PAUL SCHRAG: HILLTOP ARTS NIGHT OUT >>>

Hilltop Artists in Residence Tacoma and Fab Five want you to come party and learn behind Jason Lee Middle School. It’s sort of an experiment, involving lots of fire and spray paint. Don’t worry, these folks are experts, and they promise to keep the spray paint away from the fire during the first ever Hilltop Arts Night Out, which will feature student glassblowing and graffiti demos, live MCs, breakdancing battles, tagging tutorials, good food and plenty of other things that don’t sound like they belong anywhere within 100 feet of school property. 

Again, don’t worry. Hilltop Artists in Residence Tacoma is a fine organization, and they’ve teamed up with Safe Streets to celebrate Safe Streets National Night Out. This is hip-hop at its best, showcasing local talent, including a b-boy battle and tagging tutorials (we hope they include lessons on how not to get caught).

Seriously though, Hilltop Artists in Residence Tacoma has been fostering all sorts of artistic goodness for more than 15 years, and helps kids develop artistic and life skills through free glassblowing classes and other programs aimed at enriching the lives of local youth. Fab Five is in the same boat, creating drug- and alcohol-free hip-hop events, classes and such aimed at mentoring kids and keeping them out of trouble. Come see what they’ve been up to tonight.

[Jason Lee Middle School, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 4-8 p.m., free, 602 N. Sprague Ave., Tacoma, 253.571.7690

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Wait! We are not sweating like a pig right now.

Through Rain, Sleet, Snow But Not Recession: Martin Luther King Jr. office and an office in South Tacoma are on the U.S. Postal Service hit list.

Tap, Tap, Tap: Madigan awaits OK from Pentagon for new center for women, children

Not Going Away: Taliban rockets land near embassies in Afghan capital

This Can’t Be Good: Consumer spending rises even as incomes fall.

Hey! How Come He Gets To Go?: Bill Clinton goes to North Korea.

Thought This Already Happened: Democrats may bypass Republicans on health plan.

Sticky Situation: Wife, mistresses ambush cheating man, glue penis to his stomach.

The Colonel Would Be Pissed: KFC left girl brain damaged?

Today's Lesson (While On Drugs):

RON SWARNER: IT’S RECORD RELEASE DAY >>>

Modest Mouse, No One’s First and You’re Next

Assjack, Assjack

Mac McAnally, Down By the River

Medeski Martin & Wood, Radiolarians III

Fruit Bats, The Ruminant Band

Watermelon Slim & the Workers, Escape from the Chicken Coop

BOBBLE TIKI: STEVE MCQUEEN’S WIDOW WILL VISIT TACOMA >>>

When Bobble Tiki was a little tiki he’d pretend to be badass Steve McQueen â€" the McQueen who motorcycle raced behind the Iron Curtain in the 1964 International Six Day Trials! Bobble Tiki would ride his bike over empty soda cans so they caught on the tops of the tires, making a buzzing noise nothing at all like a motorcycle, but to a 10-year-old, Bobble Tiki might as well have put glasspacks on his Huffy. 

Saturday, Aug. 15, Bobble Tiki will drag out that special Huffy and pedal his old ass down to the Tacoma waterfront to catch the Steve McQueen: The Last Mile book signing extravaganza. It’s a book signing pumped with McQueen adrenaline.

Let Bobble Tiki explain: Miki Keogh, who owns and operates Miki Spa Salon in Tacoma's waterfront area is a personal friend of Barbara McQueen, the actor’s widow. She wrote the book, Steve McQueen: The Last Mile, a behind-the-scenes look at the personal pleasures McQueen enjoyed near the end his life - taken from the time they met in 1977 through the end of McQueen's life in 1980, the same year they married. Barbara, who obviously shares Steve’s passion for the living life large, will inject her book-signing event on Aug. 15 with a photograph exhibition, cars including a 2009 limited edition Bullitt car, custom bikes provided by Tacoma-based Destination Harley-Davidson and music.

“The idea of a routine book signing sounds awfully boring to me,” said Barbara McQueen in a press release.  “I can't think of anything more boring than sitting at a desk and signing books. I like rock 'n' roll music, classic cars and a fun atmosphere. I like meeting people, conversing with them and getting to know them personally. When I do these shows, it has to mean more than shaking someone's hand, taking a picture and signing a book. I want everyone to go home with a smile on their face.”

Oh, Bobble Tiki will be smiling.

[Miki Spa Salon, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2-6 p.m., 3102 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253.752.5299]

MICHAEL SWAN: TIME TO GIVE BACK >>>

The 27th Legislative District Democrats are participating in this year’s Paint Tacoma Beautiful Project. However, they are short of volunteers â€" probably due to preparations for this year’s Burning Man.

If you would like to volunteer, call Sandy Bossett at 253.318.9712.

Not sure if volunteering gets you extra potato salad at the Dem’s picnic Sunday or not.

MATT DRISCOLL: IT'S CALLED MIDNIGHT SOUR >>>

You know it's a good day when a copy of the new, yet to be released, Fucking Eagles record shows up on your desk. Snug!

Titled Midnight Sour, the new CD drops Sept. 1.

MICHAEL SWAN: NEW BEAUTIFUL ANGLE POSTERS ARE OUT AND ABOUT >>>

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

Discuss this:

Weird Al's song dedicated to Charles Nelson Reilly

Today’s happy hour suggestion:

Swing Cafe & Wine Bar
825 Columbia St. S.W., Olympia, 360.357.9464
Hours: 4-6 p.m. daily
Drink specials: featured cocktails $5, house wine $4, featured wine flights $6
Food specials: bites â€" Gorgonzola and red bell pepper stuffed mushrooms, sweet and sour coconut shrimp, mini Caprese spiral and more â€" $5

LINK: South Sound happy hours

ANGELA JOSSY: BREAK UP WITH PYRO-AESTHETIC >>>

I’ve always believed that people should judge for themselves what music they like. Music is such a powerful thing that I feel like it can never truly be described in words. Once in awhile I’m compelled to try anyway. Pyro-Aesthetic, a new CD by Jerin Falkner, is a fascinating work of art well worth the effort. 

With several records to her credit and what must be hundreds of live performances, Falkner has navigated her music career with a professionalism and work ethic that few others care to, and it shows on this record.

Pyro-Aesthetic is different from Falkner’s previous records, which were more acoustic guitar based. If you enjoyed her other albums, I’m sure you will be a fan of the new record as well despite the change in genre and soundscape because her earthy and sometimes ethereal vocals are still the focal point of the material. The melodies are still prominent. Her personal thoughts, feelings and emotions are still naked on the table â€" only now they are delicately wrapped in silk and synth. 

For the most part, Pyro-Aesthetic is piano-based songwriting with electronic and keyboard infused embellishments. It’s what industry types call electro-pop. In layman’s terms that means it’s pop melodies marinated in a computer lab with a side order of experimental playfulness. The humor and introspection in this album are perhaps what make it more indicative of the artist’s personality than any of her previous work. This is also the first Falkner album that might induce spontaneous fits of dancing. Her songwriting train has definitely jumped the track with this record and headed toward outer space â€" or at least the fiery golden horizon. The result is a really fun ride. Roll down the window and sing along! That’s what I did.

Incidentally, if you’ve recently ended a relationship, this might be the most lighthearted breakup album I’ve ever heard, and it could serve as excellent musical therapy. 

LINK: Order CD at CDBaby

Jerin’s upcoming performances

Sunday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m., Northern Pacific Coffee Company, 401 Garfield St. S., Parkland/Tacoma, 253.537.8338

Saturday, Aug 15, 3 p.m., Satellite Coffee Co., 817 Division, Tacoma, 253.428.8288

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5, 2009 >>>

1. Charles Bukowski worked odd jobs, roomed in roach-infested flats and drank oceans of cheap beer in cheap bars with cheap women. His poetry inspired artist Jessica Bender, who shares her inspiration with the public, by appointment at thetelephoneroom@gmail.com, at the tiny Telephone Room gallery inside a Dutch Colonial home at 3710 N. Seventh St. in Tacoma. Make an appointment today.

2. A Garden Party about building healthy soil, smart watering techniques, garden pest management, natural lawn care and composting will be held at 7 p.m. inside the Wapato Park Bathhouse, at 6802 S. Sheridan in Tacoma. RSVP to this event by calling 253.573.2506 .

3. Maurice the Fish Records talent pool will perform from 7-10 p.m. at the Tempest Lounge in Tacoma.

4. One of the last times to hear Bill Merwin sing a few of the songs he has written over the years â€" including "The Market Song" for Pike Place Market and "Hamburger Heaven" for Wendy's â€" at 7 p.m. inside A Rhapsody in Bloom Florist & Café Latte.

5. Freedom Records Tightwad Wednesday features Medicine Wheel, The Petting Zu at Sister Hyde at 9 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide