If the label alt-Christian acoustic rock stops you dead in your tracks and makes you do a U-turn, then you might miss one of the most cultivated local artists. Aaron Spiro is the king of crescendo and a master of emotionally charged vocals. At times he sounds like Coldplay’s Chris Martin, or even Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. Though his last album, Sing, which was produced by legendary Christian and jazz music producers Charlie Peacock and Jacquire King (Smash Mouth, Third Eye Blind), was a gospel album dressed up in acoustic pop clothing, his new album, Cure, seems to be more of a departure from his Christian roots. I could be wrong because there’s always that tricky double entendre thing that songwriters do to make their lyrics ambiguous and open for interpretation. Whatever. He’s talented. If you expect a garden variety folk singer just because you see a guy and a guitar on stage, you’ll likely do a double take before he gets to his first chorus. He’s noticeably that different and that good. Check him out online at: www.myspace.com/aaronspiro. — Angela Jossy



[Jazzbones, with Elliot Lipp, Apollo, DJ Colin, Sunday, May 6, 6:30 p.m., all ages, $8, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396,9169]