IT'S HAPPENING TONIGHT! >>>

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

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Al Forno Feruzza Olympia. Live Jazz w/ jazz guitarist Tarik Bentlemsani. All Ages. 7:30 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Atomic Outlaws, Prat Attack, The Lifetakers, Citizen Escape, Pariahs Revolt. 9 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Voxxy Vallejo, Blues Redemption. 7:30 pm. $7.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Tacoma All Ages Music Project Benefit Show featuring Marrisa Olson, Calen Tackett, Four Minute Mile, Undefined, The Breaklites. All Ages. 7 pm. $5.

• Capping off another workweek in Fife, a benefit show for the Tacoma All Ages Project will go down Friday night, bringing Marissa Olson, Four Minute Mile, Undefined, Calen Tacket and the BreakLites to the stage for the sole purpose of throwing down for our area's under-21 music fans. Of particular note are the BreakLites, a group that recently celebrated the release of a new full-length record, RAPFACE. Something about the BreakLites calling their new album RAPFACE - all caps, accompanied by an illustration of a vicious animal with the title clenched in his teeth - seems weirdly incongruous when compared to the music the BreakLites make. The packaging is so aggro that when you finally hear what the BreakLites do, you can't help but laugh. This is a hip-hop group that places a premium on the sound of the record; this is an album that mostly drifts along amiably, MC Cruel's steady stream of words floating on top of a bed of tight beats and smooth melodies - melodies that, for the most part, stay out of the way of the rap. With the exception of the occasional scratchy guitar lick popping through the mix, the music just serves to buoy and support the vocals. Listening to the BreakLites' new album - the group's fourth - the first thing that becomes apparent is the ease and professionalism with which the album flows. And flow is exactly what the BreakLites are likely to do live at Louie G's tonight. - Weekly Volcano

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Micaela Cooley. All Ages. 7 pm. Rabbitfoot Duo. All Ages. 8 pm. Rusty Cleavers. All Ages. 9 pm.

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

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Zodiac Death Valley, Red Hex. 9 pm.

• The music of San Francisco's Zodiac Death Valley straddles the line between psych-rock, pulsing new wave, freak-folk, and the sun-beaten pop of Dire Straits. It's an infectious combination, aided largely by impeccable songwriting. The band's music is nothing if not filled with memorable hooks and substantial melodies. These are hefty songs, carrying with them a kind of weight and import that isn't usually found in the usual roundup of psych-inflected groups. Plodding, chugging rhythms are accompanied by drunken guitars. Sprightly keyboards lend levity and a beatific tone to songs that seem to build for long stretches of road, alone in a car. Zodiac Death Valley comes across as a fully formed band, with a palpable clarity of spirit and vision. Word on the street is their live show rules. Bonus. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Jackie Stephen Rogers All Star Jam Fundraiser, featuring artists from Kashmir, Chrome Molly, Reloaded, SubViinyl Jukebox, Jerry Miller Band, Steve Cox, O'Dark 30, Kickstart, Tatoosh, Palmer Junction, Classic Case. 5 pm.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. James Coates. 7:30 pm. NC.

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

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

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

213 Foote St NW Olympia - Westwide. Dead Language, Smear, Vizual Noize, spoken word. 7-11 pm.

Cork! A Wine Bar Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Dave Hannon. 8 pm.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. T-Town Aces. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Idols, To The Wind, Ashylus, Navigator. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$10.

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. Fingertips. 9 pm. NC.

Imperial Dragon Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Kingfish Hosts: All City Jam Session & YouTube Video Shoot. 8 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Afrodisiacs, Mr. Pink. 9 pm. $10.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. The Silent Comedy, Ben Union, Hot Bodies In Motion. All Ages. 7 pm.

• For the past few years - and working off an unusually strong starting point - Ben Union has been working to hone his sound to a fine point. After emerging on the scene with a potent live show and an even more precise debut LP, The Light, Union and his band - drummer Jared Mira, bassist Seth Mira, guitarist Talon Carpenter and drummer "Shazam" - have been working hard to take that certain special sound and reduce it to its most effective essence. Read my full feature on Ben Union here. – Rev. Adam McKinney

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. The Moss Brothers. All Ages. 6 pm. Tin Man. All Ages. 8 pm.

McCoy's Tavern Olympia - Downtown.  The Hard Way, Glass Elevator, Tripwires. 9 pm. $3.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Midnight Salvage Co., Trees Without Leaves, The Purrs. 9 pm.

• On the opening track of Trees Without Leaves' album, Don't Say Uh Uh!, a master of ceremonies comes on to announce the band, in grand fashion, before they come barreling out in full, goofy force. The over-the-top blues rock of Trees Without Leaves is indebted to the similarly winking tradition of groups like Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, Tom Waits, and the bluesier elements of Captain Beefheart or, more recently, the positively hallucinatory soul of That Handsome Devil. The lead vocals of Stewie Crockett are howlingly absurd, hugely animated odes to those manic preachers that used to be spotted in stale, smoky nightclubs and barrooms lined with peanut shells. It's all a delirious mixture that lands somewhere in the area of doting homage and full-throated hysteria. - Rev. AM

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. Ill Intent, The Beautiful Ones, Bent Life, Swing Low, Bad Influence. All Ages. 7 pm.

Sanford and Son Antiques Tacoma - Downtown. Tacoma Urban Orchestra. 7:30 pm. $7.

• Tonight, the currently trending Tacoma Urban Orchestra will lay down 14 - XIV Underground, a dance opera by Benjamin Smith-Chenovick, at The Library at Sanford and Son Antiques. Event hype promises the premiere of Acts IV and V from the Tacoma Urban Orchestra's winter show of 2012, plus Colin Reynolds of I Low singing tenor, the dance and choreography of Karin Stevens and Katrina Ellison and the costume design of Lisa Fruichantie. Expect quintessential Tacoma at its most awesome. – Weekly Volcano
  

South Bay Pub & Eatery Olympia - Eastside. Mudcat 8 pm.

The Space Tacoma - Downtown. The Warehouse presents Barleywine Revue, 4OnTheFloor, Tango Alpha Tango. All Ages. 8:30 pm. $8-$10.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. The Blondes, featuring Steve Stefanowicz, Sherri Woolworth. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Billy Moss Birthday Party, with live bands in the Loft. 8:30 pm. Cutting Edge. 9 pm.

Tahoma Tea And Co. (The Den) Tacoma - Downtown. The Loose Buoys, Dale Everett and the Broken Song Byrds. All Ages. 7 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. The Righteous Mothers, Steve Schalchlin. All Ages. 8 pm. $25 suggested donation.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Big Whisky Tacoma - Downtown. Crawford and James, DJs after. 9 pm. $5.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. T-Town Aces. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Island Trybe, PO Box, J-Lei, D-Roc. 9 pm. $8-$13.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. The Fat Tones. 7:30 pm. $8.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Normandie Wilson. All Ages. 8 pm. Donation.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. David Gulibault. All Ages. 6 pm. Ian Jones. All Ages. 8 pm.

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

The Midnight Sun Performance Space Olympia - Downtown. Jeremy Jay, The Nuclear Animals, The Curious Mystery. All Ages. 8 pm. $5.

The Prosperity Grange Olympia - Westside. Pizza T "Fairwell Show" with Danny Kelly and Z-Kamp, plus barter fair. All Ages. 8 pm. $5 includes Pizza T T-shirt.

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. Burning Twilight, TCLW, I/Delilah, See Ya Space Bandit, Mercy Until Judgement. All Ages. 7 pm. $7.

Rock the Dock Pub & Grill Tacoma - Downtown. Keith Cook. 9 pm. NC.

Spar Cafe Olympia. Joe Michelini. 8 pm. NC.

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

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Sevens Revenge. 7:30 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. The Righteous Mothers, Steve Schalchlin. All Ages. 8 pm. $25 suggested donation, benefits PFLAG-Olympia.

Westgate Bar and Grill Tacoma - Northend. Rock n Roll Magic. 60s-80s rock dance music. 9 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Eagle's Hall Olympia - Downtown. KBRD Benefit Swing Dance, with Lakewood Community Jazz Band, Syd Potter, Jessica Blinn, Greta Jane Pederson, Vicki Anderson, Rich Sikorski, Lizzy Boyer, Brad Schrandt, Christine Corey. All Ages. 7 pm. $10-$20 suggested donation.

Eastside Club Tavern Olympia - Downtown. Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme, The Brown Edition. 9 pm. $5.

Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Chicken Joe. 7 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Big Wheel Stunt Show, Fonzarelli, Dungeon Science, Dreams Jaded, DJ Darren Selector. All Ages. 8 pm. $5. Sok & The Faggots, Reptile Eruption. 11 pm. NC.

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. Tai Shan. 9 pm. NC.

Imperial Dragon Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. T. Bone & The Porterhouse Boys. 8 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Rae Solomon, Aces Up. 8:30 pm. $10.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Left 4 Dead, Vigilante Justice, Rancheros, Hairstorm. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Alejandro Fleites & Friends. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Dandy CD Release Party. 9 pm.

The Olympia Ballroom Olympia. Vagabond Opera & Erav Rev Double CD Release Party, with DJ Sweet Elite, belly dancing by Heidi Joe Landin. All Ages. 8 pm. $15-$18.R&B

The Red Room Tacoma. The Mural Project, Cell Phone Parking Lot. All Ages. 7 pm. $5.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. The Buckets. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

ABC House Olympia. Arrington de Dionyso, Larkin Grimm, LAKE, and Briana Marela. All Ages. 8 pm. $4-$8 on a sliding scale.

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. Wolves in the Throne Room, Master Muscians of Bukkake, Broken Water, Vradiazie. All Ages. 8:30 pm. $8-$10.

• Like a crow that is dark, intelligent and resourceful - schooling its children in the ways of life, so do Wolves in the Throne Room school their listeners in the ways of earthy black metal. Sometimes ambient, sometimes thunderous, always with radical environmentalism in mind, Wolves will remind you of the very roots and rock and flesh to which we all belong. An alpha and omega, if you will, of everything black metal, Scandinavian, doom and crust. They throw an amazing, angry and skilled respect to all things elemental through their use of voice, thrash and drums. This is the band's last stop in a mini-tour that took them to Canada and as they settle home, like a murder of crows settling upon a tree, let the Wolves settle into your being. - Nikki Talotta

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Billy Shew Band Open Jam Session. 8 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Word 3rd Thursday featuring Outrageous, Lost Soul the Emo-Kat (Gonzo Family), Kept See, eeetree, Yung Wo, with D.J. Iceman, hosted by Mr. Von & Josh Rizeberg. 9 pm.

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. Open Jam with Rafael's Gemini Trio. 8-11 pm. NC.

Rock the Dock Pub & Grill Tacoma - Downtown. Open Mic/Musicians' Night. Hosted by Big D of 9 Pound Hammer. 9 pm. NC.

The Royal Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Come Chill With Royalty, featuring Heretic, T James, Hype, Krucial Barz, Basic Knowledge, Neema, DJ Chill, DJ Slimrock. 9 pm. $10.

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

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Open Jam with Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers. 8 pm. NC.

Tahoma Tea and Co Tacoma - Downtown. Open Mic. All Ages. 8-10 pm.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Upper Tacoma. Come Out & Play Open Mic. All Ages. 7-10 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Hitchkick CD Release Party, with Midstokke. 9 pm. $5.

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

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. Live Jazz. 7-10. NC.

Cork! A Wine Bar Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Louis Degal. 8 pm.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Highrollers. 9 pm.

Eastside Club Tavern Olympia - Downtown. Mosquito Hawk, Iron Goat, Resident Kings, Dirty Birds. 9 pm.

Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Kelsie Bahr. 7 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Argonaut, Umber Sleeping, Ten Suns. 9 pm. $5.

Le Voyeur Olympia - Downtown. Feeding Frenzy, Brandon Reid. 10 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Jonny Smokes, Jason Kertson, Amanda Hardy. All Ages. 8 pm.

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

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Vile Red Falcons Album Release Party, with The Fuzz, Surreal Sutra. 9 pm.

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. Cowardice, Four Minute Mile, Rookie Town, Vincible, Undefined. All Ages. 6:30 pm. $5 with formal wear / $8 without.

The Royal Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Aaron Daniel's One Man Banned. 8 pm.

South Sound Manor Tumwater. Olympia Community Bluegrass Music Show, with The Blackberry Bushes Stringband, Mission Mountain, Black River Bluegrass. Proceeds benefit SafePlace, Bread & Roses. All Ages. 8 pm. $5.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Upper Tacoma. Nick Deongi. 7:30 pm. NC.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Cody Rentas Band. 8 pm.

The Warehouse House Party Tacoma - Downtown. Drew Grow, St. Paul De Vence, Sporty Lee. All Ages. 9 pm. Secret Password.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LINK: Friday the 13th events

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

The Den at urbanXchange Tacoma - Downtown. Tito Ramsey, Tallest Tree. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Roman Holiday, Fill The Silence. 8:30 pm. $10.

• The Volcano has sung the praises of Roman Holiday many times before (as recently as last September, in fact, when the band released its second full-length, Move Your Heart/Shake Your Bones). With a localized brand of seemingly arena-ready pop rock, the band - led by longtime friends Shane Lance (lead vocals, guitar) and Emerson Shotwell (drums) - has been rocking hard and looking good doing it in these parts since 2008. There's nothing mysterious about what Roman Holiday accomplishes - the act is no stranger to Kings of Leon comparisons or skinny jeans - but the precision with which this band struts its stuff is definitely something worth noticing. Unless you're some sort of music snob, you'll probably find something agreeable in Roman Holiday's mix. Coming on the heals of a rousing performance at Tacoma's First Night celebration, Roman Holiday will take the stage at Jazzbones tonight and put all of the aforementioned pop rock mastery on full display. - Matt Driscoll

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Judd Wasserman. All Ages. 6 pm. Josiah & Sam Bogle. All Ages. 8 pm.

The Midnight Sun Olympia - Downtown. Corin Tucker Band, Western Hymn, Broken Water. 9 pm. $7.

• The name Corin Tucker holds a lot of sway in Olympia. For the unfamiliar few, Corin Tucker is the shrieking voice that fronted the iconic, riot grrrl-defining Sleater-Kinney. Since the dissolution of the band, the members of Sleater-Kinney have gone on to form Wild Flag, while Tucker has struck out on her own. On the Corin Tucker Band's debut, Tucker explored her more melodic side, relying less on the violent, slash-and-burn motif that accompanied much of Sleater-Kinney's output. Stripping her sound bare and rebuilding it in a more mature mold did Tucker quite well. In her new, more muted mode, it's easier to see the innate talent and charm she has. And Sleater-Kinney or no, I think it's a safe bet that Tucker still brings it like hell, live. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Still Got It. 8 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Joe Baque. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$15.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Wide Eye Panic, No Living Witness, Esitu, December In Red. 9 pm. $6.

Al Forno Feruzza Pizzeria Olympia. Lizzy Boyer, Tarik Bentlemsani. All Ages. 7:30 pm. NC.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Rock N Roll Magic. 9 pm.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. McTuff funk soul boogaloo and Jesse T's birthday. 9 pm. NC.

Forza Coffee University Place. Sky Pilot unplugged. AA. 7pm. $5.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. South 11th, Psycho 78, Overboard, Sources In Code. 9 pm. $5.

Imperial Dragon Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Rich Wetzel's Groovin Higher Orchestra. 9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Pulling A McMahan Birthday Show, featuring The Chicharones, Animal Nation, Pink Bead Federation, Chase & The Dragon. 7 pm. $8.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. The Petting Zu, Atomic Outlaws, In All Honesty. All Ages. 8 pm.

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

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Tallest Tree, A Leaf, Pocket Panda. 9 pm.

• A Leaf is one of the first bands I ever wrote about. Now, two and a half years later, I find myself returning to the band's music with fresh ears and a newfound admiration for the velvety smooth sounds they create. Drawing inspiration from the British folk-rock of the '60s and '70s, as well as the more bombastic elements of Britpop - and occasional dips into dream-pop territory - A Leaf's music is absorbing and soothing, while still carving out moments that surprise and delight in equal measure. This is music that would be for listening to on a sunny spring drive, or alone, in a darkened room, as rain steadily raps on your windows. A Leaf is a band fully formed, clear of intent and vision, a continuing bright spot in Tacoma. - Rev. Adam McKinney

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

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Jerry Miller Band. 7 pm. Michael Jackson Tribute Night. 9 pm.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop Tacoma. Gina Belliveau. 7:30 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGH TIN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Cryptatropa Bar Olympia - Downtown. Badger Acid, Crepusculum, Port Of The Sun. 9:30 pm.

Harbor Greens/Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Jennifer Lind Christmas Concert. 7 pm. NC.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma Stadium District. Myles Crew. 9 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Pioneers West, C.F.A., Smooth Sailing, Tallest Tree. 9 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Maia Santell & House Blend. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $8.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Dies Drear, Highlight Bomb, James Hunnicutt, Amanda Hardy. All Ages. 7 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Partie Animale Part 2, featuring Death By Stars, DJ Babycham. 9 pm. NC.

O'Malley's Irish Pub Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. City Hall, Don't Talk To The Cops, Bruce Leroy, Noony, OC Notes. 9 pm. $3 or can of food.

The Red Room Tacoma. Red Room Christmas Show, featuring Navigator, Days Of Ivory, How We Fall. All Ages. 7 pm. $5.

The Spar Olympia. James Coates. 8 pm. NC.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Spazmatics. 9 pm.

Waterstreet Cafe Olympia. Solstice Party, with Ocho Pies. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

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