A big shoot out to the consummate musician Malcolm Clark.  Nervous her posse of friends might not stay to see her headline performance Kim Archer asked Malcolm Clark if he wouldn't mind if she and her band play a short set.

Malcolm kindly bowed to Archer agreeing to play after Never Quiet Never Still.  Thanks Malcolm.  We owe you one.

The Kim Archer Band brought the packed house to the dance floor during last night's Weekly Volcano Music Awards at Jazzbones.  Their arrangements were jammed out and funky as hell thanks to the band's thump-crazy bassist Pat Fereday.  Archer's powerful voice a la Janis Joplin and Chaka Khan gelled nicely with the sonic buzz of guitarist Dave McKibbin and groove from drummer Chris Tussing. Their extended funk jam to "Shaft" was a crowd pleaser. â€" Brad Allen

After winning Friday's night's Queen of Rock competition at Cedarwood Sports Bar and Nightclub, Never Quiet Never Still rocked last night at the Weekly Volcano Music Awards at Jazzbones.

I can't really pinpoint the band's sound â€" It's a combination of moody indie, groove and punk rock with an active stage presence and lead singer Lindsey Wilt wailing like Carrie Akre and flowing like Stevie Nicks.  They ripped through "Foolish Man," "Crazier Than I," "Your Poor Shadow" and my favorite, "Manic Moment."

Even the bachelorette party in the balcony came down to watch this young band pour their heart into their performance. â€" Brad Allen

Jumping Josh, 9, entertained the Weekly Volcano Music Awards crowd last night with two Eric Clapton classics â€" "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Tears in Heaven."  Josh has extraordinary talents at such a young age.  Check out his story in the Sept. 28th issue of the Weekly Volcano.

The Weekly Volcano readers picked the Malcolm Clark Band as their favorite South Sound blues band.  Guitarist Clark, bassist Mike Coucoules and drummer Mark Bertolio fused Chicago blues with funk and Latin beats, and cranked out their versions of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "All Along the Watchtower."  Coucoules has fully recovered from his hit and run accident slappin' and pluckin' the hell out of his bass producing a deep funk. â€" Brad Allen

After a night of Waves and Radiation, Rodeo Kill, Kim Archer Band, Never Quiet Never Still and the Malcolm Clark Band, Archer and crew grabbed the Jazzbones stage again to close out the first annual Weekly Volcano Music Awards last night with a bit of "Chain of Fools" and "Unchain My Heart," among others.  All the bands demonstrated why the Volcano readers picked them as their favorite bands.  The night freakin' rocked. 

And so did the Jazzbones staff.  They handled the packed house with grace and style.  Thanks to Jason, Sean, Zach and crew.  You guys are pros.

The Weekly Volcano would also like to thank its own marketing man Tommy Carson.  He basically put the whole event on himself.  Great job Tommy.

Until next year. ... â€" Brad Allen

Club Impact reports that Never Looking Back won its Battle of the Bands contest Saturday night.  Action Figure One grabbed second.  The Jury and Aspen took third and fourth, respectively. 

Brick City has opened the Wired Cafe serving food and beverages Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 11 am to 2 am.  Check them out from breakfast, lunch or espresso.  Brick City is also boasting a new paint scheme inside with additional remodeling on the horizon to include stage curtains, internet access, projection screen and new toilets. â€" Brad Allen

Downtown Tacoma will soon see an occupant in the building directly across from the Pantages Theater at Ninth and Broadway.  A shop specializing in Moroccan interiors is set to move in, but if you need a taste of North Africa before that happens, head to the Sanford and Son shops (or swing by Wednesday as you do the 100th Monkey Party there) and see Sorella.  Opulent sheer drapes, hanging lanterns in star shapes and gorgeous colors, pashminas that can double as sofa throws, and beautiful stoneware from Tunisia all occupy Cyndi Sorrell’s space.  Though she admits to being nervous about the newcomers, the new owners, who’ve spoken with Sorrell, intend to find a way to coexist rather than compete. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

The Lakewood Ram Restaurant & Brewery will open Oct. 2 following an extensive remodelling.  This location will mirror the design used in the Lacey Ram. â€" jason de Paul

Seattle's Kane Hodder most likely listened to a lot of Iggy and the Stooges, MC5 and T. Rex. as their sound is, it’s a bit glammed up in contrast to other post-hardcore emo units in the punk revivalist scene.  While they have been lumped into the same genre as another Emerald City band, Pretty Girls Make Graves, the two groups are as different as oil and water; Pretty Girls are a bit pop friendly whereas Kane Hodder is definitely rougher around the edges.  Their ability to transition from melodic tones to screeching like a banshee within the same three-minute power chord filled song is what makes the quintet's sound distinctive.  KH â€" now consisting of Andy Moore on vocals, Eric Christianson on guitar, Jerome Sauer on guitar, Aaron Yost on bass, and Charlie Potter on drums â€" issued two discs in 2004: the EP Frank Exploration of Voyeurism and their debut full-length Violence and The Pleasure to Remain So Heartless.  The titles of these albums reflect what’s inside. Songs such as “Last of the Anti-Fascist Warriors” and “A Machine in the World of Man” are angst-ridden with a political undercurrent.  The band inked a deal with the Florida-based punk label Fueled by Ramen, which released their sophomore debut in 2005.
They perform Friday, Sept. 29 with Visqueen, Mon Frere and Stereo Drive at the Capitol Theater in Olympia.  The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m.  Tickets are $7-$10 at BuyOympia. â€" Tony Engelhart

Chopstix, the dueling piano bar in Tacoma's Sixth Avenue neighborhood (2702 6th Ave), is celebrating it's first birthday Wednesday night beginning at 7 p.m. with Fun4Mentals trivia challenge hosted by professor Guido followed by piano sing alongs at 8 p.m.  There will be a free champagne toast and birthday cake celebration around 8:30 p.m.  Plus, you'll find $2 draft beers Including all domestic, micro; $1 tacos and more. â€" Jason de Paul

There is a secret society of fairy stalkers in Tacoma.  They dress in goofy clothes and haunt Point Defiance Park and Five Mile Drive.  They say they're in it for the health, but I know their secret.

Today, on a bike ride, and yesterday, on a trail run, I noticed the people.  I guess I've noticed them other times when I've run the trails or biked Five Mile Drive, but since I've been out of the loop for a while, I've become more sensitive.  The stalkers are generally fit people, generally dress in clothes by REI, and generally appear friendly enough, though individually driven.  They nip quickly across the streets, and dart back into the trails, or they whoosh by on their self-powered machines.

What drives them, as I discovered, is the magic.  This time of year, that magic is a physical presence you can taste and smell; it's visible, tangible, and takes my breath away. 

Today, what mostly took away my breath were those bitch-hills I had forgotten were there, in my car. They took on new meaning when I was powering my own wheels.  But the payoff was big; between the whoosh of the downhill and the crunch of the leaves, and the colors of the evergreen and deciduous trees contrasting with the colors of the Puget Sound and sky, and then all mixed in with all the scents of sweet, Northwestern Goodness, the sensory overload was as addictive as that first sip of a particularly tasty Shiraz, or a hoppy-delightful IPA.

The fairies took over toward the end of my run yesterday, and bike ride today, dancing in the light that dappled and played on spider webs and the undergrowth I'd always taken for granted.  In point of fact, I was probably just oxygen-deprived and waxing poetic because of a tragic lack of fitness and endorphins overload, but that addiction set in.

I can't wait to get out there again, and join the fairy stalkers. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler