If imitation truly is the highest form of flattery, then Alive After Five has to feel pretty good about Thursday Thunder.

Downtown Boise’s longstanding free concert series at The Grove plaza is the obvious inspiration for the Boise Spectrum’s similar shindig.

Alive After Five began weeks ago, but Thursday Thunder is just pulling the starter cord on its 10-week series. Local Americana band Audio Moonshine will kick things off June 28 at the free event, which runs from 6 to about 9 p.m. Thursdays.

If you ever start feeling burned out on Alive After Five, mix things up and give Thursday Thunder a try. Catch a movie in air-conditioned Edwards Cinemas afterward. (Or take a sleeping bag and start the line for “The Dark Knight Rises.”)

Thursday Thunder is smaller than Alive After Five. But it can be refreshing. Most people appear to actually watch the band. They sit at tables and chairs, which organizers politely have set up. Raffles are held for movie tickets and Gameworld gift certificates. Activities for kids are a focus, too; last year, there was a bounce house in the grass.

Here’s the rest of the music schedule: Steady Rush, Brandon Pritchett (July 5), Big Wow Band (July 12), $oul Purpo$e (July 19), Codi Jordan Band (July 26), Pilot Error (Aug. 2), Big Wow Band (Aug. 9), Pilot Error (Aug. 16), $oul Purpo$e (Aug. 23), iRock (Aug. 30.)

If you recognize a few names, it’s because Thursday Thunder books local musicians. One exception: Salt Lake City’s reggae-rockin’ Codi Jordan Band, a smooth-sounding act that should appeal to fans of Sublime and Slightly Stoopid.

THE REVOLUTION BEGINS

If you read Scene magazine Friday — all 44 pages of it — you noticed my column about the new dynamic being created by Revolution Concert House and Event Center, 4983 Glenwood St.

When Revolution flings open its doors Aug. 22 with a grand-opening Joe Walsh concert, the 2,200-capacity venue will compete directly with the 999-capacity Knitting Factory Concert House in Downtown Boise.

Revolution announced its first eight events last week. Several of the acts previously have performed at the Knit (or its predecessor, The Big Easy), so it’s obvious that the two venues will battle for some of the same performers.

Here is Revolution’s initial schedule:

Æ Joe Walsh — Aug. 22, $49.50 general admission, $149.50 VIP, tickets available at Ticketfly.com

Æ Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ziggy Marley — Aug. 28, $39.50, $59.50 VIP, Ticketfly

Æ Boise Tactical Expo — Sept. 22

Æ George Thorogood & The Destroyers — Sept. 26, $29.50, $49.50 VIP, Ticketfly

Æ Arrival from Sweden (Abba tribute) — Oct. 5

Æ DJ Steve Aoki — Oct. 24

Æ Chef Robert Irvine of Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible” — Nov. 18

Æ Alice Cooper, Halestorm — Nov. 21, $35, $55 VIP, Ticketfly

TONIGHT ON ‘THE OTHER STUDIO’

I’ll talk about summer concerts and festivals in Idaho’s mountain towns. Plus, Tim Johnstone and I will discuss the new Smashing Pumpkins album, “Oceania.” You’ll hear the 9-minute title track, plus music from Ghostland Observatory, Jason Isbell, Wilco and more.

“The Other Studio” airs from 9 to 10 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 FM The River.

IN SCENE JUNE 29

Æ Ready for a bang? We’ll have a guide to area fireworks displays celebrating the Fourth of July.

Æ The headbanging Mayhem Festival will bring classic metal bands — and thousands of fans — to the Idaho Center Amphitheater on July 4.

Æ Creative clusters: A look at a trio of new art galleries that has sprung up on 8th Street in BoDo.

Michael Deeds’ column runs Fridays in Scene and Sundays in Life. Email: mdeeds@ idahostatesman.com. Twitter: @IDS_Deeds