Tattoos and music go together like bread and water, or caffeine and Mountain Dew. In other words, they are synonymous with each other. And now People’s Bar and Grill is bringing them to Ames.

The Tattoo U! Show, a tattoo contest sponsored by Lasting Impressions Tattoo Studio and Jim Peterson Photography, is making its first appearance in this lovely town tonight. Not only will there be more body art than you can shake a stick at, three bands will be playing for listening enjoyment. Torn Earlobe, Great Big Freak and Grooveyard will tempt your tummy with the taste of funk-a-delic honey.

It’s time to show off those artistic bodily expressions that have robbed you of your money and unadulterated skin. There will be four tattoo size categories for men and women to impress the judges: small, medium, large and extra large. Best of show will be judged by the crowd, Peterson said.

There will be prizes for first through third place in each category, courtesy of Lasting Impressions Tattoo Studio. “Here’s a chance to be an exhibitionist and show off your tattoo,” Peterson said.

“We wanted something fun,” he explained. “I’ve been to a couple of Easyriders rodeo shows and they have applause meters, real technical stuff; we’re trying to lean away from the real hardcore tattoo people.”

The judges will probably be chosen from the audience before the show begins, Peterson said.

“Everything’s pretty loose,” he added. “I wish I could do it for free beer, but I can’t afford that,” Peterson said, laughing.

However, beer will be consumed when the Ames area bands hit the stage. Torn Earlobe will hit the stage first, amid a mishmash of rock, punk and reggae, without any loving tenderness.

“We’re not happy, feel-good love songs,” Bruce Fuller, drummer, said. “I like to think we’re doing our own thing. We’re not grunge; we don’t wear flannels around our waists.”

Playing with Great Big Freak is becoming second nature to Torn Earlobe. “We just love playing with them,” Fuller said. “They’re so good.”

Great Big Freak has proven that different is a-okay. G’Mo, Weeg, Bobby “Burn One” Bass, Chas A and MC Daddy-O are sure to get the crowd jumping, or at least freakin’. Just to keep their fans on their toes, GBF is dabbling with the idea of adding a scratcher.

“With all these different flavors, it’ll be a whole gumbo of funk,” Weeg said

This tattooed excursion is the first stop in their short tour, playing the Terrace at the Maintenance Shop Friday afternoon from 3 until 6 p.m., and Friday night at The Love Shack in Des Moines.

After the crowd is done freakin’ around, Grooveyard will make their second appearance on the People’s stage in as many weeks, playing their style of reggae rock.

The show starts at 9 p.m. with registration a little earlier at 8:30 p.m. This is not an all-ages show, so an ID is required. A proverb says: “The only difference between a tattooed person and a non-tattooed person is: the tattooed person doesn’t care if you’re not tattooed.”