ain't Got Time to Bleed. 8 pm.

• The first, discordant sounds to come squealing out of "Necrophilia" legitimately caught me by surprise. Up until that odd guitar sound, Dead to Fools were setting up this song as another tossed-off bit of chugging garage rock - but that modest curve ball reframes the band and suggests slightly more ambition than you might expect. While the rest of the song is the sort of charmingly sloppy Nirvana pastiche you might it expect it to be, there's still a glimmer of inventiveness as play that might reveal itself more as this still-young band grows to find its footing. The casual button-pushing subject matter of their music is hilariously on-the-nose, but Dead to Fools is the kind of band that makes mindless moshing seem like the only proper response. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Polecat. 9 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Fortunate Youth, Los Rakas, The Approach, True Press. 8 pm.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Hysterics. All Ages. 7 pm.

Louie G's Pizza Fife. Nolan Garrett, Caspian Coberly. All Ages. 8 pm. $10.

Maxwell's Restaurant + Lounge Tacoma - Downtown. The Kareem Kandi Band. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Ancient Warlocks, Mos Generator, Hobosexual. 9 pm.

Northern Olympia - Downtown. Whelp, Hemingway, Four Minute Mile, Harvest States. All Ages. 8 pm.

Rhythm & Rye Olympia - Downtown. The Blackberry Bushes Stringband, Oly Mountain Boys. 9 pm. $5.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. High & Lonesome. 8 pm.

Swing Wine Bar & Cafe Olympia - Westside. Vince Brown. 7 pm. NC.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. The Hipsters. 9 pm.

Track House Olympia - Downtown. Metal at the Tracks featuring The Vatican, Countless The Dead, Eusapia, A God Or An Other. 8:30 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Kendra Shank, John Stowell. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Hambone Blues Band. 9 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music Saturday, April 26 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

"Tacoma musicians don't mess around."

I once saw that on a bumper sticker. Ok ... there is no bumper sticker. But, there should be. Just take a look at this line-up of musicians who came together to raise money for alternative rock band Torre, the Tacoma-based rockers who recently had their equipment stolen by robbers:

• Jessica Lynne
• Kitt Bender and Eva D
• Strangely Alright
• Brooke Lizotte and Pamela Moore (toured with Queensryche)
• SweetKiss Momma
• Rafael Tranquilino Band
  
• Torre

While there will be no cover, donations are strongly encouraged and a raffle will be held.

"Just about everything was stolen," says Raymond Hayden of Maurice the Fish Records, who helped put the show together. "The reason (for the benefit) is not only to help them out with funds to get their gear back, but also to raise awareness to other musicians and artists that there are ways to protect themselves. If they get robbed won't be as painful."

Discussion and information about insurance for musicians is part of the agenda.

"A lot of musicians think it's really expensive, but it's not," says Hayden, who encourages folks to come learn more. "Plus it helps out the band. These four guys are very active in the community."

TORRE BENEFIT CONCERT, 7 p.m. to close, Wednesday, April 23, all ages, Louie G's Pizza, 5219 Pacific Hwy. E., Fife, donations accepted, 253.926.9700

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 2014 >>>

1. It's impossible to place The Saturday Giant into any sort of neat one-man band box. The Columbus, Ohio native isn't a prototypical one-man band: no one hollow-body guitar, no one bass drum, no one hi-hat cymbal and, OK, one voice. Instead, The Saturday Giant, aka Phil Cogley, purchased a Boomerang III Phrase Sampler looping pedal building one fragment of musical material on top of another - sculpting layers of guitars, drums, bass lines, beat boxing, keyboards and vocals into intricate indie pop-rock. In spirit and attitude, The Saturday Giant plays innovative art rock - nothing pre-recorded. The result is a one-of-a-kind live show at 8 p.m. in Metronome Coffee.

2. The Evergreen State College keeps the Earth Day drive alive with a live music, vendors, sustainability workshops, interactive art displays, activities for kids and more from noon to 5 p.m.

3. Several local beer events go down tonight. 99 Bottles in Federal Way will be pouring five brews from Anchorage Brewing Company from 5-7 p.m., with guest Geoff Sampson from Shelton Brothers importers. Pint Defiance on the edge of Fircrest hosts the American Brewing Company team, which will show off its new canned Breakaway IPA - as well as pour American Blonde Ale, Single-Hop Citra Experimental Pale Ale and Cabernet Barrel Aged Imperial Stout from the handles - from 5-7 p.m. Over at The Swiss Restaurant & Pub, Pyramid Breweries will be in the house from 6-9 p.m.

4. Alt rock band Torre had their equipment stolen last week. Beginning at 7 p.m. the music community will gather to help their own in the form of a benefit concert at Louie G's Pizza in Fife. Schedule to rock the house are Jessica Lynne, Kitt Bender and Eva D, Strangely Alright, Brooke Lizotte and Pamela Moore, SweetKiss Momma, Rafael Tranquilino with Torre hitting the stage and 10:30 p.m. Come out, drop a few dollars, eat some pizza and rock out. If you can't make the show, watch a live stream of Strangely Alright's set here.

5. Besides being the son of Woody, Arlo Guthrie is destined to be remembered for one memorable recording: "Alice's Restaurant Massacree," a raucous, politically edgy, draft-dodging, best-to-hear-high anthem that once upon a time was a fixture on early underground FM radio. Guthrie's story is based in truth: Two youths - one Arlo himself - couldn't find a garbage dump open on Thanksgiving, and so they threw a load of refuse down a hillside and were arrested. The events that transpired next are right out of Mayberry R.F.D., which is funny enough, except that Guthrie departs from his story line to talk about what it's like to get a draft physical: "You walk in, you get injected, inspected, detected, infected, neglected and selected!" And the people you meet there: "There was all kinds of mean, nasty, ugly-lookin' people on the bench there ... there was mother-rapers ... father-stabbers ... father-rapers!" "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" is an American classic, and we have out fingers crossed Guthrie performs it at 7:30 p.m. in the Washington Center - along with "Dead or Alive," "Gypsy Davy" and "This Land Is Your Land."

LINK: Wednesday, April 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. SweetKiss Momma. 9:30 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. The Original Wailers. 9 pm.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Mercurial. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizza Fife. Pariah's Revolt, Sanction VIII, Letzter Geist, The Rikk Beatty Band, Amadon, Mr. Von. All Ages. 5 pm.

Metcalf Manor Olympia - Eastside. Elbow Coulee, Purr Gato, Death By Stars. All Ages. 8 pm.

Morso Gig Harbor. Peter Case. 8 pm. $25.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Res Deus, Rainier Dust Can. 9 pm.

Northern Olympia - Downtown. TisDass, Angelo Spencer, MGK Ultra. All Ages. 8 pm.

• Kildjate Moussa Albadé is a singer-songwriter from Tuareg, Niger. He's currently touring through the U.S. under his TisDass moniker. What distinguishes Albadé is his soulful and pristine guitar work. Finger-picking out a melody that slowly insinuates itself into your head, he's content to let that progression ride out and form a groove. He doesn't sing in English, but everything that he needs to convey is communicated through his nimble guitar and endearing voice. When he performs in Olympia, he'll be backed by the experimental pop outfit Brainstorm, as well as iconoclastic K Records alumnus Angelo Spencer. It all sounds like an eclectic night of merging cultures, which is something that doesn't happen frequently enough in the indie scene. I'm thrilled to hear the new sounds made by TisDass and company. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Salty's at Redondo Beach Des Moines. Kurt Lindsay. 8 pm. NC.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Champagne Sunday. 8 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Jim Page & Citizens Band. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Belles Bent On Leather, Adrian Connor. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music Saturday, April 19 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, APRIL 19 2014 >>>

1. Record Store Day is a holiday devoted to encouraging music fans to leave their bubble of predictable downloads and entering a world where the skip button doesn't exist. To browse through the shelves upon shelves of lovingly pressed vinyl, immaculately illustrated covers, essential liner notes, and magically enlivened grooves. Record stores have been threatening to disappear for years, but they've survived through the gauntlet of CD's and evil Pandora. In the past few years, records have even begun to regain some of their old popularity. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full thoughts on Record Store Day in the Music & Culture section.

2. The heavy, four-piece Pariah's Revolt from Olympia has all the badassness of ear-splitting chords, metal riffs and black clothing that you'd expect from the genre. And they're taking their community involvement to the next level with a fundraiser to help the Thurston County Food Bank at 6 p.m. in Louie G's in Fife.

3. Pasties and butt cheeks and hip-hop Toto, oh my! Expect all three - and more titillating fun - in The Gritty City Sirens' Adventures in Oz, a Wizard of Oz-inspired burlesque production at 7 p.m. in the Temple Theater Ballroom. We attended the dress rehearsal.

4. After disbanding the Los Angeles new wave/power pop group the Plimsouls, bespectacled, gruff-voiced frontman Peter Case launched a career as an important American singer/songwriter specializing in the flat-pick guitar style and semi-autobiographical stories of drifters delivered in a narrative style. Case has been writing and recording as a solo act for much longer than he was ever in the Plimsouls, or his first band, the seminal '70s punk band The Nerves. Case will bring his dynamic Americana-inspired blend of blues, folk and rock to the intimate Morso wine bar in Gig Harbor at 8 p.m.

5. Soaked in dark grunge and '90s alt rock, Adrian has the power trio of powerful female vocals, slick guitar notes and great production behind the release of the band's new album, Be Your Own Saviour. Frontwoman, guitarist and songwriter Adrian Conner, who plays lead guitar in AC/DC all-female tribute band Hell's Bells, has orchestrated a band full of infectious pop wrapped around electric, bombastic rock and roll. Catch the band at 9 p.m. at Uncle Sam's in Spanaway.        

LINK: Saturday, April 19 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area.

<<< WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 GAMES CLOSED >>>

You must admit: in a region full of dining options, you lust after your burger as a teenage girl pines for Ross Lynch (I'm forced to watch the show). Buns, meat, onions, greens and cheese - the things of dreams. Taco Bell might try to tempt you away with bun puns but their 88 percent "USDA-inspected quality beef" fails: Burger, it is your heart that it has taken.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Eastside Big Tom vs. NetShed No. 9

To be honest, NetShed No. 9 did far more damage in the Tournament of Burgers than anyone here in Walkie Talkie Land anticipated. We know the Gig Harbor waterfront restaurant more for its New American breakfast and lunch, serving dishes such as baked chicken thighs paired with waffles and the "Rubenesque" pastrami sandwich. Taking out The Harmon in the first round, and later freakin' Five Guys in the second, was impressive to say the least. However, the good times came to an abrupt halt yesterday when number one seed Eastside Big Tom once again flexed its muscles, perhaps emerging as the odds on favorite to make the final Four out of Region 1, Snagging 63 percent of the vote, Eastside Big Tom moves into the Great Eight.

Game 2: Pick-Quick Drive-In vs. Maxwell's Restaurant

The way Maxwell's and their Walker Burger has managed to bring it during this year's Tournament of Burgers has been nothing short of amazing. Yesterday, many all ready had established competitor Pick-Quick penciled in as the winner. Those people, however, were foolish - as Maxwell's once again proved its burger prowess. The votes don't lie, and when the final buzzer sounded Maxwell's had racked up an astounding 87 percent of the vote and comfortably moves into the Great Eight competition.

Game 3: Asado vs. The Westside Tavern

The Westside Tavern in Olympia went through some serious transformation during 2011. Gone are Big Buck Hunter and pull-tabs. They have been replaced by refurbished pool tables and the classy photography of Casey Grant featuring tattooed ladies and Olympia beer. Gone is the tattered blue paint on the outside of the building - inside and out. The ambiance has been mellowed by earthy paint tones, accented by red. Gone is the greasy spoon bar food. The Westside now serves homemade upscale menu items, such as portabella fries with sweet Chile sauce and pineapple express sliders. New owners Dean and Lisa Damitio have created a cool bar, and a lineup of burgers that is tough to beat. In the closest battle of the day, the Westside gathered 67 percent of the vote over fancy number one seed Asado, and moves into the Great Eight.

Game 4: Tatanka Takeout vs. Best Burgers

R-E-S-P-E-C-T is how the song goes, and that's just what unheralded Tatanka Takeout has been earning so far in the Tournament of Burgers, knocking off Best Burgers yesterday and garnering 77 percent of the vote. Our circulation department had Best Burgers going all the way. Bison meat is trickier to cook than beef, but also leaner and more nutritious, and Tatanka takes its skills and skinny ass into the Great Eight.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Sweet 16:

• Eastside Big Tom
• Maxwell's Restaurant
• Westside Tavern
• Tatanka Takeout

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's Sweet Pickle 16 burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

Tomorrow's Great Eight Burger Games

Game 1: Eastside Big Tom (2023 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia) vs. Lefty's Burger Shack (8317 27th St. W., University Place) OR The Forum (815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

Game 2: Maxwell's Restaurant (454 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma) vs. Lunchbox Laboratory (4901 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor) OR Crown Bar (2705 6th Ave, Tacoma)

Game 3: The Westside Tavern (1815 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia) vs. The Spar (2121 N. 30th St., Tacoma) OR Herfy's (10417 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Lakewood)

Game 4: Tatanka Takeout (4915 N. Pearl St., Ruston) vs. Shake Shake Shake (124 N. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma) OR Little Jerry's (8233 S. Park Ave., Tacoma)

Championship Vote/Party: 6 p.m., Monday, April 7 at Meconi's Tacoma Pub & Eatery in downtown Tacoma.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Burgers introduction here.

LINK: Hot Damn! Yes, I want the South Sound Happy Hour App!

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. CZAR, Breag Naofa, A God or An Other, the Vatican. 8 pm. $5.

• Recently, a band called Skinny Puppy sued the U.S. government for playing their music at Guantanamo Bay. The price? $666,000. The crime was to use Skinny Puppy's music as a form of torture. We've heard many stories of these practices, over the years, of various bands (Metallica, Van Halen and Red Cross have all reportedly been used to break down interrogation subjects). I'll admit something right here: A 50-second song from CZAR played twice is enough for me to give my Social Security Number. I'm a perfectly decent fan of loud, aggressive, compositionally strange music, but CZAR take it to a different degree. The vocals make my throat hurt, the music pummels my tender ear drums, and it all leaves me crawling for an easy listening station. That being said, I'd spill all of my secrets if "Piano Man" played on repeat, so there's that. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

The Half Pint Pizza Pub Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Marcha Marcha Marcha Birthday Bash with live funk. 10 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. The Reallionaire Beat Battle Part 2, hosted by Bruce Leroy, with LRoc, Frankie Hustle. 8 pm. $10-$15.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Benefit For Shilo, with Captain Algebra. All Ages. 7 pm.

Louie G's Pizza Fife. Ted Brown Music Fundraiser featuring Stolen Society, Fistful of Dollars, Nolan Garrett Band and SweetKiss Momma. All Ages. 7 pm. $10, include spaghetti feed.

• Ted Brown Music Outreach was introduced in 2007 by Ted Brown Music store in Tacoma, with the mission to provide children throughout the South Sound access to music through scholarships, instruments and education. Saturday, at Louie G's Pizzeria in Fife, TBMO is throwing a fundraiser and instrument drive. The event is all-ages, and features the Nolan Garret Band, SweetKiss Momma and two of TBMO's Live Out Loud! alumni bands - Stolen Society and A Fistful of Dollars. In addition to the awesome music, expect a raffle, silent auction and a dessert auction, with all proceeds going toward the 501c3 nonprofit TBMO, which works to put music in the lives of young people. The $10 cover includes an all-you-can-eat spaghetti feed. For more information visit www.tbmoutreach.org.

McCoy's Tavern Olympia - Downtown. Endino's Earthworm, Hellbelly, Mosquito Hawk 9 pm. $3.

• It's been nearly a year since Endino's Earthworm played Olympia. I'm stoked they are making a much-needed return. Jack Endino, whose music-producing career includes Nirvana, Zeke, Soundgarden, etc., takes his ear for detail and his soul for sound to his own band, Endino's Earthworm. Blistering? Heavy? Punk/grunge/old-school? Sometimes words are too bland for what good music does. While reading about an awesome band is a static experience, what should really be done is to watch a band live, and let your being tell the description. Is it the cosmic rocking of neurons? The physical sensation of vibrating chords? The internal centering that shifts into play when a band has your full attention, keeping you from worry of the daily grind, allowing a more authentic existence to emerge? Show up to McCoy's Saturday night and find out. - Nikki McCoy
  

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. The Purrs, Trees & Timber, People Under the Sun, DJ Melodica. 9 pm. $5.

• There was a moment in my conversation with Jima, frontman of Seattle band the Purrs, when I expressed how inadequate it is to simply call the Purrs a psychedelic indie rock band. While that might be ultimately accurate, it just doesn't quite do justice to what the band does. Let's take a moment, for instance, to consider the bands that the Purrs have shared stages with: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Pearl Jam and Okkervil River, just to name three markedly disparate acts. The Purrs are able to drift among scenes in a manner befitting of their intangible sound. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's interview with Jima in the Music & Culture section.

Northern Olympia - Downtown. Rise Of The Underdogs, with Third Eye, Taylor Martin, Jason Redd, Kidd Jurnee & Trace, Sky Scraper, Vette, R.E.A.L., Taylor Made, B-Lethal, K-Dawg The Ace, DJ Ben Pasquan, hosted by Heretic & Remex. All Ages. 7 pm.

Oly Ballroom Olympia - Downtown. Olympia Acoustic Fest, with Shawn Smith, Oly Mountain Boys, Aaron English, Bradford Loomis, Science, Juniper Circus, Paul Mauer, Samsel & The Skirt, James Coates, Kat Jones, Mark Macminn, The Grey Wharf, Kari Newhouse, The Brothers Jim, Anna Gordon, Elk &. All Ages. 1 pm. $12-$15.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Tatoosh. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Rumble Underground. 9 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Pearl Django. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Hambone Blues Band. 9 pm.

LINK: Live music Saturday, March 29 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. The Heels, The Jilly Rizzo, Needles & Pizza, Gold Records. 8 pm.

• "Whether they admit it or not, everyone's got a bit of a heel fetish." So proposes the bio of Seattle glam-power-poppers the Heels. For a band as preoccupied with aesthetics (sound-wise and clothing-wise), it's easy to see why they'd think that. Further, on their Joan Jett-esque anthem, "Fetish," they name-check leather, pencil skirts and angora sweaters. Coming from the rock scene of Los Angeles, frontwoman Paula Spas relocated to the Pacific Northwest, where she uncannily assembled the type of band that you might see play a booze-soaked set at the Whiskey a Go Go in the '70s. This is playful punk at its finest - winking and sexy in equal measure. The Heels exist in a world where everyone has a little secret (which they might be wearing right now, underneath their civilian clothes). - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. UpWest Arts Presents: An Evening With Slack-Key Guitarist Keola Beamer & Moanalani Beamer. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $20-$25.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. The Bog Hoppers. 9:30 pm. NC.

El Potrero Tacoma - Eastside. Banda La Pachanga, DJ Sunami. 9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Grayskul, RA Scion, Xperience, Rockwell Powers. 9 pm. $7.

La Gitana Olympia - Downtown. Red & Ruby. 6:30 pm.

Louie G's Pizza Fife. Eclectic Approach, Amadon, Clear The Chaos, Static. All Ages. 5 pm.

Matrix Coffee House Lewis County. Just Plain Bill, Patrick Storedahl. All Ages. 7 pm. $10.

Maxwell's Restaurant + Lounge Tacoma - Downtown. The Kareem Kandi Band. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

Morso Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Michael ONeill CD Release. 8 pm. $25.

• Forged in the ‘70s renaissance of popular Americana, Michael ONeill is a paragon of the ways in which art and life mutually influence one another. He was singing about the dusty trails and the tear-strewn beers and the fast women before he'd ever really spent time with them. So many years on, his music is imbued with the post-world-weary resign that comes with being a man of a certain age, with all the regrets and the fond remembrances that come along with that. Read Rev. McKinney's interview with Michael ONeill.
  

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Cottonwood Cutups CD Release Party, with Rusty Cleavers, McDougal. 9 pm. $5. 

Pantages Theater Tacoma - Downtown. Ann Hampton Calloway Presents The Streisand Songbook. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $35-$79.

Rhythm and Rye Olympia - downtown. The Brown Edition, DBST. 9 pm. $5.

Slavonian Hall Tacoma - Old Town. Ed Taylor Band CD Release Party for It's Complicated. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $35 includes dinner.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. North Country Bluegrass. 8 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. April Verch. All Ages. 8 pm. $15-$22.

Treos Tacoma - Old Town. The Alex Worland Trio. All Ages. 7:30 pm. NC.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Fun Police. 9 pm.

Vaeth Mansion Tacoma - Northend. Bluegrass and Old Time Jam & Feed, benefit for Lyn Neal who had her instruments stolen. All Ages. 3 pm. Donations.

LINK: More live music Saturday, March 22 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area