MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

LINK: More live music in the South Sound tonight

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

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

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

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

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

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

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

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

LINK: More live music in the South Sound tonight

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

LINK: More live music in the South Sound tonight

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

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

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

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

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

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

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

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

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

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound