Rodeo Kill

Friday, April 17

A monkey typing for infinity will at some point write Hamlet, or anyway that’s the saying. Though I haven’t exactly crunched the numbers, I’m inclined to think it’s true. I also think that a monkey strumming a guitar for infinity will write a decent country song in, like, the first half-hour. I don’t mean this insultingly. To the contrary, I think that’s what’s great about country: It’s easy. Easy to write, easy to play and easy to love.  Regardless of your musical pedigree, I defy you to go see Olympia’s “outlaw country” band Rodeo Kill and tell me you didn’t enjoy it. See, buried in all our genes is a common agrarian past, so we’re hardwired to dig honky-tonk. (Also watermelon and Smokey and the Bandit.) Don’t deny it, try it. See you there. — Mark Thomas Deming

[The New Frontier Lounge, with Swampy Draws, 9 p.m., $3, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

Little Pieces

Saturday, April 18

The Internet has been great for many things, and helping local, small-scale bands gain exposure is certainly one of them; but the technology hasn’t exactly been a boon in all regards. Sure, Youtube makes it much easier for super talented, country tinged garage rock bands like Little Pieces – who will drop into The New Frontier for a show this Saturday – to make music videos, but after searching, finding, and watching the results of just such a cinematic venture, I’d say the world was better off without it. Quality music like that of Little Pieces really doesn’t need minutes of footage featuring three band members running through grassy fields. Seriously. My only assumption is that the live music of Little Pieces will make Saturday’s show at The New Frontier way better than the band’s You Tube music video. – Matt Driscoll

[The New Frontier Lounge, with the Color of East, the Purrs, 8 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

Thee Intrepid Young Sleuths

Saturday, April 18

The next time you feel like shaking your head, shuffling your feet and muttering about hell and handbaskets, don’t. It ain’t that bad. Really. Need proof? Try this: Yet another promising band, Thee Intrepid Young Sleuths, has emerged from teenage Tacoma. (Three members attend SOTA, the other two Stadium — all sophomores.) They are smart, talented and charismatic, and steeped in the finest traditions of rock and roll: Elvis Costello, the Ventures, Girl Trouble, Roy Orbison, the Sonics and many, many more. They say they’re working on a concept album set in early ’60s Las Vegas. (What’s not to like about that?) And best of all, you can see them live this Saturday at small, locally-owned and independent Rocket Records. That’s one hell and one handbasket I think we can all be very, very excited about. — MTD

[Rocket Records, with Zane Savage and the Rippers and Hippo Crit, 3 p.m., no cover, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186]

Hillstomp

Thursday, April 23

Since my first experience with Portland band Hillstomp, I can't help but notice there's not much difference between that bearded duo and my baby-faced toddler. Do they both sing with wild abandon? Yep. Are they dirty and loud? Uh-huh. Do they both bang on cans and buckets and somehow produce a unique, harmonious chunk of sound? You bet. The only difference is these gritty Hillstomp boys are old enough to get into the Eastside Club, and good enough to get paid. Swampy, electric and bluesy, with a bad-ass junkyard feel, Hillstomp has it. Get there early to pre-funk with Lucky Brown, and The Funk Revolution jazzin’ it up with their horn section. Eastside bartender/booker Andy says you’ll be pissed if you miss this show. — Nikki Talotta

[The Eastside Club, with Lucky Brown and The Funk Revolution, 9 p.m., $5, 410 Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.357.9985]