PERMANENT LIPSTICK by Ginger Knoxx
So I ran into an old high school flame at an all-ages show last week. He was there with his kid, who sported a damn fine Mohawk (good job, dad). I was there to see the Broken Oars. It was surreal. I hadn't seen this guy but once since high school. We just kept laughing between randomly fired questions about what we'd been doing for the last 12 years. Looking at him made me remember what it was like to be 16, trying to master a kick flip on my mom's deck and staying out all night. Hell yeah!

Thursday, June 15
Having discovered that my ceiling had crumbled down under gallons of water from upstairs apartments and ruined a good portion of my prized possessions, rightly, the first thing on my mind was murder. The next was SHOTS - 'cuz what makes your problems disappear faster than booze? That's right, nothing. The pre-opening party at Syren Lounge was rad. I gawked at the finished interior. Christina and Chesty outdid themselves, and owner Chad got what he had set out for â€" a place women will flock to and feel comfortable in. The crowd was about as pretty as could be imagined, guys and girls alike. I felt like I'd walked onto the set of Where The Pretty Things Roam or a magazine shoot.  It was like being at The Loft, but for people over 30 with a good grasp of appropriate social behaviors (most of the time, heh). Bartender Dave was tall, dark and handsome and shook my hand firmly when Big Man introduced us. Half the boys of IDEFY made themselves at home in comfortable rocking deck chairs to watch the lovely parade of fashion-draped flesh. I snuck out early to meet Natasha and friends at El Gaucho for a little wind down time. Bartender Aaron knew exactly what I needed for my sore throat and hooked me up with warming Grand Marnier.

Friday, June 16
After a mani-pedi combo, I hustled to The Palace to change into something semi-glamorous. Arriving at Varsity Grill for Vegas Night, I was greeted by hot Natasha in her amazing black dress and sky-high heeled boots. Holy crap, she's like the Model Squad's lost member. Pappi Swarner was in residence with his lady, Miss Sparkly Eyes, Tommy C, Big Daddy Swarner and K-Bro for the Vegas Night outing. Volcano staffers gathered for the happy hour mixer, and I kept thinking, "So this is what the water cooler looks like around 2:30 p.m." Big Man beat me to the bar and was enjoying a beer by the time I was ready to order. The bartenders had no trouble talking me into a nerve soother of my usual vodie tall. Enter the Elvis impersonator and show girls. Cue mine and Natasha's snickers. I'd take fat Elvis over balding, brown haired Elvis any day.
We split for more Syren action since some in our party hadn't been yet. I treated Film club Jon to his very first Manhattan (made by the ever capable bartender Blue) and then talked his ear off until artist James Hume arrived to save him. Much of the who's who of Tacoma came by the club, including Jason, the seldom seen owner of Jazzbones, disguised as a beer delivery guy. We gabbed it up with Chesty, El Presidente, the very SF-esque Benders, Teddy Haggarty (who's showing his art), Murph (thanks for noticing my tatas), owner of PSP James and his lady. Kitchen manager Courtney even came by to inquire about our needs. It was so f'ing nice to be able to say everything was cool and mean it. Ebony did an amazing job cocktailing (what can't that woman do?). The witching hour came and went, and I braved the line for the ladies' room. Naja was on the dance floor getting her groove on to DJs Gene Lee and Sean Majors. The highlight of my night was seeing Miss Rainbow again.

Pink Mountain
If you like music easily mistaken for noise, this is your show. Pink Mountain is five guys who rock in a very loud, crazed way. One minute it's punk and squealing amps and shrieking guitar with synth. Then it's stoner metal morphing into acid rock on its way to the sound track of a serial killer movie complete with sense of impending doom and cold sweat. With this type of variance it makes sense that the majority of the show will be improvised. Fittingly, local act Kill Kill Orchestra will open with their own brand of musical mayhem. If you go, take earplugs. With Zu (members of The EX). Thursday, June 22, 8 p.m. all ages. $6-$8, Capitol Theater Backstage, 206 E. Fifth Ave., downtown Olympia, (360) 754-5378.