PERMANENT LIPSTICK by Ginger Knoxx

MONDAY, Aug. 8
Eric McFadden Trio was amazing. Diehard fans showed up at Jazzbones paying rapt attention to the band's masterful spin through Americana, rock, flamenco guitar, classical bass and drum solos. Somehow Eric McFadden coaxed eerie violin sounds out of his electric mandolin. Awesome. Not surprising, many musicians were in the crowd. Justin McDonald (Top Heavy Crush) and Phil O'Sullivan (Nouveau Rich) rocked out with appreciative smiles.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 9
Brother Jeff bought tickets back in June for Peaches with Eagles of Death Metal at The Showbox. Theme of the night? "Get your real dirty drunk on." Predominant clothing choices for a lot of women and some men were tiny athletic shorts, spike heels and colored bras underneath tight wife beaters topped off with chunky necklaces, sweetly coiffed hair and glam makeup. What an amazing people watching exhibition of no inhibition. Kate B. exclaimed, "They're like Queen for our generation" as Eagles of Death Metal's Jesse Hughes did a nearly perfect Freddy Mercury. After their set, people started pushing, saying the bouncers wanted us to move. Not possible. We stood firm watching a tiny woman in a rhinestone head burqa being helped onto the bar by security. Peaches started her show from within three feet of us. Hell yeah! Out came cell phones for hastily snapped pics as Peaches' potty mouth let loose. Najamonique suddenly appeared right behind us eliciting squeals of delight from this silly tipsy girl. P Diddy wannabe stood too close to The Italian, and The Frenchman made best friends with a corn-rowed gentleman who seemed to have not two but three hot blondes jocking him. Drunk as hell chicks were grinding on each other like there'd never be another chance for sin. It was hard to keep focus on the stage with that nonstop spectacle going.

THURSDAY, Aug. 10
Weekly Volcano staffers represented en masse at The Factory's VIP pre-opening party. Rock 'n' roll covers blasted from the stage. I think the Atomic Outlaws guys would have liked it a bit harder (me, too), but hey, catering to the masses tends to be what keeps venues open these days. Look at Syren Lounge. Didn't that owner swear there'd never be hip-hop played? Natasha and her date bounced for quieter locales. The Italian and I ran into Del, Naja and their crew and did some shots. Then we headed for last call at Jazzbones as The Factory's green neon had become a blur.

SATURDAY, Aug. 12
I am glad Showcase Tacoma wasn't packed. I'm not being mean-spirited. After many events with hundreds of people, Saturday was refreshingly calm. Chalk artists dazzled; musicians performed in front of open cases, and vendors actually had time to chat. Rampart Bathroom Benefit was a fun, sensory expanding evening. Joseph Taylor talked of his upcoming short for Kulture Lab; Leonard Haggarty shared Vegas tales; and UrbanXchange's Julie Bennett dropped in to show support. She quickly pointed out the Benders, insisting those three talk clothes. MarTee C hung for a bit before heading off to the Grand Theater for "Shaun of the Dead" à la "The Rocky Horror Picture show" (come in costume and get in free). Tons of art was won at the raffle, and enough moolah was raised to get a new freakin' toilet. Amen. Pappi Swarner and the lovely Jaclyn joined about 10 of us for a nightcap at Tempest where we shared stories of embarrassing public drunkenness, frequent vomiting and a love of Sweet Caras, tequila neat, PBR and Manhattans.

Keaton Wilson Quartet
After the rough weekend of smoking and boozing into the wee hours of the morning that you know you have coming, downtime will be mandatory. Sunday evening at Mandolin Café is precisely what your doctor would order if America was a nation smart enough to have national health care coverage and you actually had a doctor to call your own rather than the free clinic guy who gives you the creeps. But my thoughts wander. The Keaton Wilson Quintet consists of Pacific Northwest musicians with jazz firmly embedded in the forefront of their consciousness. These young gentlemen offer their talents for public consumption along with the great soothing promise of uncomplicated jazz along the lines of Miles Davis and Cole Porter. The summer air could carry Sarah Vaughn right in the door to start singing with these cats for accompaniment. Keaton "Tones" Wilson himself has been into music since he still had baby teeth, but he seems to have developed his own chops nicely. Sunday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m., all ages, no cover, Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, (253) 761-3482.

Give me a wink and a kiss here.  Knoxx knows.