It's a new week, which means it's time for a new installment of Bobble Tiki's South Sound music news and notes column. Without further ado, let's get rolling. ...

Bobble Tiki is, quite possibly, one of the least productive island themed souvenirs you'll ever meet. If there's a way to put it off - whatever "it" is - Bobble Tiki will almost certainly take advantage. If there's the possibility to procrastinate, Bobble Tiki will seize the moment. To do's, small errands, life goals: Bobble Tiki is fine letting it slide. He's just a chill dude. Plus, good things take time. If something's worth doing, it's worth taking way longer than normal to do it.

Is Bobble Tiki right, or is Bobble Tiki right?

In Bobble Tiki's case, this tendency isn't really something average people usually call a "positive quality." It's much more likely to be likened to "laziness," or "lack of work ethic," or "alcoholism."

But whatever. Bobble Tiki doesn't need the haters. What Bobble Tiki needs, in times like these, is a full coffee cup of boxed wine and the soothing tones of humorous and ironic, three-part, harmony rich folk pop.

In other words, a little touch of Uncle Bonsai, a band that Bobble Tiki suspects - just maybe - might understand his plight.

You see, Uncle Bonsai - Arni Adler, Patrice O'Neill, and Andrew Ratshin, singers all three, with Ratshin also wielding an acoustic guitar - will be in Tacoma Saturday, at Urban Grace Church, celebrating the release of The Grim Parade, the band's brand spanking new release.

The Grim Parade also just happens to be the first new Uncle Bonsai release in nearly 10 years.

Fourteen overtly witty, sparse, (nearly) biting folk songs, where the intricate vocal harmonies are only matched by the intentional whimsy of it all, Uncle Bonsai's The Grim Parade is a lesson in balance: in this case, the balance of coffee shop humor and classic, Peter Paul and Mary styled folk pop.

Bobble Tiki's favorite track, walking away, is "The Baby's Head," where the hypnotist's watch-like vocal rounds are quite literally beautiful and mesmerizing.

Also, spoiler alert: the baby's head is a hexagon.

That's the kind of balance Bobble Tiki is referring to.

"(The Grim Parade) features songs that focus on the passing of time, the passing of genes, the passing of pets - the truth of everything seeming buried somewhere under the family tree," says Adler in a promotional letter sent to the Weekly Volcano, which goes on to describe the band as "nearly naked folk-pop."

Catch Uncle Bonsai at Urban Grace Church in Tacoma on Saturday, Oct. 23, and in Olympia at the Olympia Ballroom Saturday, Oct. 30. If you've got a sense of humor, and a soft spot for folk, you won't regret it.

UNDER THER RADAR PICK OF THE WEEK:

True, blue Tacomans likely already have the date circled on their calendar, or programmed into their smart phone, or scrawled on the back of their hand in sharpie. The Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe turns three this weekend, and on Saturday CFA Disarmed (which is the acoustic-sexy version of the regular, high octane CFA), DickEd and Looking for Lizards? (which is theeee Carl Zook along with Damien Simard, also rocking acoustics) will throw it all down at a free celebratory show, sure to send everyone into the fourth year of the Top with a well earned hangover and a smile on their face. The Top also celebrates Friday and Sunday, too.

Awesome.

See you next week.