WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27, 2010 >>>

1. Dancer and author Maggie Kast will read from her new book, The Crack between the Worlds: a dancer's memoir of loss, faith and family at 6 p.m. inside Orca Books.

2. The Tacoma Home and Garden Show kicks off today with more than 500 exhibits, display gardens and a full schedule of "how-to" seminars promise to inspire and inform the do-it-yourselfer from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. inside the Tacoma Dome.

3. The CLAW's (Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians) monthly Open Swim doodling session - open to adult members and non-members - begins at 7:30 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café. Tonight's theme? You guessed it - Robots!

4. Masa Comida Mexicana hosts Golf Pros Rehab Party where every is encourage to dress like golf pros and hos and dance before DJ Niros like you just don't care beginning at 9 p.m.

5. Hell's Kitchen hosts Mic Control: The Emcee Battle featuring Sawchosiz, D-Hustle, Mak Noah and Unique at 9 p.m.

NO LONGER VIRGINS >>>

Yellow Cross is the band formerly known around Oly as the psychedelic sludge fiends, Black Virgin. Doing some research, the boys found another band named Black Virgin, purportedly from the early '80s, and thus decided a change was in order. Sitting with vocalist Carlton Bostock, guitarist Todd Bernd and bass player Sam Riksfjord, they explained the process of going through just about every name imaginable trying to find a replacement. Riksfjord, an avowed scholar of ancient Europe, explained that the yellow cross was the first official "mark of religious persecution."  It surfaced around the 12th century in France, in response to the Cathars, a dualistic religious order in direct defiance of Roman Catholic mandates and ceaselessly tormented by the Inquisitors - who made repentant Cathars bear the mark of the yellow cross. 

Regardless of the name change, Yellow Cross ascends unto Olympia and The Brotherhood this Sunday to persecute the eardrums of the heathen hordes - launching an intense Gnostic assault on your very ability to understand. 

[The Brotherhood Lounge, with November Witch, Red Trails, Sunday, Jan. 31, 9 p.m., $2, 119 Capitol Way N., downtown Olympia, 360.352.4153]

INDIE INSTRUMENTALISTS RETURN TO TACOMA WITH SHOWS AT JAZZBONES AND THE NEW FRONTIER >>>

Trip the Light Fantastic is back - after taking some time off - but the band's return was far from a given. There were plenty of times of the last year, roughly the length of Trip the Light's "hiatus," when it seemed plausible that the instrumental indie rockers might never plug in together again.

Luckily, for ears in Tacoma, the boys of Trip the Light Fantastic figured it out, and their brand of far-out (now apparently chunkier) instrumentals has returned to the stage. On Sunday Trip the Light will play an all ages show at Jazzbones, then on Thursday, Feb. 4 they'll plug in for a 21+ crowd at The New Frontier with Freeze and Fur Coat and Clyde Kurtis.

In preparation for those shows, the Weekly Volcano caught up with Trip the Light Fantastic's Tyler Pratt. Below, you'll find his witty thoughts. This interview will post to Spew in two installments, with the second installment posting on Friday.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: First of all, give the Volcano's readers an update on what's been up since the last time we chatted. You guys have been through a lot, right?

TYLER PRATT: We have been through quite a bit. Everyone just wasn't feeling the vibe there for a while and we just kept booking and playing shows. It got to the point where we didn't even talk to one another, just showed up at the gigs. It was one of those things where we had to put the Trip the Light thing down, just so we could figure out what the hell was going on with each other

VOLCANO: You guys took a break in 2009. Can you explain what happened and why the band retuned? Was the break a good thing, in retrospect? Are you guys in a better place now?

PRATT: First of all, we have all been friends for a pretty long time - since we were really young. The reason Trip the Light Fantastic sounds like it does is because of our deep-rooted friendship together. We were like, "We could stop playing and stay best friends, or we can keep playing, not be friends soon, and then watch Trip implode."

It was a bummer. No one wanted to stop because we all loved the band. But sometimes you have to remember that too much of anything isn't good. So we took a break. I didn't know when we would ever play again. However, during the break we all hung out more than ever before. We remembered to laugh, and eat some dinner. You know, just chilling out with each other without this band thing we felt obligated to do. When you go through something like that with your brothers it's a big eye opener. Now we all seem to be in a better place for sure. Just getting loose and getting to create with each other again is utopian.

VOLCANO: What's the deal with the new recording? Did you guys start in November, as I read somewhere? How's it coming? What are your goals for the next Trip recording? What direction has the songwriting taken?

PRATT: We're definitely very excited to be working on our third release. When we all came back to Trip the Light we decided it was going to be all new - start from ground zero. Not to mention everyone's style had changed a lot in a year. We kind of had to start from scratch, which was a very good thing for us, musically speaking. We also have two guitar players now, which is totally changing everything with writing new tunes. Thomas Crow joined us after we had recorded the last two albums as a three piece. We are writing pretty heavy grooves these days; it reminds me of a fucking freight train moving in space. We've also been switching up instruments with each other lately. The release is roughly planed for May of 2010.

THURSDAY, JAN. 28, 2010 >>>

1. Last Chance Romeos play an unplugged show at 8 p.m. inside Doyle's Public House.

2. The Tacoma Urban Orchestra will show support and solidarity for the devastated nation of Haiti with a $10 concert tonight at 7 p.m. inside Cutters Point Coffee in downtown Tacoma. Price includes coffee and a raffle.

3. Hear Erica Bauermeister speak about her debut novel, The School of Essential Ingredients, at 7 p.m. inside the Collins Library on the University of Puget Sound campus.

4. Harlequin Productions opens End Days full of religion, science, family, friends, suicide or rock and roll tonight at 8 p.m. inside the State Theater.

5. The Revengers, EvergreenOne, Todd Sykes, and Rockwell Powers bring hip-hop to The Swiss beginning at 9 p.m.

SAD DAY >>>

The word out of the il Trattoria di Merende camp is that they are throwing in the towel.

The times are tough. Even with delicious food, the downtown Tacoma Italian restaurant couldn't get enough butts in the seats.

They are going out with a bang, though. Tonight, Merende will throw a party with live music by the Malcolm Clark Band. Stop by for dinner and raise a glass or two.

They will remain open through the weenkend.

[Merende, 813 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.1993]

PICK UP YOUR COPY TODAY >>>

MARINEPOLIS SUSHI LAND: The popularity of conveyor belt sushi continues to grow with a new location in the Puyallup South Hill area. Smaller than other Sushi Land locations in Tukwila, Bellevue, and Lynnwood, this newest Sushi Land sits amid the hustle and bustle of Meridian Avenue. The De Paul brothers reviewed the conveyor belt joint in today's paper.

3 DRINK MINIMUM: Other than the time an anonymous Weekly Volcano employee pooped on her desk, Steph DeRosa has never been more sickened and appalled by something. That is, until she received notice that Harbor Lights had NOT yet been visited for 3 Drink Minimum. Pick up today's Weekly Volcano and read what happened when she visited Harbor Lights.

PLACES WE LOVE >>>

Why We Go: When we wish to dine in another world, slightly Third World, steamy, exotic, Asian - as if out of a movie - Vien Dong in the Lincoln District fits the bill. Vien Dong envelopes the senses. The atmosphere takes us immediately to Vietnam without passing go. We pick one of the mix-match chairs, dodge servers moving quickly about, and wish 38th Street would transformed into a Saigon side alley.

What We Eat: Start with iced French pressed coffee and sweet condensed milk - the classic Vietnamese coffee made to perfection. Sip while perusing the extensive menu - the descriptions are nearly as fun to read as the food is to eat. For a sure thing, order the red curry with prawns. Hot and hearty, the meal combines well with the hot summer weather. The soups are delicious. Vien Dong understands culinary craftsmanship.

What We'd Change: We wish we could sip a beer while pondering their fours kinds of pho, nine hu tieu and seven bun noodle soups. Then pound another immediately after running into their red-pepper paste that's murderously hot. Please add beer and wine.

[Vien Dong, 3801 S. Yakima, Tacoma, 253.472.6668]

MAKE A BAND PROFILE, BE BIGGER THAN BONO >>>

By now you've probably clued into the fact that the Weekly Volcano's fancy new Web site - weeklyvolcano.com - has a "Band Profile" feature.

Basically, like MySpace without all the grossness, the "Band Profile" section allows local South Sound bands to log onto weeklyvolcano.com, create a profile, and get the word out about said band to all of the Volcano's eleventy-seventy-zillion online readers. It's quite a deal.

But, to sweeten the pot, the powers that be have launched this crazy-ass scheme:

BANDS THAT SIGN UP FOR A "BAND PROFILE" AT WEEKLYVOLCANO.COM BEFORE FEB. 28 WILL AUTUMATICALLY HAVE THEIR BIOS INCLUDED IN OUR SUPER SPECIAL, SECOND ANNUAL MUSIC ISSUE, HITTING THE STREETS ON MARCH 11.

To recap (and not in caps):

1. Create a "Band Profile."

2. Become famous online at weeklyvolcano.com.

3. See your band in print, for no additional work, in the Volcano's Second Annual Music Issue.

Ever day until March 11 the Weekly Volcano will be featuring one Band Profile on Spew to help folks get a feel for it. Consider this just one more reason to sign up.

Today's band

Gonken

Please get acquainted below ...

Johnny Gonken

Principal songwriter, producer, lead vox, guitar, synth

Live shows: BK5000- synth, guitar, backup vox, laptop operations
Mantooth Soundsystem- hype-bot, crowd pleaser

Genres: Comedy/Games, DJ/Electronic, Pop/Rock, Rap-Hip-Hop

Website: gonken.com

Biography: Embracing the punk individualist ethic wholeheartedly, Johnny Gonken creates music that is totally the product of his own wild imagination. With the fervor of an artist driven by his own need to have a unique voice in the world (and fueled by the talent to accomplish just that), Gonken churns out energetic, hooky and artistically defiant music he calls "quirky electro-punk rock." It's a galvanizing sound and one that reverberates with the in-your-face rawk assault and stimulated by electronic surges.

Read the rest of his biography, listen to his music and peruse his photos on his Band Profile page here.

LINK: Weekly Volcano's Band Profile section

LINK: Sign up for a Band Profile

BRINGING TACOMA SEXY BACK ONE VOTE AT A TIME >>>

Hello again, Tacoma.

As has probably become blatantly obvious by now, we'll stop at nothing when it comes to promoting the hell out of our Tacoma's Most Sexy Issue, which will hit streets on Feb. 25. Voting has been going on for a few weeks now at www.tacomasmostsexy.com - and the action has been hot and heavy. Voting runs until Feb. 4 - when we'll abruptly cut things off, and Tacoma's sexiness will be sealed for 2010. At that point, if you haven't voted yet, you'll have to wait until 2011. Doesn't that sound depressing?

Don't be that person. Vote now and help determine Tacoma's Most Sexy for 2010.

Only you can help bring Tacoma sexy back.

In case you need further coaxing, here's a look at some of the hot and steamy comments our Tacoma's Most Sexy vote has been garnering:

SEXIEST BARTNEDER

"Tricia from Doyle's. Sassy, sexy, amazing eyes and a dirty mind. The other ladies of Doyle's are wonderful without a doubt, but Tricia has a way that both makes you want to and not want to introduce her to your mother."

SEXIEST PEDIATRICIAN

"Don't know any? My feet are corn free for the moment."

CRUSHES

"I have been desperately in love with Josh for quite a while! He is by far Tacoma's sexiest bigwheeler! Why wasn't that a category? I don't know how to find him, but I do know him and his friends have bigwheel videos on Youtube under Tacoma Bigwheel Team. Maybe there. Get him! He's the sexy bald tattooed one. The women of Tacoma deserve to see him!!!"

"The server at Jazzbones. Every time I'm there I remember how much I have a crush on this girl. I can't even remember her name now to be honest with you. Every time I see her I want to ask her to marry me. LOL Maybe this will get me a date now?!"

"Well, I don't really have a crush on Denise since I play for the other team and so does she, but she has the sexiest lez vibe with her ever bubbly attitude and tiny bod! I tried to measure her zipper once, which I believe to be no more then 2" long."

Add your two cents! Vote now at www.tacomasmostsexy.com.

FRIDAY, JAN. 29, 2010 >>>

1. To celebrate Dance Theatre of Harlem's 40th Anniversary a 14-member ensemble of young dancers trained in the DTH style has been touring the country for a year. They will perform in Tacoma tonight at 7:30 p.m. inside the Pantages Theater.

2. The Jacobsen Concert Series will present classic favorites on two pianos, featuring pianists Ilana Vered, Duane Hulbert, and Tanya Stambuk at 7:30 p.m., inside the Schneebeck Concert Hall on the campus of University of Puget Sound. The evening will feature An American in Paris, an orchestral composition written by George Gershwin that was part of the Academy Award-winning musical score in the 1951 film of the same name, starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron.

3. Traditions Café in Olympia hosts a Brazilian benefit concert featuring Eduardo Mondonca at 7 p.m.

4. Joshua Adams Band, Dave Hannon, and Gina Belliveau perform at 9 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge. Joshua Adams can perform amazing loops with the pedals.

5. Hardcore punk rock Divide The Day joins Seasons After and the Atomic Outlaws at 9 p.m. inside Station 56.