LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Ecletro-Pop: Reverse Dotty's music is a kind of melancholy electro-pop, driven by sandy female vocals. The synths sound '80s disco-ready, and the band's aloofness sometimes gives the air of electroclash or riot grrrl. Sometimes, though, like on "Off the Skoal," with its affected crooning, or on the breezy "Pool and a View," one gets a distinctly winking, B-52's vibe - like all of this is a set-up or possibly even a put-on. 8 p.m., The Den @ urbanXchange, 1932 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2280 - Rev. AM

Bluesy Rock: While some songwriters may woo listeners with well-woven lyrics that slice straight to the heart and plumb the emotional depths, Ben Union is not that songwriter. His funk and rock hybrid is not a reinvention of the wheel, but it is a sight to hear, behold and just maybe get down to - as well as something that no one else in town is even approaching. That, in a nutshell, is the appeal of Ben Union: He takes things you already know and love, and serves them back at you with passion, spark and just enough originality to make it all stick. Read the full story here. Ben Union CD Release Party with Colonies and Benjamin Doerr, 8 p.m., $5, Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169 - Matt Driscoll

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Party Rock: Milk Music is quite possibly the closest thing to Boston's feel good party rock Olympia will ever produce - albeit a very, VERY Olympia rendition, and not so vegan twin guitar Tom Scholz-y. At least that's what I thought last time I saw Milk Music play at Old School Pizzeria to a packed house of kids and hipster elites alike, all of whom were bobbing and jumping in unison to their riff-driven melodies like a giant flooding orgasm approaching its crest on the sandbagged shores of an outrageously rewarding night. With White Boss, 8 p.m., all ages, $4, Ghost Town Gallery, 416 Washington St. SE, # 207 (upstairs), Olympia - Owen Taylor

Synth-driven Indie Rock: World's Greatest Ghosts make music that makes me feel warm, tingly - and kind of uncomfortable. With a love of magick (emphasis on the "k"), monsters, and familial affection - as well as an exploitation of hyper-poppy synth-driven indie rock - it's pretty easy to fall in love with World's Greatest Ghosts. But be careful: lurking at the corners is a hidden darkness - an obsession with ideas like death and heartbreak that strengthens and deepens the music into something much more than the sum of its parts. With Tempo No Tempo and guests, 9 p.m., $5, The New Frontier Lounge, $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020 - Rev. Adam McKinney

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Rap, Garage Rock: What we have here is a 65-year-old rapping super villain who sings songs such as "Should I ‘F' This Big Fat Ho" - a parody of you know what - and whose live shows are fairly infamous. Reason enough to check out Blowfly at The New Frontier Lounge tonight. But guess what? There's more! Ensuring that this sho will quite possibly be the strangest you see all year will be the opening band: Girl Trouble. Read the full story here. 9 p.m., $10, The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020

Melodic Rock: Sirens Sister is a band that succeeds in surpassing one's initial expectations. Despite having a certain air of mystical, Earth Mother uncoolness, the band's songs are wiry, nervy trains of crazed headlong rock momentum. They strike an easy balance of quite radio-friendly modern rock and a respect for dark '80s pop figures like Echo and the Bunnymen and the Cure. The lead vocals are convincingly histrionic, evoking a number of singers known for projecting to the back of the room, notably Jeff Buckley. It's the kind of music that either doesn't translate to a live representation, or, more likely, thrives on the energy an audience supplies. Regardless, Sirens Sister goes for broke, and their in-store at Rocket Records should be a sight to see. 3 p.m., no cover, Rocket Records, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186

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World Beat A Capella: Ladysmith Black Mambazo's lineup, as we know it today, was formed in 1964 by Joseph Shabalala. Why? It came to him in a dream. He'd been the bandleader of a choral group specializing in isicathamiya, traditional Zulu music. But the sounds he heard in his dream were these gorgeous harmonies that he'd never heard before. This spurned him on to reform the group as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and replicate the music of his dreams.

With this new sound, the group quickly rose in popularity, eventually becoming one of Africa's most acclaimed and best-selling acts. Read the full story here. Friday, March 26, 7:30 p.m., pre-show lecture 6:30 p.m., $35-$59, Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma - Rev. Adam McKinney

Post-Grunge: Whatever your viewpoint on Green Apple Quick Step, one fact is undeniable: The band struck a chord, and is still remembered. Aside from a handful of songs at a Caffé Vita employee party at the Showbox in December, Green Apple Quick Step - in any form - hasn't taken the stage in more than 12 years.

That all changes tonight at Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma - Willman's hometown. Along with drummer Geoff Reading, guitarists Dana Turner and Mike Squires, and vocalist Christa Wells - none of whom are technically original members other than Willman - Green Apple Quick Step - at least for the evening - will be reborn in T-town.

The connection is no coincidence. Read the full story here. With The Jet City Fix and Broken Cannon, Friday, March 26, 9 p.m., $10, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., downtown Tacoma - Matt Driscoll

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LO-FI POP: Tonight, June Madrona will celebrate its new album, Lions Of Cascadia, with its current four-piece lineup. The party will also include a screening of Moon Diary, a half-hour short animation the band scored. There's tacos, too. With with Rye N Clover, Thursday, March 25, 7:30 p.m. tacos, 8 p.m. show, $5-$10 sliding scale, The Loft on Cherry, 508 Legion, Olympia - Owen Taylor

WORLD BEAT DANCE MUSIC: Imagine a bar so full you have to dodge poised pool cues and swinging dreadlocks (Ever been hit in the eye with one? It's like a hairy mallet, and stings like a bitch.) Imagine a bar so lively that dank beers slosh on you and skanking elbows poke you in the ribs. Imagine a place to get down and dirty and dance and get drunk and have such a good time listening to the band that all of the above afflictions don't even faze you. Such a place is the Eastside Club in Olympia. And such a band is Yogoman Burning Band. Start your weekend right and groove down to this fresh percussion/brass five-piece whose MySpace motto is "let's get ridiculous." With The Quick and Easy Boys, 9 p.m., $5, The Eastside Club Tavern, 410 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Nikki Talotta

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ROCK: Post Stardom Depression is a tight quartet that fuse rock, seedy lyrics and grease to form a fresh sound unlike anything you've ever heard. Unless, of course, you've heard them before.  Singer Jeff Angell, guitarist Kyong Kim, groovin' bassist Brent Saunders and drummer Josh Fant travel from their first gig in a backyard-wrestling ring to Hell's Kitchen tonight.  Discover why this is a big deal here. With Mom's Rocket, Shim, Careless Eaters, 9 p.m., $6 advance, $8 door, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003 - Ron Swarner

BOY/GIRL: The songs of Catcher sound like that point deep in a relationship when you start to see the seams; you can feel the end drawing nearer, and begin to pull away from each other - just at the point where you need that embrace more than ever. With A Cozy Kitchen, Smile Brigade, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, The Den @ urbanXchange, 1932 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2280 - Rev Adam McKinney

ROCK: Ask any true-blue Tacoman what's likely to be birthed when Dave Takata, Shawn Lanksbury, Sean Horst, Chris Roxx and Michah Hammer get together and the answer will be blatant: fucking rock. Experience the Mahnhammer tonight. With Trip the Light Fantastic, Pioneers West, Swampy Draws, 8 p.m., cover TBA, The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020 - Matt Driscoll

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INDIE ROCK: In Olympia, a show featuring Calvin Johnson's Hive Dwellers, old-schoolers Pet Products, Al Larsen, The Human Skab, Mary Win, Redbird Fever, Wimps, Big Idea and Brazillian "superstar" Lulina will aim to raise money for the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund. 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., all ages, $8, Eagles Hall, 805 Fourth Ave., Olympia.

POP ROCK: Red Jacket Mine is an assembly of pop craftsmen, a group that creates radio-ready pop rock so friendly and easygoing that it's easy to pass it by without second thought. With Sirens Sister, 9 p.m., The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020

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ROCK: Created in 2006 as a three-piece, Song Sparrow Research originally cut its teeth as just that - a band exploring the rock based possibilities of a three person, drum, bass, guitar trio. Over time, however, and as is usually the case - interests fluctuated, and new sounds emerged. These days - including Saturday's show at The New Frontier - listeners are likely to hear and see a standup bass, glockenspiel, cello, keyboard and more when the band takes the stage or ventures onto your stereo. Read the full story here. With Santee, Xylophones, $2000 Puma, 9 p.m., The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma - Matt Driscoll

HEADY ROCK: The vibe in the room becomes saturated with mountain mist and dragon breath and brilliant chord progressions and sweetly timed tom drums and cymbal crashes. My note taking ceases as I zone out on their heady rock. C Average takes me to space and back, just like a good rock band should. They follow through with a couple more jams, breaking periodically to realign their chemistry. Read my full story here. With the Tide, 9 p.m., $5, Eastside Club Tavern, 410 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Nikki Talotta

BOOK: Dan Nelson, the artist responsible for the book All Known Metal Bands - 300 something pages filled with an alphabetical list of every single metal band of all time (up until the book's 2007 publication) - is genius. Seriously. We don't use the word anywhere near as loosely as the Volcano's Paul Schrag. Tonight, Nelson will be at Northern in Olympia, reading from All Known Metal Bands along with Calving Johnson. It seems destine to be awesome. And genius. Seriously. 7 p.m., free, Northern, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Michael Swan

BLUES AND THEN SOME: Taj Mahal is a true master of music. Period. From blues to funk to gospel to jazz to the Caribbean and back to American roots - Taj bathes in all of it masterfully. He's also the master of selling out the Capitol Theater tonight. 9 p.m., sold out, Capitol Theater, 206 E. Fifth Ave., Olympia - MD

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CELTIC: For a fiddler, or Celtic violinist, Jamie Laval is as busy as they come. A practitioner of traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Quebec - Laval has been heaped in praise for his "passionate" and even "romantic" style of performing. From what we understand, actually, the performance is where it's at with Laval - he plays more than 120 dates a year. Luckily, one of those 120 performances in ‘10 will be at the Mandolin Café tonight. 8 p.m., all ages, $10, Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma - Michael Swan

HEAVY ROCK: Joe Preston of Thrones has an impressive resume, playing with The Melvins, Earth, C Average, and High On Fire, to name just a few. Before Preston's European tour, Thrones will be joining Christian Mistress and Two Ton Boa at Olympia's all age's venue, Northern. Now is your chance to grab your 17-year-old cousin and blow his mind with some of the best, tripped-out heavy rock the Northwest has to offer. 9 p.m., all ages, $7, Northern, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Nikki Talotta

METAL: I once saw a chick puke up a bunch of P-Diddy's vodka. It didn't look very hot. Tonight at Hell's Kitchen, however, Queensryche guitarist Michael Wilton will be shilling his new Whip Ale billed as "bold," "rich," and "aromatic." With a musical lineup including Atomic Outlaws and Wide Eye Panic, the crowd seems certain to be "drunk," "somewhat disorderly," "and ready to throw up devil horns" - if not some Whip Ale. Something tells us that would look a lot more metal than puking P-Diddy's vodka. 9 p.m., no cover, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma - Michael Swan

BONUS: Hey bands! Sign up for our nifty band profile section. When you do you'll automatically be included in our March 11 Music Issue.

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HEAVY ROCK: Beautiful Mothers, Zook, At:1, Nothing You'd Like and Portland's My Life in Black and White will gather for an event being billed as "Stop the Madness, Increase the Peace" - a benefit for the Lakewood Police Department and the families of the fallen officers - at Hell's Kitchen. Think heavy rock for a good cause. Then think about showing up. 8 p.m., $5 minimum donation, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma - Matt Driscoll

POP ROCK: Loaded for Bear are brimming with theatricality, presenting themselves like a shadowy back-alley band at a slurred, drunken carnival of ill intent. Their songs are moody pieces of work, propelled by haunted piano lines and stuttering drum beats. The vocals call forth from the hazy din, gruff and tired, occasionally drowning in the fluttering reverb of the guitars. With To The Sea, 10 p.m., no cover, Le Voyeur, 404 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia - Rev. Adam McKinney

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