KELLY DRISCOLL: HIGHER VIBES AT THE SWISS TONIGHT >>>

Everyone knows when you reach a certain age Halloween no longer revolves around pillowcases full of candy and the innocent mischief only a sugar high can induce. Sooner or later, someone spikes the punch and Halloween transforms into an “it only happens once a year” free-for-all, full of scantly costumes and copious amounts of alcohol. With all of the eager anticipation and creative juices flowing, one dilemma always seems to come into play. What to do the night before? I have a solution to offer. When the clock strikes 9 p.m. this evening, slide into the Swiss Tavern and order your favorite drink. Not only will you be greeted with the comfort and familiarity of the Swiss, but local band Higher Vibes will be taking the stage. The soothing Caribbean style of Zach Lujan’s voice, coupled with the harmonious rhythm section of Jeff Leonard and Darin Watkins, will usher in Halloween on a relaxing note. If that isn’t enough to intrigue your senses, the band’s saxophonist, Brett Cummings has assured me that costumes are welcome.

[The Swiss, 9 p.m., $5, 1904 S. Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821]

STEPH DEROSA: PAPPI'S GONE, 08'S WINNERS WEREN'T AT RISK >>>

When asked to pass on the title of “Arts Patron” for this year’s AMOCAT Awards, last year’s winner, Weekly Volcano, was quoted as saying, “Hell no!  Over our dead body!” Such a prestigious award from the Tacoma Arts Commission is hard to come by, and not something one would easily give up.  At least not for Pappi Swarner.  It took a plane ticket to Hawaii to get Pappi away long enough for this year’s AMOCAT award recipients to be honored without any altercations. 

Upon arrival I quickly found the bar and tilted back a smooth vodka soda.  There was a plentifully stocked hors d’ouvres buffet with cocktail tables surrounding. I chatted it up with the likes of Tiffany from Broadway Center, friend Alison, Lynn Di Nino, sweet pea, the McDermott family of King’s Books, Mike Lonergan, and Ed Murrieta â€" to name a few.  Eventually we were herded into a room where the awards ceremony would take place.

People crammed into the back of the room, standing as if there were no seats available.  Why don’t people sit in the first two rows?  They were almost empty, so I scatted my rear up front and scored a great seat.  Most comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat in, thankyouverymuch.

Local poets read their poems while a screen behind them displayed images of letterpress posters donning their words.  It was an amazing collaboration of letterpress and the literary arts.  The poems and art were beautiful, to say the least.  My favorite poems came from two students of Tacoma Community College’s Allen Braden who had “just come out” from being in a poet closet.  Tim Sherry’s “Wiffle Ball Was” and Diane Toft-Knowles’ “Nine Lives” were both captivating and genuine.  I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of them in the future.

Linda Danforth snagged the Community Outreach by an Artist award for her work with multiple local artist cooperatives and the Tacoma Art Place, while King’s Books received the Community Outreach by an Organization award.  sweet pea was credited repeatedly for giving King’s Books the unique personality it has in the Tacoma community.  Finally Hotel Murano received the 2008 Arts Patron award from the Tacoma Arts Commission. 

Life was good.

Fortunately for Hotel Murano, brand new awards were given out for Arts Patron seeing as how Pappi Swarner had licked the plaque from last year.

Check out some more pictures of the action below.

JAKE DE PAUL: NEW TACOMA SPORTS BAR >>>

Since, with each passing year, I become less and less a fan of televised sports (dumb commercials, dumb commentary, dumb overpaid players and owners), the announcement of the Game On Sports Grille grand opening celebration on Sixth Avenue Nov. 5-7 doesn't exactly score with me.

I know I'm in the minority.

The Game On Sports Grille will offer the following:

• Private dining facilities
• Two lounges â€" a Sports Bar and a cozy Retro Lounge â€" with pool tables and games; all surrounded by HD TVs and a state of the art sound system
• A diverse menu including steamed Northwest clams, Puget Sound ciopinno, char grilled steaks and seafood as well as gourmet burgers
• Italian and Mexican fare prepared Chef Michael Dietz (Las Vegas) scratch kitchen Happy Hours 3-6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to Midnight every day

Game On's grand opening weekend will include two for one dinners, all day happy hour, giveaways and more.

[Game On Sports Grille, 6409 Sixth Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.460.1400]

SUZY STUMP: DO THE HALLOWEEN >>>

The evolution of Halloween is a tragedy of modern times. No longer can parents stick their kids in black costumes and send them off into dark streets unattended, armed only with a pillowcase and a burning desire for sugar. But this does not mean our country’s future leaders have to spend their childhood earning their Smarties by trick-or-treating in the mall. Instead, send Junior to the Children’s Museum of Tacoma for its all-day Halloween Howls program loaded with Halloween activities.  Then gather up the tykes and motor over to the Proctor District businesses for the traditional, safe Proctor Treats trick or treat event, 4-6 p.m.  Next, take the wacked-out kiddies home, calm them down, tuck them in with a kiss, throw on your Zamboni driver costume and head to Hell’s Kitchen for the Church of Hate show.

Scary.

[Children’s Museum of Tacoma, 936 Broadway, Tacoma, 235.627-6031]
[Proctor Business District, North 26th and Proctor streets, Tacoma, 253.370-1748]
[Hell’s Kitchen, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

PAUL SCHRAG: ICONIC TACOMA BAND LIVES DREAM, OPENS FOR THE SONICS >>>

Girl Trouble is like a nice old German beer. If you leave it out for a while, it kicks you in the stomach when you ingest it. The Tacoma lo-fi legends will play the Paramount this Halloween with The Sonics, and it’s sure to be a greasy, grinding good time.

It’s been 23 years since the Tacoma quartet started a DIY revolution in their garage. Unlike all the douchebag corporate counterparts, Girl Trouble still has the same four members â€" Bon, Kahuna, Dale and K.P. The Northwest supergroup was doing lo-fi during lo-fi’s third rise to power (we’re on six now, I think), and prove gloriously and perpetually that rock and roll is low art. According to a MySpace posting by Bon, the crew’s first performance was a battle of the bands, and they played Cramps covers, which kind of says it all. God I hope they play Cramps covers at the Paramount.

[The Paramount, 8 p.m., $26.50 - $62, 911 Pine Street, Seattle, 206.467.5510]

Poster by Jerry Clayworth

CARADY MADDEN: CHURCH OF HATE ON HALLOWEEN AT HELL'S KITCHEN >>>

Local metal favorites Church of Hate and American Wrecking Company are teaming up on Halloween night to bring Tacomans one of the most brutal shows of the year. Who wants to go to a lame house party where you don't know anyone when you could go to Hell's Kitchen and rock out instead? If for some reason you aren't familiar with both of these bands (have you been living under a rock or something?!), Halloween is probably the absolute best time to see them play together. Headed up by A Lesson in Chaos, this show will rock your face off. Always supporting the best local bands, Hell's Kitchen offers both the music and the atmosphere you'd expect from a rock bar. Expect loads of fake blood, a touch of the real stuff, and lots of zombie costumes.

[Hell’s Kitchen, 9 p.m., $5-$7, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

MATT DRISCOLL: NIGHT OF THE LIVING TRIBUTE BANDS '08 >>>

Every year around this time in Olympia you can count on a couple of things. Students at The Evergreen State College are blowing off seminars to smoke weed in the woods, and since it’s nearly Halloween it must be time for the Olympia Film Society’s “Night of the Living Tribute Bands.”

If you’re not from Olympia, or â€" by chance â€" have never heard of Night of the Living Tribute Bands, let me explain.

For seven years in a row now, musicians and closet performance artists have gathered at the Capitol Theater on or near Halloween to pay homage to some of the greatest bands of all time and take on the musical personas they’ve always dreamed of. The idea is simple: musicians so inclined gather their friends and choose a band to pay tribute to, pick their character, practice the licks and the moves, and on the big night strut their stuff for the delight of a packed house of costumed revelers. It’s nowhere near reality, but that’s what makes it so much damn fun.

This year's Night of the Living Tribute Bands will happen tonight, Halloween, at the Capitol Theater. To read the full story in this week's issue of the Weekly Volcano, click here.

Photo courtesy of Meg Cunningham/BlackSheep Photography

BOBBLE TIKI: CHECK OUT THE PARTIES TONIGHT >>>

As a child in elementary school, Bobble Tiki dreaded the arrival of Halloween, not because there were scary ghosts and goblins or because Bobble Tiki was afraid of the dark (’cause he wasn’t, OK!), but because Bobble Tiki always ended up looking like a big dork.

Bobble Tiki’s dad waited till the last minute to make him a costume. One Halloween, just before he drove Bobble Tiki to school, he threw a roll of toilet paper in Bobble Tiki’s room and said, “Here you go, Bobble, you’re a mummy!” Sadly, it was the end of the roll so Bobble Tiki had to go to school in his brother’s oversized, white Adidas tracksuit with his head poorly wrapped in buttwipe. Needless to say, it was a little humiliating (although Bobble Tiki was not as humiliated as the guy dressed as Crazy Garbage Bag Man). From that moment on Bobble Tiki vowed to plan his costume well in advance and put a little thought into it.

So, tonight, when you spot Freddy Mercury Krueger (hat, sweater, claws, buckteeth and big ’stache) show him a little love.  And, please, if you spot toilet tissue on his shoe step on it.

The good news is virtually every bar, club, and music venue in the South Sound has a special event planned tonight.  For Bobble Tiki to select just one would be as impossible as naming his favorite Andy Gibb song. Check out the Weekly Volcano's club calendar here and get your Boo! on.