JENNIFER JOHNSON: FLOATER ALWAYS DELIVERS LIVE >>>

It’s often forgotten that rock music is still quite new, not really hitting big until the 1960s. What we have now is a fierce free-for-all of unchained self-expression. There are still countries in the world where the act of writing anti-government lyrics and songs â€" forget performing them live â€" gets you arrested, beaten and possibly imprisoned for treason. Floater uses music as an avenue to address the American lifestyle, social consciousness, consumer-driven obsession and imagined need, along with loss and darkly, love.

Forming in 1993, Floater came out of the gate hard releasing the first of many albums in early ’94, impressively earning two preliminary Grammy nominations â€" one for their first release, Sink, in the category of “Best Rock Album” and another nod for the band’s second release, Glyph, in the category of “Best Alternative Performance.” Compared to these and other earlier releases dubbed “trippy,” “out there” and “acid rock” by many, the band’s latest offering, Stone by Stone, is more general, public friendly and highly accessible â€" especially with David Amador’s guitar mastery being showcased along with awesome tribal drumming by Peter Cornett. More than rabid Floater fans will dig almost every track. The dynamics of the CD’s entirety highlights the Portland, Ore., trio’s broad, now matured, musical abilities. World beat, reggae, tribal. You’ll hear it. Atmospheric, psychedelic, folksy pop? Yes, that, too. Heavy metal bass-laden, head banging rock? Absolutely. Floater is consistently great live, approachable as a band, and consistently evolving, writing, turning out new releases and touring in what singer/bass guitarist Robert Wynia has described as their “submarine” tour van. Tonight Floater will plug in at Hell’s Kitchen, for a show with In Lunar Blue and Bucket.

As a singer, Wynia seems to recognize his voice is really his greatest instrument; stretching tones and punctuating skillfully written lyrics with delicate breath or long powerfully held notes with consistent equal ease. This overall consistency has developed a near cult-like following similar to Phish, Primus and Pink Floyd, albeit on a smaller scale. Fans are swept into the music, their bodies moving with fluid melody. From above on stage, a Floater crowd must resemble the ocean â€" languid ripples of people entranced and slipping against each other softly during calmer dreamlike musical moments only to be shaken apart and dashed into a frenzy of curling roaring waves of fists in the air when the rockin’ out starts. 

Are you ready to jump in?

[Hell’s Kitchen, with In Lunar Blue and Bucket, Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 p.m. $10, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

BOBBLE TIKI: TONIGHT AT JAZZBONES >>>

Bobble Tiki loves a good story about overcoming long odds. It's one of the reasons he thinks he should receive extra credit from his bosses here at the Weekly Volcano for making it to work on time on Mondays. Few, if any, expect Bobble Tiki to pull off the feat on a regular basis. When he does, Bobble Tiki feels it's worth a pat on the back.

For a real story of overcoming long odds, blues fans in our area need look no further than tonight's show at Jazzbones in Tacoma, when Portland, Oregon-based Curtis Salgado takes the stage.

To read Bobble Tiki's full column on the show in the latest issue of the Weekly Volcano, click here.

MATT DRISCOLL: UNSMASHABLE RECORDS SHOWCASE AT THE JIVE >>>

Tonight, at the world famous Bob's Java Jive on South Tacoma Way, Unsmashable Records - which is basically a conglomeration of friends who happen to be in rock bands who happen to like to put out records - will be putting on a showcase show, featuring the Riffbrokers, the Small Change, Crown Aruba and the I Love Myselfs.

I previewed the show in this week's version of my Rock Rhetoric column, which appeared online only for the first time ever - thanks to the fact I appear topless in it.

Just kidding.

To check it out click here.

BANDITO BETTY LOU WHO LEAP SIX >>>

I've seen Bandito Betty Lou Who many times at the Parkway.

SUZY STUMP: IT'S A SHAME IT'S COMPETING WITH KULTURE LAB TONIGHT >>>

JAKE DE PAUL: NOSHING AND SIPPING AROUND THE SOUND >>>

Need more ideas for local dining experiences? Here are a few restaurants the Weekly Volcano has reviewed lately â€" in no particular order â€" to whet your appetite.

On top of Tacoma
TOP OF TACOMA BAR & CAFE: Good food and tasty drinks put McKinley on the map again

Pig out at Dickerson’s
SOUTHBAY DICKERSON'S SLOW & LOW BBQ: Barbecue good enough for South Sounders

Fall in love with the view
FALLS TERRACE: Tumwater classic preserves the tried and true

Sandwich city
JIMMY JOHNS: Add the franchise with two first names to your lunch rotation

That’s Italian
MANGANO'S: New eatery marks evolution of Nisqually-Lacey

The good ship
SUSHI BOAT: Grabbing sushi in Lacey

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MATT DRISCOLL: SANFORD AND SON HAS THE SPIRIT >>>

At the urging of Sanford and Son owner and Tacoma icon Alan Gorsuch, I headed down to his shop this afternoon. He told me there was something I really needed to see.

And boy was he right.

You could call it a "dead Christmas tree lot," or some seriously funny shit, but either way Alan - and, of course his wife Cheryl - have one hell of a holiday spectacle going, and all are invited to revel.

A grouping of perhaps twenty dead and wilted Christmas trees sits in front of Sanford and Son. Some of the trees are decorated with themes, such as the "shaken Barbie syndrome tree," and some are just sad and deceased. All of them are there because Gorsuch - who says Cheryl has banished him to sleeping on the couch for this stunt, and who wasn't letting his Santa costume stop him from enjoying a Corona when I stopped by  - knows how to stir the pot. He also knows how to get people's attention, which is exactly what his dead trees are doing.


Is it art? Alan's not sure. But if it's not art, it's definitely something.

The Sanford and Son dead Christmas tree lot has been up and going since yesterday, and according to the Gorsuchs they'll be back at it tomorrow. After Sunday, your only other chance to see the magic will be at next weekend's Winterfest, where Alan and his trees have been invited to join in the festivities.

Now you know. If you get a chance, this is a very Tacoma event, and very worthy of a few moments of your attention. Seriously. If you don't believe me, allow these photos to persuade you.

BANDITO BETTY LOU WHO LEAP SEVEN >>>