When most singer-songwriters show up at open mics, what you can expect is a series of weepy ladies and gentlemen strumming away on acoustic guitars. In direct opposition to these expectations, what you will find Friday at the New Frontier Lounge is a horse of a different color. Featuring many artists that I've written about before, the so-called "Tacoma Songwriter Showcase...of the Immortals!" will have a spate of performers that have made their name doing something very different from your average singer-songwriter. Patrick Galactic, formerly of the dark synth-rock band Death By Stars, will be in attendance, as well as the eclectic, quirky music of WES SP8 and TBASA, and the haunting beauty of Hell Mary. At its best, seeing one person with one guitar on a stage is the most direct way to finding out who they really are. This is one of those times.

TACOMA SONGWRITER SHOWCASE...OF THE IMMORTALS, w/ Patrick Galactic, WES SP8, TBASA, Hell Mary, 9 p.m., The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25^th St., Tacoma, cover tba, 253.572.4020]