BRAD ALLEN: TOP 10 LIST OF THE DAY >>>

Forbes offers: America's Top 10 Pop Imports

PARTY
Human Awareness Day
And every single day you burn through the mountain of the mundane and you sort through the chambers of chaff and the molehills of muck trying to find the momentary gems and the facile illusive glimmers of divine spectacular connection and every single day you wonder what it takes to shift your perspective away from the electronic or alter your mindset dramatically enough so as to more fully integrate your karma with your id with your sincere desire for more human contact and better appreciation of your fellow man when suddenly it hits you that the more antagonistic and more rabidly angry you get at the world for not delivering you what you so fully and righteously deserve electronically so of course the best course of karmic action is to spin around and tap your ruby heels together three times and with all sort of messy juicy wet cherry-red intention exclaim there's no place like Rusty George Creative where they demand you hide the electronics ruling your life and touch your fellow man at their Human Interaction Party today at 4 p.m. at their place of humans. â€" Bobble Tiki

[Rusty George Creative, 4 p.m., no cover, 732 Broadway, Suite 302, Tacoma, 253.284.2140]

LECTURE
Rev. James Lawson
Rev. James Lawson was the main organizer of the nonviolent sit-ins to integrate lunch counters in Nashville, Tenn., in about 1961. He has a strong background in Gandhian nonviolence and had actually spent time in India studying the principles and methodology with some of Gandhi’s close associates.

"Speaking to Lawson is the closest most of us will ever come to speaking with Martin Luther King, Jr., who called him the leading theorist of nonviolence in the United States," says Prof. Michael Honey of the UW-Tacoma.

For more information, call: Associated Ministries of Tacoma/Pierce County at 253.383.3056 ext 119. â€" Alec Clayton

[University of Washington-Tacoma, “Dialogue on Philosophy and Practice of Non-Violence,” 7 p.m., (BHS Room 106, above the UW Book Store), 19th and Pacific, Tacoma]

SINGER/SONGWRITER
Ian McFeron Band
McFeron’s mix of alt-country, acoustic based pop-rock and blues can often be heard on KMTT The Mountain with the standout sound of Texas fiddle complementing the almost dreamy shape of McFeron’s lyrics.  This is not your grandfather’s back porch fiddle music though. It has groove-based beats that are danceable but not in-your-face and a thoroughly modern appeal while still honoring its influences. â€" Suzy Stump

[Jazzbones, Fear Train caravan opens, 7 p.m., all ages, $5, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.

BOBBLE TIKI: REVENANT, HUMP DAY, MAHJONGG >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Revenant \REV-uh-nuhnt\, noun:
One who returns after death (as a ghost) or after a long absence.

USAGE EXAMPLE: When Bobble Tiki dies, which according to the line in Vegas could happen fairly soon, he hopes to return to this earth as a revenant, sneaking pints of beer and shots of booze from all his favorite Tacoma bars. Bobble Tiki figures it’s only fitting.

MORNING NEWS

SEATTLE: Gregoire backs Boeing

TACOMA:School board won't get a tan

WORLD: William F. Buckley Jr. is dead

SPORTS: By shoddy they mean shitty

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: It’s Wednesday, which as Bobble Tiki likes to say also means it’s “hump day.” That’s right, Bobble is definitely the kind of guy who makes “hump day” jokes around the office. Tonight, www.myspace.com/worldsgreatestghosts ">World’s Greatest Ghosts and www.myspace.com/joeholidaymusic ">Joe Holiday will play Bob’s Java Jive. It’s “hump day” after all, might as well celebrate with a beer, a couple bands, and the Jive.

MORE MUSIC: What’s on tonight
GLASS: In this week’s issue
FORUMS: Check ‘em out

THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN
Bobble Tiki is currently slaving away on his column for the week, which focuses on Mahjongg’s show this weekend at the Capital Theater in Olympia. It’s not done yet, which means you’ll just have to wait until Thursday to read the magic Bobble Tiki comes up with. Rest assured, though, it will be magic.

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki runs six days a week now. Deal with it.

ROBERT DOBBS: FOSSIL FUEL FORWARD >>>

The City of Olympia has received $11,000 from the Olympia Regional Clean Air Agency to purchase its first electric vehicle. City officials say the purchase reflects the City’s commitment to look for innovative ways to lower emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuel. Electric vehicles do not produce any greenhouse gases and cost approximately one penny a mile to operate, according to the city’s announcement.

Electric vehicles are powered by a battery that is replenished by plugging it into a common electric outlet. Although electricity production may contribute to air pollution, electric vehicles are considered zero-emission vehicles because their motors produce no exhaust or emissions. Ruth Snyder, a city inspector, will use the new vehicle for her work in the downtown area and South Capital neighborhood.

Recent national reports have indicated that the burning coal and other fuels to create energy needed to recharge electric cars may cancel out the benefits of using such vehicles. In Washington, advocates point out that most of Washington’s energy is produced as hydro-power, and that use of electric vehicles is a great way to reduce emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, at least around here.

STEPH DEROSA: ABOUT EXPO BOUT >>>

Last Sunday marked the Good vs. Evil Dockyard Derby Dames expo bout, kicking off the 2008 roller derby season for our beloved Tacoma gals on wheels. The Skate N Station housed a large crowd of roller derby fans who sipped Miller High Life and cheered on their favorite short-skirt-wearing ladies. Cop A. Phil and Nacho Daddy were emcee partners in crime, The Leprekunt served the masses plenty of cold brews, and All Bout Derby sat sidelines as he watched his hometown league get downright dirty.

I was especially appreciative of our neighboring Navy City Rollergirls who pitched in, volunteered, and did it all with such grace and magnificence.

The award for cutest roller girls in the joint went to the A-Town Derby Dollz. Those pint-sized skaters may look cute, but they can take down any unsuspecting 12-year-old without even batting an eyelash.

The bout was a pure thrashing by both teams, and remained neck-and-neck through most of the bout. Team Good ended the bout with a crushing 109 points, beating Team Evil.

All of the girls looked especially beautiful and confident.

I want to really toss a huge compliment out to the Dames: It is incredible how solid and professional you all have become since your first season/first bout on May 5, 2007. There is an amazing difference in talent, showmanship and skill. Doxy Crux’s proud of you girls, and it kind of chokes me up a bit how much you’ve grown.

If you’re interested in trying out for the Dockyard Derby Dames, make your way out to the Skate N Station Sunday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The first “official” bout (this last one was an expo bout) for the 2008 season will be April 5 at the Tacoma Soccer Center. If you’re like me and can’t wait that long, stop by the Throwdown in the Sound at the Soccer Center on March 8 to watch some men get physical on skates.

PAUL SCHRAG: INTERNATIONAL DJ SPINS AT JAZZBONES >>>

During the past 16 years as an international DJ, Lakewood-grown Donald Glaude has been responsible for seeding vibrant musical landscapes for audiences up and down the West Coast. Born in Tacoma, he grew up listening to Parliament, Funkadelic and R&B radio. After falling in love with the precise, hypnotic, bass-heavy sound, Glaude amassed a huge record collection before he ever got his hands on a mixer.

Then in a Tacoma club scene vacuum, Glaude taught himself to wreck records with a pair of mismatched turntables and a Radio Shack mixer. He began to DJ anywhere he could in the Seattle and Tacoma area, working the same clubs as another up-and-coming DJ by the name of Dan. In short order the pair managed to spark a rave scene in Seattle and developed masses of underground fans.

Before Glaude, few DJs had attempted to spin using house records. Glaude, now living in San Diego, pioneered this technique, and his ability and mechanics set new standards and gave birth to a new style.

Welcome Glaude back to town Friday with DJ dAb and Omar at Jazzbones.

[Jazzbones, Friday, Feb. 29, 9 p.m., $12, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

BRAD ALLEN: EPRHYME >>>

Olympia emcee Eprhyme will celebrate the debut of his new single this Saturday, March 1 at The  Clipper.

One half of Olympia hip-hop heavies Saints of Everyday Failures, Eprhyme will offer a taste of his soon-to-debut solo album Waywordwonderwill with the release of a 7-inch. vinyl single, “Punklezmerap,” on Olympia’s legendary K Records. “Punklezmerap” is a rapid-fire, dizzying exploration of the Eprhyme’s fractal identity â€" a narrative journey into a world where Judaism, punk rock, Charlie Parker, hip-hop and esoteric texts merge to produce a new kind of artist. “Punklezmerap” marks K Records’ first foray into hip-hop in nearly a decade and will be issued as part of its revered International Pop Underground series.

Joining a roster of legends such as Teenage Fanclub, Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, Eprhyme arrives at the indie watering hole like a lion.

[The Clipper, Eprhyme, Smoke of Oldominion, AKA, Saints of Everyday Failures, Tha Goonie and DJ Sweet Elite, Saturday, March 1, 9 p.m., $5, 402 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.943.6300]

MATT DRISCOLL: FYI >>>

Usually, volunteering is fun. Of course, volunteering for something that sucks and you don’t want to do isn’t all that great, but that’s one of the main rules of volunteering: Only volunteer for things you’re actually interested in doing.

I just received word that Mikrofest is once again right around the corner. Mikrofest, as you may know (especially if you’re from the Olympia area) is a series of house-party/music festival put on by the fine people at Brown Interiour Music â€" Olympia’s number one cassette only label (and not big fans of proper spelling).

While this year’s show isn’t confirmed yet, as Andrew Dorsett and Co. have yet to finish booking it, Brown Interiour is already in the process of looking for volunteers for Mikrofest. Here’s a portion of the press release I just received:

“The 7th installment of Brown Interiour Music's slightly legendary one-day music festival, Mikrofest, needs volunteers! We'll need people to work the door, in increments of 30 minutes,” wrote Dorsett.

“We're still working out the kinks, but here's what we know: It'll be on Saturday, Mar. 8 at Hall of the Woods, which is near Black Lake. It's totally bikeable, especially from the Westside. The fest usually runs from about 2 p.m. 'till about midnight. It'd be great if we could get people to do more than one shift, maybe three or four, spread out throughout the day whenever you're able to be there. Hopefully there'll be about 15 bands or so. We're still booking it (makes nervous face, bites fingernails).

“So of course you'll be able to get in for free if you volunteer, but maybe let's keep it to an hour or more of volunteer time. Anyway, you can email me at the following address: snailslimesweater@gmail.com”

MICHAEL SWAN: I WILL EASE YOUR MIND >>>

The News Tribune reports that David and Evans and Associates’ preliminary report concludes the decrepit Murray Morgan Bridge can be converted into something you can drive your Toyota Tacoma truck 4x4 across, at a cost of approximately $80 million.

LINK: News Tribune.

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s story on legislators’ bill to save the bridge.

DANCE
Lute Explosion
Lute Explosion, Pacific Lutheran University’s African dance group, will perform different types of African dance tonight. Occasionally the Weekly Volcano gets the urge to do some interpretive African dancing. It’s usually after several rounds of caipirinhas and to the utter disgust (and secret delight) of our dear Senegalese friend, Moustapha. Tonight, however, we’ll do well to leave the moves to the pros. â€" Suzy Stump 

[Garfield Book Company, Thursday, Feb. 28, 6 p.m., no cover, Pacific Avenue and Garfield Street South, Parkland, 253.535.7665]

MORE STAGE: What’s on local stages.

ROCK
Forced Elegance
I can sum up Forced Elegance’s sound in five words: kick ass rock and roll. Self-described as the “new sound of punk,” bad boys Jesse Rumens (lead guitar/vocals), Caleb Simpson (rhythm guitar), Ronnie Driscoll (drums) and Aaron Lampman-Reid (bass) formed in late 2006 and have been on a holy terror ever since. While the band has a punk base, they mix it up with shades of metal by way of complex guitar parts. Coupled with intense rhythms that are well suited for any mosh pit, the Seattle-based quartet is quickly making a bloody splash beyond the Northwest. â€" Tony Engelhart

[Oh! Gallagher’s, Nothing But Rock series with Gryphon, Philo Gant, Forced
Elegance, and TuT, 8 p.m., $5-$7, 7304 Lakewood Dr. S.W, Lakewood, 253.476.8787]

MORE MUSIC: In the clubs tonight.