STEPH DEROSA: LOCAL LIVING LOUNGE >>>

I caught up with the Local Living Lounge peeps today at their inaugural appearance with the Broadway Tacoma Farmer's Market.  They lounged around.  And lounged.  And lounged.

Along with all the lounging came a hearty poll question of "What do you LOVE about Tacoma?"

Answers were interesting, fair, and came from people other than men in suits sitting at a board meeting.  They came from market goers, moms, hippies, and even Yogi Bear himself.  At the end of the summer results will be displayed through some sort of media outlet (TBD) right there at the local lounge.

The local lounge is just going to get bigger and better ever week, so go check that stuff out and give them your input while you can.  If you don't heed my advice now, then I don't ever want to hear you bitching about something you'd like to see different in Tacoma again.

Here are a few photos I snapped in the Lounge today.

I love Tacoma.

BRAD ALLEN: PERFECT POP PERFORMED AT HELL'S KITCHEN >>>

I’ve always believed The Posies are the definition of "overlooked" bands. If this melodic, power pop band played in a different city and time rather than Seattle in the early ‘90s, they might have seen greater commercial success.

The plus side, however, is that I could stand five feet from Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow at Hell’s Kitchen with 100-150 people on a Wednesday night.

Stringfellow and Auer’s angelic vocals were in top form last night. They can still harmonize better than anyone since Simon and Garfunkel. Yet, when they focus on the harder songs, like they did toward the end last night with the pop-punk thrasher “Grant Hart,” they maintain near-perfect pop structure.

Age hasn’t slowed down Stringfellow either. He still attacks his guitar, drops to his knees and can still perform Pete Townshend-like windmills without missing a beat.

The two seemed to enjoy the night, trading jokes and flashing smiles.  I know I did.

LINK: Matt Driscoll interviewed Stringfellow and Auer.

POST-HARDCORE
Kane Hodder
The last time Tacoma got a chance to see Kane Hodder was April 13 at Supernova Hair and Tattoo. The Bremerton scream rockers were shooting a video for the song “Siberia 1908,” which will show up on a soon to be released digital EP Kane Hodder is currently preparing for, though no official announcement has been made from the band about a possible release date, title, or track listing.

Tonight, Tacoma will get its next chance to see Kane Hodder, this time at the up and coming all-ages venue the Viaduct. Joined by Rough Chukar, Dressed to Kill and As Far as Foxes Go, this is just another in a growing list of shows that proves the Viaduct is for real. â€" Matt Driscoll
[The Viaduct, Kane Hodder, Rough Chukar, Dressed To Kill, As Far As Foxes Go, 7 p.m., all ages, $8, 5412 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, www.myspace.com/viaductvenue]

POP
Debra Arlyn
OK, kiddies.  Enough of that rock stuff.  Organized noise, that’s all it is.  It’s not even that organized.  Noise, that’s all it is.  Pop music, man, the music of sex and love and sex â€" that’s where it’s at.  Don’t hate, man, don’t hate.  It’s all about love.  Love!  Are you against love?  Peace, love and happiness.  If you come to see Debra Arlyn, you’ll get to hear some great Portland pop (with a little disco, actually) music. OK, I’ll come clean … she adds a little heartache. But it’s because of love. Now all we need is some love ... love ... hmm ... all we need is love … â€" Suzy Stump
[Borders Books, 7 p.m., all ages, no cover, 2508 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253.473.9111]

LINK: The Little Penguins and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: A couple of films open today.
LINK: Let’s eat at the Herban Café.

BRAD ALLEN: FABULOUS FIRWOOD ON FIRE >>>

The News Tribune is reporting the Fabulous Firwood in Fife is on fire.

Battles with the Fife police, battles with contractors and now a battle with fire. That doesn't sound all that fabulous.

UPDATE: The News Tribune reports arson.

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Gauche \GOHSH\, adjective:
Lacking social polish; tactless; awkward; clumsy.

USAGE EXAMPLE:  Bobble Tiki has been called many things in his life. An ass. A prick. Even an imbecile. However, Bobble Tiki has never been called gauche. It’s not because he’s not gauche, mind you, it’s simply that Bobble Tiki’s friends have the vocabulary of 3rd graders.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Fabulous Firwood in Fife burns down

OLYMPIA: Three protesters charged

SEATTLE: From the NBA to homeless

UNITED STATES: McCain versus Obama

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

SUZY STUMP: THIS WEEKEND AT THE MOVIES >>>

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian â€" The sequel to the film that gave us the SNL spoof that launched Andy Samberg’s career features the battle over Narnia.

Set in an English village in the early 1980s, Son of Rambow is a gentle story that involves a great deal of violence, but mostly the violence is muted and dreamy, like a confrontation with a fearsome scarecrow that looks horrifying but is obviously not real â€" or real enough, but not alive, or something.

LINK: Go here for movie starting times.
LINK: You gotta eat.

MATT DRISCOLL: NEEDS A SMOKE >>>

After nights of painful waiting and plenty of anticipation, today it finally happened.

The Feds finally stimulated me. And damn it was good.

Now, plenty of people have already filled the blogosphere with talk of IRS stimulus checks, the usual questions being “How are you going to spend yours?”

But I’ll be honest. I don’t really care how you’re going to spend your stimulus. I’m much more concerned with how I’ll spend mine.

Thoughts:

- I may fill up the gas tank, just so I can remember what it looks like.

- I guess shots at the Firwood are out of the question.

- How many cupcakes can one buy with $900?

- Can you say Brazilian Wax? 

- Maybe I’ll donate it to charity, and then walk around all high and mighty for the next few months until my car breaks down and I curse the decision.

- Can you say $900 sack?

- Maybe I should save some of it to buy my wife flowers after spending our entire stimulus check on said $900 sack?

Anyway, these are just a few thoughts on what I may do with my economic stimulus check. Whichever one I choose, I’m just happy to be able to help get the economy back on track. Let’s all do our part.

EVENT
Livable Communities Fair
Alert the tree huggers and break out the patchouli for a day. Let your armpit hair flow free as you step into the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall for the Livable Communities Fair today.

Pierce County and the City of Tacoma have partnered up to give you an all-inclusive playground that demonstrates how our fine, environment-loving community works, and what we can do to use it wisely. These dedicated government employees are providing us with interactive displays on stuff like energy conservation, recycling, neighborhood emergency preparedness, water quality, public safety, clean environment, agriculture, recreation, health, education, volunteering, and children's activities.

Dust off the Birkenstocks â€" you’re going to need them to carry in the cans of food I’m asking you to bring for the Tacoma Rescue Mission. Want to know the best part of it all? The admission is free. That right there makes the community in my wallet a much more livable place. â€" Steph DeRosa
[Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, 2727 E. D. St., Tacoma, 253.798.6691]

ROCK
The Lonely H
Looking at a band like the Lonely H, three fourths of which is 19, the other fourth an elderly 21, I can’t help but be seriously impressed by what they’ve managed to accomplish at such a young age. A band that singer Mark Fredson, guitarist Eric Whitman, drummer Ben Eyestone and bassist Johnny Whitman formed even before they reached high school, the Lonely H has been going for five years now. With their Robert Plant hair and faded, ’70s-style threads, which this band of teenagers wears with strange classic rock pride though they were born long after the mudshark had left the Edgewater, the Lonely H has gone in search of the magic of ’70s rock, and the results have been surprisingly good. They’ve toured extensively, played SXSW, released multiple well received records, and more importantly suggested that classic rock may have possibilities beyond the “Stairway to Heaven,” repeat mix we’ve come to know it as. The Lonely H have surely done and seen things that most kids their age can’t even fathom. It’s mighty impressive. â€" MS
[Hell’s Kitchen, The Lonely H, Speaker Speaker, The Pete Moss Band, The Globes, 5 p.m., all ages, $7, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

ROCK
Bob’s Java Jive
There are a few bands in this town that I always keep my eye on. Whenever I see their name, I know the show’s worth paying attention to.

The Fuxking Eagles are one of those bands.

Face it. The Fucking Eagles rule. Not only do they have “fucking” right in their band name (which just screams dangerous, doesn’t it?), but their grimy garage rock meets maximum R&B could be the soundtrack to our city. The Fucking Eagles always put together killer lineups, too. When you see the band scheduled to rock, you know the whole night will be good. â€" Matt Driscoll
[Bob’s Java Jive, Roy Loney & The Long Shots, The Fucking Eagles, The Tripwires, Darrren Selector, Saturday, May 17, 8 p.m., 2102 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

LINK: Straight On (Heart tribute) and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Let’s eat outside today.