JENNIFER JOHNSON: FOOT STOMPIN' FUN >>>


Since his public debut playing in the Puget Sound a scant four years ago, Matt Coughlin has grown from a solo folksinger with an acoustic guitar to an artist with the ability to perform in many different arenas and in many configurations. Performing as the Matt Coughlin band tonight at the Swiss, Coughlin, drummer Dalton Shotwell and violinist Kim Coleman will deliver self-described “good ol' foot stompin' fun” as the headlining act of the evening.

Here's Coughlin’s take on the bands he’s sharing the night with:

“The Black Sails are a cool bluesy band from Puyallup headed by Travis Barker; and Friday Mile- now their bringing in Phil O'Sullivan to cover some extra guitar parts and add a little swagger. I heard them at the Tractor last month and they are sounding killer these days.”

Coughlin’s music is an original blend of folk, rock, and bluesy country. He’s been seen doing a little slappin’ on his guitar for an added percussive punch. Coughlin’s soul-filled vocals make his lyrics come alive and when he uses ‘foot-stompin’ to describe his live show, he means it. Fans of Martin Sexton and Ryan Adams will love this show.

[The Swiss, 8:30 p.m., $5, 21+, 1904 Jefferson Avenue, Tacoma, 253.572.2821]

Photo courtesy of Myspace

SUZY STUMP: SEA GRILL LOBSTER MONTH >>>

Put on your noseguard
Put on the lifeguard
Pass the tanning butter

Here comes a stingray
There goes a manta-ray
In walked a jelly fish
There goes a dogfish
Chased by a catfish
In flew a sea robin
Watch out for that piranha
There goes a narwhale
HERE COMES LOBSTERPALOOZA!

Yeah, quite lame. It’s all I could think of to hype Sea Grill’s Lobsterpalooza 2008. Even though Sea Grill Executive Chef Matt Brandsey is busy preparing for tonight’s Chef’s Dinner with sister restaurant El Gaucho, he’s orchestrated the Grill’s annual Lobsterpalooza, too.

Matt Brandsey snappin'
Matt Brandsey clappin'
Muscles flexin'
Flippers flippin'

Yeah, no â€" that didn’t work either.

Anyway, Lobsterpalooza runs through November with tasty treats such as spicy lobster bisque, lobster linguine, bacon-wrapped lobster brochettes and more.

Everybody's rockin'
Everybody's fruggin'

What the hell is fruggin’ anyway?

[Sea Grill, 1498 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.5656]

MATT DRISCOLL: PORTLAND EXPERIMENTAL POP AT ITS BEST >>>

Tonight at Le Voyeur in Olympia, Portland's Pink Widower will take the stage. If you’ve dabbled in ’s (quite honestly) jaw-dropping pop and experimental music scene, then you know the punch it packs. Pink Widower fits PDX perfectly. The band pushes boundaries, yet makes it sound effortless and seamless, and maintains a pop sensibility that makes it live and warm.

To read the entire story in the latest issue of the Weekly Volcano, click here.

ALEC CLAYTON: ART AT WORK MONTH >>>

The Art at Work studio tours take place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8-9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Not all studios are open at the same time, but there is a complete schedule available here. You can even find a printable brochure on that site with information on all participating artists and photos of their work.

The tours offer the opportunity to see how and where artists do their work, watch demonstrations, ask questions of the artists, purchase artworks and in some cases try your hand at making works of art. In addition to the 61 participating artists, two schools will take part in the tour â€" Tacoma Community College and Tacoma School of the Arts.

I discuss a few of the participating studios here.

Rebecca V Gallery will host an Studio Tours After Party Saturday at 4 p.m.

LINK: Art at Work Month events

LINK: ViVA South Sound arts and entertainment calendar

TONY ENGELHART: BRANDON BEAUCHESNE HAS MANY SIDES >>>

I'm finding it hard to slot this one as Brandon Beauchesne pulls from many genres to create his ultra hip sound. Maybe part T-Rex, part Gary Numan, and part Roxy Music? Probably a fair assessment, as Beauchesne brings back '70s Glam Rock and combines it with '80s synth-heavy New Wave. Oh, and he wears makeup- how very Ziggy Stardust of him. As a former member of the Envy, Beauchesne is well versed in the ways of guitar driven rock, but after the band dispersed he began focusing on creating his own sound- a sound that Beauchesne has dubbed "Groove Pop." So far he hasn't released any music for purchase, but you can download four of his tunes free via MySpace. What a guy!

Beauchesne will play Jazzbones in Tacoma tonight. It's a show worth checking out.

[Jazzbones, 9 p.m., $8-$10, 2803 Sixth Ave. Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

LINK: South Sound live music and DJs tonight

JAKE DE PAUL: STADIUM THRIFTWAY WINE TASTING >>>

Remember a couple weeks ago when Weekly Volcano scribe Sandee Glib announced that Tacoma grocery stores will be firing up wine tastings. Refresh your memory here.

Stadium Thriftway will hold another tasting this afternoon in conjunction with their Open House from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Expect Australian wines from Marquis Philips, Paringa and a few others. The Stadium District grocery store will also offer food pairings.

The grocery store will knock off 10 percent on six bottles and 15 percent off 12.

[Stadium Thriftway, 618 N. 1st St., Tacoma, 253.627.8275]

MATT DRISCOLL: TACOMA'S FAVORITE CARTOONIST WEIGHS IN >>>

RR Anderson - he of Frost Park Chalk Off and Tacomic fame â€" is, perhaps, the most prolific and outspoken social commenter and political cartoonist Tacoma has ever known. At the very least, he’s the funniest.

This week, shortly after Tuesday’s historic election, I got in touch with Anderson to get his take on everything that went down.

He offered his unique perspective, a few days later, and it's now available for all the read on the Weekly Volcano's website.

Enjoy.

Photo courtesy of Tacoma Urbanist

BRAD ALLEN: PAPPI SWARNER'S JUKEBOX >>>

Pappi Swarner is back from Maui, tanned, torn and rested. I snagged America's "Ventura Highway" off Pappi's '70s pop jukebox to help him and you think warm thoughts this weekend.