One of the joys of being engaged in the local music scene for the past few years - both as a writer and an enthusiastic fan - has been to watch the growth and success of the Night Beats. For the uninitiated, the Night Beats consists of Danny Lee Blackwell, James Traeger, and Tacoma's own Tarek Wegner (oh he of the Drug Purse and Paris Spleen) slashing and burning their way through all periods of psychedelic, brain-melting rock. Through talent and near-constant touring, the Night Beats have found themselves playing with the likes of the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Black Lips and Roky Erickson, and joining up with garage rock juggernauts, Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records. It's all been thrilling to track, and whenever they manage to pull themselves off the road long enough for a stop in Tacoma, they're even more thrilling to see. 

THE NEW FRONTIER LOUNGE, W/ MILK, PEOPLE UNDER THE SUN, 9 P.M., COVER TBA, 301 E. 25TH ST., TACOMA, 253.572.4020