PAUL SCHRAG: JUNKYARD GANG TONIGHT IN OLY >>>

It may very well become the question of the ages: Where in the World is Tyler Jones, that ubiquitous Olympia kid â€" known for disappearing for years at a time â€" who raps under the name Phazer? The answer can be found tonight at the China Clipper, when Oly’s own Junkyard Gang celebrates the release of its debut album, aptly titled Where in the World is Tyler Jones.

“I think he’s probably in Oakland somewhere,” says emcee Nicatine, friend of Jones, front man for Junkyard Gang, and one-time arrestee for hugging Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki in the middle of a home game. “My guess is he’s at the mall looking at new shoes with an electric guitar that he doesn’t know how to play.”

Meanwhile, post- Jones woes haven’t stopped Nicatine, emcee and producer Q Storm, emcee D-Minus and DJ Deadbeat from knocking out the album named for their wayward homey. A year in the making, the album features guest shots by Xperience and A.K.A., and beats by Smoke of Oldominion, Xperience, Q-Storm and Deadbeat. Junkyard Gang has been doin’ it since 2006, when Nicatine and Q started writing tracks and performing with a rotating cast of emcees running through Olympia. The name Junkyard Gang grew from the alias of one of its founding members.

“I was nicknamed Mushmouth for years, ‘cause I was always stoned and had a beanie on,” says Nicatine. “Plus I kind of mumbled.”

The album itself if full-on party music. Or more precisely, party music for mf’ers six shots, two joints and half a can of nitrous deep. Meanwhile, Junkyard is already six tracks deep into their next album, including tracks with Grynch and Greyskul’s Onry Ozzborn. We hope Taylor’s back before the next one’s done.

If you’re out there Taylor, Q Storm has a message for you.

“I hope you’re doing good,” says Q. “And check album, cause it’s got your name on it.”

[The China Clipper, Junkyard Gang CD Release, with Xperience, The Balls Out Booze Band and Deadbeat on tha cuts, special appearance by Dance Broomz, hosted by Billy the Fridge, Friday, March 20, 9 p.m., 21+, $5 or $10 w/CD, 402 E. 4th Ave., Olympia, Wa. 360.943.6300]