BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>

Well, we still haven't been sued by PETA, and my bosses insist this column is still a good idea, so it's time for another installment of The Prefunk - a primer to the weekend for you and your liver (brought to you by the Weekly Volcano, Michelob Ultra, Smirnoff Ice, Ovaltine and Depends).

Oh, and we always throw in a picture of an alcoholic household pet for good measure. If you'd like to see YOUR four-legged friend with a drinking problem immortalized forever in The Prefunk, send drunk-pet photos to me at mattd@weeklyvolcano.com.

I swear; it'll be awesome.

MULTIPLE TACOMA HEMPFEST AFTER-PARTIES

Saturday, June 26

The rumors and smoke signals you've heard and seen are true; Tacoma's first annual Hempfest goes down Saturday at Wright Park. You can learn all you need to know about Tacoma Hempfest right here.

However, while there's only one Tacoma Hempfest, there are at least 37 Tacoma Hempfest after-parties. It's tough to know which one to choose. The good news is: If you've got a favorite local music venue or bar, there's a 73.9 percent chance it's holding a Tacoma Hempfest after-party.

Here are three of the better ones:

Hell's Kitchen: The punk-and-metal-edged Tacoma institution has supported weed since before it was cool. There's no way Pacific Avenue's newest and loudest resident was going to let a chance to revel in Tacoma's first annual Hempfest pass it by. Starting at 9 p.m., the "Official Afterparty for the 1^st Annual Tacoma Hempfest" at Hell's Kitchen will include the stoner-approved sounds of Domination, De-Krep-It, In These Hands and Koz of Konfusion. All these bands are Hell's Kitchen favorites, so expect the after-party celebration to be mighty.

The New Frontier Lounge: While it's not the "official" after-party, The New Frontier Lounge in the Dome District is also jumping into the Tacoma Hempfest after-party action with one of its own, starting at 8 p.m. and featuring Valis, Legend of Bigfoot and Flight of the Phanuel. Again, this is stoner-friendly music in what should be a stoner friendly environment. The only trouble is acting cool when you're high is a lot harder. Skinny jeans look like shit with Cheeto smudges.

Doyle's Public House: Hell's Kitchen has the "official" after-party, and The New Frontier simply has an after-party; but Doyle's Public House in Tacoma - currently flexing its World Cup muscles - has the only "T-Town Hempfest Follow-up" I can find.

What's a "follow-up," you might ask? Well, it's a lot like an after-party.

The T-Town Hempfest Follow-Up at Doyle's has jam-happy bands High Ceiling and Mighty High set to take the stage - which should be a masterful fit for the more stereotypical, dreadlocked, shoeless inhabitants of Saturday's Hempfest.

Jam on, my brothers.

PREFUNK: Shit. Go to Tacoma Hempfest. This one is self-explanatory.

GULF RELIEF @ THE SWISS

Sunday, June 27

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!"

That pretty much sums up the feeling the runs through my head every time I think about the BP created mega-disaster currently ravaging the Gulf Coast. It's pretty much all there is to think.

But, how do we help? With previous massive disasters like the earthquake in Haiti or even Katrina, it was kind of obvious what needed to happen. But with the current BP-eco-clusterfuck, it's hard to even know where to start. I mean, THE OIL IS STILL GUSHING OUT. It's not even over yet.

That said, like almost anything in our capitalist created universe, as good a place to start as any is through financial donations. Sunday at The Swiss in Tacoma you'll have that chance, as well as a chance to see a bunch of top-notch local bands.

A benefit for the Gulf Restoration Network  - www.healthygulf.org - Sunday's show at The Swiss carries a $10 suggested donation, and a lineup including China Davis, The Jerry Miller Band with Lee Oskar, High Rollers, Mojo Overload, Malcolm Clark, Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Orchestra and Kim Archer and Nick Sandy. The action starts at 1 p.m., and expect a pretty major raffle and giveaway to accompany the festivities.

PREFUNK: Coat you and your loved ones in 10W-40. Make sure to get your pets too. Then, cover your lunch in 10W-40, your bed in 10W-40, your toilet in 10W-40, etc. See how you enjoy it.

Then, head to The Swiss to help out the Gulf, which has been dealing with a similar - albeit far more devastating - situation for two months now. I'd recommend cleaning yourself up first, though, which you'll find is pretty fucking difficult.

See you next week.