Fri. Oct. 5

 Jake La Botz has a life history that includes stealing cars and residing in them. He also is a gritty blues singer-guitarist of whom superb novelist Jerry Stahl said, "Not everybody will get (his music) becaues not everybody is ready for the truth." Last year, La Botz went out on a tour called "Tattoo Across America, where he peformed at tattoo parlors figuring "musicians don't have to be tied down to the bar touring scenario any longer. I encourage artists to think about who their fans are , or will be, and find a way to reach them." Yes, Jake has tats - his first was self-administered at 14 with a sewing needle. Now, La Botz is reprising that tattoo tour this year, but, somewhat oddly, is playing clubs - two of them - in the Boston area this October.  (He plays parlors elswhere.) But enough about his looks and history. Can we drop another name? Yes, we can. We can tell you Sly Stallone is a fan and nabbed him to play two songs on camera in his March 2008 film, "John Rambo" (the fourth installment of you know what.) More about the music: The Nashville Scene had a good take: "The songs pierce and scrape at the listener's skin like the needle of a tattoo gun, his harsh grainy rasp - not unlike Tom Waits - spewing forth blunt, morbid narratives about threadbare lives and the nearness of the grave." So, we'd say you're in for a jolly evening. He played the Brendan Behan Pub Thursday and he's at the 21 Nickels Grill & Tap in Watertown Friday Oct. 5. The gig starts about 8:30 No cover.

21 Nichols Ave., Watertown, 617-923-7021 www.21nickels.com