THEY LIVE HIP-HOP EVENT

Friday, Aug. 14

They Live, Tacoma. The people that brought you Fresh Blends, a hip-hop semi-weekly that hung on for a minute at Hell’s Kitchen, are back. Fresh Blends, R.I.P., went the way a number of hip-hop weeklies have gone in Tacoma. It went away, which sucks. But Hell’s Kitchen still has room on its roster for a hip-hop show or two apparently. Yes. They live. Rowdy Roddy Piper isn’t going to be able to save anyone from the likes of Evergreen One, Todd Sykes, Hella Dope or the Revengers, even with a pair of magic Locs and a shotgun. Add the magic of a little hip-hop diversity, and guest hosting by the one and only Josh Rizeberg, and you’ve got a show. — Paul Schrag

[Hell’s Kitchen, with Evergreen One, Todd Sykes, Hella Dope, The Revengers, 9 p.m., $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

THE FUCKING EAGLES

Saturday, Aug. 15

So you’ve spent the whole day down at Wright Park listening to hours and hours of Tacoma’s finest music, and now your brain and face and neck are scorched by the (hopefully) bright and gorgeous festival sun. Whatcha gonna do now? Reader, hit the after party. Hell’s Kitchen will be hosting a resolutely kick-ass collection of Tacoma rock ‘n’ roll. The F***king Eagles, Blanco Bronco, Destruction Island, The Kings, and The Electrolytes will band together to ensure a loud and sweaty night to follow the hot and sweaty day. It’s the only right way to end what will assuredly be an epic day for Tacoma music. — Rev Adam McKinney

[Hell’s Kitchen, with Blanco Bronco, Destruction Island, The Kings, The Electrolytes, 9 p.m., $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

1776

Saturday, Aug. 15

Maybe there was just more important stuff to do back in the day? For instance, 1776 — the year. The Declaration of Independence was signed, the American Revolution was in full swing, Thomas Paine published Common Sense and, basically, our country was born. Compare this to, say, 1997 — perhaps known best for The Spice Girls. There’s really no comparison. Now, take 1776 — the band, which will hit Bob’s Java Jive on Saturday. A skinny, rock stained, American flag draped foursome from Portland, here’s a group of dudes that looks like they haven’t slept in a week touting a sound that’s as much Buffalo Springfield as it is the MC5 — at least according to the band bio. Personally, I hear way more Wayne Kramer than Neil Young, but maybe that’s just me. While there might not be much that’s revolutionary about these psych rockers, they still pack way more punch than 1997. — Matt Driscoll

[Bob’s Java Jive, with the Hugs, The Drug Purse, Night Beats, 8 p.m., 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

KASHMIR

Saturday, Aug. 15

Terry Mriglot was one of the first people I met through the Tacoma music scene — way back in, geez, I can’t even remember. Suffice to say, it was a long time ago. I think there was mud wrestling at Neener’s involved, but memories are hazy. Back then, Mriglot fronted Drunk As Usual — not to mention No Quarter — a well-known Led Zeppelin tribute band. Mriglot, long Robert Plant hair and all, was the perfect frontman for this act. He owned the Plant swagger. Of course, Mriglot has since left No Quarter and been replaced by some other Plant impersonator, but in my mind there will never be a better Led Zeppelin tribute frontman.  This is why I was excited to see Kashmir, a Led Zeppelin tribute band that Mriglot created in 2007 that incorporates more of the band’s acoustic side, not to mention the recent success of Plant’s work with Alison Krauss (thanks to singer Liza Brown), scheduled to woo the deck at C.I. Shenanigan’s on Saturday. If I owned fancy enough clothes, I would so check this out. — MD

[C.I. Shenanigan’s, 8 p.m., no cover, 3017 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253.752.8811]