When an artist skips her hometown for most of her career, it stands to reason that's because there isn't an adequate venue in said town. But there must be another reason in the case of Neko Case, because when she went home to Tacoma, the Pantages Theater, in the City of Destiny's forever-"emerging" downtown, outshone the evening's headliner. Like a smaller, more ornate Moore, the Pantages is full of charm, starting with the sparkling marquee and the darling gray-haired volunteer?acting more as grandmother of the evening than security?who informed us that someone would "nab" those caught using cameras or cell phones during the show. Ten minutes before showtime, another usher wandered through the lobby playing a set of bells, informing the crowd that it was time to take their seats. It felt more like a night at Othello than a rock show. With Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt on their fall calendar, it's all the more reason to drive south.?Chris Kornelis