LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. James Coates. 7 pm.

The Conquering Lion Tacoma - South. High Ceiling, Dub Lounge International. 8 pm. $25.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Jay Barz, Motamouth Jones, Chris Crazie, John Crown, From Heros to Legends. All Ages. 5 pm. $5. Psycho Rehab, Sanction VIII, Demon Dogs, Pukesnake. 9:30 pm. $5.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Lawless Birthday Bash, with AKA featuring Nathalie, Hollywood Kill Krew, Pawz One, Double B. 9 pm. NC.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. VIII Days Clean. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. The Dukes Of Jazz. All Ages. 6 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Squirt, Resident Kings, DJ Kahuna. 9 pm.

• A very long time ago I was on the radio. I used to rig contests so folks in Tacoma would win - I felt I owed them something. Tacoma was the first place to embrace my early '90s rock outfit Squirt. We didn't make it big or anything, but Tacomans were the first to understand, and that was huge for nobodies. Squirt had many ties to Tacoma. Our guitar player Eric "The Swede" Olson was from Tacoma. Lem Durant, the guy that booked Prosito (before it was The Central and the first Hell's Kitchen) was the first person to ever approach us for a gig. Squirt's first release on a compact disc (mind you getting a CD made in '93 cost a deep left nut) was courtesy of 253 label Wrecking Ball. And the first "cool" band to embrace/befriend us was Girl Trouble. It was different. Tacomans were ... nice. We were an odd lot. Read guest writer Dick Rossetti's full story on his band Squirt in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com. – Dick Rossetti

The Olympia Ballroom Olympia. Polyrhythmics, Snarky Puppy. All Ages. 9 pm.

• Just in time to celebrate 4/20, Andyinoly Productions brings in another stellar show. This time at the Olympia Ballroom, and all-ages, Polyrythmics will be keeping heads happy with their funky, world-beat music. According to dictionary.com, polyrhythm is the simultaneous occurrence of sharply contrasting rhythms within a composition. According to me, (and thousands of fans,) Polyrythmics is the simultaneous occurrence of badassness. This eight-piece ensemble jams long and hard, with interesting twists and tweaks to keep the mind engaged and the body moving. From the band's webpage, "Polyrhythmics have quickly gained notoriety playing to packed clubs and festival crowds all over the Northwest. Their self-titled and now sold-out EP released in 2010 has been charting on radio playlists up and down the West Coast." Snarky Puppy will also play this funky 4/20 party. Featuring members of Snoop Dogg's and Erykah Badu's band, this band hits the same fusion, international vibe as Polyrythmics. So light one up, cruise to the Olympia Ballroom and let this incredible line-up do the rest. – Nikki Talotta
  

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Jerry Miller Jam. 9 pm. NC.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Nick Deonigi. 7:30 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Emma's Revolution. All Ages. 8 pm. $12-$17.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Stony Balony, Vigilante Justice, Inebriator, Ranchero. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. VIII Days Clean. All Ages. 8 pm.

LINK: More live music in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Science! 9 pm. $5.

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. Blue Scholars: Live Music & Films from Cinematropolis, featuring Sweatshop Union. All Ages. 8 pm. $18-$22.

• Last year, the Seattle hip-hop duo DJ/producer Sabzi and MC Geologic - better known as Blue Scholars - embarked on their first nationwide headlining tour, a monstrous 33-city excursion spanning two months in support of their "visual soundtrack," Cinémetropolis. This past winter, the Blue Scholars gave a shout out asking filmmakers from around the universe to submit a 5-minute video or film of tracks off Cinémetropolis, awarding the top three submissions a special screening at a live Blue Scholars show. That live show goes down Saturday at the Capitol Theater in Olympia. – Weekly Volcano
  

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. KC Brakes. 7 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. 2 Against Critics, Leezy Soprano, Champion, Controversy, Convic, Coup D. Santana, hosted by Chris Arrington. 9:30 pm. $5.

Johnny's Dock Restaurant Tacoma - Dome District. Dave Calhoun CD release party. 5-8 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Madlife, Post Modern Heroes, The Fail Safe Project. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Big Huge. All Ages. 6 pm. Kels Boreen Project. All Ages. 8 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Ever-So-Android, Sliide, DJ Darren Selector, DJ Guldi, Delicious Brown and Ninja Monique. 9 pm.

• Something I've not quite seen before is the utilization of the loop pedal in service of atmospheric post-punk. Seattle's Ever-So-Android takes a cue from Reggie Watts, building a foundation of beat-boxed vocals over which to layer moody guitar lines. "I played in bands for a long time, on the East Coast," says Ever-So-Android guitarist Drew Murray. "I came out here, and met Hope (Simpson), who was a barista. We became friends, and she told me she could sing. One day, she sat down on the floor with an acoustic guitar, Indian-style, facing away from me, and played me a song. I really liked her voice, so I said we had to do something together. It eventually evolved into this whole looping thing. ... I was inspired by Dub FX and Reggie Watts, and it was something that I was thinking of doing by myself, but I prefer not to sing. I mean, I can't Hope can sing." Read the full feature on Ever-So-Android in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com. – Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Pantages Theater Tacoma - Downtown. Arlo Guthrie: Boys Night Out Tour, with Junkyard Jane Duo. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $26-$59.

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

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Gray Sky Blues Festival Afterparty, featuring Chester Dennis Jones Band, Jumpin' Josh Violette. All Ages. 8:30 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Back Porch Swing. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Devil on a Leash, Half Of Infinity, Far From Given. 9 pm.

Uncle Thurm's Finger Lickin' Chicken Tacoma - Lincoln District. 2Three4. All Ages. 8-11 pm. NC.

Urban Grace Tacoma - Downtown. Warehouse presents the Candle Lit Series featuring Ivan & Alyosha, OK Sweetheart, Elk & Boar and Ben Fisher performing in a candle-lit room. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $8.

• Citing whimsical, prolific, minor-key songwriters like Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson as influences, OK Sweetheart's M.O. seems to consist of crafting delectable nuggets of pop music that equally serve the heart and the brain. Frontwoman Erin Austin's delicately lovely voice stands front and center and is buoyed by light-as-air instrumentation that drives with a gentle touch. It's all so clean and pristine, which helps to direct attention toward the modestly heartbroken lyrics. When an offbeat piece of production slips in (like the slightly blown-out drums on the title track of OK Sweetheart's debut LP, Home), the effect is novel, instead of distracting. OK Sweetheart has seemingly mastered the creation of the crystalline pop song - it's all refracted light and fragile form, constantly defying the ever-present possibility of shattering. – Rev. AM
  

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

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LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Art House Designs Olympia - Eastside. Hardcoretet, Silo. All Ages. 8 pm. $10.

Backstage Bar and Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Mantra tribute to Santana. 9 pm.

Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Kim Archer. 7 pm.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. Bodybox, Jupiter Order, Resdeus. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Eddie Spaghetti, Stone Evergreen Travellers, Swampy Draws. 9:30 pm. $6-$8.

• Campy, sarcastic, and sleazy, the Supersuckers were atypical to the mid-1990s grunge movement as they sported cowboy hats and offered up a mix of rockabilly flavored garage rock. With sex, drugs and Satan as their mantras, the band's lyrics were an uproarious celebration of all of the wickedness habitually associated with rock ‘n' roll - namely sex, drugs, Satan and any other offensive topic they could muster up. Motorhead's Lemmy once said, "If you don't like the Supersuckers, you don't like rock & roll." It's safe to say the same applies to Eddie Spaghetti, who, when not leading the Seattle-based rawkers, unleashes solo material for those tired of passionate unplugged anthems for the masses. — Weekly Volcano
  

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Spazmatics. 9 pm. $10.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Reset/Go. All Ages. 8 pm.

Midnight Sun Olympia - Downtown. Margy Pepper, Grass Window, Deep Time. All Ages. 8 pm. $6.

• Margy Pepper are one of the most adorable slash awesome slash rocking slash slash bands out there. If you like your punk with a sense of humor and maybe a little bit too much of an obsession with kitty cats, Margy Pepper is for you. The band's music is imbued with a carefree exuberance that is unfortunately missing in much of the music that comes through these parts. But Margy Pepper comes from Olympia - a fact that should be easily identifiable when confronted with their brazen confrontation of the seriousness usually laid upon the idea of DIY punk.  Add onto their musical prowess its affection for stories of childhood embarrassments and triumphs, and you have a band that never ceases to delight. I saw them over a year ago, and Margy Pepper still brings a smile to my face. - Rev. Adam McKinney

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Squeak and Squawk Music festival Dance Party featuring Paris Spleen, I Will Keep Your Ghost, Saucy Yoda. 9 pm. $5-$7.

The Space Tacoma - Triangle District. Squeak and Squawk Music Festival featuring Makeup Monsters, Tea Cozies, Bandolier, Watermelon Sugar. All Ages. 6 pm. $4-$7.

• Sure, the Mayans had a lot to say about 2012, but one thing they forgot to mention was that it would reckon the return of Tacoma's Squeak and Squawk Music Festival, running through April 9. When Squeak and Squawk originator Sean Alexander left Tacoma for New York, this third installment went through a spin-the-bottle style search for the right person to helm the ship, landing on Jena Stedtler, who was soon joined by the Weekly Volcano's own Rev. Adam McKinney. Read Jenni Prange Boran's full feature on the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Tumblin' Dice (Rolling Stones tribute). 8 pm.

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

Swing Wine Bar & Cafe Olympia - Westside. Vince Brown & Michael Gray. 9 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. The Makedonians. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Event Horizon, Inside The Gates, Unhailoed. 9 pm.

Uncle Thurm's Finger Lickin' Chicken Tacoma - Lincoln District. Kareem Kandi trio. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. Hell's Belles (all-female AC/DC tribute), Zero Down, Resident Kings. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $10-$15.

• For 12 years, Hell's Belles have been belting out the timeless classics of AC/DC. All the raunch and flair and sexiness of Angus Young and the rest of AC/DC are channeled beautifully through the five females of Hell's Belles. Every throaty lyric and bass line and rock stance is performed with the energy and exuberance of professionals. These women truly love what they do and it shows. They have not only partied with members of their idol band - but have toured extensively across the globe. Luckily for the Puget Sound, they will be making a stop at Olympia's Capitol Theater. The hype on Capitol Theater's web page reads, "There's not a HELL'S BELLES audience that hasn't been blown away by the raw power, attention to AC/DC details, and undeniable appeal that these belles deliver with undying devotion....It's an all out rock-n-roll assault that leaves you both satisfied and begging for more." - Nikki Talotta

Forza Coffee Fircrest. The Kari Ehli Band. 5-8 pm. Tin Man. 8 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Like Lepers, Few Words For Comfort, Seeya, Space Bandit, To Die For. All Ages. 5 pm. $6-$10. Boomman & Mobbin CD Release Show. 9:30 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Midnight Salvage Co. CD Release Party with James Coates, China Davis. 7:30 pm. $6-$8.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Silver Dollar Circus, Cell Phone Parking Lot. All Ages. 9 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Moss Brothers. All Ages. 6 pm.

Maxwell's Restaurant and Lounge Tacoma - Downtown. Lance Buller Trio. 7 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Squeak and Squawk Music Festival featuring Derek Kelley and the Speedwobbles, The Sivas, The Riffbrokers. 9 pm. $5-$7.

• Sure, the Mayans had a lot to say about 2012, but one thing they forgot to mention was that it would reckon the return of Tacoma's Squeak and Squawk Music Festival, running April 5-9. When Squeak and Squawk originator Sean Alexander left Tacoma for New York, this third installment went through a spin-the-bottle style search for the right person to helm the ship, landing on Jena Stedtler, who was soon joined by the Weekly Volcano's own Rev. Adam McKinney. Read Jenni Prange Boran's full feature on the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com.

The Royal Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Crack Sabbath. 8 pm. $5-$10.

• Andy Geertson, who Volcano readers voted the best bartender in Olympia, has branched out his music booking skills, creating Andyinoly Productions. This weekend, he presents, along with the Royal Lounge, jazz music moguls Crack Sabbath. Smooth, powerful, emotional, these are just a few words that come to mind when listening to this unique band. WTF, no way, and really?! Also come to mind when I realize that these guys, who have graced the stage with Les Claypool and Wolves in The Throne Room, also pull off cover songs from James Brown and Nirvana, with a freshness and style that only a jazz band with the name Crack Sabbath can. Says Geertson, "Crack Sabbath is comprised of some of the best well established jazz musicians in Seattle ... a song will seamlessly go from a flawlessly flowing jazz tune into a full blown heavy metal grind ... see them once and you're hooked." – NT
  

The Space Tacoma - Triangle District. Squeak and Squawk Music Festival featuring Santee, Webelos, A Leaf, I Low. All Ages. 6 pm. $5-$7. Read Jenni Prange Boran's full feature on the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Jerry Miller Jam. 9 pm. NC.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Upper Tacoma. Rafael Tranquilino, Farko Dozumov. 7:30 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. The Honey Dewdrops. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Blues Jam, hosted by Tim Hall. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Little Tybee, Gina Belliveau, James Coates, River Whyless. All Ages. 6 pm.

• Shiny, happy people, unite. Atlanta-based orchestral-pop heroes Little Tybee brings its national tour to Tacoma's Mandolin Café on April Fools Day. It would probably be best to classify them somewhere between light-hearted orchestral pop and Tropicalia orchestral pop. Yes, it's a tiny space between the two genres, but this tight-knit bunch of friends enjoys existing in the little space - thus its name. April Fools! Yes, the six musicians ARE close friends, but they explore all 37 orchestral pop sub-genres. According to press release hype, "Little Tybee isn't afraid to experiment freely, even dangerously at times, to follow a musical idea to its ultimate end. This mentality has led the group to explore music that transcends genre and packs a much bigger punch than their modest title implies." If you have a cinder block dropped on your XBOX, or some horrible prank, find happiness at the Mandolin Sunday night. - Weekly Volcano
  

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Jim King & The Southsiders. 7 pm. NC.

Steilacoom Pub and Grill Steilacoom. Sunday open mic with Jeanlizabeth. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Chicago Blues Jam. 8:30 pm. NC.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Dave Graham Benefit Show, with James Hilborne & The Painkillers, Snak Pak, Bandolier, Mr. Blackwatch, China Davis, DJ Melodica, Darren Selector. All Ages. 3 pm. $5 suggested donation.

• Recently, and very suddenly, Dave Graham was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma, and has since undergone painful and costly treatment to battle this vicious cancer. Sunday's benefit show will hopefully provide a little financial relief for Graham. But the biggest aspect of the event is to show Graham how much he is appreciated in this town in which he has become a fixture. The band lineup is an eclectic collection of Tacoma mainstays, including the ghostly country of James Hilborne and the Painkillers, the grimy punk of Snak Pak, the retro AM pop of Bandolier, the space-alien-informed rock of Mr. Blackwatch and an acoustic set from China Davis. Interspersed amongst the days activities will be raffles of prizes from a huge assortment of Tacoma donors. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Dave Graham's benefit show in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com.

Tacoma Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. In The Pocket Blues/Soul/Jazz Night. Led by Pete Kirkland and Virginia. 7-11 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Peter Mayer. All Ages. 7 pm. $10-$15.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Backstage Bar & Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Great White, Guns of Nevada, Black Diamond. 8 pm. $25.

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. KC Brakes. 8 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Among Thieves, What Wings, OnceHeld. All Ages. 5 pm. $8-$10. Working Class Artists Tour. 9:30 pm. $10.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Current Swell, Flowmotion, The True Spokes. 9 pm. $10.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Larry Mitchell, The Rikk Beatty Band, Digital Chemistry. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Fang Chia CD Release. All Ages. 8 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness Nite Of Covers, featuring Colonies, Tex, Xylophones, Burle Haggard, Monogamy Party, Piko Panda, Smililng Politely, Michael Cooper, Kye Alfred Hillig, Garret Chavis. 6 pm.

• An album as astonishingly overblown as the '90s Smashing Pumpkins landmark, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, is uniquely suited for the astonishingly overblown treatment being given to it on Saturday. The over two-hour, 28-song concept album will be covered in its entirety by a cavalcade of local artists and bands. After the bands are done fighting over who gets "1979" and "Tonight, Tonight," the rest of the album will be divvied up between Tex, Colonies, Monogamy Party, Xylophones, Piko Panda, and members of Canon Canyon, Destruction Island, and Oh Dear! and more. Such a wide range of musical voices (from the whacked punk of Monogamy Party to the sincere singer-songwriter tones of Piko Panda) is ideal for presenting the sprawling sounds of Smashing Pumpkins and the band's towering double album. - Rev. Adam McKinney

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

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Katya Chorover. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. New York Death Metal Fest, with Nocturnal Slaughter, Truculence, God Denied, Future Disorder, American Wrecking Company. 9 pm.

Urban Onion Restaurant and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Benefit For Capital City Pride, with Greta Jane Quartet. 8 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

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

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Avenue Tavern Olympia - Downtown. The Tilted Stilts. 9 pm.

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. "Have You Ever Had A Beard" screening & Q&A, with live performance by Hive Dwellers. All Ages. 9 pm. $5.50-$8.50.

• Calvin Johnson is an Olympia legend - a throaty mouthpiece for one of the most musically and artistically relevant and independent little towns in the history of the world. Seattle's Chris Estey is a much-loved music journalist known for his work with Three Imaginary Girls along with just about every other Seattle-based alt-media outlet that's worth two shits. The new film, Have You Ever Had a Beard? brings      Johnson and Estey together. Hype calls the film, "a study in contrasts," that shines a light on "the lyric-heavy songwriting of Calvin Johnson vs. the ebullient music journalism of Chris Estey." When the film screens tonight at the Capitol Theater, the film's directors, Kathy Wolf and Pat Thomas, will be on hand for a post-performance Q&A along with Johnson, who will also take the stage with his band, the Hive Dwellers. – Weekly Volcano
  

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Ruston Way. Bagpipers 6:30-8 pm. Cottonwood Cutups 8 pm.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Billy Farmer & Sway (Rolling Stones tribute). 9 pm.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. St. Patty's Day Celebration, with Blvd Park, Mighty High, The Fucking Eagles, Ben Union, SweetKiss Momma, The Excellent Gentlemen. Began at 3 pm.

• Over the years, The Fucking Eagles have worked hard to make a name for themselves, not only in the supremely ubiquitous genre of garage rock, but in a city like Tacoma - where garage rock bands seem to fall from trees. While many bands in these parts skew toward the psychedelic side of the '60s, the Fucking Eagles make their home in the stomping, shuddering footsteps of the Sonics, our blistering rock forefathers. It's relentless, pounding rock 'n' roll - the kind that kids with crew cuts and horn-rim glasses had to find in underground clubs, far from the prying eyes of grown-ups. Catch the Fucking Eagles along with SweetKiss Momma, Mighty High, Ben Union and the Excellent Gentleman as part of the big-ass St. Paddy's Day celebration that starts at 3 p.m. - WV

Harmon Brewery & Eatery Tacoma - Downtown. St. Patrick's Day party with food and drink specials, plus Pierce County Pipes and Drums. 7 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma. Sok and the Faggots, Czar, Deathbed Confessions, South 11^th, Bloodhunger, I Earth Mother, Reptile Eurption. 8 pm. $5.

• Naming a band Sok and the Faggots is kind of the musical equivalent of setting a height requirement. If you're able to accept the name, you've passed the first of the many, deliberately offensive tests set by Sok and the Faggots. The Faggots are followers of a style set by G.G. Allin, the shock-punk weirdo famous for his unending envelope pushing and all-around gross-out live performances. He threatened, every year, to bring a gun to his Halloween show, with the intention of shooting as many audience members as he could before turning the gun on himself. People showed up every year. Sok and the Faggots may not take it to that extreme, but the band certainly does its part in upholding the wild and base Allin tradition. Saturday, join Sok and Co. at Hell's Kitchen for what's being billed as a "St. Paddy's Day Drink-A-Thon." - WV

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. St. Patrick's Day Party with Myles Crew. 6-9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. St. Paddy's Day Violin Vs. Vinyl Celebration, with Kytami, PhonoGraff, Jay Tablet. 7:30 pm. $10.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. St. Patty's Day, with Neil Pearlman. All Ages. 8 pm. $5 suggested donation.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. St. Patrick's Day Party, with OMG, special guests. 9 pm.

O'Callahan's Pub & Grill Key Peninsula. St. Patrick's Day Bash, featuring The Whistling Oysters. 6 pm.

O'Malley's Irish Pub Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. St. Patrick's Day Party with The Fun Police, Shivering Denizens, Menace, Smoke Like Daddy, Firefighter Pipes and Drums, The Piping Duo. 11 am-1 am. $5.

• The Fun Police, it must be said, are one of those workhorse local bands that absolutely fucking brings it. They treat each venue the same, making sure the crowd leaves dazed, a ringing in their ears and smiles on their faces - because they've just seen a show. Through a dizzying mesh of styles including Celtic rock, punk, and reggae, the Fun Police have created a sound all their own. Saturday the band will be at O'Malley's Irish Pub, celebrating the beer-flavored holiday in quite possibly the most authentic place to fall down and get drunk (Irish style) that T-Town has to offer. - WV

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. This Is Treason, Strike To Survive, Matahari, For My Existence, Blood & Thunder. All Ages. 7 pm. $7.

Rock The Dock Pub & Grill Tacoma - Downtown. St. Patrick's Day Party with Triple Threat Band. 8 pm.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Paddy's Day with Mooncoyne. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. St. Patty's Day Party, with Kashmir. 9 pm.

Waterstreet Cafe Tacoma. The Joe Baque Trio, with Dennis Hastings. 9:30 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Dirty Oscar's Annex Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Phasers On Kill. 7 pm.

Harmon Tap Room Underground Tacoma - Stadium District. Automatic Theory, Bodybox. 9 pm. $5.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Righteous Vendetta, The Forerunner, Myself Aside, Kidsajoke, Through Darker Tides. All Ages. 6 pm. $8-$10. Madcap Reunion Show, with BND, Keeping The Gates. 10 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. VetsMeetVets Military Appreciation Fundraiser, with Cee Cee James, Voxxy Vallejo, Stacy Jones. Proceeds benefit VetsMeetVets.org. 20% off bar & food tab till 12 pm with Military ID. 7:30 pm. $10, $7 w/Military ID.

Le Voyeur Olympia. Stumblebum Brass Band, Vir, Levator. 10 pm. NC.

• The Stumblebum Brass Band is an entity that banks on novelty, but does its best to surpass it. The band succeeds in spades. Theirs is a collective of brass-band punk dudes, to put it bluntly. To incorporate marching/school assembly band elements into a punk outfit is not unheard of, but the Stumblebum Brass Band does well with making hay of the unlikely combination, and the band's recordings are lively fucking affairs. Having a gaggle of guys singing a rousing chorus in drunken unison, accompanied by belching tubas and squealing trumpets is something of a thing of beauty. One thing that the Stumblebum Brass Band can rightly be accused of is being more than the sum of its parts. Part of the band's M.O. is to melt your ears and brain, and they somehow manage it, in one gigantic swoop. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Half Of Infinity, Far From Given, Faces Pale. All Ages. 7 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Cloud Chowder. All Ages. 6 pm. Sanjaya Malakar. All Ages. 7 pm. Rafael Tranquilino. All Ages. 8 pm.

Maxwell's Speakeasy Tacoma. Lance Buller Trio. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Sources In Code, Variety Hour, Tallest Tree, Loose Buoys. 9 pm.

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. Oblivion, Prestige, Dead Weight, White Heat, Bad Influence. All Ages. 7 pm.

Spar Cafe Olympia. Jabi Shriki. 8 pm. NC.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Blurred Vision. 9 pm.

Washington Center for the Performing Arts Olympia - Downtown. Playing For Change Band. All Ages. 7:30 pm.

• By now you may have heard the remarkable tale of Grammy Award-winning producer Mark Johnson's Playing For Change Band, set to hit Olympia and the Washington Center for the Performing Arts this Friday. Originally birthed as part of a PBS documentary Playing For Change: Peace Through Music, according to hype "Johnson traveled the world recording street performers of different faiths, backgrounds, and ethnicities and blended their contributions into a single unified, moving performance." In 2009 at SXSW a group of musicians from the film came together for a live performance as the Playing For Change Band, offering an "exhilarating mix of blues, gospel, reggae and Afropop," in addition to the straight-up neatness factor of seeing such a collection of varied street musicians jell. All of this will be on display tonight in Olympia. – Weekly Volcano
  

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Felim Egan of The Chancers. 8 pm. NC.

Eastside Club Tavern Olympia - Downtown. McDougall, Sassparilla. 8 pm.

Harmon Tap Room Underground Tacoma - Stadium District. Jerin Falkner. 10 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Sandlot. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. December In Red, The Fail Safe Project, Riverbend, EROS. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Charles Wilson. All Ages. 8 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Sound Icons: Music, Art & Fashion with The Wheelies, Paris Spleen and Lozen. 10 pm.

• All right, so here's a thing that's happening: Saturday, an assemblage of Tacoma's most stylish bands will convene in one place, play music and have photographs taken of themselves in starkly fashionable rock 'n roll clothing, and you will be there to bask in all the ridiculous, trendsetting-ness of it all. Reader, if you'll allow me to be frank with you, I will be there with absurd bells on my discount-bin shoes. Bands in toe: Interpol/Walkmen-devotees, Wheelies; dance-punk Tacoma provocateurs, Paris Spleen; and the inimitably badass all-girl metal duo, Lozen. These are all unequivocally cool bands in these parts and, fashion-focused evening aside, this is a bill worth attending - even in the blandest of clothes. Pro tip: come naked, and let stylists Del Brown and Najamoniq do you up right. - Rev. Adam McKinney

The Olympia Ballroom Olympia - Downtown. Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless, with Antonio Pito Edwards, Afrok & The Movement, Collective Love Unlimited, Speaker Minds, DJ Budget Money, DJ Drastic, Khingz, OTOW Gang, DJ Tee, Free Whiskey, hosted by Luvva J. All Ages. 6 pm. food or clothing donation.

• Founded in 2002 by Olympia DJ and hip-hop activist Luvva J- real name Jose Gutierrez Jr. - in Vancouver, B.C., the non-profit organization Hip-Hop 4 the Homeless has now been spreading awareness of homelessness for a decade. Once a year, Luvva J and friends host the two-day event that includes one day of live performances by various hip-hop artists and offers free admission with donations of clothes, blankets, tents, food or anything that could be useful to the homeless. Day two of the annual event offers open doors to the homeless community, providing those in need the opportunity to take whatever necessities are available from the previous night's donations. A warm meal is also provided, along with a haircut and professional massage. In 2006 Luvva J decided he wanted to move the organization to the states and since then Olympia has happily become its home. "The purpose of this event is to not only spread awareness of the issue but to encourage folks to get involved and develop a deeper understanding surrounding poverty in America" says Gutierrez, who has written for the Volcano in the past. This year's Hip-Hop 4 the Homeless music showcase promises some of Olympia, Seattle and Portland's best, including DJs, spoken word and live performances by Khingz & OTOW Gang, Alex Duncan, Afrok & The Movement, Speaker Minds and many more. Read Nic Leonard's full feature on Hip-hop 4 the Homeless.
  

Oscar's Restaurant & Lounge Tacoma - South. Fingertips. Funk, blues and jazz. 6 pm. NC.

Pantages Theater Tacoma - Downtown. The Bad Plus Presents On Sacred Ground: Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $24-$56.

• Everything is jazz. Or damn near everything. As The Bad Plus proves, bald heads and fu Manchu mustaches are pretty freakin' jazzy, too. But let us not trivialize this world-renowned jazz band, hitting Tacoma's Pantages Theater Saturday, as anything but remarkable. There's good reason why Billboard, and subsequently the Broadway Center's website, hypes the band as, "America's most "audacious, rule-breaking jazz trio." It's because all those aforementioned adjectives apply. Plus there's the facial hair. Catch The Bad Plus in Tacoma Saturday taking on Stravinsky's Rite of Spring - a pairing that should make for quite an evening of entertainment. – WV
  

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Still Got It. Rock, blues and funk from the 50s-80s. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Atomic Outlaws. 9 pm.

• Nothing fancy is at play here, just straightforward, riff-heavy RAWK with a little eyeliner around the edges. The Atomic Outlaws have been rock workhorses since the band's inception in 2007. As time has passed, the band has experienced several lineup changes, including shuffling through three lead singers, but the mission statement has remained constant: Through the use of guitars, drums, bass and big-old amps, the Atomic Oulaws aim to hurl rock 'n' roll at your head. Most of it will get in your ears, but if some gets on your face, they're fine with that, too. The Atomic Outlaws do not work in light brushstrokes. - WV

Tahoma Tea & Co. Tacoma - Downtown. Allan Boothe, Piko Panda, Brandon Sagnella. All Ages. 7-10 pm.

• Saturday at Tahoma Tea and Co. (formerly the Den @ urbanXchange) brings about a showcase of three singer-songwriters, each of whom are accustomed to performing with a full band. The evening will strip these performers down, creating a tableau of three unique voices: Humble Cub's Allan Boothe, Oh Dear!'s Brandon Sagnella and Piko Panda (AKA Jacob Gosselin). "Piko Panda started out as me writing songs by myself when I was 15 or so," says Gosselin. "It's always kinda been something I do on the side, and every once in a while, I'll play. ...  I play with a live band, every once in a while, and I never used to do that. I'm just trying to mature, musically, and play with different people and have different people's ideas in the songs. I guess I would describe Piko Panda as pop music. I don't really know how to describe it." Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on this show.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Pandit Debi Prasad Chatterjee. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Faces Pale, Tyranny Theory, Unhaloed. 9 pm.

Washington Center for the Performing Arts Olympia - Downtown. Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival. All Ages. 7:30 pm.

• The Harmony Sweepstakes may sound like a new dating service, but it's actually an annual event in Olympia featuring some of the region's best a cappella talent. No kidding. A night of music and awards, Saturday's festivities will include hosts and guest artists The Baudboys, the 2011 first-place champions, along with event emcee Smilin' Jay of Olympia's KGY AM/FM radio. Event hype available on the Washington Center's website promises, "an evening of impeccable harmonies and scintillation arrangements." Hard to go wrong there.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound