MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

GARAGE ROCK: Throughout the years, from the Sonics to Girl Trouble to Durango 95 and beyond - and even less genre specific, from Portrait of Poverty and I Defy to the Nightgowns, Paris Spleen and The Drug Purse to the Makeup Monsters, Apache Chief and the Gypsies - Tacoma hasn't always had a "sound," but there has always been a Tacoma "edge" to our bands. Maybe we've all just grown up underdogs, but bands from Tacoma have an underlying, unstated aesthetic that you can usually pick out of a lineup. The Coloffs are a band from Tacoma. Co-creators Brian Coloff and the only recently departed Stu Miller both have Grit City under their fingernails. If you don't know them, you should. The Coloffs, The Dignitaries, South Sound Bureau Chiefs, 9 p.m., $5, The New Frontier Lounge.- Matt Driscoll

ROCK: Electric Minge is a band that revels in the spirit of classic rock, placing an emphasis on solid songwriting over the more common college band tendency for self-conscious and distracting style. It's substantial, is what I mean to say. Good old-fashioned rock ‘n' roll delivered with youthful exuberance. They even sound relaxed, like they've got this shit down. It's hard not to pick up on the band's confidence. Electric Minge, The Gypsies, Warner Housecat, Womberang, 6 p.m., The Den @ urbanXchange. - Rev. Adam McKinney

LINK: More live music in the South Sound tonight

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

INDIE POP: Like many others, and many of you, the devastation and suffering in Haiti has been too much for The Color of East to sit back and watch idly. The band wanted to do something - and since what they do is rock, a benefit show seemed natural. The show is set for tonight. The Color of East invited Portland's SuckerForLights, along with Tacoma's Bandolier and Norman Baker - a snug bill for an obviously worthy cause. 9 p.m., $5 and up, $10 and receive a free The Color of East EP, The New Frontier Lounge.

GARAGE ROCK: Led by Sam Olson, of relation to Girl Trouble's Bon Von Wheelie, Red Hex howls at the moon garage rock style, proving you don't need to be old enough to remember the Ramones in their prime to channel that same rebellious energy.  Just check out the Red Hex song "Lisa Frank" and tell me I'm wrong. You won't be able to, I promise. with Apache Chief, Tarek Wegner, Fine Slew, 7 p.m., all ages, The Den @ urbanXchange.

LINK: More live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

FUNKY ROCK: Besides having maybe the best band name in history, West Seattle Pleasure Club are masterful purveyors of underwear-destroying soul and funk. I dare (dare!) you to attend their show tonight and keep your super square toes from a-tappin'. With The Legend of Bigfoot, 8 p.m., $5, The New Frontier Lounge - Rev. Adam McKinney

SCUZZY BLUES: Portland's Drew Grow and Pastors' Wives will perform will perform tonight  inside the indie chic Warehouse in downtown Tacoma. A long time fan of Grow's work, which includes a few Tacoma connections, the Weekly Volcano caught up with the PDX songwriter this week on our blog, Spew. With Friday Mile, Goldfinch with the record label Amigo/Amiga in the house, 8 p.m., the Warehouse - Bobble Tiki

And Matt Driscoll previewed two shows happening tonight - The Blue Mongols at Doyle's and Torture Box at Hell's Kitchen - in his Prefunk column.

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

INDIE POP: The Variety Hour can feel simultaneously fresh and nostalgic. Their eponymous debut EP sounds firmly rooted in Generation X, and, if I never saw the band, I would picture the members with ripped denims and flannel. No offense. - Rev. Adam McKinney

[The New Frontier Lounge, with The Dignitaries, Peter Benjamin, Friday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

PUNK: You already know Guttermouth. I don't need to describe the band. I don't need to tell you about the purposefully offensive antics, the three chords, or probably even the band's Orange County roots. I don't need to tell you the band is old as sin, and you could probably figure out for yourself that when Guttermouth comes to Hell's Kitchen on Friday it's not exactly going to be the same five punks that started the band in 1988. Still, it'll be pretty cool. Way better than indecent exposure in Saskatoon, at least in my humble opinion. - Matt Driscoll

[Hell's Kitchen, with Neurtralboy, South 11th, The Piss Drunks, Walk the Plank, 8 p.m., $12 adv, $15 dos, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, hellskitchenonline.com]

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

INDIE ROCK: Tacoma's Allan Boothe has been called a minimalist, and the term fits him. Crafting economical, folksy, T-town indie rock for some time now, Boothe has become a small stage staple in this underdog city we call home. He seems comfortable. And we've become comfortable admiring him. Check him out with his band Humble Club tonight at The New Frontier Lounge with Goldwing and Bayonet. Show starts at 9 p.m.

METAL: After a 10-year hiatus, Rorschach Test officially reunited last October, and is set to throwdown in T-town tonight with Charlie Drown, Desillusion and Third Law of Motion at Hell's Kitchen. Weekly Volcano editor Matt Driscoll has the full scoop in the Music section.

ROCK: Olympia's own tribute to The Runaways - Queens of Noise - join the all-female AC/DC tribute band Hell's Belles at 9 p.m. inside Olympia's Capitol Theater.

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don’t know what to do tonight? Don’t worry, we have you covered.

King of the Road presents the 10th Annual Elvis Birthday Bash Saturday night at the Capitol Theater. Besides a presentation of the film Almost Elvis, the No.2 Elvis impersonator in the world, Robert Washington — The Black Elvis — will entertain the crowd with onstage flips, athletic dance moves and, of course, his voice beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Tacoma’s Umber Sleeping, a band built extraterrestrial synths, the best drumming Tacoma has to offer, two tons of reverb — and a whole bunch of retro chic, plays The New Frontier Lounge with Motopony and Roman Holiday at 9 p.m.

Mixing a dirty, Motown-esque vibe with an eight-ball of sex and the classic gritty songwriting of Jeff Angell, The Missionary Position will set up in the corner of Doyle’s Public House at 9:30 p.m. No cover for this one.

Earlier this week, we caught up with Nathan Markiewicz of Tacoma’s quasi-pop-experimental darlings, L.A. Lungs. The band plays an all ages 8 p.m. show tonight at the Den, and we wanted to chew the fat about it — online. Read the full story here.

Andrew Jackson Jihad listens to is punk, and punk is what they produce, albeit delivered through frantically strummed acoustic guitars. They join Kepi Ghoulie and Partners in 818 at 8 p.m. inside Northern.

There’s more to Brent Amaker’s (pictured) music than the obligatory, alt-country nods to the likes of Cash, Williams, Haggard and so on. Amaker is a cowboy, and together with the Rodeo they’ll belt out real, rawhide cowboy songs with a 21st century sensibility at 9 p.m. inside Hell’s kitchen.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we have you covered.

Bandolier writes pop songs, and we mean that in a good way. They are floating somewhere in the ephemeral songspace between 50's bubble gum and modern indie, and making a kind of music that is far too rare on much of the local scene: music made of different instruments which you can actually hear. Check them out with M. Bison, Umber Sleeping, and Hair Envelope at 8 p.m. inside Bob's Java Jive.

Tacoma's Kevin and Andy Day, of Top Heavy Crush fame - acoustic style - will open for the BulletBoys at Station 56 as part of the Freedom Records produced Rock-N-Roll Christmas beginning at 8 p.m. What if the two bands got into a fight? We pick a winner here.

Bobble Tiki is not sexy. Tab Benoit, on the other hand, is the pure definition of sexy - at least according to Mrs. Tiki, who swoons and drools every time she sees the world-renowned blues guitarist do his thing in Tacoma. This weekend at Jazzbones, she'll get two more chances to do just that - tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 9 p.m. Read up on his sexiness here.

Christopher Francis & Son's music reveals a playful pop-mastery and a willingness to strip the format down to its bare essentials. They play an all-ages show with Two Ton Boa and Magick Daggers at 8 p.m. inside northern. Read the full story here.

LINK: More South Sound show tonight

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we have you covered.

1. Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band's drummer is a 14-year-old boy, Marshall Verdoes, who is also lead singer and guitarist Benjamin Verdoes' adopted brother - though Benjamin is 13 years older.  MSHVB's keyboard player, Traci Eggleston, is Benjamin's wife, which '" of course '" makes Marshall her brother-in-law. Throw in guitarist Matthew Dammer and bassist Jared Price, who, sadly, aren't related or married to anyone in MSHVB, and what reveals itself is just about as diverse a band as you'll find anywhere. They play Northern tonight with The Growlers. Read the full story here.

2. There are times when you think you've moved past slasher flicks and simply can't watch another zombie head chomp. Then some poor chap straps a lawn mower to his chest and you remember why you fell in love in the first place: The thrill of cheating death never gets old. Austin's Woven Bones understand this and react accordingly. They crank gritty, grimy pop that's perfect background music for slasher flicks. Check them out with HPP, Son Skull and Black Virgin tonight at 10 p.m. inside Le Voyeur in Olympia. Then stumble outside and climb into the big black car for a ride home.

LINK: More shows in the South Sound tonight

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we have you covered.

For a fresh-faced, rosy cheeked chap, Ian McFeron and his band have been around the block more than most - probably driving some vegetable oil powered, hippie smelling, jam van the whole time. But that's OK. This is but one of the many charms of Ian McFeron - who seems to have sold his soul to the gods of jam and roots Americana for better or worse. To his many fans in Tacoma, it-s been all for the better. McFeron is at The New Frontier Lounge tonight.

Just Dirt - they'll be playing just covers at Jazzbones tonight. Come out, get sauced, and lower your expectations in life. Everyone's doin' it.

Comparisons to Conor Oberst and Ani DiFranco are no doubt humbling for young Abi Grace, who'll be at the Mandolin Cafe at 6 p.m. tonight, but she's earned them - at least as much as any up and coming singer songwriter can earn such lofty praise at the age of 23 while still playing coffee shops in Tacoma. Step in out of the cold and be blown away by Grace's captivating and chameleon-like voice.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we have you covered:

Benefiting Second Cycle, Hilltop's loved bicycle co-op, Raw Talent #2 will be a chance for anyone to check out a cast of local performers - many of them relative newbies - busting out spoken word, poetry, music, comedy and maybe even a puppet show or two at 7 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

The sizzling licks of Blues Redemption's players - the venerable Doug Skoog on keyboards, Joe Hendershot on bass, Barner on drums and vocals and Brian Feist on guitar and vocals - will fill Bob's Java Jive at 8 p.m. Throw in the Michal Miller Band and some typical Jive eccentricities (we hear go-go dancing action) and the evening is a sure winner.

Fox 45 (pictured) and Little Reuben are both bands that play a kind of slapdash, minimalist pop. It's earnest music that makes no effort to hide cracks and flaws. What makes these bands important is they represent, we think, Tacoma's next wave. Check them out with Monday Mornings at 7 p.m. inside The Den.

Is there a need, anymore, to make a point of defining certain bands as "bedroom pop"? More and more, the act of retreating to one's bedroom and putting hissy, intimate pop to tape (or computer) is becoming as common as garage bands ever were. The Webelos (a bedroom pop band) declare in "Yellow is the Color" that they've moved out of the bedroom and are now "living room pop." Fair enough. See them with Thought Bandit at 8 p.m. inside Le Voyeur in Olympia.

Hell's Kitchen - which has stood at Sixth and Proctor like a pillar of Pabst stains, punk rock and Tacoma live local music viability since 2002 - is moving, to downtown Tacoma of all places. Tonight, after two shows with the semi world famous all-female AC/DC tribute band Hell's Belles (all-ages show at 5 p.m., 21+ at 9 p.m.), Hell's Kitchen will shut it down for good on Sixth Avenue, focusing on a new location at 928 Pacific Ave. that should be up and running by mid-December.