WEEKLY VOLCANO: PEARL JAM TOUR, NEW KISS SONGS >>>

Pearl Jam: They have announced a handful of North American shows behind their new album, Backspacer, out Sept. 20.

Pay Up: A city council member has called on AEG Live to pay some of the estimated $1.4 million cost for policing Michael Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center.

New Rule: The European Union needs new rules for Internet downloads that would make it easier for people to access music and films without resorting to piracy, the bloc's telecoms chief said.

“Russian Roulette”: Kiss announced song titles for new album, which will be released this autumn.

LINK: Concert Alert

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

MICHAEL SWAN: TODAY'S HAPPY HOUR DISCUSSION TOPIC >>>

LINK: South Sound happy hours

MICHAEL SWAN: SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009 >>>

1. “Come out, come out wherever you are!” (heh, heh) and head on down to Out in the Park, Tacoma’s lesbian/gay/bi-/trans pride festival from noon to 6 p.m. in Wright Park.

2. Meet the artists whose works grace Percival Landing at the free Waterfront Public Art Tour at 11 a.m. The tour leaves from the bell in front of the Olympia Farmers Market, near the traffic.

3. Guitarist Mary Win will bring your attitude to a chill as you kick back with a glass of red wine at 7 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café.

4. Theater Artists Olympia director Chris Cantrell has taken the timeless story of star-crossed lovers in a different direction that just seems to fit the current times: Romeo and Juliet are both dudes. Check it out at 8 p.m. inside the Minnaert Center.

5. The Varsity Grill celebrates its three-year anniversary at 6 p.m. with food, drinks, prizes and the kick off its new dueling piano show at 8 p.m., which will be held Thursday through Saturday.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

JAKE DE PAUL: SATURDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

Proctor Farmers Market: Today’s new vendors include Fox Island Lavender, Martin Family Orchards and Vanilla Bean coffee.

It’s 7-11!: 7-Eleven planning to give away close to 5 million free 7.11-ounce Slurpee drinks today to celebrate its 82nd birthday at more than 6,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Dough!: Nestle reopens plant after cookie dough recall; inspectors say they may never know what caused salmonella outbreak.

Today’s South Sound Specials

As part of the Tacoma Old Town Blues Fest a bluesberry pancake breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to noon, in the Slavonian Hall (2306 N. 30th St.) for $6. Double Cookin will perform.

Azarra Salon & Wine in Tacoma welcomes the Elysian Brewing Company into its tasting room from noon to 3 p.m.

Dockside Bistro & Wine Bar in Olympia will be pouring six wines for you to taste from 2-5 p.m. for $6.

99 Bottles in Federal Way celebrates Deschutes Brewery's 21st anniversary from 2-5 p.m. with six Deschutes beers for $1.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

PAUL SCHRAG: TACOMA OLD TOWN BLUES FESTIVAL >>>

We love blues in Old Town, where average incomes are still high enough to make listening to the blues sting just a little bit less. The Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival will be in full effect today celebrating its 17th year as the place to satisfy your jones for blue notes and foot stomping surprises.

This year’s lineup includes Little Bill and the Blue Notes, Jerry Miller Band, DK Stewart, The High Rollers, Blues Redemption, Scooch Cugno’s Delta 88 Revivial, the Big Nasty, Al Earick Band, Sour Owl, and Chris Stevens and the Surf Monkeys with special guest Jay Mabin, Double Cookin, Michael Miller Band and others.

As part of the Tacoma Old Town Blues Fest a blueberry pancake breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to noon in the Slavonian Hall (2306 N. 30th St.) for $6. Double Cookin will perform.

The net proceeds of the Tacoma Old Town Blues Festival will benefit the Breast Cancer Awareness Center, so go. 

[Old Town Tacoma venues, 9:30 a.m. Bluesberry Pancake Breakfast featuring Double Cookin in the  Slavonian Hall, noon to 7 p.m. outdoor stage at Old Town Park (no cover), 12:15 and 4 p.m. Mountaineers Legends Stage, 8 p.m. evening shows in four venues, $5 shows, $20 all-day pass, North 30th and McCarver, Old Town Tacoma]

ADAM MCKINNEY: TWO EXCELLENT BANDS ENTER THE LIBRARY >>>

There’s something undeniably attractive about getting away with inappropriate acts. Instead of satisfying this itch by indulging in murder or white-collar crime, howsabout you just be loud in a library?

OK, but really loud.

Tonight, the Makeup Monsters will bring their brand of punkish indie pop to the first installment of the Tacoma Public Library’s Rock the Books summer concert series. Hordes of hipsters and hipster-sympathizers will pack a small room at the Main Downtown Library and watch as James Hilborne & the Painkillers â€" the eerie calm before the storm â€" open for the Makeup Monsters and the inevitable sonic destruction of the Dewey Decimal System.

It’s all ages, free, and an opportunity for a light rebellion.

What more could you ask for?

[Tacoma Public Library Main Branch, Makeup Monsters, James Hilborne & the Painkillers, Saturday, July 11, 7 p.m., all ages, no cover, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.591.5666]

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Military budget: $416 million OK'd for state bases.

Sign Of The Times: Pierce County leaders will attack advertisements.

Open That Rucksack!: Ban on tobacco urged in military.

Ghana: Obama preaches tough love.

This Is Ridiculous: Tight mortgage rules exclude even good risks.

Monkeys Say: Permanent diet may equal longer life.

Swim Club Head: We're not racists.

Those Crazy Scandinavians

MICHAEL SWAN: MONDAY, JULY 13, 2009 >>>

1. There really is nothing like watching acrobatic Mexican warriors in colorful masks beat the crap out of each other in the name of justice. Especially if you can drink beer, win prizes and feast on free popcorn while you're watching. This dream, if you dare, can be a reality for all of you as the Tacoma Cult Movie Club unleashes a barrage of bad movies under the banner of the Lucha Libre at 7 p.m. at the Acme Grub Cage in Tacoma.

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

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

4. Billy Farmer will lay down some blues at 10 p.m. at O'Malley's Irish Pub on Sixth Avenue.

5. Rockaraoke at Jazzbones. You know it. You love it.

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 >>>

Lobbying Scandal: Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash. could take over the chairmanship of the House panel that oversees Pentagon funding.

Judging The Judge: Sotomayor confirmation hearings begin.

Blame It On Palin: Republican pundits open fire on Sarah Palin.

Bullish On Goldman Sachs: Meredith Whitney predicts Goldman Sachs stock to make significant gains this year.

But Does It Explain All The Saber Rattling?: N. Korean leader dying of cancer, report says.

Road Trip!: Average U.S. retail gasoline prices drop.

XXXL: Why are we so fat?