Proof That This Band Rocks Ac/Dc

The blindsiding surprise of last Friday's fine Fastbacks' Crocodile gig had to be middle act 80 Proof, a Bellevue-based band that slay(er)ed an industry-heavy megacrowd with covers of Ratt, Bon Jovi and AC/DC hits. The newly shorn Dave Grohl (that should stop Elvis Costello from making any more Alanis Morissette look-a-like jokes) said he recently caught AC/DC at a Madrid bull ring. "These guys are much better," he added. He was right.

-- The Croc has Boston's notable Throwing Muses tonight, with Austin's Craig Ross opening. Tomorrow Those Darn Accordions will be pestering us again.

-- The people at The Paragon on Queen Anne love big-old theme festivals. A few months ago they gave us a week of blues, and this week the club does the summertime splash with its first Caribbean Party, featuring nothing but reggae tonight through Sunday. There'll be a special reggae menu, raffles and prizes, and it's for a good cause.

San Francisco-based Reggae Angels kick off the festivities tonight; tomorrow Seattle's Ambassa plays, Saturday it's longtime local favorites Ganja Farmers, and Sunday it's The Groove.

Party proceeds go to aid the Queen Anne Helpline. And to help you, groovin' reggae angels that you are, there's no cover.

-- Homie Pete Droge used to be a fixture in these parts. Back when he was heading up Ramadillo in the early '90s, you could catch him playing somewhere almost every night of the week. That's all changed now. Ramadillo is no more and Droge, along with his band The Sinners, plays all over the country.

Droge recently released his second album, "Find A Door," and it's gotten fine notices. His first major release, "Necktie Second," netted the cheery hit "If You Don't Love Me (I'll Kill Myself)" which was used in not one, but two, movie soundtracks. Droge, still a rail-thin boy, is at Moe's Saturday.

-- Fellow Seattle up-and-comer Super Deluxe, a highlight of the End Fest, does the Moe tomorrow. Richard Hell tonight.

-- You thought we were kidding. Well, so did we, but it's true: tonight Foghat - the original lineup - returns for one night only to Ballard's bombastic boogie-blues-barn, The Backstage. The band will be whipping out all its hits, including "I Just Want To Make Love To You," "Slow Ride" and (my personal favorite) "Fool For The City." This is the real deal, so be there or you'll be somewhere else.

-- Elsewhere in Ballard, former Holy Modal Rounder Peter Stampfel is at The Tractor tonight, Red House Painters plays Saturday, Dick Powell does the CD release thing Tuesday, and singer/ songwriter Ellis Paul returns Wednesday.

-- Boulder's favorite fish, Leftover Salmon, returns Saturday to The Ballard Firehouse. Accurately described by group leader, singer/guitarist, songwriter and chief washboard man Vince Herman as "Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass," the band plays good-humored, high velocity progressive bluegrass with a heavy taste of cayenne pepper and a solid dose of humor. The band does some 240 dates a year and is as tightly packed as a can o' pink.

-- Tchkung!, the band that brought aluminum siding to heavy metal (and tribal rock), is having a CD release party Saturday at The Showbox for its new release, "Post World Handbook." Perennial favorite Sky Cries Mary plays the `box tonight and Love & Rockets makes a return appearance Monday.

-- Gerry Andal's Auburn and Everett rib joints have ridden into the sunset. Adios partner.