MATT DRISCOLL: WHO SAYS THE LIBRARY ISN'T COOL? >>>

If you’re a fan of Pearl Jam â€" or, maybe just a fan of rock and roll posters â€" chances are you’re familiar with the work of Ames Bros. A Seattle based design company run by Barry Ament (PJ bassist Jeff Ament’s brother) and his longtime buddy, Coby Schultz (the two grew up together in Montana before moving to Seattle) along with Brad Klausen, Ames Bros is responsible for virtually every piece of Pearl Jam merch and every concert poster the band has signed off on.

It’s an impressive catalog, and one Ames Bros is proud of.

So proud, in fact, that they’ve made a book of their work for Pearl Jam â€" titled Ames Bros vs. Pearl Jam: 13 Years of Tour Posters â€" which was released last year. It’s a fantastic collection of some of the best rock posters of a generation â€" in a time when the art of crafting rock posters seems to have been sadly lost.

Starting with a 6 p.m. book and poster signing tonight featuring Schultz and Ament, the Tacoma Public Library's Handforth Gallery will host a 7 week exhibition of some of Ames Bros best work.

For the full story, which ran in last week's issue of the Weekly Volcano, click here.

[Handforth Gallery, Ames Bros vs. Pearl Jam: 13 Years of Tour Posters, Dec. 11-Jan. 31 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, free, Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.591.5666]

STEPH DEROSA: BAR EXAM >>>

I freakin’ LOVE Johnny’s at Fife’s lounge. It reminds me of a bigger, nicer Diamond Jim’s. It's a throwback to the ’70s with no marks of wear and tear.

Is it a dive? See what grade I give it on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

BANDITO BETTY LOU WHO LEAP 11 >>>

Bandito Betty Lou Who leaps with the fishes.

JOSE S. GUTIERREZ JR.: OLYMPIA IS WHERE IT'S AT >>>

Big respects to everyone who came and supported The 3rd Annual Hip-Hop for The Homeless Benefit at The China Clipper in Olympia. Guests and performers included Wojack, Baldy Loc, Asliani, Knucklehead Banga, Kokane, old school pop-rocker Alphonse Curry, staff from The Evergreen State College, staff from The University of Washington, Department of Social and Health Services, Bread & Roses, staff from The Weekly Volcano (what up Owen!) and members of our homeless communities including Camp Quixote of Olympia. The benefit was dope and raised hundreds of dollars, bags and bags of clothes, and pounds and pounds of food for those in need. It was all done in the name and honor of hip-hop!

Read the rest of my Live From I-5: Hip-hop in the 23560 on the Weekly Volcano Web site. I chat up Ashanti at the Emerald Queen, Todd Denny and the True North Program in Tumwater, and the secret Hip-Hop Congress Party going down in the Olympia-area in honor of founder/president, Shamako Noble.

Peace & Love

LINK: Live From I-5: Hip-hop in the 23560

LINK: South Sound live music and DJs tonight

JAKE DE PAUL: THE DAY HAS ARRIVED >>>

"Are you open?" I asked over the phone.

"Yes, we are."

il Trattoria di Merende is now open in downtown Tacoma. Go and give us your thoughts.

[il Trattoria di Merende Restaurant, 813 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.1993]

LINK: Ed Murrieta's take on Merende

LINK: Read our interview with Merende owner Jeff Bishop

LINK: Peek at Merende's menu (posted in July so it might have change)

LINK: Merende's Web site

RON SWARNER: NORTHWEST REGIONAL BARISTA COMPETITION >>>

In January the Weekly Volcano moves into our hibernation mode, when we take cover in layers and brave the outside only for necessities. That includes well-crafted espresso drinks, which leads us to the Northwest Regional Barista Competition to be held Jan. 9-11, 2009, at the Temple Theater in Tacoma. We're coming out of our cave for this one.

Yup, Tacoma.

Not Seattle or Portland, but Tacoma.

And Tacoma will participate, too. Black Water Café, Satellite Coffee and Forza are among those involved with the action.

Here’s the NWRBC commercial to get you steamed up:

TONY ENGELHART: TONIGHT AT LE VOYEUR >>>

Nobody can accuse the Lost Dogs of being negative â€" as the band’s sunny disposition translates into upbeat tunes that make even the pessimistic listener crack a smile. With a hybrid of Americana, alt-country, folk-rock and just a hint of 1960s pop, the Nashville, Tenn., quartet is three front men â€" and a drummer â€" who brought their individual styles together to create a sound that is unique in the age of redneck country. All three share vocal duties, which makes for some rich Beatle-esque harmonies. With an impressive 10 albums to their credit, the band has no shortage of material to fill their live gigs. The last studio recording came in 2006. The Lost Cabin and the Mystery Trees was a return to the band’s original sound. With a pop friendly disposition, they croon through snappy tunes with a Byrds-like feel â€" free wheeling, positive and oh so groovy, man.

The Lost Dogs will play Le Voyeur in Olympia tonight.

[Le Voyeur, 10 p.m., free, 404 4th Ave E, Olympia, 360.943.5710]