Titus Andronicus

Thursday, Sept. 17
An unfortunate mainstay in music criticism is the temptation to describe a band by saying it’s what would happen if two better-known bands met. For instance: It’s Oingo Boingo meets Jefferson Starship! Or, It’s Miles Davis meets Black Flag! Titus Andronicus has encountered a lot of this lazy critical shorthand. Usually they get some bizarre combination of Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes and Bruce Springsteen. The screamy Conor Oberst-esque vocals, the cathartic energy of Arcade Fire, and the anthemic guitars of Springsteen — I guess, to a certain extent, I hear it all in Titus Andronicus. But what I mostly hear is a band that’s actually exciting to listen to, in all its jittery, messy glory. Titus Andronicus’ music is all its own. — Rev. Adam McKinney
[Northern, with So So Glos, 9 p.m., all ages, cover TBA, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia, www.northernolympia.org]

Q-Dot

Friday, Sept. 18
When Q-Dot isn’t not flying around in his hip-hop superhero cape rapping, making beats, recording, performing, and running his own record label, Tre’dmarks, he goes simply by Q or Quincy. He was named after Quincy Jones, and has earned badges as an MC, producer, songwriter, pianist, singer, recording engineer, mixer and DJ. His latest album, Underground Railroad, is chock full of talent, and shows how much time and energy this local independent rapper put into developing his game. Q-Dot is a thinker, and balances his wit with lots of flava, walking a tightrope between swagger and delivering a message. He puts out plenty of radio ready tracks, drops plenty of punch lines, but always seems to slip in a message. He’ll be at Bob’s Java Jive this Friday.  — Paul Schrag
[Bob’s Java Jive, with Fame Rilla, Freddie Fingers, Mac & Harlem, DJ T-Real, 9 p.m., $5, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

Schoolyard Heroes

Saturday, Sept. 19
Last week I told you the Jet City Fix would never die. And see — they’re still around. Point for me. I wouldn’t lie to you, people. This week, once again passing on the wisdom I’ve honed despite spending my youth freebasing high fructose corn syrup, the JCF will support Schoolyard Heroes at an early all ages show Saturday at Hell’s Kitchen.  This one is going to rule. No joke. Despite the band’s relatively youthful complexion, Schoolyard Heroes — a group with Annie Wright ties and more freaky horror tendencies than you can shake an eyeliner pencil at — pretty much kills it every time they take the stage. And, amazingly, they’ve been taking the stage for a long-ass time now. That exposure at EMP Sound Off! was in 2003, yo.  It’s almost enough to make a guy feel old. Call it goth, punk, brutal, post-hardcore, or whatever — or just call it solid. The bottom line is Schoolyard Heroes rarely disappoints. — Matt Driscoll
[Hell’s Kitchen, with the Jet City Fix, Black Houses, Starstruck, 5 p.m., all ages, $10, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

(The) Dignitaries

Saturday, Sept. 19
Is it Dignitaries or The Dignitaries? I’m not sure. I think I’ve been calling them The Dignitaries — which might be wrong. Or it might be right. Who knows? If I’ve been butchering the band’s name, let me be the first to say: My bad. Name technicalities aside, though, the Fernandez brothers’ latest band is quintessential T-town. Garage rock fit for a moped with a sixer of PBR bungee cord tied to the back, (The) Dignitaries cite influences like Mudhoney, Chuck Berry, Girl Trouble, The Sonics and CCR. You’ve got to like that. The band will fill the Jive to the brim with working man’s rock this Saturday with New Faces, Paris Spleen and Basemint. Be there, be square. — MD
[Bob’s Java Jive, with New Faces, Paris Spleen, Basemint, 8 p.m., cover TBA, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]