MICHAEL SWAN: WET YOUR WHISTLE >>>

What do interns do at the Weekly Volcano? They call Olympia bars and tavern for happy hour specials â€" all in the name of “on the job” education.

4th Ave Tavern
210 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.786.1444
4-7 p.m.
Micros are $2.75

Buzz’s Tavern
5018 Mud Bay Road N.W., Olympia, 360.866.8335
4-7 p.m.
$2.50 Wells $2.25 domestic, $3 micros
Small food menu for happy hour

Hannah’s
123 Fifth Ave. S.W., Olympia, 360.357.9890
Hours: 3 p.m. â€" 7 p.m. every day
Tap beers and well drinks are discounted 50 cents. When you order Coors Light or Bud Light you get a pull tab that could get reduce your price to 50 cents

Log Cabin Tavern
7035 Pacific Ave. S.E., Olympia, 360.438.3651
4-6 p.m.
Well drinks $2 domestic draft beers $2

O’Blarney’s Irish Pub
4411 Martin Way E., Olympia, 360.459.8084
3-6 p.m.
75 cents off well drinks, 75 cents off all pints
Half dozen appetizers for $3.50 hot wings, potato skins, and such

O’Malley’s at Westside Lanes
2200 Garfield Ave. N.W., Olympia, 360.943.8807
4:30â€" 6:30 p.m.
$2.50 well drinks, $2 fountain drinks and $3 domestic beers

What are other great happy hours in Olympia?

MICHAEL SWAN: PAPPI SWARNER’S '70S JUKEBOX >>>

After a week’s worth of disastrous weather Pappi Swarner has been hugging everyone in the office â€" more so than ever. The Steno Pool has actually filed a complaint to HR. Typical Weekly Volcano drama.

Pappi’s melancholy mood is blasting out of his office right now in the form of Harry Nilsson’s “Without You.” It’s appropriate since Nilsson’s heart gave out 14 years ago this Jan. 15.

Oh good gawd, I can hear Pappi weeping right now.

STEVE DUNKELBERGERGER: LAKEWOOD LANDS A FRESH ONE>>>
 Lakewood Playhouse is staging a hoot and a holler of a show with its version of the two-man show Greater Tuna.

Starring Lakewood Playhouse's own Marcus Walker and Scott Campbell, this dynamic comedy duo parade through 44 different characters as the show plays out and tells the story of the town of Tuna, Texas through the goings on of its residents. It's a show that should not be missed, especially since it is on only a two-week run. See it this weekend or next or you are out of luck.

[Greater Tuna; runs at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sundays through Jan. 16. Call (253) 588-0042 for tickets.  Admission  is $14 to $22. The Lakewood Playhouse is located at 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. SW in the Lakewood Towne Center off I-5 at exit 125. www.lakewoodplayhouse.org for directions.]

MATT DRISCOLL: MICHAEL SHRIEVE AT THE BONEYARD >>>

"Dude got a lot of face time in that Woodstock movie," pointed out my boss, Pappi Swarner, when I mentioned I'd be covering drummer Michael Shrieve and his band Spellbinder's performance at Jazzbones in Tacoma tonight.

Yes, he sure did. And for good reason.

At the ripe age of 20- and actually just days after his birthday- Shrieve took the stage at Woodstock as part of Carlos Santana's band, making him- among other things- the youngest performer at Woodstock. Though Shrieve would eventually leave Santana's band to pursue solo projects, the most vivid image most music fans hold of Shrieve is of him wailing away at his kit on that historic day in Bethel, N.Y. Though the most memorable moment of Shrieve's career happened nearly 40 years ago, the man hasn't exactly been sitting idly since.

To check out the full story in this week's Volcano, click here.

LAUREN NAPIER: TODAY AT THE VIADUCT >>>

Where can you go to hear the heaviest bands of the Pacific Northwest? Where can you witness the loudest and most teeth-shattering of shows? The answer is simple: Northwest Heavy Fest. Pulling from the brutal acts of its geographical namesake, the festival will host more than 10 bands. The bill includes Book of Black Earth, a death metal outfit on Prosthetic Records that delivers a brand of unapologetic musical hammering; an unexpected reunion set from The Great Disappointment; Enemy Camp, a metal band that seems to have no limit to the brutal and haunting tracks they produce; Those Who Lie Beneath, a Portland-based band created from the remains of To Fall Victim; and even an appearance by punk’s Shedim. Showing up for a day of head-banging greatness would be in your best interest. Surely you don’t want to hear everyone talking about what you missed out on, do you?

Tonight Northwest Heavy Fest will take over the Viaduct. Be warned.

[The Viaduct, Book of Black Earth, Narrows, Heiress, Cower, Requin, Enemy Camp, Cascabel, Lenore, Those Who Lie Beneath, Danny The Champion of the World, Shedim, Swarms,12 p.m., $10-$12, 5412 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.472.1948]

TONY ENGELHART: TONIGHT THEY PLAY THE MANDOLIN >>>

Minimalist folk with a lounge lizard vibe is probably the best way to describe the duo known as Goldfinch. Tacoma’s own Aaron Stevens (guitar and vocals) and Ce Sullivan (keys and vocals) play it low key and uncomplicated. Their self-penned tunes are chillingly stark, but their harmonious vocals create a warm and comfortable feeling. Like most folkies, Stevens is deeply influenced by Dylan as well as Lennon and McCartney, but gives some credit to newcomers like Damian Rice for his sound. Goldfinch is one of two projects Stevens is involved in. His other band records on a much grander scale as you can hear echoes of U2 and Coldplay. Choose your poison, or embrace both his creative ventures with equal enthusiasm as I have.

Goldfinch plays tonight at the Mandolin Cafe and will also be a part of the Tacoma Artists in the Round No. 5 Jan. 16 at Club SOTA.

[The Mandolin Café, 8 p.m., all ages, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]

STEPH DEROSA: SLOW BURN >>>

Harmon Brewery & Restaurant
Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Burn Factor: one out of four

It’s hot and it’s fast, just how I like my men. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich comes blazing off Harmon Brewery’s Express Lunch menu, built like a brick house and full of flavor â€" also how I like my men.

A spicy, grilled and marinated chicken breast is topped with smoked gouda, bacon, lettuce, mayo, tomato, onion, and then placed upon a soft, fresh bun. By itself, this sandwich does indeed stroke my taste buds, but nothing about it sets my mouth on fire. Thankfully it comes with a side of Harmon’s Lava Sauce. Reminiscent of hot wing sauce, this sauce takes what was once a delightful sandwich and turns it up a notch.

Perfectly pepper-y, yet not too much to handle, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich fills up my belly and cures my craving for fire. Oh, and don’t think I wasted any of that delicious Lava Sauce â€" my fries tasted great dipped inside the red concoction, and nobody even noticed when I licked the bowl clean.

If I had things my way, I’d dip everything in Harmon’s Lava Sauce. Even my men.

[Harmon Brewery & Restaurant, 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.BREW]

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

RON SWARNER: EVOLUTIONARY TALES >>>

Darwin’s Dream
By Dorothy McCuistion
“Imagine the multitude of images and events that occupied Darwin’s dreams and lead him to his theories of natural selection.” â€" Dorothy McCuistion
Monotype on Rives BFK: photocopy lithography, draw-through, chine colle, 22” x 32”, 2009

Dorothy McCuistion’s Darwin’s Dream will be a part of The Grand Impromptu Gallery’s Evolutionary Tales, a group show celebrating Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday. The exhibit opens Thursday, Jan. 29. Meet the artists at Charles Darwin’s Birthday Party Thursday, Feb. 12, 5-8 p.m.

[Grand Impromptu Gallery, Jan. 29-Feb. 28, 4-8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2-8 p.m. Saturday, 2-6 p.m. Sunday, 608 S. Fawcett next to The Grand Cinema, Tacoma, 253.572.9232]

LINK: ViVA South Sound arts and entertainment column

RON SWARNER: COOL IDEA >>>

UPDATE: This has been rescheduled for Feb. 12.

Tacoma poet Lucas "Vanilla Soul" Smiraldo presents his second Slam Report Thursday, Jan. 15 at Stephanie's in downtown Tacoma. He and his crew will present a night of comedy, poetry and social commentary in the same vein as the Daily Show.

[Stephanie's, Thursday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m., no cover, 932 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.5649]

LINK: Previously on Spew

LINK: Speak Your Soul