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

To be honest, Bobble Tiki is having a hard time wrapping his head around the idea that it's nearly Thanksgiving - that by the next time he comes to you it will be a week after Turkey Day, and the madness that is the Holiday season will be in full swing. You see, every year as an important annual tradition (starting this year, of course) Bobble Tiki takes the week of Thanksgiving off from work - spending time with the Tiki-in-laws, taking naps on the sofa, mainlining tryptophan, and basically become a swollen, glistening, butterball mass of Tiki humanity. It's pretty sweet. But it's also a total blur (or at least Bobble Tiki assumes it will be, judging by benders past). It boggles Bobble Tiki's mind that 2010 has flown by so quickly, and seeing as it's basically Thanksgiving, the year is basically over. It's a lot to deal with. I mean, by the time Bobble Tiki writes his next column the calendar will say December (false: Bobble Tiki's calendar will still say August, as it has for months). How is one supposed to come to terms with such a thing?

Bobble Tiki doesn't know. So, like all the great issues in his life, Bobble Tiki simply won't deal with it - instead, focusing on the here and now. Or, for the intentions of this column, the immediate future - specifically the pre-Thanksgiving (Bobble Tiki likes the sound of that!) jam-out at Jazzbones featuring hyper-local icon Vicci Martinez. It'll be one last time for Bobble Tiki to go out, get down, and get his party on before it's holiday sweater season again and Grandpa Tiki is accidentally peeing on the La-Z-Boy after too many celebratory scotches over bland Christmas dinner.

If Bobble Tiki had a nickel for every time Vicci Martinez has been written about in the pages of the Weekly Volcano, he'd be a much more well-to-do Tiki, probably with a fancy collection of stocks and bonds and real car insurance. Sadly, Bobble Tiki doesn't have a nickel, or even a penny, for every time Martinez has graced the pages of this prestigious bird cage liner, but that's OK -- he's still got her music, which has always been enough.

Suffice to say, as a Tiki growing ever more old and creepy, Bobble Tiki has been following Martinez for a long damn time. He clearly remembers watching Martinez compete on Star Search (or, as clearly as he remembers anything). He remembers BEFORE Star Search. He remembers the way Martinez basically grew up on stage, in front of Tacoma's lucky eyes, transitioning from a child with immense talents and potential to a legitimate and successful working musician, performer, rock star (basically) and all around top-notch human being. Bobble Tiki remembers when Martinez released the On My Way Record, way back in 2005, and how he knew she was right. Three records and a live DVD later, not to mention what seems like a lifetime, Bobble Tiki thinks she's proved it.

"Now my whole goal is to stay human and not let it go to my head," Martinez told the Weekly Volcano almost four years ago.

She's done a pretty good job. Partying down with Martinez on the night before Thanksgiving seems like a sure bet proposition. It always has been in Tacoma, and probably always will be.

Even before that, however, there's another show (actually two) worth drawing your attention to. Portland's Hotter Than A Crotch (top five band name of all time) will be in town for two gigs this week - Friday at Le Voyeur in Olympia with Jeff Angell's Missionary Position, and Saturday in T-Town at Bob's Java Jive.

If ever there was a band for the pent up tension and scuzzed out, blue collar rock tendencies of Tacoma, or the rock ethos and ideals of a place like Oly, Hotter Than A Crotch just may be it.

The Rev Adam McKinney perhaps put it better than Bobble Tiki ever could, amazingly back in 2009, when by Bobble Tiki's math McKinney was twelve and a half.

Speaking to the band's allure, and a previous engagement in Olympia ...

Hotter Than a Crotch is smart enough to exploit this vulnerability in the rock ‘n' roll male by serving them heaping doses of dirty glam rock delivered by a raspy-voiced rock chick. Every song is a perfect marriage of salty guitar licks and wailing vocals. The band was formed by Buck bin Nasty, guitarist, and Gloria Holer, vocalist. ...Hotter Than a Crotch plans on "spanking the Olympia scene and sending it to bed without any pudding."

Bobble Tiki hasn't checked in to verify this, but his guess is Hotter Than A Crotch feels similarly a year later, and the description still holds. Check the band this week if you dare. Nasty and Haler call it "Campy soul-singer punk for awkward horny people," but you can be your own judge.

BOBBLE TIKI'S UNDER THE RADAR SHOW OF THE WEEK

‘Nesian Fest at Hell's Kitchen - Saturday, Nov. 20

While this one may not fit the bill of shows you typically associate with Tacoma punk and metal institution Hell's Kitchen, that's all the more reason to take note. On Saturday, local hip-hoppers Island Trybe will headline the first ‘Nesian Fest, which the group also happened to organize - with the goal being a celebration and creative gathering of Pacific Islanders throwing it down in the local hip hop scene. With at least five other performers on the bill, the first ‘Nesian Fest will undoubtedly be one of the most impressive collections of talent the weekend has in store.