While Rich Wetzel’s third release The Mayn Thing strengthens the trumpeter’s links with the big band legacies of Stan Kenton, Woody Herman and Don Ellis, it declares in no uncertain terms that his “mayn” man is still the legendary screech king, Maynard Ferguson. Which means plenty of brass-plated pyrotechnics. It also means a wealth of young players who are eager to capture the excitement of the big band era, with the added adrenaline rush of today’s fusion reality. â€" Harvey Siders

Click here for full review of The Mayn Thing.

Check out Wetzel and crew’s CD release party tonight at Jazzbones.

[Jazzbones, Saturday, Sept. 15, 5-7 p.m., all ages, $5, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

A pirate walks into a bar. The bartender looks up and says: "Hey captain, did you know you have a steering wheel sticking out of your pants?"

The pirate says: "Arrr, it's driving me nuts."

Pirates, captains, maties and more will be milling about smartly during this weekend's Commencement Bay's Maritime Fest.  Check here for full details.

And did you know the Foss Harbor Marina has a blog? â€" Suzy Stump

THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it

Salad days \salad days\, noun:

A time of youthful inexperience, innocence, or indiscretion.

USAGE EXAMPLE: If the University of Washington Huskies are lucky, and correct in their assumptions, the flashes of greatness that Ferndale’s Jake Locker has shown in his salad days are only a harbinger of tremendous things to come. See: Billy Joe Hobert with a brain and minus the poor hair cut and Trans-Am paid for by boosters.

THE MORNING NEWS

THAILAND: Scores killed in plane crash.

IRAQ: Bigger cut in troops.

TIRANA: What the …?

MADRID: Not so tough are you.

HUSTLER OF CULTURE
You can stand atop the mountain and scream your naked desires to the universe or shed that synapse epilepsy and hug the South Sound today with your fellow man:

MUSIC: Even though Bobble Tiki got drunk on Three Star Vodka Friday, and thus slept through yesterday’s scheduled “Breakfast With Bobble Tiki,” no hangover could prevent Bobble Tiki from coming back with a vengeance today, and trumpeting the possibilities of the Bright Eyes show at the Capitol Theater tonight. If tonight’s show is anything like the latest Bright Eyes record, Cassedega, released April 10 of this year, then Conor Oberst’s time on stage at the Capitol Theater may well turn out to be the best thing to hit Oly since the Reef redid their menu. And that’s saying something. Conor Oberst is Bright Eyes, and if you miss this one you’re a damn fool. 

MORE MUSIC: What's on tonight.

THE ARTS: Plan your fall season.

DISH: Where do you want to eat tonight?

FILM: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.

BOBBLE TIKI'S THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN
Unfortunately, Bobble Tiki isn’t currently hiding from the world or full of hate and spite. If he was, this weekend at Jazzbones lifted him out of it. There’s one more show left: tonight Lydia Pense and Cold Blood will give Bobble Tiki vague, hazy flashbacks of the ’70s and the smell of skunks in his dad’s record den.

Please be Bobble Tiki’s friend here.

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  Deal with it.

Cans will host the Battle of the Air Bands Saturday, Sept. 22.

What does it take to win?

Some contestants will rely on shtick of songs or their outfits. Others will sport props in hopes of wowing the judges and the crowd. The winner will be the one who embodies the complete package: image, presentation and technical ability.

The Weekly Volcano caught up with Olympia guitarist Andras Jones (The Previous, Radio8ball) for his suggestion on the perfect air guitar move.

"The under-over fret hand move with the upside-down hammer on is a classic,” explains Jones. “Much more impressive than air-picking with your teeth."

Join the Weekly Volcano next Saturday at Cans.  We’ll be the ones walking around with smashed beer cans under our shoes. â€" Suzy Stump

[Cans, Saturday, Sept. 22, 9 p.m., 100 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, 253. 272. 0777]

I leaned back in my chair at my usual cafe this morning and gazed at the soaked streets. Everyone outside seemed to scurry in unison. Suddenly, the scampering took on the aspect of pendulum, bringing to mind the idea of time.

I thought of the passage of time â€" time’s role in the measurement of our personal achievements, time as an ever-diminishing quantity in our lives.

I thought of an old Pink Floyd song.

Tater Tot bound into the cafe jauntily, like a leprechaun. She sat opposite me and asked, “What’s up, B?”

“Oh, just thinking about my life, you know, failures, successes, that sort of thing,” I replied.

“Well, speaking of success, I have some big news: Tomorrow at the Swiss is the Tacoma debut of Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers.”

Who?” I replied.

“Darin Watkins on drums, Ron Weinstein on Hammond B3, Scott Simmons on bass, and Billy Stoops on vocals. Roots rockin’ mayhem I assure you,” she explained.

“Sounds like a good time,” I quipped. â€" Brad Allen

[The Swiss, Monday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m., 1904 S. Jefferson, Tacoma]

Doyle's Public House and its patrons have been warming up to St. Patrick's Day in a unique way - with a St. Practice Day series - and the next one tonight, which is half way to St. Patrick's Day, will feature contemporary Celtic band Ockham's Razor. The band takes the Gaelic-Celtic genre into the 21st century with a keen sense of the past coupled with a progressive attitude that is entirely fresh.

Check them out and get your green drink on early. - Suzy Stump

[Doyle's Public House, Monday, Sept. 17, 9 p.m., no cover, 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468]

Singer/songwriter Jim Page is a Northwest treasure who has been gratifying socially conscious audiences for more than 35 years and has been praised by many critics and contemporaries as being prophetic, compelling and compassionate.  Whether playing solo acoustic or in an ensemble, Page’s music speaks to the common man living in these desperate and uncertain times.

He will perform a rare Tacoma concert tonight at A Rhapsody in Bloom Florist & Café.

Page was born amongst the palm trees of Palo Alto, Calif., and at age 15 he began playing guitar.  With Dylan and Guthrie serving as inspiration, he began writing politically charged anthems about the social issues of the day.  In 1970 Page made an East Coast trek to New York before packing his guitar and heading for the friendlier city of Seattle.  He sang his songs on the streets of the Emerald City for spare change but was constantly harassed by the authorities.  So began his first political mission: to change the laws for street singers in Seattle. He won. 

Page has released 17 albums since 1976. Each disc takes the listener on a journey, sometimes satirical, sometimes serious but always thought provoking.  One of Page’s most celebrated recordings came post 9/11 with 2002’s Collateral Damage, on which he performed alone, trying desperately to make sense of that tragic day. â€" Tony Engelhart

[A Rhapsody In Bloom Florist & Cafe' Latte, 7 p.m., 3709 Sixth Ave., Tacoma 253.761.7673]

Van Halen will tour 40 cities with the band's original frontman David Lee Roth for the first time in more than 20 years.

Van Halen will play Seattle's KeyArena Dec. 3, 2007.  Tickets go on sale Saturday, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster outlets.

The 2007 lineup will include singer Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, and Eddie's 15-year-old son Wolfgang on bass.

The band last toured in 2004 with Sammy Hagar, grossing nearly $40 million. â€" Brad Allen

Rosemary Ponnekanti wrote a bitchin' piece on The Helm gallery opening Thursday for Third Thursday Art Walk. â€" Suzy Stump

The theatrical version of the 1970s “Gilligan’s Island” is playing at Puyallup Actors’ Theatre Group for a one-weekend run. The big question is will the opening theme song include the Professor and Mary Ann? â€" Suzy Stump

[Liberty Theater, Sept. 21-23, 12:30 and 6 p.m., $25-$35, 116 W. Main, Puyallup, 253.864.8116]