Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: January, 2008 (126) Currently Viewing: 71 - 80 of 126

January 18, 2008 at 6:34am

It's on today!

Volcanoblastart STAGE
“Not a Genuine Black Man”
“Not a Genuine Black Man” represents Brian Copeland’s exploration of his identity and his memories of growing up as a member of one of the only black families in a suburb of San Francisco that, in the 1970s, was 99.9 percent white â€" and which showed every sign of remaining so.

“Not a Genuine Black Man,” the stage version, begins much as one of Copeland’s comedy standup routines might. “It’s basically my own opening act,” he explains of the introductory monologue. “Then, it changes to a play, and I play 31 characters over the course of that play … so most of it is nothing like standup. It’s a mixture of laughs and tears.” â€" Bill Tmnick

[Theatre on the Square, 7:30 p.m., $20-$34, 915 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894, www.broadwaycenter.org]


STAGE
Sex Workers Art Show
What’s your pleasure? The latest overwhelmingly successful Sex Workers’ Art Show tour is riding into Olympia Friday at the Washington Center. When this troop of trannies and trollops flounced into town last time, they packed the Capital Theater. This year, with any luck, the Washington Center’s massive space should hold all you dirty little boys and girls. Founder and director Annie Oakley is bringing another smorgasbord of multimedia art, sex, film, sex, performance, and, of course, sex. â€" Suzy Stump

[Washington Center, Friday, Jan. 18, 8 p.m., $12, 512 Washington St., Olympia, 360.753. 8586]

MORE THEATER: On local stages today.


FOLK ROCK
Clumsy Lovers
The Clumsy Lovers’ music is a weird mix of Irish, punk, bluegrass, folk and quasi-ska, with a few nursery rhymes thrown in for good measure. It’s kind of like what you would get if you crossbred The Pogues with The Sex Pistols, then mixed in Mighty Mighty Bosstones with just a bit of the Soggy Bottom Boys. Sounds like a mess, huh? Somehow, they pull it off beautifully.

I dare you to sit front row-center at the Jazzbones show and not get goose bumps and a sudden need to hit the dance floor.  If you don’t get that rush of adrenaline and don’t have a cheesy grin plastered to your face throughout the entire show, I’d check your pulse, because you may be dead.  â€" Karl Rogers

[Jazzbones, with The Crafty Bastards, 9 p.m., $10-$15, 2803 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]


R&B
Kem
Kem is a bit like a male version of the queen of cool, Sade. His hip and relaxed disposition resonates as he croons through his self-penned compositions. There are no boom-booms in his repertoire, rather, with light keyboards, understated guitar parts and his signature bedroom voice, the Detroit-based singer/songwriter/musician producer is a throwback to late ’70s, early ’80s neo soul with influences that range from Stevie Wonder to Steely Dan. â€" Tony Engelhart

[Emerald Queen Casino, 8:30 p.m., $20-$50, 2024 E. 29th St., Tacoma, 888.831.7655]


ROCK
Elvis impersonator
Robert Washington is, by far, the best Elvis impersonator Bobble Tiki has ever laid eyes on. His moves bring to mind Presley at his best, and his voice, rich and smooth like Maxwell House Coffee, leaves nothing to be desired. If Bobble Tiki had to choose between watching Washington perform a set of the King’s classics or Elvis himself do it in 1976, he’d choose Elvis (of course), because Bobble Tiki has a taste for the grotesque and unsightly. Musically, though, Washington would be the far superior performer. â€" Bobble Tiki

[Brotherhood Lounge, 8 p.m., $4, 119 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.352.4153]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

January 18, 2008 at 7:13am

Interview with a pet

Petinterviewkings1 Everyone knows Harriet and Miko at King’s Books. And I believe the cats know everyone who comes in the bookstore as well. Harriet’s always been nice to me; I knew she wouldn’t have a problem answering my questions. It was Miko that worried me. I’ve heard he can be quite the high-hat-cat. Remembering that I am human, therefore higher up on the food chain, I headed in for the questioning.

DEROSA: So what do you guys do all day?

HARRIET: I like to greet the customers, rub up against them, spread my love fur on their black pants, the usual “cat in a bookstore” stuff.

MIKO: I’m here for earthquake preparedness. My job is to hold down the warm computer with my body. Now don’t go thinkin’ I’m useless. What do you think would happen if they lost their computer in an earthquake? These people should be thanking the heavens above that I even exist.

DEROSA: Besides the cat food, what’s your favorite snack?

HARRIET: Duh, catnip of course.

MIKO: I like Matzo crackers.

JOHN SCHOPPERT: Oh, so you’re Jewish now?

MIKO: ×–×" נכון. מ×" ×–×" אליך?

DEROSA: Wow. So, say you guys want to escape the confinement of a bookstore, where would you go?

HARRIET: I think I’d enjoy the weekly Quilting Club meeting in Wheelock Public Library every Wednesday. I’m always down for a bitch-n-stitch circle.

MIKO: A warm beach in Rio de Janeiro. Or at the Copa, Copacabana. Where music and passion are always in fashion.

SCHOPPERT: I saved your butts five years ago from the pound. You’re scared to leave the front door. Yeah, right, I’m sure you’d go on vacation like that. Whatever.

MIKO: Hey, John, why don’t you throw another Harry Potter Party and watch what happens? Not fun, John, not fun at all.

DEROSA: Me: I’m outta here. â€" Steph DeRosa


Filed under: Steph DeRosa, Tacoma,

January 18, 2008 at 11:19am

Rainbow Over Tacoma

All the major gay and lesbian groups in Tacoma have come together to put on a big celebratory bash at the Washington State History Museum on the last evening in February in this leap year (Feb. 29). It’s called Rainbow Over Tacoma, and it is a joint effort of  Tacoma PFLAG, Oasis Youth, Out in Tacoma, Rainbow Center and Tacoma Lesbian Concern.

Begin the evening's activities by dining out at one of the sponsoring restaurants (The Swiss, Indochine, The Rock and possibly others to sign on), followed by wine, beer and entertainment beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m.

Headed by emcee Lady Chablis, the evening’s entertainment will include Brazilian performance artist Roberto Souza, singer/songwriter John Hoover, drag performer Sylvia O’StayForMore, singer/songwriter Doni Philips, monologues by members of Oasis Youth Group, musical performances by Tacoma School of the Arts students, pianist David C. Horton and singer Shelly Cooper.

Complete information, including ticket information, can be found at here. â€" Alec Clayton

Filed under: Alec Clayton, Events, Tacoma,

January 19, 2008 at 8:30am

It's on today!

Volcanoblastart STAGE
“Not a Genuine Black Man”
“Not a Genuine Black Man” represents Brian Copeland’s exploration of his identity and his memories of growing up as a member of one of the only black families in a suburb of San Francisco that, in the 1970s, was 99.9 percent white â€" and which showed every sign of remaining so.

“Not a Genuine Black Man,” the stage version, begins much as one of Copeland’s comedy standup routines might. “It’s basically my own opening act,” he explains of the introductory monologue. “Then, it changes to a play, and I play 31 characters over the course of that play … so most of it is nothing like standup. It’s a mixture of laughs and tears.” â€" Bill Tmnick

[Theatre on the Square, 7:30 p.m., $20-$34, 915 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894, www.broadwaycenter.org]

MORE THEATER: On local stages tonight.

ROCK
9 Pound Hammer
The band is a three-piece outfit with Dustin Lafferty (formerly of The Evergreens and The Alley Walkers) on vocals and acoustic guitar, Todd Arrighi (formerly of Lew Schmngy) on harmonica and vocals, and Jake Gurrido (formerly of the Earl White Revue) on drums.

Lafferty says that when the band performs live they like to think of themselves as the new vaudeville.

“Boring is the kiss of death,” he says. “We aren’t afraid to make fun of ourselves. When you do that, people let their guard down. I want people to think of Tacoma as good-time music. I play serious songs too, but I like to make people laugh. I want people to enjoy music again. We’re an exhausted society with an exhausted psyche. (The war, the economy) it definitely drags you down. I think that’s why a lot of people don’t go out as much. They are mentally exhausted. People sit in front of the TV just to escape.” â€" Angela Jossy

[Mandolin Café, Saturday, Jan. 19, 8 p.m., no cover, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]

ROCK
Elvis impersonator
Robert Washington is, by far, the best Elvis impersonator Bobble Tiki has ever laid eyes on. His moves bring to mind Presley at his best, and his voice, rich and smooth like Maxwell House Coffee, leaves nothing to be desired. If Bobble Tiki had to choose between watching Washington perform a set of the King’s classics or Elvis himself do it in 1976, he’d choose Elvis (of course), because Bobble Tiki has a taste for the grotesque and unsightly. Musically, though, Washington would be the far superior performer. â€" Bobble Tiki

[Capitol Theater, Elvis Birthday Bash featuring the world premiere screening of “How He Should Have Died,” 6 p.m., $10, $25 VIP tickets at www.ElvisBirthdayBash.com, 206 Fifth Ave. S.E., Olympia, 360.754.5378]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

January 19, 2008 at 9:14am

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki

THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it

Cockaigne \kah-KAYN\, noun:
An imaginary land of ease and luxury.

USAGE EXAMPLE: In 1972 Eddie  Money first wrote the song “Two Tickets to a Cockaigne.” Wisely, Money reworked the tune for 1977’s Eddie Money, changing the title to “Two Tickets to Paradise.” The rest, as they say, is rock and roll history.


THE MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: We deserve a D+.

WASHINGTON: Stop! Or I'll throw this tomahawk!

NEW JERSEY: I see your $20 and raise you Mookie.

SWEDEN: Love bomb.


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: Bobble Tiki has trouble recommending anything but Too Slim and the Taildraggers tonight at Jazzbones. No matter how many times Bobble Tiki catches Tim “Too Slim” Langford and the gang, he simply can’t get enough. The perfect mix of country and rock, Bobble Tiki is glad Jazzbones keeps bringing Too Slim back to T-Town.      

MORE MUSIC: What's on tonight.

BAR EXAM: Steph DeRosa visits the Flying Boots.


THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN
Robert Washington is, by far, the best Elvis impersonator Bobble Tiki has ever laid eyes on. His moves bring to mind Presley at his best, and his voice, rich and smooth like Maxwell House Coffee, leaves nothing to be desired. If Bobble Tiki had to choose between watching Washington perform a set of the King’s classics or Elvis himself do it in 1976, he’d choose Elvis (of course), because Bobble Tiki has a taste for the grotesque and unsightly. Musically, though, Washington would be the far superior performer. Washington performs tonight at the Capitol Theater.

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

January 19, 2008 at 10:02am

SinSational Valentine's Day

If I wanted to be predictable (read: Helpful), I could suggest that you spend Valentine’s Day at some wonderfully romantic restaurant and then follow your predictable dinner with a predictable Valentine's evening of dancing and romancing at some tucked away, dreamy little club. Because a pigeon could come up with that sort of rote plan, I have a better suggestion for your Valentine's Day: "SinSational Valentine" produced by the women who brought the EyeFull and Soiree parties to Tacoma. Fashion, art, music and more will go down Thursday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m., and an undisclosed venue.  â€" Suzy Stump

Link: YouTube promotional video.

Link: RSVP here.

Filed under: Culture, Music, Tacoma,

January 20, 2008 at 8:35am

It's on today!

Volcanoblastart STAGE
“Not a Genuine Black Man”
“Not a Genuine Black Man” represents Brian Copeland’s exploration of his identity and his memories of growing up as a member of one of the only black families in a suburb of San Francisco that, in the 1970s, was 99.9 percent white â€" and which showed every sign of remaining so.

“Not a Genuine Black Man,” the stage version, begins much as one of Copeland’s comedy standup routines might. “It’s basically my own opening act,” he explains of the introductory monologue. “Then, it changes to a play, and I play 31 characters over the course of that play … so most of it is nothing like standup. It’s a mixture of laughs and tears.” â€" Bill Tmnick

[Theatre on the Square, 2 p.m., $20-$34, 915 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894, www.broadwaycenter.org]

MORE THEATER: On local stages today.

ROCK
Grave Maker
Not only is Canada’s Grave Maker devoted to hardcore rock, as their chugging, tattooed, and feedback-laced sound demonstrates, but the band has a work ethic rarely seen in the realm of rock. Not only will Grave Maker spend a month and a half touring the West Coast, then head into the studio for three weeks to record their debut full length, but after all that’s said and done, Grave Maker plans to head south (way south) for a string of shows in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Grave Maker just may be the hardest working band you’ve never seen before, which is why their show at the Viaduct tonight is worth checking out. Not only do they rock hard, but they work hard too, which is refreshing. â€" Matt Driscoll

[Viaduct, Sunday, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, 5412 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, www.myspace.com/viaductvenue]

ROCK
ManAlive
ManAlive, who will play Hell’s Kitchen tonight are like a salad bar. They have a little of everything, but I can’t necessarily vouch for any of its quality.

ManAlive’s sound fluctuates wildly, much like Bobble Tiki’s personality after five or six cocktails. Lead singer Terry Houser seems to have the ability to go from a bluesy rock frontman to an out of place country barker, to a mix between Scott Stapp and the dude from Three Doors Down â€" without thinking twice about it. Though, if I were him, I would definitely think twice about it, in the form of ManAlive, Houser’s talents seem right at home. â€" MD

[Hell’s Kitchen, with The Jury, The Mercury Rising, Cadillac Radio, The Pete Moss Band, 5 p.m., all ages, $7, $5 21 and older, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

Filed under: 5 Things To Do, Culture, Music, Tacoma,

January 20, 2008 at 9:23am

Dinner with DeRosa

Dinnerryanwalton Two words: Ryan’s Hashbrowns.  You know what I’m talking about, I know you do. The ultimate side dish on your breakfast plate has a leader, and it lives at the Parkway Tavern. This week’s first Dinner with DeRosa guest is Ryan Walton.  Let me introduce you to this local celebrity who once re-vamped his father’s hashbrown recipe and turned it into Tacoma legend.  These sour cream, cheese, and sautéed onion enhanced potatoes became popular after Ryan made them for Jeff, Parkway Tavern owner.  Next thing he knew they were on the menu â€" and the rest is history.  Can you guess what we’ll be having this week for Dinner with DeRosa?  And why when I see the word “hashbrown” do I think of some pasty dark-brown paste of cannabis? 

Dinnersarahnix I’m hoping Ryan’s Americanized Boxty goes well with kabobs. If not, who cares, it’s my dinner.  Sarah Nix will be there with to grill up some fresh Stadium Thriftway meat chunks on a stick.   What began this whole “food on a stick” revolution anyway?  Everywhere I look, a supposedly convenient version of some food form is available as an option.  French toast?  Why cut it yourself when you can buy it already cut into strips!  This leads me to my never-ending quest to find out who was lazy enough to think lifting the glass to your mouth was too hard, thus inventing the straw.  I just don’t get it sometimes. 

Dinnerrinehart The Rineharts (Levi, Corella, Simon and Jenny) will be joining the others and me for dinner this week.  I met up with this incestuous clan at Satellite Coffee as they were heading out to Leavenworth for the day.  I’m both envious and bitter that they can just take off across Washington at a whim.  They threw in my face that they’d be shopping, laughing, playing in the snow, and stopping off at Gustav”s for beer and brats.  What a bunch of jerks.  Then to make me feel better Corella said she’d bring me back a Babushka.  What the fuck is a babushka?  Is this some kind of joke?  I had to run over to my computer and wiki it immediately.  Here’s a bet for you: can you tell me what a babushka is without looking it up?  Using the honor system â€" tell me if you can and I’ll buy you a beer.  I hope you like PBR.  I’m feeling cheap these days.

Dinnerrandomdrunkgirl I’m gonna go ahead and go out on a limb here and invite Tacoma Drunk Girl.  All last week I made public appearances with my friend K-Pants the blow-up doll, and you would not believe the prudeness I ran into.  What makes me more nauseous than any sex toy ever could is the people who have no sense of humor and a huge knotty, wooden stick up their ass.  I’ll have more information on the developing K-Pants the blow up doll story next week. But in the meantime I would like to honor all the cool people in T-Town who played along with the sex doll charade.  And in honor, I am inviting Tacoma Drunk Girl.  Pose with that doll, baby!  Work it like you mean it, sister!

Dinnerseancrittenden So since I have all the latest Tacoma yahoos coming over for dinner, I’m going to need some serious security working the door.  This is where Sean Crittenden, the door man at Masa comes in.  Never mind the fact that he’s drop dead sexy, taller than a tree, built like an iron horse, has a fertile libido (hence the 8-month-old baby), sweeter that Mexican Coke, and is a spittin’ image of Vince Vaughan.  We need security, and Sean is our man.  If we didn’t already have enough food to eat and meat on a stick, I’d ask that a tasty slice of Sean be served up to me on a plate.  And I wouldn’t even need utensils.      

Mangiamo! â€" Steph DeRosa

Filed under: Food & Drink, Steph DeRosa, Tacoma,

January 21, 2008 at 7:20am

It's on today!

Volcanoblastart EVENTS
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
On Aug. 28, 1963, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed the world. Thrust from rural Birmingham, Ala. â€" where he'd been arrested and jailed for protesting racial discrimination against blacks â€" into the national spotlight, King organized a massive march on Washington, D.C. Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the handsome and charismatic Baptist minister gave one of the most stirring oratories in U.S. history â€" his "I Have a Dream" speech, in which King called for America to "rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice."

King's famed speech is credited with mobilizing supporters and inspiring the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which made racial discrimination in public places â€" such as theaters, restaurants and hotels â€" illegal. In 1964 King also won the Nobel Peace Prize. But King's goal was acceptance for all people, regardless of race or nationality. And his contention that all human beings are truly equal is as powerful and vital today as it was in his tumultuous era.

  • March to the Tacoma Dome: 9 a.m., Bates Technical College Downtown Campus, 101 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma, 253.680.7106.
  • Celebration at Tacoma Dome: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., free, 2525 East D St., Tacoma, www.tacomadome.org.
  • Celebration: Featuring spoken word artist Josh Rizeberg, 4 p.m., no cover, Washington Center, 512 Washington St., Olympia.


FILM
"Atonement"
An event on the lawn of an English country house is misinterpreted by a 13-year-old girl, and leads her to a wicked lie that destroys all possibility of happiness her herself, hr older sister (Keira Knightley) and her sister's lover (James McAvoy). Begins in sheer happiness, ventures through the horror of the war in France and London, ends in darkest irony. One of the year's best films, a certain best picture nominee. Rated R. Four Stars. â€" Roger Ebert

[Century Olympia: 1:05, 4, 6:55, 9:50; The Grand Cinema: 12:20, 3:10, 6, 8:40; Longston Place 14: 12:35, 3:25, 7:05, 10:10; Regal Martin Village 16: 12:30, 4, 7:10, 10:10]

MORE FILM: On local screens today.


MUSIC
Rockaraoke
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. The $1 High Life pints and $4 Jäger bombs might have something to do with it.  Fun. â€" Suzy Stump

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

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

January 21, 2008 at 8:18am

99 Bottles made me happy

99bottlesone It’s been a year since 99 Bottles in Federal Way blessed us with little gifts from Silenus, the God of Beer.

Saturday 99 Bottles celebrated its birthday by teaming up with Rogue beers and Issaquah Brewery, giving guests five, two-ounce tastes for $1. I immediately signed up and partook in tasting Rogue’s Bullfrog Ale, Ménage A Frog, Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale, HazelNut Brown Nectar, and my fave â€" the Chocolate Stout.

Hutch, the bona-fied “Frog Fermenter,” aka Brewer of all things Rogue, spread the good word.  99 Bottle employees were on hand to pour, slice cake, and ring up the enormous amount of beer sales I’m sure they had Saturday.  Count myself, Chad Fitz, Snoops, and a few other Tacoma Beer Society players as a chunk of those sales. 

99bottlesthree Mmmmmm Chocolate Stout mmmmmmmm. â€" Steph DeRosa

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