Saturday, June 23

COUNTRY jonathan harris

Jonathan Harris was born to love you. At least that’s what he’s been singing. This young country heartthrob has strutted his stuff in front of audiences as large as 12,000 people and shared the stage with national acts such as Jo Dee Messina, Sammy Kershaw, Black Hawk, Trick Pony, The Charlie Daniels Band, Merle Haggard, Asleep At The Wheel, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Tractors and Gary Allen. He even performed for G.W. Bush and thousands of military personnel at Fort Lewis in a concert for troops returning from Iraq a couple of years back. He’s a good old boy from this here part of the country who’s makin’ a stir everywhere that men wear boots and women wear wife-beaters. We are just so daggone proud of him. Check him out at Summerfest June 23 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the main stage.  — Angela Jossy



[Fort Steilacoom Park, 6:30 p.m., all ages, no cover, 8200 87th Ave. S.W., Lakewood, 253.589.2489]

Saturday, June 23

METAL lurid

Apparently I’m not the only one who still listens to vintage metal as Tacoma’s own Lurid resurrects the nasty guitar licks of Sabbath, Maiden, and Priest while updating its sound for a new generation. Sporting a shaved head, baggy jeans and black T-shirts, vocalist Tony Dodge looks like your typical modern metal front man but unlike some metal contemporaries, this band actually has a singer who can sing and does not solely relay on speed and volume.

Lurid came together in April of 2004 and quickly gained a reputation for high energy shows and methodical musicianship. Guitarist Bob Nichols effortlessly glides up and down the fret board while bassist Dan Rankin and drummer John Hardin provide rock solid beats. On June 23 Lurid will be releasing its debut CD, Misery Makes Madness. I’ve heard four tracks of the record and I must say, not what I expected compared to their demo, but nevertheless, better all the way around. The licks are tighter and the vocals are more coherent. “Away From You” and “My Cancer” are straight ahead rockers, whereas “Filthy” and “Faded” burn as slowly as a smoldering cigarette before taking flight into metal bliss. — Tony Engelhart



[Hell’s Kitchen, with Voices Lost and Cadillac Radio, 9 p.m., $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Sunday, June 24

REGGAE the wailers

I didn’t discover reggae until my mid-20s. Like so many westerners, I found reggae by way of Eric Clapton’s cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff” and soon became enthralled with the Rasta man. His songs were spiritually uplifting while the pulsating beats were intoxicating. Marley died in 1981 leaving a huge void in music, but his spirit lived on by way of his band, the Wailers.

Formed in 1963, the key members were Peter Tosh, Bunny Walker and Marley.  However, the three went their separate ways after the release of Burnin’ in 1973 and Bob Marley and the Wailers were born.  After his untimely death, Junior Marvin took the lead and the band forged on. Now consisting of Marvin (guitar and vocals), Al Anderson (lead guitar), Aston “Family Man” Barret (bass), Keith Sterling (keys), Drummie Zeb (drums) and Marcia Griffiths (background vocals), the group released a couple of unnoticed albums in the ’80s. Then in 1991 they issued Majestic Warriors and broke free of the Marley-sound with a slick and polished album. The band proved further that it could stand on its own with the 1996 release of Jah Message and continually proves it through upbeat live shows, including Sunday at the Pantages Theater. — TE



[Pantages Theater, 7:30 p.m., $32, 905 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894]