CJ BOYD

Thursday, July 30

It’s a happy occasion when a little venue of ours lands a legitimately virtuosic musician. But the sun will soon be shining on our modest town when CJ Boyd comes to The New Frontier Lounge. He almost seems out of place playing in a bar at all: a master bass-player, he builds long, tense soundscapes out of looped electric and acoustic bass, harmonica and occasional vocals. He takes his inspiration from varied sources, ranging from classical composers to Radiohead and Bjork. It’s a shame the bass is so often relegated to second-string status—stranded counting time for lead guitars. Given a talent like CJ Boyd (or Tony Levin or John Entwistle, people who have clearly had an influence on Boyd), the bass not only leads, it dominates. — Rev. Adam McKinney

[The New Frontier, with Lozen, guests, 9 pm, 301 E. 25th Street, Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

THE OCCUPATION

Friday, July 31

Let’s be honest — as Americans we have a little experience with the idea of occupations. Been there, done that. Several times. But as for The Occupation — the band of indie rockers from Seattle that’ll be playing the Capitol Theater Backstage on Friday — most of us are probably clueless. That’s the thing about relatively new bands — they take a while to connect with the masses. Friday’s Oly show should help such endeavors, as the band born out of “friendship, love, laughter, and unashamed anthemic rock,” according to promotional material, will no doubt unleash a title wave of catchy, melodic pop rock on an almost exclusively all-ages crowd. If there’s one thing kids like, after all, it’s anthem style, catchy, melodic pop rock. That and popsicles. And Toaster Strudels. But that’s beside the point. Expect The Occupation to play plenty of material from the band’s new E.P., Sweet Falcon, as well as songs slated for a forthcoming debut full length. — Matt Driscoll

[Capitol Theater Backstage, with The Midnight Therapy, Save It For Saturday, 8:30pm, $7, 206 Fifth Ave SE, Olympia, 360.754.6670]

HELL’S BELLES

Saturday, Aug. 1

There are few things in the world as electric as the music of Aussie rock legends AC/DC. Except perhaps the songs that made them legends being murdered (hip-hop vernacular, kids. It means performed really, really well) by Hell’s Belles. The Belles play all AC/DC all over the globe, from “High Voltage” to “Back in Black.” Even Angus Young gives them props. Mandy Reed, Adrian Conner, Lisa Brisbois, Melodie Zapata, and singer Jamie Nova will be at Hell’s Kitchen this Saturday. — Paul Schrag

[Hell’s Kitchen, with Black Houses, The Pete Moss Band, 5 pm $10, all ages, and again at 9 p.m. with Black Houses, The Enemies Of, $12, 21+, 3829 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]