THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it

Schadenfreude \SHOD-n-froy-duh\, noun:
A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Bobble Tiki has been thinking about subjects for today’s word of the day example, but all he can come up with is Britney Spears jokes. It’s been this way for three days. Certainly, this can only be explained by the Schadenfreude running through his veins.

THE MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Home prices are falling.

SPANAWAY: H2O a go.

ROME: Mom! Where’s my briefcase!

AMSTERDAM: Beetles don’t lie, beetles don’t lie, beetles don’t lie.

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: Just when Bobble Tiki was starting to seriously bum about the situation at the Manium in Olympia â€" the only all ages club in town shut down by the city, Bobble Tiki heard about the Matrix in Chehalis. Now, Bobble Tiki knows Chehalis is a long way from Oly, and having a seriously cool all ages club there doesn’t make up for anything, but the Matrix sounds pretty kick-ass. Bobble Tiki’s just sayin’. If it gets bad enough kids in Oly might want to give the Matrix a shot sometime â€" like tonight when the Seattle hardcore punk band Pirex are in town.

MORE MUSIC: What's on tonight.

FILM: Tacoma Film Festival Day Three.

DISH: Eating around The Grand Cinema.

BOBBLE TIKI’S THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN
Bobble Tiki knows a lot about the Japanese thanks to Japanimation. For instance, Japanese women typically have enormous breasts and wear a look of total surprise on their faces. Also, tiny glints of light radiate from the eyes of Japanese people during close ups. Furthermore, Japanese often have very spiky hair and super powers.

Bobble Tiki has gained a wealth of understanding about Japan through Japanimation. As a venerable expert, Bobble Tiki can proclaim with certainty that Peelander-Z, who will play Hell’s Kitchen on Wednesday, Oct. 10, seem like typical Japanese.

Please be Bobble Tiki’s friend here.

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

Teddy Haggarty allows the public to ride along with him for a day â€" his awaking, through a winding series of philosophy, art, interviews and interesting moments â€" in his film “All About Haggarty,” set to screen at the Tacoma Film Festival Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Tacoma School of the Arts Theater. Set in his hometown of Tacoma, we see the Gritty City through the eyes of Haggarty, often producing hilarious moments.

The Weekly Volcano recently spoke with the Tacoma artist/actor about his experience working on the film, his take on Tacoma and his relationship with actor Alec Baldwin.  Check out the interview here. â€" Suzy Stump

Classical music is not like spinach. Sure, your mom might have insinuated that cultivating a taste for both was good for you, but the goal of Neil Birnbaum, new executive director for the Northwest Sinfonietta, is to get you to see that, unlike the somewhat slimy green stuff that left a funny feeling on your teeth, the musical dish the Sinfonietta serves up is spicy, peppy fun.

“Some of (music director and composer) Christophe’s tempos are extremely fast, like I just gave him a triple espresso.”

Additionally, says Birnbaum, “Tthere’s a great spirit amongst our musicians … they’re not content to sit and play with bored expressions.”

These spirited musicians will be performing Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 11 with Byron Schenkman on piano, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in Tacoma’s Rialto Theatre Saturday night.

Exit 133 reviewed last night's Northwest Sinfonietta concert in Seattle.

I'm reviewing tonight's performance in Tacoma for Spew. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

[Rialto Theater, Saturday, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m., $12-$50, 310 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, 253. 383.5344]

What the hell is up with all the explosions?

In Tacoma.

In New York.

In my pants. â€" Brand Allen

This is no longer funny due to the death of the propane truck driver at the Atlas explosion in Tacoma. The Weekly Volcano sends it thoughts and prayers to Charles "Chuck" McDonald's family. â€" Brad Allen

The Northwest Sinfonietta is so sexy.

And I’m not just saying that because I harbor a secret crush on Director/Conductor Christophe Chagnard because he has something about him that reminds me of my brother in law, for whom I’ve also harbored a secret crush â€" no, the Northwest Sinfonietta is sexy because the material they present represents the emotional flows, waves, and peaks that carry listeners to a sensory place that transcends most other experiences.

It’s the kind of stuff that hat compels toes to tap while mouths grin broadly, that pops goose bumps out of warm skin, that raises hairs on the napes of necks; it’s stuff that squeezes tears out of dry eyes for inexplicable reasons.

Last night the Sinfonietta gifted its audience with its first program of the 2007-2008 season, “Beethoven Revealed Part One.”

By accounts overheard in the lobby at intermission, the house was impressively full though several empty seats might have attested to the difficulties some would-be attendees might have had getting through gas-explosion traffic.

The first piece, Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri: Overture, previewed the strengths of the orchestra, with a most impressive use of piano â€" and not the keyed instrument we’d be seeing later.  Effective, beautifully-toned quiet notes built to the multiple crescendos the piece is known for, with piccolo and oboe bringing a bright, light hearted quality to the work.

The evening’s second work, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.11 in F Major, K.413, featured Byron Schenkman on piano; it was interesting for me to note the instrumentalist began as harpsichordist and fortepianist, because the use of pedals on the grand piano he played for the evening was a marked contrast to the starched and formal tones of the older instruments.  Accustomed to hearing the more traditional playing of Mozart, I was at first taken aback by the notes flowing together.  Early in the Allegro, I thought I caught a few missed notes, but like a figure skater missing the first quadruple jump and going on to win the gold medal, Schenkman hung on impressively and gave a great performance.

For me, the sensation of the piece wasn’t unlike my surfing experience in Maui, starting off with a bit of unfamiliarity but settling into a sublimely rolling, pleasurable experience.
After intermission, we settled in to hear Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, op. 60.

Like about everybody else in the world, I’m familiar with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony death theme, da da da DUMMM â€" but I have to admit a certain ignorance about many of his other works.  So I was highly appreciative of Chagnard’s brief explanation about the piece, “one of the least performed.”  Being eclipsed by “two giants, Eroica and the Fifth,” the symphony actually throws out a sort of a classical music inside joke in its first four notes, previewing the first four notes of the Fifth, only in a highly technical reverse (minor and major third intervals are reversed).

Without Chagnard’s observation, I certainly would not have caught that. 

What I did catch was a feeling of exquisite tension created with the music; while the Mozart and Rossini were lovely, taking me to rollicking and rolling places, Beethoven challenged me with fluttering notes, sustained notes, alternating sections playing, pizzicato punctuations, all interspersed in unexpected ways.

Glancing around me from my perch on high, I realized I wasn’t the only one being affected: I saw surreptitious eye-wiping, subtle body movements in response the themes, and smiles of enjoyment.  The Sinfonietta, as well, seemed swept away by enjoyment, demonstrating an impressive use of restraint which then developed into a mutual build-up that resulted in a finish that combined tumult and pleasure.

Sexy, so sexy.

Most obvious, I saw â€"and participated inâ€"the standing ovation.  The best part of this was the balloons thrown on stage in appreciation by members of the Association of Late Deafened Adult Association. They were listening to the music of the late-deafened composer through the use of brightly colored balloons that transmitted vibrations of the music; I spoke with one woman from the group who had only recently received cochlear implants after 25 years of deafness.  Her eyes welled and her smile was broad as she tried to express the pleasure she felt. Her husband suggested they would return to the whole Beethoven series, suggesting he wouldn’t be able to keep her away.

Tension, release, balloons, euphoria.

Such a great, sexy night. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

If you give Tacoma a microphone it knows what to do with.  That much is proven night in and night out at karaoke joints all over town.

Now, give Tacoma a microphone and a live band, and you have Rockaraoke at Jazzbones every Monday night.

Fun is always had by all, and booze is consumed at an alarming pace.

[Jazzbones, 9 p.m., no cover, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

The Poodle Dog restaurant in Fife is raising money for community member Sue Burham’s double lung transplant with a series of events throughout October. Staffers recently donated 50 percent of tips yesterday and are gearing up to fill more bellies in the name of neighborly giving. Saturday, Oct. 13, Poodle Dog hosts a Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction. After chowing down on tasty noodles, marinara, meatballs and garlic bread, the satisfied feeling in your stomach won’t even compare to the warmth you’ll have in your heart.

Take your kiddies to their Haunted House Oct. 26-28. All money raised goes straight to Burham. â€" Jennifer Johnson

[Poodle Dog, 1522 54th Ave. E., Fife, 253.922.6161]

Theatergoers can see top-notch drama play out in front of them without having to mortgage their houses to pay for tickets; at least for a week, anyway.

A handful of South Sound stages are offering free theater events Oct. 15-21 as part of a national effort to celebrate the dramatic arts.

Capital Playhouse will offer a free performance of "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17.

The theater's rival down the street, Harlequin Productions, is staging its masterful "Macbeth" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18. And Olympia Little Theater will offer a discussion about theater as well as host a streamlined version of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth," courtesy of Harlequin.

Federal Way's Centerstage Theater will offer a free reading Thursday, Oct. 18, of "Baby," at the Knutzen Family Theatre. This fast-paced play looks at the world through the eyes of a newborn until he turns 1 year old.

Lakewood Playhouse has a special presentation of "Holes" Oct. 18 lined up for the cause while theaters up and down the Sound have things planned.

More information about the events can be found here. â€" Steve Dunkelberger

Because not all metal is Nu, techno, stoner or rap these days. Some of it, like Tool, is just plain old interesting and pulverizing.

Tool will play the Everett Events Center Tuesday, Dec. 4.  Tickets are $46 and $58 and will go on sale Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Everett Arena Box Office. â€" Brad Allen

The Tacoma Film Festival is an hour away from kicking it at the Grand.  Check it here.

In other film news
Le Voyeur screens “Turk 182” and "Style Wars” tonight as a benefit for Free Radio Olympia.  “Turk 182” starts it off at 7 p.m.  Support free speech and what stuff get messed up on the big screen.

The Pitchpipe Infoshop screens flicks about immigration the next three Thursdays.  The Oct. 11 film is “Letters from the Other Side” at 7 p.m.  â€" Susy Stump