Friday, Nov. 25: Man Without Wax

Hell's Kitchen

By Rev. Adam McKinney on November 22, 2011

In a manner similar to fellow bombastic locals Roman Holiday, Man Without Wax sounds perfectly radio-ready, a band just lying around, waiting for someone to discover them and throw them on the modern rock station. They've captured the sound of bands like Kings of Leon and even groups from the Glasgow scene (Frightened Rabbit, Glasvegas) - bands that revel in drama, and never shy from shooting for the rafters. These are songs meant to be sung along to, passionately, by crowds of strangers. Man Without Wax approach the tropes of arena-rock with supreme confidence, playing those chiming guitars and dropping the bottom out of the chorus with aplomb and a certain sense that they've discovered new countries of sound. That this is well-trod ground makes it no less effective. 

[Hell's Kitchen, with True Holland, Absence of Grace, Moon Juice, 6 p.m., $5 advance, $7, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]