In the helter-skelter of the modern world, sometimes Bobble Tiki needs nothing so much as the chance to retire inside, close the bamboo shutters and take a break.

But Bobble Tiki is the nervous sort, cursed with the inability to just sit and daydream. For some reason, and in less than 60 seconds, he invariably begins a terrifying inventory of the low points of his life and soon runs screaming back into the hurly-burly of the marketplace.

Over the years, he's tried several things to keep himself occupied: Jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, paint-by-numbers, smoking, knitting and Sudoku.

So maybe he'll try something new. Bobble Tiki will join The Mountain Highway Knitters in Spanaway March 6 at the Blue Steele Coffee close to Parkland ... on the assumption that one can never have too many afghan blankets.

This is a music column, so it's best to discuss music.

THE JILLY RIZZO: Photo credit Pappi Swarner

Bobble Tiki caught up with The Jilly Rizzo's press secretary Kermit Fogle for the latest on the band before its show Saturday with Blanco Bronco at 9 p.m. inside The Acme Grub Cage. Fogle confirmed the band is still made up of weird, old-ish people who possess the quarter of the passion of four 12 year olds at their first Green Day concert 15 years ago: The Pip, Crabs, The German, The Drummer, Grape and Dicky Pye playing an array of instrumentation from bongos to sax, flute and an effects board so large it wouldn't fit in the trunk of a 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville.

As for what you'll hear Saturday night, you can expect a funk/BT Express-influenced workout called "Retro Toke," a third party, lesbian-friendly magnum opus called "When A Man Loves A Woman (Who Loves A Woman), He Ain't Gonna," and another called "Hey That's Great" containing the $5 line, "you're into Kerouac / his name was Jack / what band was he in? / hey that's great!"

Fogle also mentioned The Jilly Rizzo will be in the studio next month. And, apparently, TJR digs Tacoma band Trees and Timber. ...

DEATH BY STARS: Photo credit Dan McCormack

Death By Stars will be returning to The New Frontier, its self-proclaimed home base, Saturday (8 p.m., $5) with its favorite out-of-town bands Ever So Android, Elbow Coulee and Wearbearcat! "The electro-dance-rock scene is growing rapidly inside and outside of Tacoma and we are proud to present what we feel are some of the best and brightest from around the Sound," says Death By Stars guitarist Patrick Galactic. Death By Stars will debut a few new songs during Saturday night's dance party, including "The Sell Outs" and an untitled track. The band has an EP in the works, hoping to drop it toward the end of summer. While Death By Stars isn't ready to announce the EP's producer, you can expect four to five songs the band featured prominently in it sets this past year. ...

America's Got Talent? No, it doesn't —— but NBC will waste 45 weeks (give or take) trying to convince you otherwise. Foothills Got Talent? That's what the Orting Food Bank wants to know. It's hosting a talent concert March 16-23 with a 10-hour recording session at Mirror Sound Studio up for first prize. Want in on the party? Click here. ...

As always, Bobble Tiki really doesn't care what you do this week, because he doesn't even know you.  Besides, it's time for Bobble Tiki to stop all this nonsense and get back to attending the Olympia Psychic Buffet every first Monday at the Urban Onion. There's just bound to be a vision in there that says, "Goofy wooden guy who writes weekly music column full of bull will amass great fortune and retire in the Canary Islands with the Davalos twins."

LINK: Live music tonight in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area