LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Psychedelic Rock: Mere weeks after their last Tacoma appearance, Seattle's Wild Orchid Children are set to return to town, where, presumably, they'll dole out mind-melting jams with typically persuasive pizzazz. Read the full story here. With From the Sea (CD release), Tallest Tree and Photon Pharoah, Thursday, May 13, 9 p.m., $5, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003 - Jason Baxter

Hip-Hop: Working class, gritty and grimy hip-hop rears its beautiful head with the arrival of Sweatshop Union in the South Puget Sound tonight. A mighty contingent of Canadian DJs and MCs prepare to wreck shop with one of the dopest live shows you will see.  With Puget, Sand People and Debaser, Thursday, May 13, 8 p.m., The Royal Lounge, 311 Capital Way N., Olympia, 360.705.0760 - Jose S. Gutierrez Jr.

Avant Pop: Sure, Portland's Hosannas was known as Church until some dick-ass Australian band from the '80s, The Church, threatened to sue. Then the band became Ape Cave - but only for a few weeks. And now Laws, his brother Richard, and the rest of band call themselves Hosannas. The band will be in Olympia tonight with a new (re)release in tow - the Hush Records backed Then and Now and Then, a collection of the band's (whatever you call it) first two EPs - which were originally self released and only sold at shows. It's music worth hearing, and when Hosannas hit Northern - for the third time - it'll be a sight worth seeing. With Prairie Bastards, and Saint Street, Thursday, May 13,  8 p.m., all ages $5, Northern, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Matt Driscoll

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LIVE MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

NOISE ROCK: Throughout the month of May, Northern will be hosting a group exhibit of political artwork from Vancouver, B.C. artists. The show will be co-curated by David Lester and Jean Smith, the duo that make up the long-standing noise-rock band Mecca Normal. Saturday will be the exhibit's opening reception, as well as a celebration of Northern's one-year anniversary, featuring a performance from Mecca Normal. If you've never heard them before, well, they're about as minimal as minimal gets: Lester plays guitar and Smith sings, and that's about it. But Smith's poetic lyrics and passionate vocals, not to mention the raucous sounds that come from Lester's guitar, helped pave the way for noise-rock and riot grrrl. If you're in Olympia, this is an event not to miss. Part of Black Dot Museum opening, Saturday, May 1, 5 p.m., all ages, Northern, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Rev. Adam McKinney

POWER POP: The Riffbrokers would sound perfect on vinyl. They remind me of a band whose LP I'd pick up on a stop in a record shop - intrigued by their name and a couple song titles, never having heard them before. I'd bring The Riffbrokers home and listen alone on a rainy day - utterly blown away. Then I'd become slightly obsessed with the band for a couple months, telling all my friends about The Riffbrokers, and the band's sound combination of Creedence Clearwater Revival and REM, but with a singer who sounds like a more subdued Elvis Costello. When my friends would rebuff my offers to play them the record, I'd decide that this music wasn't meant for them anyway. I'd be happy to keep it my secret. With The Lund Bros, Jones Family Fortune, Saturday, May 1, 9 p.m., $5, The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020  - Rev. AM

LO-FI ROCK: Noise and effects. Noise and effects. Phil Elverum - as The Microphones, or Mount Eerie, or just about any other name in the book, I'd presume - is all about noise and effects. It's lo-fi, and repetitive, and uber-artistic, and the kind of thing that's about as far from the mainstream as you can get without being 4-track recorded monkey sex - but it is epically cool, and you don't even need to be a hipster to appreciate it. Sure, being a hipster kind of helps - it gets your retro sneaker in the Phil Elverum door, so to speak, but once you're inside it's survival of the artistically fittest. Can your mind wrap around the tangled sonic cloth Elverum weaves, like a bohemian David the Gnome, having popped out from underneath some bizarre-ass, Kombucha smelling forest mushroom, acoustic guitar in hand? If it can, Mount Eerie is an enjoyable ride. Or something. With Colonies, Saturday, May 1, 7 p.m., all ages, $8, The Viaduct, 5412 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.472.1948 - Matt Driscoll

FOLK ROCK: If Tyler Fortier is one thing, it's an up-and-coming, present-tense folk rocker - in a complimentary sense of the notion - based out of lush (read: stony) Eugene, Ore. If Fortier is two things, it's all of the above and a damn entertaining blogger. I know, I know - blogging is a debatable art form, but there's no debating Fortier does it well. In addition to playing a whole slew of shows over the next two months in Oregon, Idaho and Washington - in support of his just released This Love Is Fleeting record, which "dropped" April 15 - Fortier will also be doling out witty lines like this on tylerfortier.wordpress.com: "I played first, tickling some ivory (and by ivory, I mean a plastic keyed digital piano).  I should have prefaced this section by stating the night was billed as "danceable, funky, pop music."  My music ... Not danceable. Not funky.  Not pop.  In fact, my music just wants to make people fucking cry." Awesome. Fortier plays two shows in Tacoma today. Saturday, May 1, 3 p.m., all ages, no cover, Rocket Records, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186; 8:30 p.m., all ages, no cover, Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482 - MD

ROCK: A band like Cody Foster's Army doesn't come along every day - a dynamic and powerful three-piece with a heavy old school hardcore attitude and an uncompromising DIY approach. Consisting of members of an assortment of legendary Tacoma bands from the last two decades, these guys are no strangers to local rock. Foster plays bass and sings, Dave Takata is the crazy guitarist, and "Reno" David Marseillan is the thundering drummer. Together they are making a name for themselves with a fierce set of raging tunes. They are also gearing up for the release of their debut EP, Smoking Gun, on Violent Hippie Records. Read the full story here. With Zeke, Witchburn, and The Badlands, Saturday, May 1, 9 p.m., $10, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003 - Potter

LINK: More live music in the South Sound tonight

LIVE MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

FOLK ROCK: In the 1970s, a Canadian folk-rocker named Bruce Cockburn released almost an album a year for the entire decade. He missed 1977, but this was most likely due to a shortage of notebook paper he suffered after penning seven albums worth of material - so get off his back. My point is that this gentleman is just about as prolific as any musician currently in circulation, with an amassed archive of 22-29 albums, give or take live contributions. Have you heard of Bruce Cockburn? Maybe. You've definitely heard him. Read the full story here. Friday, April 29, 8 p.m., $35, Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia, 360.754.6670 - Rev. Adam McKinney

ALT ROCK: Sweet Water is playing Hell's Kitchen with Glimpse and Basic Radio. There'll be more hooks at this show than you'll know what to do with - but that'll be good, because complicated artistry is not your strong suit. You like it served up nice and easy - which is exactly what Sweet Water will deliver. It's what the band is built on, and it's a recipe that still works. Friday, April 29, 9 p.m., $10, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003 - Matt Driscoll

COUNTRY: The first time the Weekly Volcano wrote about country legend Merle Haggard coming to the Emerald Queen Casino we figured we better treat the dude with respect. He's a legend, after all - plus we feared he might keel over dead at any moment from a life full of hard, twangy, country living. Almost 10 years later, Haggard is coming back to the EQC this week. It's betting like this that typically makes us steer clear of casinos, but for Haggard (yet again) we might make an exception. Friday, April 30, 8:30 p.m., $35-$70, 2024 E. 29th St., Tacoma, 253.922.2000 - Michael Swan

INDIE ROCK: Seattle's Smile For Diamonds will plug in at The New Frontier Lounge with the venerable Deborah Page. Read Weekly Volcano Editor Matt Driscoll's Q&A with SFD's frontman Ryan Looman here. With The Dirty Changeup, Friday, April 30, 9 p.m., The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020 - MS

LINK: More live music in the South Sound tonight

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

SURF/GARAGE ROCK: A better title might have been When Kustom Kulture Kollides. A fundraiser for HOTROD-A-RAMA (held Aug. 6-7 in Tacoma), tonight's party features the blistering, balls-out garage rock of Red Hex, the loud two-minute bursts and absurd vulgarity of Johnny Cheeseburger & The Cum Bunnies, the slammin' surf rock of Stafford & The Bentz Bros., and the high-octane rockabilly and surf mix of '63 Burnout. Friday, April 23, 8 p.m., $8, The Swiss, 1904 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821 - Michael Swan

INDIE ROCK SINGER-SONGWRITER: DavidBazan - probably best known for Pedro the Lion - once again returns to Tacoma for what should certainly be another memorable, all ages friendly performance in T-town - this time at Urban Grace Church. The young and old alike can find something to get behind in the reluctant singer/songwriter's gut wrenchingly painful yet still beautifully melancholy song crafting style. Uber talented and young Tacoma band Hail opens the show. Friday, April 23, 8 p.m. all ages, $10, Urban Grace Church, 912 Market St., Tacoma, 253.272.2184 - Matt Driscoll

GLAM METAL: Way back in the day I pissed off (I think) Tacoma's spandex-clad, glam metal rockers Splendid Vengance by calling them gimmicky, or hair-spray-y, or something. I can't really remember. It was a long time ago. Plus, it's tough to tell what's serious with these guys and what's tongue in cheek. Would guys in full '80s regalia, rocking out with their figurative cocks out, really get upset that some punk like me might poke fun at them? That seems unlikely - but I've always encouraged drama for the sake of moving papers, and I'm not going to change now. What seems certain is Splendid Vengance will put on one of the most entertaining shows this week has to offer. With Mahnhammer, Careless Eaters, Big Wheel Stunt Show, and Vile Red Falcons, Friday, April 23, 9 p.m., $5, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003 - MD

OLYMPIA ART WALK: Bands will be performing in every nook and cranny of downtown Olympia tonight. We recommend a few must-see Art Walk gigs here.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

POP ROCK: L. Alex Guy (as Led to Sea) is one of those artists, like St. Vincent or Andrew Bird, who approaches pop music with the eye of a classical composer, breaking down and rebuilding pop tropes into something resembling fine art. Guy is an accomplished violist, having lent her talents to the likes of Laura Veirs, Mirah, Xiu Xiu, and Seattle's art-punk collective, Degenerate Art Ensemble. Her music can be a challenging, sometimes frustrating, but it always sweeps up through pop and rock on its way back to chamber music, and her voice is always expressive and engaging. It's a constant balancing act, combining classical and pop. But in Led to Sea's case, Guy is able to have her cake and eat it too. With Mirah, Kane Mathis, Thursday, April 22, 8 p.m., all ages, $7, Northern, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Rev. Adam McKinney

HIP-HOP: Tonight, Vancouver, B.C. native turned Portlander Josh Martinez will make a return visit to "Tha O" as he headlines an awesome lineup of hip-hoppers at Olympia's Royal Lounge. The show, put on by Homeland Security, features appearances by The Junkyard Gang and house-party rockers extraordinaire Night Fox - followed by The Elements with Cornerstate, and DJ Deadbeat holdin' down the tables and hosting duties. Junkyard Gang dropped the official re-release of their award-winning album Where In The World Is Taylor Jones? on April 20 - and should certainly be in rare fashion tonight with their West Olympia rock star antics. Thursday, April 22, 8 p.m., The Royal Lounge, 311 Capitol way N., Olympia - Jose S. Gutierrez Jr.

LINK: More live music in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Folk Comedy Blues: He sits on a stage - a stage that looks more like a wilting Southern front porch than the focal point of one of Tacoma's local music venues - playing a beaten acoustic guitar. It kind of sounds like the blues, but it's not. It kind of feels like you should be drinking moonshine, but you're not - just beer. The scene in front of you is part music, part humor, part performance art - and all bizarre. Ladies and gentleman, Swampy Draws. With The Revengers, Mighty High, Walk the Plank, Trip the Light Fantastic, Wheelies, and Nothing You'd Like, Saturday, April 17, doors at 4:20 p.m., $7, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003 - Matt Driscoll

Indie Rock: The Future Historians don't quite make a Wall of Sound. They make something more akin to a "Hammock of Sound." Listeners may float, suspended over the grass, in a sheet of banjos, hushed drums, tight harmonies, and all that good, cozy stuff. You know what? It's spring now. Rock like you know the season. With $2000 Puma, Tallest Tree, and Fin du Monde, Saturday, April 17, 9 p.m., cover TBA, The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020 - Rev. Adam McKinney

Blues: What more do you really want out of a Saturday - and an excuse to drink? Not only is Tacoma's Doyle's, celebrating its fourth anniversary, but today also marks another "St. Practice Day" - when alcoholics looking for a good excuse drink in excess in "preparation" for the coming of St. Patrick's Day, which, don't forget, is only 11 months away. Preparation is key. Kick off Saturday night and the Doyle's anniversary with the perfect Tacoma blues band, Toughtimes. Saturday, April 17, 9 p.m., no cover, Doyle's Public ouse, 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468 - Michael Swan

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LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Moody Melodic Pop: Pillow Army is a band all about opposing elements. Acoustic guitar and a string section make up the body of most of the songs, but - more times than not - that calm is stabbed by raucous intrusions from loud electric guitars, working as a counterpoint to the loveliness of the other instrumentation. With These Are The End Times, Keg-The Lone Ranger of Rock, Thursday, April 15, 9 p.m., cover TBA, The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020 - Rev. Adam McKinney

Hip-Hop: Tonight Dark Time Sunshine (Onry Ozzborn and Zavala) celebrate the release of the group's highly anticipated sophomore album, Vessel, on Sake Four Records. The show will be your first chance to cop Vessel, featuring Aesop Rock, JFK, XP and more, as the record drops officially on April 20. Also rocking the mic tonight at The Royal will be AKA (fresh off his thrashing victory at the second Go Hard or Go Home MC Battle), Q-Storm and Simon Calcavecchia (click here for his story). DJ Deadbeat is spinning.  Finally, Tac-Town B-Boy crew, The Dance Brooms, will get it on the floor providing a fix for your B-Boy/Girl withdrawals. Thursday, April 15, 9 p.m., $5, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.705.0760 - Jose S. Gutierrez Jr., M.Ed.

LINK: More live music in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Blues: Today, directly following the Daffodil Parade, the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival will kick off at venues all over Tacoma, like the Swiss, Stonegate Pizza, Indochine, the Harmon Brewery, Paddy Coyne's and Cutter's Point Coffee. Performers include Sean Carney, the Blue Mongols, the Randy Oxford Band, Blues Redemption and a boatload more. Saturday, April 10, noon to midnight, cost varies by location, complete schedule here - Michael Swan

Party: This weekend, in typical Jive, DIY fashion, Bandolier, Motopony, The Painkillers, DJ Darrren Selector, Dave the bartender - and the Jive's extended, beer drinking family - will gather at the South Tacoma Way landmark to celebrate 55 official years of Bob's Java Jive. The event is intended to mark the anniversary of when Bob and Lylabell Radonich made the fateful decision to purchase the coffee pot shaped restaurant - originally constructed in 1927 - and turn it into a bar and music venue, creating a Tacoma legend along the way (as well as a few nicotine addicted chimps). It's a celebration, and without even saying it, it's also part of a community's - our community's - constant effort to "Save the Jive." Read the full story here. Saturday, April 10, 9 p.m., $5, Bob's Java Jive, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843 - Matt Driscoll

Jam: If there's one thing Tim Reynolds (of the appropriately named Tim Reynolds Trio) can do it's jam on it. Dude is like best buds from way back with Dave Matthews, after all, which means he's no fan of the two and a half minute pop song. Nope, this guitarist is all about the improvisation. Playing Colombo, my guess is Reynolds smokes a little weed - but that's neither here nor there, and I'm not going on anything but his band, his hair, and his penchant for "jamming on it."  Perhaps that's stereotypical of me. Tonight, Reynolds will give fellow jammers and those just waiting for Dave Matthews' annual sandal-fest at the Gorge something to chew on when the Tim Reynolds Trio lights up Jazzbones. It'll probably smell like a skunk in there, but - again - that's probably stereotypical. Saturday, April 10, 9 p.m., $15, Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169 - MD

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Rock: Correct me if I'm wrong: Valis is a band made up of leather-clad, rock ‘n' roll Satan worshippers who live together in a giant interstellar vessel powered only by pure, gutturally wailing psychedelic metal and capable of leaping across time and space. Is that right? How goddamn awesome are these guys? Let's see: The band's name comes from a Philip K. Dick novel (and we all know he's the most badass sci-fi author ever); lead singer and guitarist Van Conner (See: Screaming Trees) has a voice that shrieks like Ozzy Osbourne on the other side of the Stargate; and the music as stony as stony gets - and stony has gotten pretty damn stony. Bottom line: When a band has a song called "Under Satan's Will" that still manages to defy expectations, there's something to be said for that. That "something" is "awesome." With Legend of Bigfoot and Midnight Salvage Co., Friday, April 9, 9 p.m., The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020

Twee-Pop: James and the Express is a twee-pop band that seems to be obsessed with tomatoes. That's as good a place to start as any, I suppose. Bouncy, impossibly sunny melodies carry the songs on Are Your Tomatoes Safe?, the band's debut album. Band leader James Mackison's voice is humble and sweet, with occasional dips into Elvis Costello territory. Music as gentle and unassuming as this is a double-edged sword - people are attracted and repelled by it for the same reason. Mackison has an almost McCartney-esque preoccupation with love, and when he refers to his heart as having been "built for two," you kind of want there to be more of an edge. But, then again, the innocence is what made it special in the first place. With Cleeman, Friday, April 9, 10 p.m., no cover, Le Voyeur, 404 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.943.5710

LINK: Move live shows tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Glam Metal: No, you're not just really high. You haven't just woken up after sleeping off some 96-hour meth bender and are now hallucinating that ‘80s glam metal band L.A. Guns is playing Jazzbones on a Wednesday night. It's real, dude. It's so real. With The pUrPs, High and Voxxy Vallejo, Wednesday, April 7, 9 p.m. $10, Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169. 

Garage Pop/Rock: No room has had the effect on music that the garage has. Think about it. Have you ever heard of kitchen rock? Absolutely not. But garage rock is a term that instantly makes sense - and things only branch out from there. Like Tacoma's Wheelies. While Blanco Bronco - one of the better live bands in T-town - may serve up a more traditional, fuzzy, messed up brand of straight up garage rock, Wheelies delves into the realm of "garage pop" - which as the Volcano's Rev. Adam McKinney revealed a few months ago in these pages, involves recording on Windows '95.  I guess that makes sense, too since you probably wouldn't want to put a nice computer in the garage. Anyway, garage rock, garage pop - it's all coming from the same place, and it's all usually better than anything emanating from the more proper rooms of the house. Blanco Bronco, Wheelies, Pioneers west, Tallest Tree, Wednesday, April 7, 9 p.m. $5, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003

LINK: More live music in the Soth Sound tonight