Metal Jason handed the Weekly Volcano this poster promoting the Crossroads to Damnation Tour on 06/06/06 at Tacoma's Temple Theatre.  Jason's band I Defy joins 3 Inches of Blood, Angelsdevilsghosts, Beautiful Mothers, Beltfed Weapon, Durango 95, Feral and Sarah Connor on this all-ages event beginning at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $10 at Ticketmaster outlets, the Temple Theatre or Dragon Monkey Media. â€" Ron Swarner

The Jim Moore's restaurant at 100th Street and South Tacoma Way in Lakewood will change its name to Cafe 99 with upgrades to the food and interior space. â€" Jason de Paul

The lovely Lala is in trouble!  Doctor Tiki, you're our only hope!

Wayne’s Inn, the weekend party mecca of Puyallup, sports an old-timey looking sign on the wall that reads, “Beer: So Much More Than A Breakfast Drink.” I felt at home immediately. The $5 Life Saver drink special calls to mind the tropics with Midori, OJ and sloe gin. It came out looking like a roll of Lifesavers without the packaging â€" red, orange and green. Loads of staff kept the booze flowing and the party rolling. The bar is buffered by a soft black pleather armrest running its length. There’s something so right about having a soft pillow to lean on at the bar. There are three televisions hooked to the wall or ceiling all within a 12-foot area and 15 more throughout. You literally don’t have to turn your head to catch a pass, a dunk or a pitch. That’s sports fan dedication. Seemingly an odd mix of clientele â€" rockers, artsy types, the pierced and tattooed, club-going chicks, flannel wearers, jock guys â€" and yet all these stereotypes seemed to be chillin’ fine together. The speakers cranked out Ozzy Osbourne, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani and then Korn. Look out ladies, I’ll be back. 1902 E. Main Ave., Puyallup, (253) 848-3466. â€" Brad Allen

AllMusic has reviewed the Old Haunts' Fuel on Fire (Kill Rock Stars) album that hits the streets today.

• Released just a year after Fallow Field, the Old Haunts' sophomore album, Fuel on Fire, serves up a more focused and nuanced version of their stomping, spiky garage punk. This time around, their lumbering rhythms and prickly riffs owe less to their influences (although Craig Extine's nasal, raspy, vibrato-heavy voice still recalls Jack White or Robert Plant from time to time), and the slightly cleaner production makes Fuel on Fire feel less like some lost, decades-old mutant punk album than Fallow Field did. That's not to say that any of the weirdness or energy of the band's debut has been sacrificed, though -- if anything, the Old Haunts sound more distinctive on Fuel on Fire than they did on their debut, and many of the album's best moments are loud and haunting at the same time.

Read the rest here. â€" Brad Allen

At the Weekly Volcano, the anniversary of the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens is like a national holiday.  We run around in our underwear, get loaded and sing Irish drinking songs.  Wait, that was last week.  Anyway, besides the mountain thing, the city of Tacoma is a swell place to hang May 18.  The Tacoma Farmer's Market on Broadway between Ninth and 11th kicks off the season 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  At 5 p.m., the Downtown Merchants Group begins their a "Live After Five" program to prevent folks from fleeing downtown Tacoma after work. 
Third Thursday Art Walk also lands on May 18.  Downtown Tacoma restaurants, galleries, museums and businesses hang local artistic works with the museums offering free admission.
Then, as if your panties aren't already in a bunch, the Theatre District and Opera Alley have a Merchants Night 6-9 p.m. with food and shopping at the businesses in that area.
See, it's going to be a blast!  â€" Ken Swarner

Here's the early scoop. Throughout the summer, beginning on June 9, The Weekly Volcano and Varisty Grill are teaming up to host a Friday Night Happy Hour gig from 4-6 p.m. with chances to win great prizes including a trip to Vegas.  We'll have more info later. â€" Jason de Paul

Comedy nights are the in-thang right now and Cheers West decided to join the party.  Monday nights are now comedy nights at the University Place nightspot.  Open mic night starts at 9 p.m. followed by the headliners. win the open mic and walk away with $100 (or to the bar for Rumple Mintz shots). 7102 27th St. W., University Place, (253) 565-6665. â€" Brad Allen

Howard Stern came shocked his Sirius Satellite Radio listerners Monday with an announcement that he has been offered a "major deal" to return to analogue radio. Stern didn't disclose which network has made the offer, but claimed he would still be able to present his satellite show. Contact Music has the full story. â€" Brad Allen

Dude, the Associated Press reports this morning that Howard is staying put on Sirius. â€" Bobble Tiki

As I cut and paste the Weekly Volcano together today I will be looping this delicious CD. â€" Ron Swarner

• A.L. Harper write via BlogCritics: American Princes' second CD Less and Less was, for me, almost a sexual experience. This indie rock band from Little Rock, Arkansas and their bluesy garage-rock sound is breathtaking in its intensity and emotional release. It's like making love outside in the pouring rain. And you'll love every minute of it. American Princes unique lyrical, vocal, and musical combinations create a sound that ranges from Kings of Leon to the Chili Peppers, Cream to Bowie. Less and Less is a triumph of talent. Read more.