BLUES
Friends of the Holidays
Today at the Swiss, Friends of the Holidays â€" a 10-year-old nonprofit dedicated to providing food and holiday cheer to Pierce County’s less fortunate come December â€" will host a fund-raiser. Food is expensive, after all, and it takes money to accomplish what Friends of the Holidays prides itself on. Last year the nonprofit fed 470 families during the holiday season. With help from you, this year the goal is 500.

Aided by the music talents of Steve Stefanowicz, Chymes of Freedom, Tim Hall Band, Eddie Gillans’ Love Child, Junkyard Jane, The Randy Oxford Band, Rock-n-Roll Magic and PoodleBomb, the Swiss will be packed with do-gooders on Sunday, dead set on raising money for a worthy holiday cause â€" not to mention getting their blues rocks off. By the look of the lineup, both goals should be easily achieved. â€" Matt Driscoll
[The Swiss, 3 p.m., $10, 1904 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821]

JAZZ
Darren Motamedy
Everyone has had the jazz singer/musician fantasy. The smoky room, piano, tight red dress, long lost love, etc. Well, nothing kills a fantasy like a little reality. As in, jazz is really friggin’ hard to play. But nothing helps one overcome the initial reality shock like some friendly instruction and encouragement. And that’s exactly what Darren Motamedy received when he and his family moved from Los Angeles to Kent in 1969.  Although the clarinet was his first love, his high school jazz band instructor forced the saxophone on him.  Throughout high school and his time at the Central Washington University music school, he received top-notch instruction and encouragement in both instruments, played in every kind of band, earned the prestigious Presser Scholarship, studied under America’s premier clarinetist Raymond Wheeler and eventually graduated with a music education degree.  Today, he leads one of the most popular jazz jams in the South Sound. Check it tonight at the Cedarwood. â€" Brad Allen
[Cedarwood Sports Bar at the Dome, 7 p.m., $7.50, 7404 Pacific Hwy. E., Milton, 253.922.5727]

LINK: Monster Monster and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Check out when the movies start.
LINK: Let’s eat Chinese today.