Singing about 'drunks, losers and good ol' boys' -- a Southern band must be in town

With the 2001 concept album "Southern Rock Opera," Drive-By Truckers picked up the mantle of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special and other groups from Southern rock's glory days.

The Truckers' gritty view of life in the modern South infuses the group with an edgy unpredictability, and the band's eclectic sound blends rock, old-time country and heavy R&B.

"The band's songs tell tales of drunks, widespread poverty, loveable losers and stubborn good ol' boys set against a backdrop of trailer parks and southern despair," reads a posting on NPR.org coinciding with a July 2006 webcast from a Truckers show in Washington, D.C.

"They speak of 'the duality of the Southern thing': pride and regret, the pride of belonging to a special place with a separate history, speaking in a distinct accent, and a feeling of discomfort too, about some of that history and attitude."

The band was formed in Athens, Ga., in 1996 by Mike Cooley (grandson of Spade Cooley, the western-swing fiddler) and Patterson Hood (son of bassist David Hood of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section).

Drive-By Truckers' eighth album, "Brighter Than Creation's Dark," is the focus of the band's current tour, which rumbles into town for shows Saturday and Sunday at Showbox at the Market.

The album is dedicated to Muscle Shoals keyboardist Spooner Oldham, who brings his classic soul sound to the new album. Among the 19 songs on "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" are "Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife," "The Righteous Path," "Daddy Needs a Drink" and "Checkout Time in Las Vegas." Three of the 19 songs were written by longtime bassist Shonna Tucker, who previously hadn't written for the band.

Opening for the Truckers is rough-around-the-edges American band The Felice Brothers.

Marilyn Manson is up to his ghoulish tricks again.

The macabre rocker who buys cosmetics by the bucket is back on the road in support of his current album, "Eat Me, Drink Me." The "Rape of the World" tour includes a show Monday at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

The best part about the show is that Manson has reunited with bassist Twiggy Ramirez, who co-wrote "Antichrist Superstar," "Mechanical Animals" and "Holywood" with Manson. Joining the two on stage are musicians Chris Vrenna, Rob Holliday and Ginger Fish, but Tim Skold has split with Manson for the time being.

In concert, the spectacle-loving rocker has been ripping apart mannequins, burning Bibles and behaving badly -- all in the name of entertainment.

What's your favorite local band?

Semifinal round two in the 2008 SoundOff! competition is Saturday at 8 p.m. at Level Three at the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Competing are KnowMads of Seattle, The Nextdoor Neighbors of Vancouver and Kirkland, Pat Goodwin of Seattle and Scribes, also of Seattle.

The SoundOff! competition has brought national attention to several bands, among them Schoolyard Heroes, Idiot Pilot and Mon Frere. It's a great showcase of young, local talent, not to mention terrifically entertaining. Bands and musicians often bring their own cheering sections, making for a lively evening of competition.

Semifinal round three is Feb. 23, with Deer City of Issaquah, Kusikia of Tacoma, Man Down Medic of Seattle, and Shotty of Kirkland.

The final round is March 1, featuring bands from each semifinal round. New Faces, a Port Townsend band, won semifinal round one and will compete in the final round. The others will be determined Saturday and Feb. 23.

Tickets, $10, are available at the box office at 325 Fifth Ave. N. or by calling 206-770-2702.

Tacoma is fertile ground for bluegrass this time of year.

Grascals, Duhks, Seldom Scene, Punch Brothers (with Chris Thile), The Wilders, Packway Handle Band, Spring Creek Bluegrass Band, Black and Bluegrass (with Laura Love) and Trampled by Turtles are among the bands performing at the 15th annual Wintergrass Music Festival on Thursday through Feb. 24 in Tacoma.

Wintergrass '08 has added a new venue, the Varsity Grille Stage, and Hotel Murano (formerly the Hotel Sheraton Tacoma) has been extensively renovated.

The annual stringband gathering is the kind of event that inspires musicians to play their best. More than 30 bands and 200 musicians are featured. It isn't surprising to hear impromptu jams in the hotel lobby -- and even the elevators.

Tickets include a four-day family pass ($280), four-day adult pass ($110), and one-day pass ($20-$55 adults, $15 kids). Four-day passes are available for seniors, military and students ($100) and kids ($25).

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to Wintergrass.com.