PAUL SCHRAG: DROP OF WATER >>>

It’s time, Tacoma, to celebrate the Pacific Northwest’s defining element, as South Sound Collective, Pacific Fusion Productions and United State of Consciousness present Drop of Water, July 18, beginning at 9 p.m. at the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum.

If you’re out of the loop, this is the third show in a series celebrating the elements. South Sound Collective and crew have already passed through air and fire on their journey, and plan on immersing Tacoma in the element of water tonight. For those who aren’t up on their elements, water is the foundation of all creation. Myths from all over depict the world of form emerging from primal chaos, most often depicted as water, shaped by the creator to become the Universe we inhabit. The people of ancient Egypt said that before creation there existed only Nun, a watery abyss. The Hindus depict the material world as emerging from Maya, a sort of eternal cosmic liquid. Maya is etymologically related to words like matrix, matter, meter and mother.

Yeah. Shit’s gonna be deep. Read the full story here.

Photo courtesy of Laura Eklund

WEEKLY VOLCANO: NEW BUMBERSHOOT ACTS, THOM YORKE AND VAMPIRES >>>

On Sale This Morning at 10 a.m.:

• David Cook Seattle. Aug. 24 8:30 pm. $25 (Showbox SoDo, Ticketmaster).
• George Winston Seattle. Sept. 4 8 pm. $35-$38 (Benaroya Hall, Ticketmaster).
• The Casualties, Krum Bums, Mouth Sewn Shut Seattle. Sept. 5 (all ages) 8 pm. $13 (Neumos, TicketsWest).
• Artic Monkeys Seattle. Sept. 19 (all ages) 9 pm. $27.50 (The Showbox, Ticketmaster).
• Motorhead, Reverend Horton Heat Seattle. Oct. 2 8:30 pm. $36 (Showbox SoDo, Ticketmaster).
• English Beat Seattle. Oct. 3 8 pm. $20 (The Showbox, Ticketmaster.
• Rob Thomas Seattle. Oct. 15 7 pm. $36-$76 (WaMu Theater, Ticketmaster).
• Brian McKnight Tacoma. Oct. 17 8:30 pm. $35-$65 (Emerald Queen Casino, Ticketmaster).

Bumbershoot: Seattle's Music and Arts Festival, set for Sept. 5-7, features new acts in the lineup, including musical artists Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Old 97's, Cold War Kids, The Helio Sequence, Portland Cello Project; and comedy acts Nick Swardson, Maria Bamford, Wyatt Cenac, Story Pirates AfterDark and The Improvised Shakespeare Company.

The Mexican Institute of Sound Returns: Soy Sauce, from the Mexico City-based Mexican Institute of Sound, pushes eclecticism to a new level. It combines mariachi with hip-hop, rock and electronica. Tossed in are elements from political speeches and the barnyard.

Thom Yorke And Bloodsuckers: According to the director of New Moon, the forthcoming second movie in the grimly unironic Buffy retread Twilight trilogy, Thom Yorke is interested in doing some work for the soundtrack.

They Need To Be Fired: TMZ reports that the company responsible for constructing Madonna’s stage in Marseille is the same team that built her stage at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, which also collapsed in November 2008.

Photo: Yeah Yeah Yeahs by Josh Wildman

ADAM MCKINNEY: URBAN ARTS FESTIVAL BENEFIT TONIGHT >>>

You love Tacoma. You’re fooling no one.  And, though you may be wallowing in denial, it would be more than a little unappreciative for you to not give back to the city that so readily accepts your scorn.

Tonight, The Swiss is hosting a benefit show for the Urban Arts Festival, an organization that’s working hard to make Tacoma a little cooler. There’s going to be plenty of bands and beer, and it’s only 5 dollars.

Lucky you.

[The Swiss, with Jr. Hill Band, Ten Miles of Bad Road, Blame It on the Girl, evergreenOne, the Gullywhumpers, 10th & Commerce, Sunday, July 19, 7 p.m., $5, 1904 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821]

Photo: evergreenOne/MySpace

NIKKI TALOTTA: STONE AXE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON >>>

Rocket Records + Stone Axe = One bitchin’ way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Commit your favorite vice, call your friends, and get your butt down to Rocket Records and enjoy the classic sound of Stone Axe.

Tony Reed, former Mos Generator genius, has put together a band that anyone in his or her right mind would love. Imagine all your favorite classic rock bands rolling around naked in the mud until they emerge a mix of dirty, delightful degenerates that know how to tweak their instruments and vocals into the perfect blend of rock ‘n’ roll. Now, throw in a rad venue, opening bands Zook and the Plastards, make it all ages with no cover and you have the recipe for a kick-ass time.

[Rocket Records, with the Plastards, Zook, Sunday, July 19, 1 p.m., no cover, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186]

MICHAEL SWAN: SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009 >>>

1. Angry Housewives, a musical about depressed housewives who form a punk band and get their guys’ respect, plays at 2 p.m. at the Lakewood Playhouse.

2. After 51 years, Olympia's Capital Lakefair featival has grown to include all of the pomp, pageantry and play we expect from a classic American celebration. Music today will feature Pro2ge, Elvis Impersonator, Idol On The Lake Singing Contest, Freckles Brown, and Randy Linder beginning at noon.

3. Blues Vespers featuring Little Bill & the Blue Notes will pack horns today for a summertime blues show 5-7:30 p.m. inside the Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

4. Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival throws local art, music, food and more onto the streets of downtown Gig Harbor from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

5. Local poet Lucas Smiraldo teams up with Seattle-based jazz composer Wrick Wolff for a spoken-word symphony titled Voice of the Americas. Smiraldo examines historical events from the last half of the century through the viewpoints of famous Americans. Check it out at 7 p.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Photo by Dean Lapin

RON SWARNER: THE RED HOT KNOWS WHAT SUNDAYS ARE ABOUT >>>

There's only one way to improve on dessert, and that's to find a way to sneak some alcohol into it. Sure, this tactic has left us with a world full of rum balls, rum cakes and rum tarts, but don't blame The Red Hot. Here, owner Chris Trashcan has come up with the coolest, most beerific dessert: the beer float. Served in a pint glass, this beauty combines their choice of beer and vanilla bean ice cream. Put a spoonful in your mouth, and the melting ice cream immediately alters the liquid balance of the beer, causing it to melt across your tongue like a dessert served at a fancy restaurant. Cool.

Today, The Red Hot is mixing Black Butte XXI â€" a Reserve Series batch of “double” Black Butte Porter â€" with the ice cream. This Deschutes Brewing product is brewed with chocolate beans and coffee, with 20 percent aged in bourbon barrels. It’s 11 percent alcohol by volume.

The Black Butte XXI tastes better with ice cream than Guinness because of the chocolate backend taste, rather than the bitter taste that often appears with Guinness.

The Red Hot’s beer floats are a Sunday only treat. They’re open until 10 p.m. today.

[The Red Hot, 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229

MICHAEL SWAN: MONDAY, JULY 20, 2009 >>>

1. Johnny Cheeseburger, Girl Trouble, and Apache Chief play an all-ages show at 7 p.m. inside The Den at urbanXchange.

2. The Gallery at Pierce College in Lakewood is nothing more than a wide place in the hall. But that wide space is filled with a dozen or so very nice paintings by CJ Swanson. Check them out from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. DJ Jason Diamond spins roots reggae during The New Frontier Lounge's Rebel Monday at 9 p.m.

4. DJ Doll Hands spins vintage lady country music at The Brotherhood Lounge around 9 p.m.

5. Freedom Records presents an all-ages show at Hell’s Kitchen featuring Hellfyre Empyre, Nomake, Ether, Dangerous Thinking, Dreams Jaded, and A.T.M. beginning at 6 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

It Has Sunk In: Cuts to revenue sources have pissed people off.

Beep, Beep Your Ass: New Tacoma Narrows foghorns have pissed people off.

Times Are Tough: Loaner life vests disappearing.

Ho Hum: Landing on the moon is sooo 1969.

Not A Walk In The Park: Both the Obama Administration and Capitol Hill Democrats face considerable hurdles with health care reform and budget deficit concerns.

Bow Wow Wow (Not) Yippe Yo (Not) Yippee Yay: Michael Vick is free.

JENNIFER JOHNSON: SEVEN-OH-MORE-THAN-ONE >>>

More than 20 martinis grace The Seven-Oh-One’s drink list â€" maybe the best beverage bargain in the 253.

The downtown Tacoma bistro serves scaled down, cost-effective versions of well-known drinks such as the Boston Sidecar, Lemon Drop, and Washington Apple â€" available for only $3.  Rather than Cointreau, Absolut or Crown Royal, less expensive liquors are poured.

Tropical martinis are highlighted â€" Caruso, Grape on the Beach, Key Lime, Watermelon â€" and are perfect for sipping while enjoying outdoor seating.

The staff at The Seven-Oh-One is creative and eager to please. I experienced this fact first hand, as a recent visit and request for a fruity fake-tini yielded a tasty alcohol-free martini-type drink. Having combined orange, pineapple, and cranberry juice, a splash of sour mix, simple syrup and soda, the server dubbed it a “Pure Caribbean.” Rum, vodka or tequila could easily be added.

Note: The Seven-Oh-One's Half Off Night â€" half off appetizers and entrees from 8 p.m. to midnight â€" moves from Thursday to Saturday beginning July 25.

[The Seven-Oh-One, 701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.2240]