Stage
I attended the opening of "Out of The Silence," an art exhibit in Olympia's Urban Onion lobby. It was a phenomenal event and a phenomenal exhibition. As they say in high society, everyone who is anyone was there: Mayor Stephen Buxbaum, Congressman Denny Heck, a handful of City Council members,
Stage
Every 15 years or so, the American musical veers in a new and unpredictable direction. When it works, it inspires a wave of imitators. Phantom and Les Miz spawned a decade of bombast. Rent added urban flava and moved gay life and issues to the forefront. Something tells me Next
Show And Tell
Ever walk into an argument long after it began and found that it's seemingly too late to take a side? The dueling parties have been firing off rationale after rationale, their heels are dug in, and as you watch them quarrel you decide you might as well stay out of
Music
From the moment I heard The Informal Gentlemen's song "Cold Dish," I felt a sense of clarity, a sense of purpose. This is conveyed not only through the band's sound, but also through the more implicit vibe that a band can give off. When you listen to The Informal Gentleman,
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. Acoustic Underground Open Mic, hosted by James Coates. 8 pm. BLUES The Royal Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Alice Stuart Royal Wednesday. 7:30 pm. $5. Charlie's Sports Bar and Grill Olympia - Downtown. Blues Jam with Blues Attitude. 9 pm. NC.
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Acoustic open mic hosted by Leanne Trevalyan. 8 pm. NC. Tugboat Annies Olympia - Westside. Open Mic Night. 9 pm. NC. BLUES Summit Pub Puyallup. Tim Hall & The Band Real Times. 7:30 pm. COMEDY/GAMES Westgate Bar and Grill Tacoma - Northend. Barstool
Listings
BLUES Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Blues Monday with Billy Pease, Paul Buck and Chris Gartland. 7 pm. NC. The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Jerry Miller. 8 pm. Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Rafael Tranquilino rockin' blues jam. 8 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES Willoughby's Restaurant and Lounge
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Charlie's Restaurant Puyallup. Acoustic Jam Night. Open mic format with Pam Carter from Classic Case as the host. 6-9 pm. NC. Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Open Shape Note Singing. All Ages. 5 pm. NC. BLUES Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Blues
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. An Evening with ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro. All Ages. 7 pm. $30. United Methodist Church Vashon. Journeys Beyong, featuring David Helfand, Justin Lader. All Ages. 2 pm. The Olympia Ballroom Olympia - Downtown. Love Our Local 2013 Winter Festival & Fundraiser, featuring
Stage
I managed to catch a goodly chunk of Olympia Family Theater's 2008 production of James and the Giant Peach, despite performing in a thriller next door. If you enjoyed the 2008 version, you'll find OFT's current revival uses the same script. The costumes are the same or similar, and the
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Amocat Cafe Tacoma - Triangle District. Amocat Live! featuring the Amocat House Band. All Ages. 7 pm. Red Bicycle Bistro and Sushi Bar Vashon. Asa Broomhall, Danny Newcomb. All Ages. 8:30 pm. NC. Forza Coffee - Fircrest. Jeff Ziontz. All Ages. 6 pm. NC. Spar Cafe Olympia
Stage
I've seen five Cirque du Soleil productions now and loved every one. They're circuses that forgo animals in favor of the staggering variety of things human beings can do, and they share a looseness of plot and fanciful, go-for-broke design philosophy. Just opened in Seattle is Cirque's newest touring show,
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Cascadia Grill Olympia - Downtown. Jeremy Serwer. All Ages. 6-9 pm. NC. Spar Cafe Olympia - Downtown. Kendl Winter. 8 pm. NC. Olympic Club Hotel and Theater Centralia. McDougall. 7 pm. Matrix Coffee House Chehalis. Open Mic Night. All Ages. 6:30 pm. NC. BLUES Dawson's Bar
Concert Alert
We list major concerts going on sale this weekend, as well as national touring acts performing in the Puget Sound this week and down the road. SECRET TICKET CODE TM = Ticketmaster, 253.627.TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com TW = TicketsWest, 800.325.SEAT, www.ticketswest.com TWEB = Ticketweb, 866.468.7623, www.ticketweb.com >>> ON SALE FRIDAY 10 AM The View. Seattle. Feb. 28 9
Music
The futures of Tacoma youth and hip-hop are intertwined. Generally speaking, hip-hop and music are huge outlets of creativity for young people. When I was growing up, there weren't hip-hop classes - may have been a breakdance class here or there, but nothing sustainable. Hip-hop had few if any positive
Stage
The latest show at Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, is a fascinating installation that may prove difficult to describe. I'll do my best while suggesting that you see for yourself. It is called K?kai, and it is a collaborative project between digital media artist Robert Campbell and ceramic sculptor Yuki
Arts
You know that awesome Australian accent you bust out when barbecuing shrimp in front of friends. Now would be a good time to read with that accent in your head. Australian Circus Oz is kicking off its. ... I'm serious, turn on the accent. Australian Circus Oz is kicking off its
Music
>>> Friday, Feb. 1 SAM RUSSELL It might be hard for me to judge Sam Russell objectively (like I do with all other music, clearly) because he just hits such a sweet spot for me. His laconic baritone immediately brings to mind the National's Matt Berninger, but the swooning country that surrounds
Music
Spindly guitar pricks open up History Speaks, the debut LP from Seattle's Deep Sea Diver. Soon, they're joined by thudding drums, a plaintive voice and, eventually, the kind of lush, full instrumentation that personifies Deep Sea Diver. The voice belongs to Jessica Dobson, a long-time musical entity in these parts. Deep
Stage
I read Liz Duffy Adams' script Or, (the comma is part of the show title) a few months ago, when I admired rather than enjoyed it. I couldn't visualize all its chaotic comings and goings. As with any sex farce, it turns out Or, has to be seen to be