MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Rap, Garage Rock: What we have here is a 65-year-old rapping super villain who sings songs such as "Should I ‘F' This Big Fat Ho" - a parody of you know what - and whose live shows are fairly infamous. Reason enough to check out Blowfly at The New Frontier Lounge tonight. But guess what? There's more! Ensuring that this sho will quite possibly be the strangest you see all year will be the opening band: Girl Trouble. Read the full story here. 9 p.m., $10, The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020

Melodic Rock: Sirens Sister is a band that succeeds in surpassing one's initial expectations. Despite having a certain air of mystical, Earth Mother uncoolness, the band's songs are wiry, nervy trains of crazed headlong rock momentum. They strike an easy balance of quite radio-friendly modern rock and a respect for dark '80s pop figures like Echo and the Bunnymen and the Cure. The lead vocals are convincingly histrionic, evoking a number of singers known for projecting to the back of the room, notably Jeff Buckley. It's the kind of music that either doesn't translate to a live representation, or, more likely, thrives on the energy an audience supplies. Regardless, Sirens Sister goes for broke, and their in-store at Rocket Records should be a sight to see. 3 p.m., no cover, Rocket Records, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

LIVE SHOTS >>>

When you consider noise, or allow it into the mix, rock 'n' roll's lid gets lifted- every member has an open-ended ticket, and freedom reigns. So does a little chaos and confusion, but they're bonuses. When determining if a band is truly exploring uncharted territory or simply full of shit, it's best to see the band live before making up your mind.

We watched The Jet City Fix last night at Hell's Kitchen take its powerful AC/DC-influenced rock and amp it up two notches. It was a great set. It was chaos on the stage at its finest.

But we were there to witness the return of Green Apple Quick Step to Tacoma. And after his talented band played him in, Ty Willman entered the stage and took the crowd on a tour of the past.

Surprisingly, there's wasn't any noticeable chaos. And it wasn't needed to make it a memorable show.

Here are a couple shots by Patrick Snapp. Read Joe Izenman's review of the show here.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28: ROUND TWO >>>

Which tacos deserve to move on to the Spicy 16?

Game 1: Josefina's (4816 Pacific Ave, Tacoma) vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito (72^nd and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma)

Old friends meet in Round Two. Josefina's surprised many of us at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters when they dispatched Sam's Taqueria in Round One.  They will have their hands full again as they take on Taqueria El Rinconsito, once a cozy neighbor, who has recently moved to a new spot in the Fred Meyer parking lot. Most folks have El Rinconsito in the Final Cuatro on their brackets. Their spicy pork tacos should be bronzed.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: Azteca (4801 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma) vs. Moctezuma's (4102 S. 56^th St., Tacoma)

Two bitter South Tacoma area rivals face off here. Azteca, buoyed by its shopping induced famished crowd will do battle with Moctezuma's and its Happy Hour Homies.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Los Tres Hermanos (12^th and Pine, Tacoma) vs. MI Taqueria (8424 S. Hosmer, Tacoma)

Here's an interesting match-up.  The popular Central Tacoma taco truck has a cocky smile as it stares down East Tacoma MI Taqueria, which showed promise by defeating Puerto Del Sol in Round One. Can't blame Los Tres Hermanos. It knows it has a secret weapon - Facebook.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Taco Bell (various locations, Tacoma) vs. Tijuana Taco (10005 Bristol Ave., Lakewood)

Rocky, owner of Tijuana Taco, and his long-time manager, Mickey, told the Weekly Volcano they will not sleep until the tiny Lakewood fast-food joint defeats another corporate chain (they defeated Taco Time in round one).  In fact, late last night Rocky stood over his manager and a box full of fresh tomatoes barking: "Cut them Mickey.  Cut them!"  Such dedication.   

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles

Game 1: Hildalgo Mexican Restaurant vs. El Tenampa

Game 2: MI Tres Amigos vs. Tacos Guaymas

Game 3: Taqueria Burrito Loco vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food

Game 4: Powerhouse Restaurant vs. Engine House No. 9

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON SATURDAY, MARCH 27 >>>

The fabulous weather didn't stop folks from voting yesterday.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Vuelve A La Vida vs. Taqueria El Antojo

El Toro vs. The Funky Iguana

La Huerta International Market #2 vs. Taqueria La Carreta

Hell's Kitchen vs. Dave's Meat and Produce

Vuelve A La Vida a perennial favorite among South Sound folks thanks to its unpretentious atmosphere and well-made comfort food. Taqueria El Antojo sports a modern sheen with its gratis salsa station and devout following amongst Tacoma's taco cognoscenti. It could be argued that this seed was premature in the tournament. Maybe. However, Vuelve grabbed 69 percent of the vote and moves on to the Spicy 16 to take on Los Reyes Del Tacoma March 30.

Local chain El Toro sent The Funky Iguana packing with 73.3 percent of the vote. You can't overlook El Toro's fan base. You can't also overlook its tacos al carbon. Two large, flour tortillas packed with grilled marinated chicken breast then dipped in spicy sauce, lightly grilled and topped with Parmesan cheese. These babies helped comfort us yesterday as we watched our Kentucky get eliminated in the NCAA hoop tournament.

One vote. That's was La Huerta International Market #2's margin of victory over Taqueria La Carreta yesterday. La Carreta can hold its head high today knowing it serves some of the best tacos in town. Besides delicious tacos, La Huerta carries videos inside its store - something La Carreta just couldn't compete against.

Hell's Kitchen again turned out the troops to propel it into another round of the tournament, despite Dave's Meat and Produce's exceptional taco meat. Hell's Kitchen advances to the Spicy 16 to take on Top of Tacoma Bar and Café March 30. This, no doubt, will be an all-out war.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010 >>>

1. The national tour of Cats hits the Washington Center's stage at 7:30 p.m.

2. Reuben Storey's Speedmetal Loser, a collection of pen and ink drawings crafted by hand damaged by basement dwelling and heavy metal album covers, hangs in the Capitol Theater's lobby from 6-11 p.m.

3. Hugs and 1776 play an all-ages show at 7 p.m. inside The Den @ urbanXchange.

4. The S.R.O. swing band, a 16-piece unit playing music from the ‘30s and ‘40s, perform from 7-9 p.m. inside the Imperial Dragon restaurant on Sixth Avenue.

5. DJ Jason Diamond spins roots reggae beginning at 9 p.m. inside O'Malley's Irish Pub.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

MONDAY MARCH 29: FINAL ROUND TWO GAMES >>>

The Spicy 16 begins tomorrow. Which tacos deserve to move on?

Game 1: Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant (806 72^nd St. E, Tacoma) vs. El Tenampa (3121 38^th St., Tacoma)

In Round One Hidalgo pasted Bonita Restaurant with the help of their tasty Mexican street tacos.  In round two, they are up against the strong 38^th Street contender El Tenampa that rocks it hard on MySpace. Have you danced in its massive ballroom yet?

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: MI Tres Amigos (8013 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood) vs. Tacos Guaymas (10105 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood)

Pre-tournament favorite Tacos Guaymas moves on the face Lakewood rival MI Tres Amigos. Guaymas' tasty tacos are served with ample onions, cilantro and salsa verde. We prefer the carne asado tacos. Just saying.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Taqueria Burrito Loco (5502 Orchard St. W, University Place) vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food (6402 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma)

Taqueria Burrito Loco overcomes its location in a hidden strip mall behind a gas station with good food and excellent service. Los Amigos Mexican Food overcomes its awful name with juicy chicken tacos that overflows with meat. It's a difficult decision for voters today.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Powerhouse Restaurant (454 E Main, Puyallup) vs. Engine House No. 9 (611 N Pine St., Tacoma)

There's enough history in this final game of Round Two to fill a taco. Dusty Trail converted a grimy rock joint into Engine House No. 9 back in the early ‘70s. He then turned it into Tacoma's first brewpub in the mid ‘90s. He also was a pioneer in the smoke-free dining trend. Trail then opened the Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery in Puyallup in the mid ‘90s. Trail sold E9 to Dick Dickens in 2004. Two tacos from the same gene pool do battle today. Could be epic.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Spicy 16 Taco Battles

Game 1: Los Reyes Del Taco vs. Vuelve A La Vida

Game 2: Masa vs. El Toro

Game 3: Taqueria La Fondita vs. La Huerta International Market #2

Game 4: Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe vs. Hell's Kitchen

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON SUNDAY, MARCH 28 >>>

This is a tournament, folks, not a playoff. Each match is do or die - one misstep and you're out of the dance. Burn the tortilla, add a few too chopped onions or clump the cheese, and you can pack your skillet and cry into your canned tomatoes.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Josefina's vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito

Azteca vs. Moctezuma's

Los Tres Hermonos vs. MI Taqueria

Taco Bell vs. Tijuana Taco

Yesterday's battle on Pacific Avenue came down to two points. Taqueria El Rinconsito edged out the colorful Josefina's to advance to the Spicy 16. Is Josefina's neon light in the window too loud? Are the walls too bright?

In the largest victory margin to date in this tournament, Moctezuma's destroyed Azteca with 88.2 percent of the vote. One voter wrote, "Moctezuma's tacos al carbon are muy delicioso."

In the third game, the popular Los Tres Hermanos taco truck edged out MI Taqueria with 62.5 percent of the vote.

You can kiss the national franchise taco joints goodbye. Lakewood's Tijuana Taco knocked the last national chain – Taco Bell – out of the tournament by grabbing 74 percent of the vote. The voters claimed Tijuana Taco's fresh, healthy ingredients as the main reason why the voted for the long time Lakewood joint. The second reason for the win according to the voters' comments is their happy, polite staff.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

1022 South will celebrate its one-year anniversary tonight with a party debuting its spring/summer menu featuring more than 40 handcrafted cocktails. The new menu showcases 1022 South's respect for classic cocktails, an enthusiasm for apothecary, and a few of the favorite cocktails from the original menu.

For more details regarding tonight's party read my interview with 1022 South's lead apothecary Chris Langston here.

NEW EPISODE >>>

Mike and Steve attempt to stage a low rent version of Burning Man and it does not turn out well in the newest episode of Tacoma Diaries. Check it here.

GOOD MORNING EQUALS GOOD DAY >>>

I'm sure we all agree about the gravitas of breakfast, but maybe for different reasons. For me, breakfast sets my course for each day. Where and how fast I consume my morning meal colors how I feel the rest of the day. The menu - eggs, bacon, pastry, coffee, fruit - do vary in quality. Choose carefully.

I always leave in a better mood when I start my day at The Mandolin Café. Hash brown dishes, quiche Lorraine, waffles, oatmeal and yogurt parfaits are daily standard morning fare. Scrambles, French toast and more egg dishes are added on the weekends. All with added twists. All like your mother would make if she were a gourmet and still willing to cook for you. All served with exotic music swirling overhead.

What's generating the most smiles these days - including the smile after dreary wet mess this morning - are Mandolin's stuffed hash browns ($7.79). Their dense, tall stack of crispy hash browns are layered with bacon, spinach, onions, cheddar cheese, green chilies and eggs that must be designed by Tacoma Bricklayer, LLC (Layers, Luscious and Crunch, of course). The precision makes it a candidate for museums. The tasty meal makes my day.

If you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, head to The Mandolin Cafe.

[The Mandolin Café, breakfast 8-11 a.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $4.50-$10.79, 3923 S. 12^th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]