The band members of Western Hymn - Craig Extine (guitar, vocals), Sarah Utter (bass, vocals) and Kris Cunningham (drums) - became acquainted when their previous bands played shows together. Brought together by their love of classic punk music such as The Sonics and The Wipers, Western Hymn was born.

"Each of our previous bands - Bangs, The Old Haunts and the Horse Thieves - played a bunch of shows together," Extine said. "We'd all been friends for a while before we started a band together."

Their self-titled CD Western Hymn speaks for itself, just as any great punk album should. But in case you have not bought it yet - "yet" being the operative word - there are a few things you should know about it. The CD begins with the undeniably Northwest track, "Living Things."Producing sounds that can only originate from a dingy basement, the CD continues on to other notable tracks such as "The Life For Me" and"Come Unchained."

Read Rockford Rowley's full column on Western Hym in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

WESTERN HYMN, 9 p.m., McCoy's Tavern, 418 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.352.0696