As such, I tend to find myself more involved with bands that skate through '60s influences on their way to pop serenity. When I'm not filling my head with big-sounding post-punk nonsense, I generally find time for bands like Foxygen, which strangle-holds '60s pastiche in a way that's both reverent and utterly punk rock. Fruit Juice is a band that does a similar motion.

Writing about new bands is always something of a tender act. No one wants or needs exposure when they're just figuring things out. Still, even though Fruit Juice has only existed for a little over a year, they've garnered a significant amount of praise, including being voted Best New Band in Olympia by the readers of this very rag. Even though it seems like it wouldn't be the case, Fruit Juice's brand of silly, stoned psych-pop is a breath of fresh air in the South Sound.

Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full story on Fruit Juice in the Music & Culture section.

FRUIT JUICE, w/ The Bugs, Retrospecter, the Echo Echo Echoes, 8 p.m., Saturday, June 28, Bob's Java Jive, 2102 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, $5, 253.475.9843