LEROY BELL AND HIS ONLY FRIENDS

Friday, June 19

LeRoy Bell is no Johnny-come-lately. In fact, he’s not even a Johnny-come-somewhat recently, and for that matter his name isn’t even Johnny. What LeRoy Bell is, is one of the most impressive vocal and songwriting talents you’ll see on a stage all week — or any week for that matter. Bell, as part of the songwriting team of Bell and James, crafted Elton John’s 1979 hit “Mamma Can’t Buy You Love,” as well as Sir Elton’s 2004 single, “Are You Ready for Love?” But Bell’s soulful, penetrating voice takes the cake. For all of his musical pen wielding skills, the dude’s pipes are nothing to scoff at. Bell’s latest record, A Change Is Coming, puts this fact on full display — at least if the tastes available on Bell’s MySpace page are any indication. And we think they are. In fact, we know they are. — Matt Driscoll

[Midland Music Hall, with Jairemie, 8 p.m., $12.50, 1809 99th St. E., Midland neighborhood of Tacoma, www.midlandmusichall.com]

OLYMPIA EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Friday, June 19-Sunday, June 21

At a point in history when absolutely nothing seems certain and normally dependable things are disappearing every day, the Olympia Experimental Music Festival is an anomaly. This weekend’s influx of strange sound — bleeps, bloops, crashes, tinkers, squeals and hisses — in Olympia will mark the 15th year the Oly Experimental Music Festival has wrapped its unorthodox arms around Washington’s most liberal bastion and embraced the city in audio bizarreness — in such a good way. Utilizing the newly christened northern all-ages venue this year, performers at the 15th annual Olympia Experimental Music Festival will include Tacoma’s LA Lungs and Lapuda, Portland’s Pulse Emitter and Death Worth Living, and Oly’s KnotPineBox, Cymtrymanx and Big Tom the Lithuanian. Seattle is also represented heavily in a weekend lineup that’s over 20 strong. If you feel comfortable outside the genre box, take a trip south this weekend. — MD

[northern, 6 p.m., all ages, 321 Fourth Ave, downtown Olympia, www.myspace.com/olystrange music]

SUGAR SUGAR SUGAR

Saturday, June 20

Sugar Sugar Sugar frontman Andy Piper is a rock star. He isn’t rich and famous and obnoxious — that’s not what I mean. I just mean he’s got it, whatever it is. Charisma, presence, magnetism — all apply. First time I saw him, he was playing washboard in a bluegrass band on burger night at the Bellingham Eagles Club. Hardly rock-star stuff, but he was somehow electric. Next time I saw him, he was performing one-man-band-style as Lonebird, sounding like Lightnin’ Hopkins on an answering machine. Again, hardly rock. And again, electric. So I can’t wait to see him this weekend with an actual rock band playing actual rock. And by rock I mean old-school, devils-horn-hand ROCK, harkening back to Cream, The Doors and The Who. Should rock. — Mark Thomas Deming

[Bob’s Java Jive, with Lozen and This Blinding Light, 8 p.m., $5, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

JOSH RIZEBERG

Wednesday, June 24

Oh Jazzbones … the place to be, again and again. This Wednesday Jazzbones will welcome some of Tacoma’s finest emcees, poets and people to kick off what we can all hope will be a regular night for hip-hop. Starting things off right will be locals Block Repp, who all deserve mad respect, Josh Rizeberg, One Famm click Raz P and the Vigilantes and Blach, who’s coming all the way from Yakima to rock a set. Put together by Rizeberg, this show is going to be a little different than a lot of the hip-hop seen on main stages in the city. This is local hip-hop, for real. Check it Wednesday. No cover, and drink specials galore. — Paul Schrag

[Jazzbones, with Bock Repp, Raz P and the Vigilantes, Blach, 8:30 p.m., no cover, 2803 Sixth Ave, Tacoma, 253.396.9169]