>>> Saturday, Jan. 5
THE MISSIONARY POSITION
The idea of soul and rock becoming increasingly intermingled and on the mainstream radar, with bands like The Heavy and the Black Keys, is one that I've wrestled with over the past couple years. Of course, the issue of credibility and appropriation are always going to be present in the discussion, but to my ears the bigger issue is something much more intangible - a bristling that comes up my back, and I can't help but picture Blueshammer from Ghost World. Better than the large part of rock bands incorporating soul touchstones, The Missionary Position manage to emerge relatively unscathed from these comparisons. Their combination of alt-rock, post-grunge influences and '70s soul flourishes is tasteful and seemingly completely sincere, which helps a great deal in avoiding that bristling feeling. - Rev. Adam McKinney
JAZZBONES, 8:30 P.M., $7, 2803 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA, 253.396.9169
>>> Saturday, Jan. 5
SANTEE
After living and traveling in Europe for the past year or so, singer-songwriter Heater Loepp has finally made her return to Washington. As the frontwoman for indie folk-pop outfit Santee, she started turning heads with her intimate lyrics, endearingly scratchy vocals and the warm bed of instrumentation provided by the rest of the band, which now includes Joel Myers and Conor Sisk from the Speedwobbles, and Spencer Kelley from Basemint. Word is that Santee is in the Swoon Records studio working on their long-awaited debut LP. It'll be about time for a band that has garnered as much good will as Santee has. In the meantime, their return to Tacoma is bound to be a joyous homecoming, full of drunken group hugs and even drunker dancing. - Rev. AM
NEW FRONTIER LOUNGE w/people under the sun and i like science, 9 P.M., COVER TBA, 301 E. 25TH ST., TACOMA, 253.572.4020
>>> Sunday, Jan. 6
SUBLIME LBC
Love 'em or hate 'em, Sublime is a legendary band. Die-hard fans of the Long Beach-based ska punk rockers with the signature skater brand may argue that the group is not the same without front man Brad Nowell after he died of a heroin overdose in 1996. Sunday, Sublime tribute band Sublime LBC will rock "Smoke Two Joints," "Crazy Fool" and other favorites at Club M.I.D.A.S. Bonus One: They are playing with Long Beach Rehab, featuring members of Sublime LBC and Bad Brains, and they've invited Olympia's AKA and the Heart Hurt Goods to open. Bonus Two: This show is all ages. Bonus Three: Sublime LBC and Long Beach rehab play Tuesday at Enumclaw's Crystal Saloon and Wednesday at Tacoma's Jazzbones. — Nikki McCoy
CLUB M.I.D.A.S., 5-11 P.M., $15/ADVANCE, $20/DOOR, ALL AGES, 2100 N. NATIONAL AVE., SUITE 123, CHEHALIS
>>> Tuesday, Jan. 8
BROKAW, O'CONNOR, DAWSON
The Olympia branch of the Timberland Regional Library has been at the forefront of creative, adult programing for a few years now. From a performance/reading by famed LA punk Alice Bag, to booking bands like the Maxines, Rvivr and Kimya Dawson, the Timberland Regional Library has tapped into Olympia's cultural zeitgeist with no plans to slow down. Tuesday proves to be one of the best bills in the Library's run of events with an all ages show featuring Chris Brokaw, Kimya Dawson and Jennifer O'Connor. The last time in most long-time Olympian's memories that Chris Brokaw rolled through town with his band Codeine was a transformative experience for many. The Sub Pop slow-core pioneers have recently received a very extensive reissue treatment from the Numero Group and have been a hot commodity once again in the indie sphere. Similarly, Jennifer O'Connor has held a particularly well-regarded spot in the indie community with two well-received albums on Matador Records and spending time on the road with everyone from Fiest to Wilco and Yo La Tengo. Her brand of personal, emotive songwriting sits perfectly next to Brokaw and Dawson's. Rounding out the bill is Olympia's own Kimya Dawson, whom many people know from her time with Moldy Peaches, or the brief bout of fame through the Juno Soundtrack. Dawson is an engaging performer and this free show should not be missed. - Timothy Grisham
TIMBERLAND REGIONAL LIBRARY, CHRIS BROWKAW, JENNIFER O'CONNOR, KIMYA DAWSON, 8:30 P.M., NO COVER, 313 EIGHTH AVE. SE, OLYMPIA, 360.352.0595
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