RON SWARNER: SATELLITE GRAND OPENING SHOW >>>

We here at the Weekly Volcano have determined that good music rooms are more a state of mind than a physical place. Good rooms share similar attributes: not just plentiful drinks, but an atmosphere that suits your mood and purpose on a particular night. If you're looking for serious talk, you need a spot that's relatively quiet but has TVs and attractive people to help stimulate conversation during uncomfortable pauses. When you're looking for more casual contact, you need a mass of humanity to help mask the inappropriate comments you make as you notice those attractive people who stimulate conversation during uncomfortable pauses. Given the right mood and booze supply, just about any place can be a good music room â€" your couch, a sports bar, a dance club, a wedding reception, or even a hair salon.

We put this theory to the test when we partook in Satellite Coffee’s Grand Opening party Friday night at Supernova Hair & Tattoo. Walking in, I knew we belonged there. Supernova was small, packed, donned with local and national rock posters and alive with Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies and Eddie Spaghetti and Rontrose Heathman of The Supersuckers.

There is something about Supernova’s no-frills small-room environment that represents the true spirit of rock and roll better than any cavernous, flashy club ever could. There’s something righteous about seeing the band members lug in their own gear from a battered van; there is something heartening about seeing the lead singer grab his own drink; and there is something inspiring about being able to walk up to the musicians between sets or after the gig to express your admiration, to ask about a specific chord change or lyric. And this energy flows both ways, because musicians feed off their crowds, and having the crowd in such close proximity makes for better communication all around. Musicians are regular people who do what they do because they love it.

In this case, they also love it because they own it. Satellite Coffee, which opened in November 2007, is owned by Pat Brown and Ron Heathman who pull espresso shots by day and rock in the Outlaw Carnies and The Supersuckers, respectively, at night.  They love coffee, they love music and they are well loved as shown Friday night’s overflowing crowd, which included many long-time Tacoma music scenesters.

Brown and Heathman waited the winter out to celebrate their opening above Supernova in the tiny spot once occupied by the popular Temple of the Bean in the ‘90s. They did a soft opening, but wanted to work out the kinks before announcing to Tacoma that they rock the bean. Pat Brown also co-owns Supernova with former bandmate (Camarosmith) Donny Paycheck, who’s an Outlaw Carnie in Bob Wayne’s band, too.

It’s confusing, really. There are many more relationships involved with Satellite Coffee, Supernova and Friday night’s bands. What’s not confusing is both performances rocked the crowd.

It was a celebration of many things â€" great coffee, great music and great friends â€"  but I also believe it solidified that tiny Supernova is a worthy music space. 

DJ
Vintage Country
If you're under 55, vintage country probably doesn't resonate with you all that much. Merle Travis might have been your father's childhood fixation, Ernest Tubb could have dominated the family  phonograph Saturday nights. For the most part, it's old hat â€" no pun intended. But there are still traces of that lost vintage country out there, thanks to Alysia Angel, aka DJ Hazel, who spins Patsy Cline, Hank Thompson, Cliff Bruner, Dave Dudley, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Jimmy Dean and his Texas Wildcats every Monday night at The Brotherhood Lounge. Hazel doesn't so much re-create the past as convey the universal nature of a great tradition. â€" Brad Allen
[The Brotherhood Lounge, 9-11 p.m. Mondays, no cover, 119 Capitol Way, Olympia, 360.352.4153]

HIP-HOP
Who Cares
Combining the elements of jazz, hip-hop, and the love of improv that belong to both, this central Cali-based trio have taken the underground music scene by storm, and in it, won over a lot of support from all sides, having rocked stages with everyone from Afrika Bambataa and “Egyptian Lover” to The Album Leaf.

These three immensely talented dudes put on one helluva show. That is fact. Ernie Upton, the frontman, has a flow reminiscent of the great storyteller MCs from the late ’80s, loves to freestyle much of the set, and does it all from behind the turntables. Jammal Tarkington, is the gentle giant of soul. Having cut his teeth with Reno-based funk rockers Keyser Soze among numerous other projects, he barely has time to catch a breath between singing, rapping and playing saxophone solos. Rounding out the on-stage menagerie is Maxwell McMaster, whose silky smooth keystrokes on his vintage Wurlitzer and MPC keep the whole show seamless and lively, while keeping up his end of the three-part harmonies to create quite possibly one of the greatest show atmospheres you will ever witness. â€" Owen Taylor
[McCoy’s Tavern, Who Cares, AKA and Q-Storm from Hostalion, 10 p.m., $3, 420 Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.352.0696]

LINK: Rockaraoke and more in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Catch a flick today.
LINK: Let's eat Mexican today.

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Anathema \uh-NATH-uh-muh\, noun:
1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication. Hence: Denunciation of anything as accursed.
2. An imprecation; a curse; a malediction.
3. Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by ecclesiastical authority.
4. Any person or thing that is intensely disliked.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Because he hold a deep dislike for vegetables, the idea of being vegan is anathema to Bobble Tiki.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Officer claims harassment

OLYMPIA: Rare virus

SEATTLE: Youth says no to the trades

WORLD: Death toll hits 4,000

THINGS TO DO TODAY
MOVIE TIMES: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening

OWEN TAYLOR: DANCE DANCE DANCE!!!! >>>

If you have a fun bone left in your body and want to boogie the night away, and are perfectly OK with very fit men dancing around in tightie-whities while voluptuous vixens scream their way into your electro-loving heart, GRAVY TRAIN!!!! IS YOUR SHOW! 

Having seen this completely insane and sequin-loving foursome many times, I can only say this: FUN! FUN! FUN!  You will be jam packed into the newly refurbished Backstage at the Capital Theater with half of Olympia and their little brothers and sisters at this all-ages extravaganza. 

Gravy Train!!! is an Oakland-based electro-sex-thrash-tronic quartet who are all about getting you to shake your "beautiful because it's yours" behind and raising room temperatures with their crazed dance routines and racy subjects.  With songs like "Strip 4 Me" and "Sippin 40z" all being driven by relentlessly rhythmic beats, you will lose at least ten pounds shaking your groove thang amongst the multitudes of like-minded, body image positive Olympians. 

[Capitol Theater, Wednesday, March 26, 7:30 p.m., all-ages, $5-$7, 205 E. Fifth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.5378]

SUZY STUMP: SATELLITE COFFEE >>>

I know, I know, another Satellite Coffee post. Can't help it. They market themselves well, and serve a tasty cup of coffee.

Satellite extends an invitation to climb its stairs Tuesday, March 25, for a "Cupping." More appeasing than my cubicle neighbor Brad Allen's version of cupping, Satellite's version  is a formal coffee tasting that is fun, educational and free.

The coffee joint will cup you tomorrow at 1 and 8 p.m.

MATT DRISCOLL: ISN'T AS FUNNY AS SEAN CULVER >>>

If 30-year-old bearded dudes who live with their mom and have MySpace profiles that liken themselves to communist revolutionaries could achieve iconic status in Tacoma, www.myspace.com/culverfuckyeah ">Sean Culver would be a legend. In my book, he should be.

A Puyallup High School graduate, former student body president at Pierce College, devoted fan of the Seattle Seahawks and Ultimate Fighting, and a man with a beautiful head of hair, Sean Culver also earns a paycheck these days from Jazzbones. What he does is somewhat unclear, suffice to say it involves effeminately answering phones and promoting Ha Ha Tuesdays â€" Jazzbones’ weekly comedy show.

Tomorrow, local boy done good www.myspace.com/sickasscomic ">Jason Stewart, along with www.myspace.com/seanrouse ">Sean Rouse of the Dave Attell Insomniac Tour and www.myspace.com/andrewandrist ">Andy Andrist of the Man Show fame, will be at Jazzbones soliciting laughter. Culver wanted to talk about it.

Here’s what he had to say to the Weekly Volcano:

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Why should people get off their ass and miss out on a Tuesday night worth of crap TV to see the comedy show at Jazzbones?
SEAN CULVER: This is a chance to see three great comics who might be dead soon. It's like knowing that Mitch Hedberg and Bill Hicks were gonna pass and then purposely going to see their shows. This isn't called the Face Down Dead in Our Vomit Comedy Tour for nothing. And they are all legit comics. Stewart is super funny and on the Howard Stern Show. Rousse if freakin' hilarious. He's so good that Attell hand picked him to be on his Insomniac Tour. Andrist is poop your pants funny. He wrote for both the Man Show and the Daily Show. It's a chance to see three great headliners all together. Their all funny and their all mad men. Everyone will have a great time. Somebody will vomit, somebody will get naked and somebody will be crying in a corner. It could be one of the comics but it most likely will be me.

VOLCANO: As a communist, is promoting comedy shows hard? I thought communists didn't have senses of humor?
CULVER: Well, first off I'm a democratic socialist. And we laugh like mother fuckers! Lawdy! Get enough victory gin in one of us and it's laughapalooza.

VOLACO: Who's the sexiest communist of all time?
CULVER: Well, she's more of a socialist, but I would have to say Angela Davis. Strong intelligent black womyn always get me.

VOLCANO: How has your stint as Pierce College student body president prepared you for your role as, um, a 30-year-old guy who lives with his mom and is equal parts Buddha and Che?
CULVER: It's been a bit tough, to be honest, Matthew. I mean, after such an important gig I really thought I was going some where. After all, I did get 80 percent of the vote running unopposed. I still think I have a shot to run for the presidency in 2012, though. After listening to Hillary and her surrogates I know that since I'm not a female running for office there are really no standards. I can give a pretty good speech too. Culver in 2012? Sounds pretty good to me.

VOLCANO: What's your mom's favorite TV show?
CULVER: She really likes Boston Legal. She also likes that BBC show that had Dame Judi Dench in it. Some BS PBS thing. And she digs Torchwood. Although the main characters bi-sexuality freaks her out, she thinks he has a cute smile.

VOLCANO: Speaking of 30, how's it treating you? Are you surprised you're not dead yet?
CULVER: I will live forever, Matthew. Well, at least long enough to burn all my bridges and die alone and in a cave. But that’s when my art will come. As far as being 30 goes, it aint so bad. I'm still in decent enough shape that I was able to dive out of the way of being hit by a car at the cross walk by House of Tattoo. And I didn’t break a hip! I mean, 19 year olds are getting a little more freaked when I ogle them, but there are also a lot of chicks out there with daddy complexes. I have one friend, she's 22 and totally into a 37 year old. Crazy. So it's not really that bad.

VOLCANO: What should the Seahawks do with Shauna Alexander? Would you ever consider getting him a job at Jazzbones if the football thing is over for him?
CULVER: Yeah, the Hawks are gonna cut him. I don't think that he would work at Jazzbones though. Jesus would be very mad at him. Did you know that he was a virgin when he got married? Yeah, Jesus would not be happy with him working at a den of sin like the Boneyard. Maybe he could work the door at Club Impact?

VOLCANO: As a big UFC fan, out of the three remaining presidential hopefuls, who do you think would fare best in the octagon?
CULVER: Clearly Barrack Obama. McCain is a tough old guy, but has very limited use of his arms due to the, you know, um, torture he went through. I don't like McCain, but I'm really not trying to make a torture joke. Just speaking the truth. Hillary would have rawked in the old UFC when crotch shots were legal, because you know that she's a demasculating bitch. At least that's her rap. But these days you can't deliver a low blow. So Obama is the youngest, has working limbs and would definitely have a reach advantage.

VOLCANO: If people are on the fence, trying to decide whether to show up at Jazzbones on Tuesday, sell them on it in one sentence:
CULVER: Three hilarious all star comics who might die soon of alcohol poising or of a heart attack.

VOLCANO That’s not a sentence.
CULVER: Viva revolution.

COMMUNITY
Go Local or Die
Questions such as: “How do I get involved?”; “Does the city really give a shit what I think?”; and “What kind of city can I imagine loving to live in?” are a good start. But how about: “What does quality of life mean for my whole neighborhood?; “How can I combine my creative power with others?”; and “What change would make us all come up at once?” This sort of thinking outside of our own yards is the start to a whole lot of grassroots power that has saved and improved places such as Portland, Austin and the Seattle neighborhoods of Wallingford and Fremont.

Involvement, surprisingly, starts right next door. At the most basic level, connecting with the people around you is the fastest track to making positive change in more than just your patio furniture.

Start tonight with the “Go Local or Die” conversation featuring Tacoma urbanists Jim Diers, Amy McBride, Derek Young, Roxanne Murphy and Justin Mayfield. It’s what Local Life Tacoma is calling a "charrette to resuscitate community and cultural life in downtown Tacoma." â€" Daniel Blue
[Veritas Mortgage Group, 6-8 p.m., no cover, 762 Broadway, Tacoma, www.golocaltacoma.com]

ANTI-FOLK
Hamell On Trial
New Yorker Hamell on Trial (aka Ed Hamell) pontificates and plays guitar like a demon. He’s often referred to as a one-man punk band. But what he does for a living isn't exactly easy to categorize. He's not quite a pundit, not quite a comic, and definitely not a touchy-feely singer-songwriter mope. Hamell mixes politics, the Ten Commandments, drug dealers, road trips, sex and worry warts into an intoxicating, confessional spoken-sung brand of anti-folk. â€" Brad Allen
[Northern Pacific Coffee Company, 8 p.m., all ages, $10-$12, 401 Garfield St. S., Tacoma, 253.537.8338]

LINK: Lewd Acts and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Erica Lord, Matt Hamon and Kirk Lang show at Black Front Gallery.
LINK: Let’s eat seafood today.

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Repine \rih-PINE\, intransitive verb:
1. To feel or express discontent.
2. To long for something.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Though he follows it very closely, Bobble Tiki also has a side of him that repines the media’s infatuation with Britney Spears.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Superintendent finalists announced

OLYMPIA: Old Safeway to be new city hall

SEATTLE: High tech toilets get axed

United States: Home prices slip, slip, slide

THINGS TO DO TODAY
FILM LISTINGS: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening

MATT DRISCOLL: APPRECIATES THE SMALL THINGS >>>

Rain keeps pouring outside my window. Deadline for this week's Weekly Volcano looms, and time keeps slipping away. Multiple cups of coffee have made my insides feel like fire.

Luckily, there are the small things to keep me going, like new music from Kill Rock Stars. Thanks to an email I received earlier today, I was able to find a couple new tunes to help me get through this Tuesday.

Olympia's beloved Old Haunts will  release Poisonous Times on April 8. The first track from the record, the band's third on Kill Rock Stars, is titled "Volatile," and is available free here.

Also, the www.myspace.com/thenewbloods ">New Bloods - a Portland based band set to add some new wave roots style magic to the Kill Rock Stars catalog - will release The Secret Life on the same day. Check out their song "Oh, Deadly Nightshade" here.

HOMO HIP-HOP
Gravy Train!!!!
If you have a fun bone left in your body and want to boogie the night away, and are perfectly OK with very fit men dancing around in tightie-whities while voluptuous vixens scream their way into your electro-loving heart, GRAVY TRAIN!!!! IS YOUR SHOW!

Gravy Train!!! is an Oakland-based electro-sex-thrash-tronic quartet who are all about getting you to shake your "beautiful because it's yours" behind and raising room temperatures with their crazed dance routines and racy subjects.  With songs like "Strip 4 Me" and "Sippin 40z" all being driven by relentlessly rhythmic beats, you will lose at least ten pounds shaking your groove thang amongst the multitudes of like-minded, body image positive Olympians. â€" Owen Tayl
[Capitol Theater, Wednesday, March 26, 7:30 p.m., all-ages, $5-$7, 205 E. Fifth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.5378]

JAZZ
Kareem Kandi Band
Jazz is the only purely American music and the one genre that has embraced elements of all musical forms.  This is why it is always exciting to find young artists who push the boundaries to create their own unique style, and Kareem Kandi is one musician who does just that.  The Tacoma-based sax player â€"along with guitarist Mason Hargrove and crew, performs a style of jazz that incorporates blues, funk and rock. Kandi, who lists his influences from such renowned jazz greats as Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane, plays in a free-style manner that sounds improvised. â€" Tony Engelhart
[Pour At Four, 7 p.m., no cover, 3814 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.761.8015]

LINK: Dave Roberts and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Catch a flick on a local screen.
LINK: Let’s eat Greek today.