REV. ADAM MCKINNEY: DESOLATION WILDERNESS IS ON THE CUSP >>>

Listening to Desolation Wilderness is like hearing bubblegum pop blasting from an underwater phonograph â€" layers of guitar and keyboard swimming in a sea of reverb, sounding at once familiar and completely foreign, like finding a radio station lost in the static of night â€" if I may strain another simile.  To put it simply, Desolation Wilderness has fashioned a sound quite unique to our little corner of the world.

While it lacks the dirty rock sound of most of our bands, Desolation Wilderness doesn’t dip into the quiet folk that seems to consume the rest of our talent either.

Read the full story here.

They play The Den tonight at 7 p.m.

[The Den at urbanXchange, with Lapuda, Humble Cub, Alexander & the Optimistics, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m., $5, 1932 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2280]

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Pierce County: Election results

Thurston County: Election results

Baghdad: At least 95 killed in series of attacks.

60 Minutes Of Fame: Don Hewitt is dead.

Zombie Nuke Refuses To Die: Inside Obama administration, a tug of war over nuclear warheads.

Times Are Tough: Gig Harbor’s unlucky six.

Sacked: Seattle voters reject 20-cent grocery bag fee.

Should Have Done This From The Start: They go at it alone on health care.

Seriously?: One of the biggest political mysteries of the year?

It's A Howl: NYC artist compiles album of screams.

JAKE DE PAUL: BURGER JOINT SERVES BREAKFAST DAILY >>>

Just when I'm starting to think there's nothing new under the sun, I discovered Sausage on a Stick at Best Burgers in Lakewood. The drive-through restaurant stabs a long sausage link with a stick then wraps a deep-fried pancake around it. It resembles a corn dog, except the juicy sausage is smothered in sweet pancake. It will set you back $1.99.

Breakfast runs all day at Best Burgers, which is 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Jump on their web site for their complete menu. Their $4.99 biscuits and gravy dish is a new addition and not on the online menu.

[Best Burgers, 7714 Custer Road W., Lakewood, 253.472.0736]

WEEKLY VOLCANO: WEDNESDAY MUSIC LINK DUMP >>>

It Happened Last Night: Pearl Jam paid homage to Michael Jackson in London.

Deal: The Showbox in Seattle is offering 50 percent off tickets for tonight’s Pete Yorn show. The word “backandfourth” might help.

Glam Auteur Patrick Wolf Went Buckwild: He apologizes to Germany.

Spin: 20 worst album titles of 2009.

NPR’s Exclusive First Listen: Tim Buckley

RON SWARNER: KURT MUST BE ROLLING OVER IN HIS GRAVE >>>

The Associated Press is reporting that Candlebox will headline a Cobain memorial concert Oct. 17 in Aberdeen. It’s the Weekly Volcano’s guess that Cobain wouldn’t have chosen that band to memorialize him.

Read AP’s very short report here.

PAUL SCHRAG: RELEVANT CONVERSATION IN THE HEART OF TACOMA >>>

As part of a national tour, Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser will be at the Pantages Theater Friday morning to present Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative.

Sounds depressing, right? Well, as the national economy continues to disintegrate, artists and arts organizations are feeling the bite too. Kaiser will be targeting organization staff, trustees, volunteers, and funders, as well as leaders in the arts education community, in a discussion about sustainability, a.k.a. avoiding going down the tubes.

Congressman Norm Dicks, a creative juggernaut, will provide opening remarks.

[Pantages Theater, Friday, Aug. 21, 9-11 a.m., free, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890]

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

Today’s Happy Hour Suggestion:

Crown Bar
2706 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4177
Happy Hours: 5-6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. to close Tuesday-Thursday, 4-6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. to close Friday
Drink Specials: Bud Light $1.50, wines by the glass $5, wells $4
Food Specials: Happy Plates $5 each

LINK: South Sound happy hours

MICHAEL SWAN: TOO BAD, SO SAD >>>

Slog reports the Garfunkel and Oats shows at Seattle’s Re-bar this weekend are sold out. I'm posting this sad news just so I can feature another one of their videos (I featured the duo in Spew's late afternoon happy hour feature twice this week).

JENNIFER JOHNSON: NEW BAR, NEW BEV, NEW BEATS >>>

A permanent patio enclosure has been installed in front of Pacific Avenue’s newest bistro, Seven-Oh-One. Also permanent, the bar inside is complete and the happy hour is up and running smoothly. From 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, bar menu tappas and martinis are only $3. Crostini topped with pork and goat cheese, veggies, short ribs and blue cheese, hummus and a shrimp cocktail comprise the regularly priced $6 bar menu. Freshly made hummus is creamy and mellow; diced sweet red pepper garnish punches up the taste.

Mixologist Kristen Cummins takes icky syrupy sweetness out of Three Olives cherry vodka. She adds fresh lime and Rose’s lime juice in her newest shook-up martini, a tart Sour Cherry. Cummins says this cocktail has become very popular during the bistro’s new extended hours Friday and Saturday (appetizers and entrees are half-off on Saturday nights).

DJ Cameron and Midnight Mike spin requests Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 10 p.m. No cover, dress code enforced. Spiff your look. 

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

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, AUG. 20, 2009 >>>

1. Fulcrum Gallery presents Under Construction: Works in Progress by Local Artists today through Saturday. Today’s opening reception is from 6-10 p.m.

2. Dave Hannon and Old School Preservation Society perform at the Tacoma Farmers Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3. As part of Third Thursday Artwalk from 5-8 p.m. artist Nancy Worden, whose work is featured in Loud Bones: The Jewelry of Nancy Worden, will be available in the Tacoma Art Museum galleries offering insights into her jewelry. At 6 p.m., hit TAM’s classroom to create unique, personalized charms and pendants using shrink film and other materials. Remember, the museum is free today.

4. Drinking Liberally hits The Hub at 7 p.m. to discuss politics â€" particularly the health care situation â€" over drinks.

5. A Room Called Remember plays a free show at 8 p.m. inside Doyle’s Public House.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide