You can learn more about this guy this weekend. We hear he was good at playing guitar or something.
AP FILE PHOTO

Just a few hot tickets for the next few days ...

Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound opening day (Friday, EMP): EMP unveils its first major Hendrix exhibit in five years. And Friday’s fanfare includes a presentation by Jimi’s friend and band mate, Billy Cox and a showcase of songs inspired by the man, featuring Jeff Fielder (Sera Cahoone), Mike Musburger (The Posies, Fastbacks), Ty Bailie (Dept. of Energy), Andy Stohler (Tracy Chapman, Alicia Dara), and Ian Moore (local singer/guitarist). Find a more detailed schedule here.

Outtasite with Sir Mix-A-Lot (Friday, Jazzbones): Mike Singleton – aka Outtasite – is one of this area’s most talented rappers. And it’s always fun to see Sir Mix-A-Lot do his thing – with hard rock versions of “Baby Got Back” and “Posse on Broadway,” no less.

Ben Folds (Sunday, UPS Fieldhouse): The indie rock favorite – known for “Underground” and "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" and “Battle of Who Could Care Less,” among other favorites – drops in on UPS. Find ticket info here.

The Swiss’s 15th birthday party (Monday, Swiss Tavern): Has it really been a decade and a half for one of Tacoma’s favorite rock venues? The evening will include a performance by Handful of Lovin’.

Here’s some cool stuff to keep you busy for a few days:

Ashton Shepherd (7:30 p.m. Friday, Puyallup Fair & Events Center): Check out one of country’s rising stars. And the best part is that it’s free, free, free! And check back in between now and Friday morning and I should have some interview clips posted.

Bump Kitchen (8 p.m. Friday, Club Juno): Catch one of the South Sound’s most fun blues and funk bands -- at Tacoma’s newest live music venue, no less.

Rilo Kiley (8 p.m. Sunday, Showbox SoDo): The band, fronted by Postal Service collaborated Jenny Lewis, is out in support of its latest disc, “Under the Blacklight.” This is an all-ages show, y’all.

MGMT (8 p.m. Monday, Chop Suey): The good news: Here’s your chance to catch one of pop's trendiest groups in an intimate setting – you know, before they get all big and move to bigger venues. The bad news: It’s sold out. Hope you’ve got a hook up or money for a scalper. Also open to all ages.

The Pink Floyd Experience (7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Pantages Theater): Well, seein’ as Pink Floyd ain’t gettin’ back together any time soon …

Mount Rainier Music Festival (Friday through Sunday, Mineral Lake Event Center): In its second year, Randy Oxford’s three-day festival in Mineral will showcase 25 bands and again benefit Mount Rainier National Park. Details here.

The Black Keys (Saturday, Showbox SoDo): These Akron, Ohio-bread blues-rock minimalists expand their arrangements on their new album “Attack & Release.”

Coco Montoya (Sunday, Jazzbones): The blues guitar great will deliver songs from his latest album, “Dirty Deal.”

Autechre (April 7, Neumo’s): These mavericks of electronic music can count Radiohead’s Thom Yorke among their biggest fans.

Chris Rock (April 10, 11, Paramount Theatre): The “funniest man in America” is back on the road. And that can only mean he's shaping up for another classic HBO special. Yes!

Mad Professor (Friday, Nectar): Dubstep acts like Kode 9 and Burial are all the rage in England. And you can trace them back to the Professor, among the most influential pioneers of dub reggae.

Citizen Cope (Friday, Saturday, Moore Theatre): This genre-bending singer-songwriter counts Seattle as one of his strongest markets.

Henry Rollins (Saturday, Capitol Theater): The former Black Flag/Rollins Band leader hits Oly with his latest comedy/spoken word routine, dubbed “Provoked.” It’s his only Washington stop this time around.

John Walker & the Hitchhikers (Wednesday, Jazzbones early show): Just recently got hip to this Tacoma band after seeing it at the Swiss. J-Dub is Tom Waitsey and existential, but kinda funny, too. You know, when he’s not reminding you that you’re gonna die and nobody loves you.

Vampire Weekend (Wednesday, Neumos): They’re this year’s Arctic Monkeys and then some; that is, a group of fresh-faced kids that came out of nowhere to generate a reeeeeediculous amount of buzz. Perhaps a little overhyped, but I kind of like their calypso-inflected debut. And does singer Ezra Koenig sound like a young Sting on some songs or what?

Ezra Koenig -- shown here at last week's SXSW festival in Austin -- will appear at Neumo's with the trendiest band in America, Vampire Weekend.
E. JASMIN

Here are a few things on my musical itinerary:

Wintergrass (today through Sunday, downtown Tacoma): I’ll be checkin’ out Laura Love’s new band, Harpers Ferry, tonight at the Black and Bluegrass showcase. The weekend also brings Michael Cleveland, the Punch Brothers, the Duhks, Vasen and many more. Find a complete schedule, list of venues and ticket information here.

Vicci Martinez/Flowmotion (Saturday, Showbox at the Market): How long before T-town’s own Vicci Martinez is headlining the Moore or the Paramount? This is an all-ages gig.

The Hives (Saturday, Showbox SoDo): The Hives bring the rowdy garage rock goodness and the Donnas and Holy Ghost Revival add support.

Sierra Leon’s Refugee All Stars (Sunday, Pantages Theater): The 10-piece All Stars band will deliver “Living Like a Refugee,” “Soda Soap” and other uplifting reggae tunes inspired by their experiences during Sierra Leone’s 1990s civil war.

Travis Tritt (Sunday, Emerald Queen Casino): The country superstar brings some “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” to the EQ.

These should keep you busy for a few nights:

The Coup (Friday, Nectar Lounge): Boots Riley + Pam the Funkstress = the most radical group in hip-hop. But they have a sense of humor when it comes to stickin’ it to the Man. Hmmm, wonder what sorts of rants primary season will inspire.

Smash Mouth (Friday, Emerald Queen Casino): I was kind of torn about including these guys on the must see list. I mean, you're usually well past Hasbeensville when your lead singer appears on the “Surreal Life.” But I guess “All Star” and “Walkin’ on the Sun” were a’ight.

Curtis Salgado (Friday, Jazzbones): The man who inspired the Blues Bros returns to T-town.

Mono in VCF (Saturday, Triple Door): One of Tacoma’s most unique indie pop bands unveils new tunes at this CD release party, with local faves the Elephants adding support. (And that reminds me. I should probably finish editing my interview with Hunter Lea and post some clips.)

DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Kid Koala (Sunday, Showbox at the Market): The indie turntablists equivalent of a bill with the Arcade Fire, Death Cab and Modest Mouse. Or something like that.

The Bob Marley Fest? Black Lips? North Mississippi Allstars? The Cops? Wow! Look’s like Neumo’s is the place to be through next week. But before you call in sick to work and go crash with your buddy on Capitol Hill, there’s a few things closer to home, too, starting with …

South 11th (Friday, Hell’s Kitchen): A night of RAWK! Alos with Everything Must Go, Johnny Babalouie & the Master of Bation and a band whose name my editors would want me to post even less than that last one. You’ll just have to click the link and read it on Hell’s Kitchen’s site.

Bob Marley Festival (Saturday, Neumo’s): Nyahbingi Rastaman, Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus Band and Clinton Fearon & The Boogie Band are among the musical acts that will come together to celebrate Bob Marley’s birthday, which is Tuesday.

Black Lips (Monday, Neumo’s): This Atlanta outfit has developed quite the reputation for debauchery and mayhem. Wonder if there will be a showroom left for …

The Cops (Tuesday, Neumo’s): I’ve been diggin’ the Seattle band’s latest “Free Electricity.” Kinski adds support.

Jill Scott (Tuesday, Paramount Theatre): The Queen of Neo Soul is out in support of her latest, “The Real Thing.”

Ron Jeremy’s Three Ring Circus (Wednesday, Club Vertigo): I reluctantly add the man who's arguably the most famous adult film star of all time to my list this time around. For starters, last time I interviewed the guy, I had little old ladies calling and scolding me about my loose morals for two months. Then there’s the time I blogged about another Jeremy appearance at Maggie O'Toole's, which prompted some guy to write an angry letter to my boss about how all I write about is “grunge and porn.” (I am not making this up.) But morbid curiosity will likely draw me out to see ol' Ron's band, which I heard about one some TV show or another. Plus Vertigo’s Web site promises “a surprise a national band.” Oooh, ahhhh.

North Mississippi Allstars (Wednesday, Neumo’s): A night of hot Southern rock, also with Alvin Youngblood Hart.

What to do for the next week? Hmmmm.

Oh yeah! Here’s some stuff:

Severus (Friday, Hell’s Kitchen): With Killing Roots, Dying to Bleed, De-Krepit and Killing Roots.

Kem (Friday, Emerald Queen Casino): The R&B crooner brings his smooth sounds to the EQ.

Clumsy Lovers (Friday, Jazzbones): The Clever Bastards open. (I'm sensing a pattern.)

Pierce County Executive’s Excellence in Hip-Hop Awards (Saturday, Tacoma Art Museum): Performance, panel discussion and awards ceremonies tied in to the South Sound’s hip-hop scene. Check Music Entertainment’s Web site for details.

Harrold Gomez (Tuesday, Jazzbones): This guy's hilarious. And I think I’ll be judging karaoke with Colin afterward.

Blue Man Group (Thursday, KeyArena):Post-modern pop at its finest. I liked the piano smasher and those jedi swisher stick things last time I saw BMG. Wonder what kind of cool toys they’ll break out on the How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.1.

Here’s a few things to keep y’all busy this weekend and beyond, And now that I'm over my case of the ol' ebola, I may have to join you at a couple of these:

Lupe Fiasco (Friday, Showbox at the Market): Kanye West’s protégé will be performing tracks from his new disc, “The Cool.”

The Apex Theory (Saturday, Hell’s Kitchen): Local favorites Utterance, In Lunar Blue and Wide Eyed Panic add support.

Jeremy Enigk (Wednesday, Chop Suey): The Seattle singer-songwriter’s rescheduled gig is yet another sad reminder that the Crocodile is toast.

Karaoke contest (Tuesday, Jazzbones): Laugh it up at Ha Ha Tuesday (Riggs and Sharon Lacey deliver the laughs) and then test your karaoke skills for prizes. Trust me, you don’t have to be Jordan Sparks. I think I may wind up judgin’ again, and I’m a big softie compared to all those mean British @#%@%@^@@ they find to judge all those TV reality shows. (What are they putting in the water over there, anyway?)

Gallagher (Saturday, Emerald Queen Casino): What? You say this is actually Gallagher and not Black Gallagher? Uh, never mind, y'all. Huh huh, huh huh. Black Gallagher rules.

Cough! Hack! Sniffle!

The 'Tussin ain't workin'. So much for Chris Rock's miracle cure. It's made me pleasantly loopy, though. And hopefully I'll be well enough to join you at one or more of these shows. Cheers.

Carrie Akre (Saturday at Club Vertigo): Carrie's last show before she goes on maternity leave.

Devin the Dude (Saturday at Chop Suey): D the D headlines the Second Annual Freestyle Championships, with Cool Nutz, Mr. D.O.G., etc.

Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour (Wednesday at Washington Center for the Performing Arts): Featuring Kendrick Scott, Nnenna Freelon and Terence Blanchard.