LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Amocat Cafe Tacoma - Triangle District. Amocat Live 1-Year Anniversary Music Night, with John Dolge, Jon Parker, Micaela Cooley, Sam Bogle, Russ Dahler, Gen Obata, The Collaborators. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

• Time flies when you're having fun. Or so the saying goes - and fun is definitely one of the many great, hyper-local bits of awesomeness being served every day at Tacoma's Amocat Café, celebrating one year this Friday with the aptly titled, "Amocat Live." Expect an evening full of live music for all ages including John Dolge, Jon Parker, Micaela Cooley, Sam Bogle, Russ Dahler, Gen Obata, and The Collaborators. Best of all, it's free. Plus, the ambiance at Amocat can't be beat. This event is a win for all involved. Stop by and thank proprietor Morgan Alexander for a year of dutiful service to his community. — Weekly Volcano
  

Backstage Bar & Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Klondike Kate, Automatic Theory, Riot In Rhythm, Attack With Care, Lucky Bunny Foot. 7 pm. $10.

Chris Knutzen Hall Tacoma - Parkland. University Jazz Ensemble, featuring Anton Schwartz. All Ages. 8 pm.

Harmon Tap Room Underground Tacoma - Stadium District. Science!, Chris Hyde, Kitt Bender. 10 pm. $5.

• The finger-plucking beauty and ease of Science!'s folksy, acoustic, storytelling is easy on the ear. Voted "Best New Band" in the Volcano's Best of Olympia 2012 Readers Poll, Science! has a rootsy vibe that goes a long way in a town like Oly. Comprised of vocalist Justin Stang and guitarist Jim Elenteny, "Science! is a musical pursuit of empirical evidence, using poetry and soundscapes to express the truth of daily life," according to the band's bio. Via phone, Stang and Elenteny have a more straightforward description. "We wanted something that was simple, that was universal, and that was truthful. That's a lot of how we view our music," says Stang. There's a familiarity with Stang's work in Olympia thanks to his contribution to the well known, nationally touring jam-rock outfit Sideways Reign. Elenteny, for his part, plays bass in the also-well-known Seattle-based jam act Nefarious Jones. Catch Science! in Tacoma this week when Stang and Elenteny hash it out at the Harmon Tap Room Underground along with show headliner Chris Hyde and Kitt Bender. - Matt Driscoll

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Thou Shall Kill, Days Armour, Vigilante Sol, Devil On A Leash. 9 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Too Slim & The Taildraggers. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $10.

• Take the modern alt-country blues sound of Drive-By Truckers, throw in the fun loving attitude and riff-blues-rock of ZZ Top, mix them all together and you get close to the vibe of Too Slim and the Taildraggers. This is real, down and dirty rock and roll - a delightful jumble of virtuosic slide guitar work from frontman Tim "Too Slim" Langford and the revamped rock sound of the Taildraggers. The band's vibe blends power-chord-driven, fun-loving nasty grooves with a new, indie-rock songwriting vibe. And it works. Don't worry, though, Too Slim and crew definitely infuse plenty of blues and Americana into their work. You dig? - WV

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Nolan Garrett. All Ages. 7 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Thea Wescott & Timberland Ridge. All Ages. 8 pm.

Medi's Pizza & Pasta Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Just Cuz. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

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

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Anthony & Anthony Dirty 30 Party, with Destruction Island, DJ Babycham. 8 pm.

• Destruction Island makes big sounds and big hooks with their guitars, but the band persists in being betrayed by small sound. As much as Destruction Island puffs out its chests with these arena sounds, the band always cheat a look of uncertain modesty - like a plunky piano line or a hollow snare tap - to lend an aspect of humility to the proceedings. Though they largely succeed in dealing up proper, confident indie rock, they have a nagging need to bare themselves in plaintive ways. Driving and lively though their songs may be, there is a definite sense of searching, unsure wanting. Even if these notions don't strike you upon listening to Destruction, the strength of the band's indie pop songcraft should do well in propelling you from one song to the next. - Rev Adam McKinney

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Paul Kroeger. 8 pm.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Blacktop Demons, Breaking Quarantine. 9 pm.

Washington Center for the Performing Arts Olympia - Downtown. An Evening With Leo Kottke. All Ages. 8 pm. $30-$50.

• There are few, if any, guitarists like Leo Kottke. An acoustic fret master, tickling both the six and 12 string varieties, Kottke's blazing licks have inspired guitarists worldwide for nearly the entire length of his legendary four-decade career. With a wry, almost comical approach to life and songwriting, mixed with unfathomable skill, Kottke is one for the ages. Friday, Kottke returns to the South Sound for a show at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia. Come out and be amazed. — WV
  

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Elbow Coulee, Horse Bodies, Sebastian & The Deep Blue. 9 pm. $5.

Cork! A Wine Bar Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. James Coates. 8 pm.

Dorky's Arcade Tacoma - Downtown. SpinalCracker, Dead Peasants. 9 pm.

Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Malcolm Clark Band. 7 pm.

Grove Street Brewhouse Shelton. Runaway Train, Oly Mountain Boys. 8-11 pm. $5.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma -Stadium District. Tap Room Underground Grand Opening featuring Gina Belliveau, Kate Lynn Logan, Steve Stefenowicz, Pete Johnson, Ben Union, Travis Barker, Kim Archer Band. 6 pm. NC.

• Opened two years ago this June, the Tap Room, with its backroom brewery, was initially an answer to the overwhelming demand for Harmon beer, but struggled with its identity as a business. For one thing, the location proved to be a challenge. With the Tap Room located directly under The Hub, the Harmon siblings found themselves competing with one another. It soon became clear that the Tap Room needed to offer something that neither of the other Harmon locations could: it was soon decided that music of all genres in a 21-and-over setting, until 2 a.m. was the answer.  The concept of the Tap Room Underground was born. Read Jenni Prange Boran's full feature on the Tap Room Underground in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Listen Closely, Through Darker Tides, Signs, Among The Mayans, How We Fall. All Ages. 6 pm. $6-$8. Bravo Team, J Hill, Killas with Kindness, Neo, Isaiah, G Khan. 9 pm. $5-$10.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Missionary Position, SweetKiss Momma, Hot Bodies In Motion, Ape Machine. 7 pm. $12.

• As far as Jeff Angell goes in this world, Tacoma will always claim the born-to-be frontman as its own. And with good reason. Junior cut his teeth in T-Town, and the grit shows in his music to this day - even on his band's, the Missionary Position's, most recent effort - Consequences, which will no doubt be delved into heavily Saturday at Jazzbones in Tacoma. As groove-filled and sexed-up as ever, Angell's latest record - which benefits greatly from the mad keyboard skills of Benjamin Anderson - may have way more saxophone and '70s funk tinge than, say, Post Stardom Depression ever displayed, but Angell's swagger is as addictive as ever. With everything year that passes Angell hones his artistic craft, and Consequences may mark his best, most flushed-out work to date. - Matt Driscoll
  

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Falling Blind, West On 18, Insuburban Avenue. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Local Performers Of Tacoma Night. All Ages. 3 pm.

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. The Breaklites, Jai X Jrm, Chief Noo. All Ages. 7 pm. $7.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Taist of Iron and guests. benefit for Marcus Moore. 6 pm raffle, 9 pm music.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Bodybox, ResDeus, Tin Man. 9 pm.

Tahoma Tea & Co. Tacoma - Downtown. Shotgun Kitchen CD release party. All Ages. 7 pm.

• Typically, you'll see a band grow and grow as the years go on, adding more elements until the product is as massive as the band's history itself. Sort of like rings in a tree. With Shotgun Kitchen, it's been the opposite. The band found a more humble sound suited them better. "I really wanted to go stripped-down, back to an acoustic sound," says Shotgun Kitchen's Joe McInnis. "That's the sound I really like, and that's where we are now. We've just finished a CD, and it's almost all acoustic. The bass is the only thing with amplification." Conceptually, this acoustic sound certainly fits with the whole feel of Shotgun Kitchen. The band has always leaned in a folky direction, drawing inspiration from people like John Prine, Woody Guthrie and Randy Newman. Saturday at Tahoma Tea & Co. Shotgun Kitchen celebrates the release of a brand new album. - Weekly Volcano

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Fellowship Of Reconciliation Benefit, featuring Tom Rawson. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $10-$25.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Ale House Sports Pub & Grille University Place. Steve Stefanowicz. 8 pm. NC.

Backstage Bar & Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Guttermouth, Boldtype, Neutralboy, The Unevil, South 11th. 8 pm. $12-$15.

• This blurb officially marks the 87th time I've written about Guttermouth coming to Tacoma. Something tells me that while I may be running out of things to say about the iconic Huntington Beach punk rockers, Tacoma's many fans of the band aren't getting tired seeing them. This Friday, Guttermouth again returns to T-Town, this time hitting up the Backstage Bar & Grill. The band has typically played Hell's Kitchen in the past, but this time around it appears former Hell's Kitchen booker Flash Connel - now a show-making free agent of sorts - has lured the band to the ass-end of Sixth Avenue and the Backstage. I expect the results of the show to be similar: loud, fast and balls-to-the-proverbial-wall. - Matt Driscoll

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Psycho 78, Artimus Maximus, Triple Sixes, Dead Giveaways. 9 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma. The Green reggae show. All Ages. 4 pm doors. $10. With Mighty High. 21+. 7 pm. $15.

Lucky Eagle Casino Rochester. George Jones. 8 pm. $45-$65.

Little Creek Casino Shelton. Glen Campbell. 8 pm. $30-$50.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. High Noon Horizon, River Of Disdain, Jobe Himself. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Ches Ferguson, Julie Campbell. All Ages. 6 pm. Ravin' Wolf. All Ages. 8 pm.

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

McCoy's Tavern Olympia - Downtown. Resident Kings, Last Watch, Hong Kong Banana. 9 pm. $5.

• Resident Kings (an Oly band featuring members of Dirty Birds and Fitz of Depression), Last Watch (featuring John Johnson of Hillstomp), and Hong Kong Banana were all set to play the Eastside Club in Olympia this week. But, last minute changes have put Oly's most reliable weekend venue on hiatus until further notice. Lucky for Olympia, we have each other's back - and McCoy's will host Friday night's hoorah. Expect a variety of sounds from these three bands, from the heavy melodic rock of Resident Kings, to the punk rock and roots of Last Watch, to the garage and soul of Portland's Hong Kong Banana. Eat it up, South Sound. It's good for the soul. - Nikki Talotta

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Crypts, DBC, Bronze, DJ sets by Delicious Brown, Ninja Monique. 9 pm.

• Upon first being confronted with Crypts, the most immediate impression is a blast of non-directional aggression. Crypts is a band that seems intent on creating a vibe of barely contained chaos and vicious noise. Crypts want the audience to be conflicted, to be challenged. If you make it past those first intense minutes, however, Crypts has a way of revealing surprisingly beautiful compositions - bathed, as it always is, in scuzzy shock and awe. Read my full feature on the Crypts in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Olyphant Art Supply and Gallery Olympia - Downtown. Christian Mistress. 8 p.m., $5.

• For Oly home-towners, there's a lot of pride when people you see in your daily life - people who've made you a killer pizza pie, who you've listened to at house parties, or who've rocked your head in the middle of Fourth Ave - are on the cusp of greatness. Such is the case with Olympia's Christian Mistress, preparing to celebrate the release of their debut effort on Relapse Records, Possession, with a show Friday at Olyphant Art Supply and Gallery in Olympia. The music of Christian Mistress speaks straight to the heart. It's nostalgic, yet eye-opening. It's metal, yet soul. It's a twisted, yet straightforward way of playing good fucking rock music. See all of this firsthand Friday in a show that will also serve as a release party for the latest installment of Nuts Magazine. - Weekly Volcano

Southbay Dickerson's BBQ Olympia - Downtown. Oly Mountain Boys CD release Party. 8 pm. NC.

Spar Cafe Olympia. Vince Brown. 8 pm. NC.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Raeanne Phillips. 7:30 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Holly Gwinn Graham, Joe Baque. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Keaton Collective, Fight For Change, Ten Cents In Oklahoma. 9 pm. $5.

The Brotherhood Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Save The Sun Benefit Show, featuring November Witch, Hey Girl, Morgan & The Organ Donors, Hungry Heart, Happy Noose, Mongo. Proceeds benefit Prodigal Sun Productions, operators of The Midnight Sun venue in Olympia. 8 pm. $5-$500.

• The Midnight Sun has been an exceptional music, art and performance venue in downtown Olympia for the past 21 years. It has always been accessible, affordable and all-ages. Now, The Midnight Sun is on the verge of closing, and Olympia wants to do something about it. Thanks to the efforts of Elizabeth Lord, volunteer manager of The Midnight Sun and a member of the Sun's resident theater company, Prodigal Sun Productions, word has hit the street that one of Olympia's most valued venues needs help. James Madea, booker at The Brotherhood Lounge, has gathered the help of seven local bands that will play the first of a series of benefit shows under the heading "Save the Sun." The lineup includes The Hungry Heart, Happy Noose, Hey Girl, Morgan and the Organ Donors, Mongo, November Witch and C-Average. The cover charge is sliding scale, with a suggested minimum of $5. One hundred percent of proceeds will benefit The Midnight Sun. Nikki Talotta's full feature on The Midnight Sun benefit show is in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com.

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

Lakewood Pub & Grill Lakewood. Open Mic. 9 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Open Mic, with Denny Foreman & Friends. All Ages. 6 pm. NC.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. T-Town Aces. 8 pm. NC.

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

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. The Stonegators. 8 pm. NC.

Tacoma Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. In The Pocket Jazz Night. 8 pm. NC.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Sunday Blues Jam Night. Hosted by Shelly Ely. 7-10 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Backstage Bar & Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. High Noon Horizon, From The Sea, Cadillac Radio, Halcion Halo. 8 pm. $5.

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. Backstage Show, featuring Free Whiskey, Billy The Fridge, A.K.A., Night Fox, Lord Nock. All Ages. 8:30 pm. $5.

• Volcano music scribe Nic Leonard is perhaps better known as Nicatine of Olympia-based rap outfit Free Whiskey. Or, we mean, he's the dude with the mustache. Now are you picturing him? Good. Anyway, Free Whiskey has been gaining steam for a while now, thanks, in no small part, to Nic's mustache and the track "Man's Best Friend (Mustache Song)."  In October Free Whiskey released a much anticipated EP, What Am I Going To Tell My Mom?, which raised as many questions as it answered. Tonight Free Whiskey returns to the stage with the group's first-ever all-ages headlining performance at the Capitol Theater. The always entertaining Billy The Fridge and Night Fox are also on the bill. Sure, it's a conflict of interests of sorts to promote the show of someone who writes for us, but it's also going to be dope - so we did what we had to do. Free Whiskey for all. - Weekly Volcano

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Half Of Infinity, Godfed Static, Blasting Love Caps, Blood Hot Beat, Metaphoria. 9:30 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Cody Beebe & The Crooks, Aces Up. 7:30 pm. $10.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. The Crying Spell, Klover Jane. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Automatic Theory. All Ages. 8 pm.

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

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Brotherhood Of The Black Squirrel, James Coates. 9 pm.

• Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel's second record, The Dust Bowl Ghosts, released last April, is described as "a trip through the dreams and nightmares of a down-on-his-luck circus comedian with a bum leg and child support payments." If that doesn't sound like a musical good time, I don't know what does. But tonight at The New Frontier Lounge it's likely to get even more real, with word on the street suggesting the five members that makes up this rodent-like brotherhood - guitarist and vocalist Patrick Baldwin, drummer Eric Thompson, bassist Jimmy Hughs, guitarist Stanford Mead and Wurlitzer wizard Andrew Childs - have been holed up recording a follow up to Dust Bowl Ghosts and are is ready to unleash the rock this weekend. Epic-ness seems certain to ensue. Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel will be joined on the bill by singer-songwriter and great-beard-grower James Coates and Ghostwriter. - Matt Driscoll

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. The Mural Project, Jon Heartbreaker. All Ages. 7 pm. $5.

Red Wind Casino Yelm. The Randy Linder Band. 8:30 pm. NC.

Spar Cafe Olympia. Strangled Darlings. 8 pm. NC.

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

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Kim Archer. All Ages. 7:30 pm. NC.

Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe Tacoma - Eastside. Camp 6 Tacoma Social featuring Overboard and The Moron Bros. 8 pm, music at 10:30 pm. NC.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Versus The Nothing, BND Band. 9 pm.

• Vancouver B.C.'s Versus The Nothing comes to town from the Great White North, intent on proving not everything from Canada is uber-lame. OK, OK ... so the band never claimed to be fighting for Canada's good name, but they are Canucks, and they do come to town this week looking to throttle hard rock fans with a blistering repertoire of power chords and wife-beater style undershirts. They're calling it "The Grind Stone Tour." Versus The Nothing released its most recent record, The Black Gloves EP, in July 2011, classifying the record as a "tease to our upcoming sophomore album," according to a press release. "We have been living the ups and downs of being a touring rock n roll band," the release continues. "We eat, drink and almost die doing what we love. Our upcoming release is laced with those life experiences on the road." Tonight, that life on the road brings Versus The Nothing to Uncle Sam's in Spanaway. They've finally arrived. - WV

Westbay House Olympia. Arctic Flowers, Milk Music, Hysterics, Crude Thoguht. 8 pm. $5.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LINK: EvergreenOne showcases new work tomorrow night

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Backstage Bar & Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Anvil. 9:30 pm.

• Anvil began its career as the band Lips in 1978, but changed to Anvil before releasing its debut album, Hard 'N' Heavy in 1981. Anvil pioneered a furiously fast and aggressive music we know as speed metal, which created the sonic framework for thrash. – Weekly Volcano
  

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

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Open Mic, with Denny Foreman & Friends. All Ages. 6 pm. NC.

The Royal Bear Algona. Black Dog. 9 pm.

The Royal Lounge Olympia - Downtown. J. Pinder, Dyme Def, Eighty4 Fly, GMK, Royce The Choice, DJ Vega the Virgo. 9 pm. $5.

• Quite simply, if it wasn't for all those awesome presidents of the past, and the National Holiday we made to honor them, this Sunday's opportunity to catch Seattle hip-hopper J. Pinder at the Royal Lounge In OLYMPIA would be far less appealing. Sure, Pinder's swag and skill would still be abundantly evident on the mic, whatever day the show falls on, but the fact that you likely have no school or work on Monday makes this banger one not to miss at any cost. Sunday's bill also includes Dyme Def, Eighty4 Fly, GMK, Royce The Choice and DJ Vega the Virgo. - WV

Tacoma Comedy Club Tacoma - Downtown. In The Pocket Jazz Night. 8 pm. NC.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Mia Vermillion. 8 pm. NC.

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

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. The Stonegators. 8 pm. NC.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Sunday Blues Jam Night. Hosted by Shelly Ely. 7-10 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Avenue Tavern Olympia - Downtown. The True Spokes. 9 pm.

• Flowmotion is now the True Spokes. Got it? Good. According to the band's website, the change was made at the beginning of the year to allow the Seattle-based quintet more artistic freedom and wiggle room when writing songs. "The music the band is writing and recording has reached a point where the name Flowmotion is an unsuitable description for who the band is now. With a solidified line up and many members writing material, transitioning to a new band name allows us to evolve into whatever it is we want to become," reads an ultimately reassuring letter to fans. And a letter was probably a good idea, considering Flowmotion had existed for a decade and built a fairly sizeable fanbase. Now that the band has a fresh start as the True Spokes, expect a new record by the same name in early March from a band striving for the same "post-jam" spotlight currently occupied by the likes of Dr. Dog, et al. - Matt Driscoll

Buzz's Tavern Olympia - Westside. Oly Mountain Boys CD Release Party. 9 pm. NC.

• Look, it wouldn't be fair for us to draw conclusions and/or reaffirm stereotypes about people who are big into bluegrass music just because the Oly Mountain Boys will celebrate the release of the band's new live CD at Buzz's Tavern on Mud Bay Road. No, that would not be fair and we will not partake in such blind musical bigotry. We'll tactfully avoid referencing the film Deliverance when discussing the musical genre, and we'll steer clear of family tree jokes that involve fans of bluegrass marrying cousins. Why? Because we're bigger than that. Plus, when the band proclaims its mission is to "reinvigorate the bluegrass genre by bringing the original bluegrass sound of the 1950s to a new generation of fans," we kind of believe them, especially after taking a listen to the passion guitarist Chris Rutledge, mandolin player Derek McSwain, banjo player Tye Menser, bassist Phil Post and fiddle player Josh Grice get down with. Yep, we're taking the high road on this one. As mentioned, Saturday's show will be a celebration for the release of a new Oly Mountain Boys live CD, recorded at the High and Dry Bluegrass Festival in Bend, Ore. - Weekly Volcano

Dorky's Arcade Tacoma - Downtown. Dungeon Science, Si Si Si, the Loose Buoys, the Triple Sixes. All Ages. 9 pm. $3.

• Dungeon Science are a part of the generation of garage rock bands being churned out of the factory that is Tacoma School of the Arts. Along with Apache Chief, they've started a collective not unlike the now mostly evaporated Team Unicorn Records from a few years back. Theirs is called Market Street Records, and their recruits are similarly fuzz-laden. Also like Apache Chief, Dungeon Science recently competed in EMP's underage battle of the bands, Sound Off!. What separates Dungeon Science from the rabble is the soulful lead vocals from Aaron Berryhill, which recalls the early days of garage rock when the main influence being called to the fore was blues and R&B. Hidden in the distorted guitars is a young voice, filled inordinately with passion and throaty yearning. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Eagle's Hall Olympia - Downtown. Mardi Gras Fundraiser, featuring Too Slim & The Taildraggers, Blues Attitude. Proceeds benefit The Partners in Prevention Education. All Ages. 8 pm.

Eastside Club Tavern Olympia - Downtown. The Blackberry Bushes Stringband, New Forge. 9:30 pm. $5-$10.

Forza Coffee LakeBridge Lakewood. Ben Potter. All Ages. 6 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. The #253 Party, featuring Mike "G," EMAC, South East Camp, Amber Red, P. Washington, DJ Midnight Grooves, hosted by Meechy La'Velle. 9 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Hell's Belles, Riot In Rhythm. All Ages. 5 pm. $10. Hell's Belles, Phasers on Kill, True Holland. 9 pm. $12-$15.

• Adrian Conner, her searing axe and her band, Hell's Belles, have been through a lot - having toured clubs and rocked the asses from coast to coast as the world's premier all-female AC/DC tribute act. In all honestly, Hell's Belles has been doing this for long enough, and with enough expertise, that one could accurately attribute the tribute band explosion to the influence of Hell's Belles and a handful of the band's contemporaries. These days comprised of Conner, bassist Mandy Reed, rhythm guitarist Lisa Brisbois, drummer Laura D and singer Amber Saxon this is still one balls-to-the-wall, all-girl rock-hard revue. Breasts, beer and head-bangin' - all of life's pleasures in one place. - WV
  

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Josiah & Sam Bogle. All Ages. 8 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Halcion Halo. 9 pm.

• It's hard to separate the music of Halcion Halo from the commanding voice that presides over it. Lead singer Jenson Charnell's voice can sometimes resemble the more mumbling, beat-poet-aspirations of Lou Reed - he never provides any release for the plodding, heavy alt-rock guitars, just ever-rising tension and downtrodden declarations. Musically, Halcion Halo sound similar to other hard-to-pin-down fixtures of those odd ‘90s negotiations between alternative rock and heavy metal. Bands like the Afghan Whigs and Queens of the Stone Age can't help but come to mind. But there is a minimalism that reigns at the heart of Halcion Halo - a minimalism that allows for creepy, little, stomping fuzz-bombs like "Someday I'll Learn to Put You Down." It's here where Halcion Halos weird ticks and affectations are most effectively put into sharp focus. - Rev AM

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Kim Archer, Chris Hyde. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Pisces Party, featuring K-Do, Killas Wit Kindness, Abom Kid, Shao Sosa, Gonzo Family, Josh Rizeberg, Dead In Vest, Blue Nose Music. 9 pm.

Tahoma Tea and Co. Tacoma - Downtown. Aleotrope and Rending Sinew. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

• I will tell you all that I know about Aelotrope. What you do with that information is entirely up to you. May god have mercy on your soul. Here's what I know: the band is an experimental two-piece that utilizes drums, guitar and the didgeridoo. Ahem, again: THE MOTHERFUCKING DIDGERIDOO. Guess where they're from. HERE. Aelotrope hails from Tacoma, and yet the band harnesses the power of didgeridoo in a completely non-ironic (I assume) way. You know what? It kind of works. Vaguely metal-ish jams are accompanied by that familiar warbling drone, and it all manages to meld in some way into a cohesive unit of, er, something. Honestly, this is one of the more unique bands you'll find around here, and there's something to be said for being that, in and of itself. - Rev. AM

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

Waterstreet Cafe Olympia - Downtown. Carnival Celebration, featuring Ocho Pies. 9:30 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Courtyard By Marriott Tacoma - Downtown. Pacific Grill Presents A Sweet Evening, featuring Chris Anderson, Karen Motherway as Marilyn Monroe. 8 pm. $60.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Jho Blenis & Shelly Elly Open Jam. 8 pm.

El Gaucho Tacoma - Downtown. Butch Harrison piano Lounge. 6 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Valentine Boobie Bash, with Moron Broz, Blood Hunger, Pistolita, Czar Moonshine, Molly Minksi, Deathbed Confessions. 9 pm. donations.

• What's our favorite thing about the "Boobie Bash" scheduled for Valentine's Day at Hell's Kitchen? Well, you'll be happy to know the fact it inspired the Tacoma Weekly to run with the headline "Show your love for boobies this Valentine's Day" is only second on our list. Yes, it's hard to top the cause behind this event, even for schmucks like us. Raising money for the "Team Lisa' Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure account - who's namesake, Lisa Gauthun, is diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer according to Clare Jensen's story in the Tacoma Weekly - the "Boobie Bash" promises live music from Moron Broz, Blood Hunger, Deathbed Confessions and Czar, as well as burlesque performances and raffle prizes galore. - Weekly Volcano

Lagerquist Concert Hall Tacoma - Parkland. Composers Of The Great American Songbook Valentine's Concert, featuring David Deacon-Joyner & Friends. All Ages. 8 pm.

Metronome Coffee Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Daniel Blue, Kurt Lindsay. All Ages. 8 pm.

• Oh shit. Yeah, we went and did it. We're previewing Daniel Blue's Valentine's Day show with Kurt Lindsay at Metronome Coffee on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. That should make for an interesting week of comments online. But, as they say, "No pain, no gain." Plus, a show involving Blue gives Volcano editor Matt Driscoll and music columnist Rev. Adam McKinney an excuse to sing their "King of Diamonds" parody song all week around the Volcano office. Maybe you've heard it: "I've ... been ... looking for a polar bear jacket." So that's awesome, right? Anyway, Blue, as you know, has had a pretty stellar year - watching his band, Motopony, achieve Seattle-darling status while receiving gushes from everywhere from KEXP to NPR in the process. It's been good times, one can only assume. Perhaps the best of times. Recently holed up writing and recording Motopony's second album in the mountains of north central Washington, Blue returns to Tacoma for a rare performance on Valentine's Day. Does this give us at true indication of where his heart lies? Probably not. Because that would be dumb. But it does give us something to do on a Tuesday night - which is nothing to be taken lightly. - WV

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Rafael Tranquilino Band rockin' blues. 8:30 pm. NC.

Summit Pub Puyallup. Tim Hall & The Band Real Times. 7:30 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

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Amocat Cafe Tacoma - Triangle District. Amocat Live! featuring the Amocat House Band. All Ages. 7 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Projections, They Charge Like Warriors, Until This Sunrise. All Ages. 6 pm. The Dignitaries, Deathtrap America, Variety Hour, Sources In Code. 9 pm. $5.

• Momentum is a cherished quality in the world of music. It's what led hype-monster and Internet meme Lana Del Ray to a notably uncomfortable, Brian Williams-baiting performance on Saturday Night Live with only three songs to her lazily made-up name. It's what caused Radiohead to slam on the brakes and reinvent their sound, effectively creating a massively smaller but exponentially more devoted audience. It's what Tacoma's the Variety Hour has lacked over the past year, as the band has taken what more or less amounted to a hiatus, wherein the band regrouped, recast, and recorded their follow-up to their eponymous debut EP. To read the full feature on The Variety Hour, click here. – Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Phasers On Kill, Black Top Demon. 8 pm. $14-$17. See 5 Things To Do Today

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Oly Music Awards Pre-show featuring Jabi Shriki, Fight for Change, Elbow Coulee, Point Process. 9 pm. Read the interview with Jabi Shriki here.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. The Flanagan Precept, Jared Blake. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Radim Zenkl. All Ages. 8 pm. $10.

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

Morso Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Gretchen Peters. All Ages. 8 pm. $25.

The Space Tacoma - Downtown. Santee, Makeup Monsters, A Leaf, Foreign Money, $7, 9:30 pm.

• Santee makes scratchy, lovesick, indie folk-pop. The band has a way of tentatively coming around to these walloping choruses and emotionally resonant refrains. Over the years, what began as the bedroom folk duo of Heather Loepp and Josh Vega has grown and developed into a larger, fuller band with a richer sound to match. Loepp's voice has always been the most striking aspect of Santee, being, how it is, somehow hoarse and delicate at the same time. With the addition of Speedwobbles and Brite Futures drummer Conor Sisk, Santee has further embraced its more rollicking side. Full disclosure: this show is a fundraiser for the forthcoming Squeak and Squawk Music Festival, which I am booking. As I've said before, though, this is a show I would be telling you about anyway, regardless of my involvement. - Rev. Am

Spar Cafe Olympia. Paul Mauer. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Jerry Miller Band. 9 pm.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Upper Tacoma. Rafael Tranquillino. All Ages. 7:30-10 pm. NC.

Uncle Thurm's Finger Licken Ribs & Chicken Tacoma - Lincoln District. G Street Jazz Series. 8-11 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

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Backstage Bar & Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. EroticCity Princetribute. 9 pm. $8-$10.

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. Andre Nickatina, Xperience, Puget, Q-Storm. All Ages. 8 pm. $20.

• Nowadays Olympia rappers are a dime a dozen. Few have been here, and still remain, since the scene REALLY started popping off in the early 2000s. In the '90s we got an occasional Andre Nickatina or Digital Underground show, but when the new century came around promoters were ready to take a chance on our small city, bringing big-name acts through on a consistent basis to legit clubs and venues. A difficult task at the time for these promoters was not only finding talented local artists, but ones they could count on to help promote the shows in exchange for an opening spot on the bill. One artist that quickly proved capable in this department was a skilled rapper by the name of Puget. Read my full feature on Puget here. - Nic Leonard
  

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. D Town Rebels, Leadership By Assault, Greater Of Two Evils, Noisy Hoodlums. All Ages. 6 pm. $6-$8. I Defy, CFA, Attitude Adjustment, Konkhra, Contrast The Water. 9 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Cold Note, Bump Kitchen. 8:30 pm. $10.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Amanda Hardy. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Bluegrass extravaganza continues: The Oly Mountain Boys. All Ages. 6:45 pm. The Understory. All Ages. 8 pm. Barleywine Revue. All Ages. 9 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Umber Sleeping, Gems, Death By Stars. 9 pm.

• The string of words that make up the name Death by Stars sounds at once full of portent and utterly frivolous. This dichotomy seems to seep into and help define the band's music as well. Combining the biggest, most direct qualities of punk, electronica and psych-rock, Death By Stars has cooked up a cutting, immediately hooky sound. There's an invigorating quality to Death by Stars that seems to transcend the band's basic formula of spacey, psychedelia-informed vocals encased in programmed beats, exploding into life-sized dance-punk refrains. In a live setting, the band - led by frontman Patrick Galactic - veers into performance art territory, with light shows and costumes. It's a delirious soup - all surface, really. But what a surface it is. Death By Stars plays with local favorites Umber Sleeping and Seattle-based instrumentalist Gems at The New Frontier. "We rarely get to play with bands that fit together so well," says Galactic in a press release for the show. "We are big fans of Umber Sleeping and Gems and are very glad to play with them." - Weekly Volcano

The Olympia Ballroom Olympia. Bob Marley Birthday Celebration, with Live Wya, High Ceiling. All Ages. 8 pm. $12-$15.

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. From Deeper Seas, A Hope Not Forgotten, Listen Closely, Illuminator. All Ages. 7 pm. $5.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Stray Dogs Bluegrass. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Kashmir (Led Zeppelin tribute). 9 pm.

Tahoma Tea and Co. Tacoma - Downtown. The Trasholes, Fun Police, Secret Wives, Yahtzee. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

• I've tried to make it a point, when writing about bands, to avoid talking about the ages of the members of the bands I highlight. But I must impress upon you how young the members that make up Gig Harbor garage two-piece Trasholes are, if only to make it abundantly clear to you just how much they have their shit together. Both members are in their early mid-to-early teens, and their music is more sophisticated and weird than you could ever expect. Lead singer and guitarist Ian Call's voice rides that line between adolescence and adulthood, which only makes each voice crack sound that much more punk rock. It's exciting to see another young band following the lead of other shit-kicking acts like the defunct Freakouts and Durango 95. - Rev. AM

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Hot Club Sandwich. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

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

Washington Center for the Performing Arts Olympia - Downtown. Scrapartsmusic. All Ages. 7:30 pm.

• Like banging on shit? So do the folks behind ScrapArtsMusic, a Canadian performance outfit coming to Olympia this week to blow your mind. On the group's website, ScrapArtsMusic is described thusly: "An earth-friendly, Vancouver-based company that creates unforgettable percussion performances using kinetic instruments skillfully crafted from industrial scraps. 2. An entertaining contemporary invented instrument ensemble. 3. Five extraordinarily virtuosic and innovative drummers. 4. The result of transforming ‘scrap' into "art,' and ‘art' into'"music.'" Intrigued? You should be. The brainchild of percussion freak Gregory Kozak and designer Justine Murdy, ScrapArtsMusic may well prove to be the week's grandest spectacle. – WV
  

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound