Two years removed from his last album “Where Concrete Don’t Grow,” Jonathan Harris is on a creative roll.

“I’ve been doing a lot of writing. It’s just spewin’ out,” he said this week. “I think I’ve written more in the last year than I have in all of my writing that I’ve ever done. I’ve got three songs I’ve written in the last three weeks.”

You can still hear “Concrete” cut “She Was” on Seattle country station KNBQ-FM (Q-Country, 102.9), a likely addition to his headlining set at the Q-Country Summer Kick-off Party tonight at the Emerald Queen Casino showroom. But expect Harris to road test some rockin’ new sounds tonight, too.

“I’ve been listening to a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughan,” he said. “I’ve been kind of infiltrating that feel, the rock feel, into the country music. I’ve just been kind of hungry for something a little different, a little bit of a change (with) more of that Texas blues, R&B stuff.”

He broke down a few new cuts fans can listen for at the EQ:

 • “Keeps Getting Better” was inspired by recent success and written specifically for tonight’s show. Harris recited a few lyrics: “Stage is gettin’ bigger/ lights are shinin’ brighter/ guitar is playin’ louder / climbin’ up the ladder, keeps gettin’ better.’

“It’s been 12 years,” he said. “I’m really happy with where we’re at right now, and I really do believe it keeps getting better.”

 • “Running Away” sounds to be a more introspective number. “I’m running away from fear and doubt/ I’m ready to change what my life has been all about/ I’m not afraid to face reality/ I’m running away from what used to be me”

 • On “Lessons Learned” Harris meshes two seemingly disparate genres. “That’s a really rockin’ one,” he said. “We break it down to ... kind of a ‘funktry’ feel – funk-country.”

On my blog, Tacoma Rock City: KNDD-FM (The End, 107.7) released details for Endfest, which will bring headliner Blink 182, Weezer, Taking Back Sunday and Chester French to Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre on Sept. 10.

But the news that really made my week was EMI’s announcement that a new Alice in Chains disc will finally see the light of day in September. The band – featuring new singer William DuVall – started recording at Studio 606 in Northridge, Calif., last October with producer Nick Raskulinecz.

I’m not saying I’ve heard anything, but doesn’t that suggest A in C will be on the road right around the time the disc comes out? Hmmm? Shweeeeet!

More on both online.

BONUS TRACKS

 • Tacoma legends Don Wilson and Nokie Edwards of the Ventures will be at Puyallup’s Liberty Theater tonight. Consider it a warm-up for their summer tour in Japan, not to mention a great opportunity to catch two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers who helped put Tacoma on the musical map; www.thelibertytheater.com.

 • Billy Stoops, of Junkyard Jane and Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers fame, will headline the Mandolin Café in Tacoma on Thursday; www.themandolincafe.com.

 • And the show most worthy of a road trip up to Seattle will bring PJ Harvey and John Parish to the Moore Theatre on Tuesday. I’ll be spinning the hell out of their new album “A Woman a Man Walked By” and 1996’s “Dance Hall at Louse Point” in anticipation; www.themoore.com.

Ernest A. Jasmin: 253-274-7389

ernest.jasmin@thenewstribune.com

blogs.thenewstribune.com/rockcity