BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>

Well, we were finally forced to do it this morning - give up our SOTA intern, that is. For the last three weeks Intern Emily, a senior at Tacoma School of the Arts, has handled all the little things around Weekly Volcano HQ. She fetched the coffee. She made the annoying phone calls we didn't want to. She got on her bike and peddled all over dodge taking pictures. She was basically awesome.

But now, unfortunately, we've got to remember how to live again - without an intern. I know it was only three weeks, but it's going to be a tough transition.

In honor of yesterday's Supreme Court decision, here are some ways you can kill a bunch of brain cells this weekend. In the New World, brains wont be necessary.

THE BLUE MONGOLS at DOYLE'S

Saturday, Jan. 23

Before we get started, let it be noted that both this week's Prefunk selections are both on Saturday.

I know, I know. Sorry.

Thing is, you know damn well I'm going to be horizontal in my sweatpants all Sunday watching the NFL playoff. So, suggesting activities other than ones I officially endorse, like lying around in your own filth watching football, seems risky at best - and probably down right hypocritical. Therefore, I recommend getting all this weekend's partying out of the way Saturday, so Sunday is free for the aforementioned lounging - but that's just me.

The first event Saturday night that I recommend checking out is Suzanne's birthday at Doyle's. Now, in all honesty I don't have the slightest clue who the Suzanne in question is - but I do know Tacoma's Blue Mongols will be providing the music. A Chicago blues inspired troupe of purists and blues scholars, The Blue Mongols stem from the same Tacoma blues lineage that brought this town the Toughtimes and The Brown and Blues Band. They seem certain to kill it at Doyle's.

PREFUNK: Since you have another event to hit tonight, don't blow your intoxication wad all in one spot. Start slow before heading to Doyle's.  Pick up a fruit flavored blunt wrap (I recommend mango), roll something tight (but not too tight), and take a quick meander around Wright Park before heading to Doyle's. It should put you in a good mindset for the blues, plus - mangoes are delicious.

Don't forget it's Suzanne's birthday.

TORTURE BOX at HELL'S KITCHEN

Saturday, Jan. 23

After getting your blues fix at Doyle's, take a short walk downtown to Pacific Avenue and the new and improved Hell's Kitchen for a lesson on boxes.

Boxes, after all, are great. You can keep so many important things in them.

For example, your weed.

But in the South Sound, we've already got plenty of places to keep our weed, and perhaps not enough receptacles for our torture.

Enter Olympia's Torture Box, a band of tube sock cock rockers that should go over nicely with Tacoma's "maturing" metal crowd. Think power stances and searing power chords - and lots of metal "torture."

PREFUNK: Three words. Waterboarding with beer.