Thursday, Jan. 25

Johnny Walker and the Hitchhikers

Whenever I discover a gifted songwriter, it excites me to no end.  I mean, anyone can write about new love, lost love, sex, broken dreams, etc., and those topics get a bit annoying to listen to after awhile.  Great songwriters can look outside the box and paint portraits with poetic words.  Tom Waits is one of my favorite songwriters, so even before I read his bio, I knew Jonathan Remien, aka Johnny Walker, was intensely influenced by him. While they have only been together a few months, Johnny Walker and the Hitchhikers are quickly making a name for themselves as they are profoundly different from any other band in town.  No, you can't dance to their music, but that's OK.  Sometimes you just need to sit at the bar, drink your cocktail and listen to the music.  With Walker on piano and vocals, Lori Darling blowing a haunting saxophone, Bobby Galaxy splitting duties between trumpet and guitar, Dahler Show flip-flopping from bass to drums, and vocalist Steve Hall, the band credits three-fifths Fighting Cock brand Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for their unique sound and moody disposition. No disc to peddle quite yet, but they have four tasty tunes on MySpace for you to experience. - Tony Engelhart

[Swiss Pub, 9 p.m., 1904 S. Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821]

Friday, Jan. 26

Chymes of Freedom

"Far between sundown's finish an' midnight's broken toll, we ducked inside the doorway, thunder crashing. As majestic bells of bolts struck shadows in the sounds, seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing."

Spelled a little differently but nonetheless melodic, the Chymes of Freedom band (named after the preceding Bob Dylan song) is fronted by Bob and Cindy Dale and backed by bassist Dave Harkness and drummer Danny Millie. Between the four they weave a nostalgic '60s tapestry on an impressive wall of harmonies. A hybrid of original and cover band, their favorite artists to cover include The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Richard Thompson, Roy Orbison, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Ian and Sylvia/Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt and Buffalo Springfield. You might remember Cindy Dale from her 11-year co-starring role in once well-known Northwest Motown revue band called The Marvelles. Bob Dale was lead singer and guitar player for The Crackers from 1980 to 1990. For more information, visit www.chymesoffreedom.com. - Angela Jossy

[Mandolin Café, 8 p.m., no cover, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]

Rogue Motel

Ever find a band that made you feel like you discovered gold?  It's rare for me, but every so often something takes me by total surprise, and Rouge Motel did just that.  With the gruffness of John Hiatt, the jam band influence of Widespread Panic, and the alt country flavor of Steve Earle, the Portland-based quartet has a vast understanding of Americana roots music.  Dressed in flannel, old, faded jeans and worker boots, their look is just as minimally windswept as their music.  Two of the members are originally from Nashville: Mathew Kendall (guitar) and Reg Bradley (guitar and B3 Leslie), which accounts for their fondness of their chosen genre.  The band released their self-titled debut EP last summer, on which they offer up a teaser of introspective tunes that will leave you begging for more.  While the entire disc is close to flawless, I'm especially fond of the slow burning "Eloise," which is seemingly about an abused woman who offers up sex for a room to sleep. With a sincere vocal delivery and a hauntingly sinister organ in the background, this tune sent a chill up my spine while putting a smile on my face. - Tony Engelhart

[4th Ave Tavern, with Toney Smiley and Band of Waxx, 9:30 p.m., $3, 210 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.786.1444]

Saturday, Jan. 27

Blue Scholars

They're traveling a little far south, but no one in Tacoma will complain when Seattle super duo Blue Scholars come share the stage with some of Tacoma's finest at Hell's Kitchen Saturday, Jan. 27, for two shows.

In homage to hip-hop's empirical formula - one DJ and one MC, and duos such as Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Gangstarr and Blackalicious - the Blue Scholars embody the chemistry that made these groups so consistent not only on wax, but live on stage as well. What results is a blend of poetic, raw vocal delivery with melodic boom-bap and turntablism, painted with politics and preservation. Residing where hustle and struggle coincide, Blue Scholars craft the sound track for everyday folks with everyday problems seeking everyday release.

The Blue Scholars have emerged as the latest in a long line of torchbearers for Seattle and the greater Pacific Northwest hip-hop scene. The duo formed in early 2002 after ciphers and sessions in a makeshift attic-bedroom-studio in Seattle's University District, where emcee Geologic and DJ/producer Sabzi came from vastly different musical approaches to collide. One a distinguished battle emcee and poet, the other a former punk/ska drummer and jazz-trained pianist, the duo's backgrounds laid the foundation for a versatile combination of beats and rhymes at once political and personal.

Also on stage will be Common Market, Gabriel Teodros, Propagodz and DJ Daps 1. - Paul Schrag

[Hell's Kitchen, Jan. 27 (all ages) 5 p.m., $7; Jan. 27 (21+) 9 p.m., $5; 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Shotgun Kitchen

I racked my friggin' brain trying to figure out who might have influenced Shotgun Kitchen and came up empty.  Maybe Trick Pony meets Frank Zappa?  Heck, I don't know. What I do know is that the Olympia-based quintet doesn't take themselves too seriously as they poke fun at religion and politics with their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks.  While they dub themselves as folk rock, the band's songs tell a different story as they flirt with s#$%-kicking country, blues, and straight up rock and incorporate banjo and acoustic guitars for a down-home feel.  Opting not to list who plays what, Shotgun Kitchen is Joe McInnis, Bekah Jurgenson, Joe Moralez, Tony Ryder, and Vanessa Lavalle.  They will drop their first disc Saturday, Jan. 27.  The record includes all original material and is a downright fun listen with tunes such as the campy "If Jesus Had a Gun" and the hardcore country shuffle "Go Baby Jesus Go," which is led by the powerhouse vocals of Jurgenson. They lighten things up a tad for the slow moving ballad "Carol's Bar."  Shotgun Kitchen skates on the urban fringe and does so with candor and style. - TE

[Tacoma Mountaineers, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, 2302 N. 30th St., Tacoma, 253.566.6965]

Wednesday, Jan. 31

Only Crime

On Jan. 23, Only Crime — known mainly because Bill Stevenson of Descendants, Black Flag and All fame plays drums for the band — released Virulence, the band’s second studio record. Russ Rankin, formerly of Good Riddance, mans the mic for the group of old school punks.

On Wednesday, Jan. 31, one week and one day after the release of Virulence, Only Crime will play Hell’s Kitchen.

Surprise, surprise, Hell’s Kitchen music maestro Flash is bringing in some more old school punk legends. If you haven’t come to expect this by now, you haven’t been paying attention.

New Mexican Disaster Squad, Never Looking Back and C-B Militia open. — Matt Driscol

[Hell’s Kitchen, doors at 6 p.m., all ages, $8, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]