Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: August, 2010 (140) Currently Viewing: 111 - 120 of 140

August 24, 2010 at 12:41pm

Hall & Oates: Vote on 12 of their best looks

THE FERVOR IS BUILDING FOR THEIR PUYALLUP FAIR SHOW >>>

"I'm at the point in my life and my career where I can do exactly what I want," John Oates told Reuters earlier this year. "And that's all any creative person wants to do."

The Weekly Volcano can only assume Oates was referring to the fact he shaved off his moustache.

But what we're not sure of is what look, exactly, Hall & Oates will don Sept. 22 when they take the stage at the Puyallup Fair. In honor of The News Tribune's brilliant Lady Gaga fashion poll, the Weekly Volcano has compiled a gallery of some of the most striking looks Hall & Oates have sported over the years. Check out the looks below and vote on your favorite. We don't have the Trib's deep pockets for a vote tally mechanism thingy, so tell us your favorite in the comments section at the bottom. Be sure to tell us your favorite Hall & Oates experience too.

LOOK 1

LOOK 2

LOOK 3

LOOK 4

LOOK 5

LOOK 6

LOOK 7

LOOK 8

LOOK 9

LOOK 10

LOOK 11

LOOK 12

The Weekly Volcano will be at the Hall & Oates show next month with our cameras at the ready - snapping shots of all the folks sure to be dressed as the popular pop duo, or the people Daryl and John like to refer as the "Out of Touchers." Whether this will result in an 18-page pictorial, we're not sure of. What we are sure of is it'll be awesome.

LINK: Hall & Oates Puyallup Fair show information

August 24, 2010 at 2:06pm

FILM REVIEW: "Putty Hill" mixes documentary and fiction

"Putty Hill" was shot on the fly over 12 days in the summer of 2009.

WE WENT TO THE 25 NEW FACES IN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL >>>

Film: Putty Hill

Rating: Three and a half out of four stars

Director: Matthew Porterfield

Starring: James Siebor Jr., Dustin Ray, Charles Sauer

Where We Saw It: The Grand Cinema

Does It Screen Again?: Hell yes - Thursday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m. at The Grand

It's difficult for me to describe the fascination with which I viewed some of the scenes in Putty Hill. From the opening moments, in which a young man in Baltimore takes a break from a paintball game to be interviewed by the omniscient cameraman, Putty Hill announces itself as something strange and different.

It's a good thing the kid and many other characters are interviewed because, without it, we would have a very difficult time understanding just what is going on. The characters in this movie - much like how it would go in real life, and how it never goes in the movies - rarely feel the need to talk about how they're feeling. Slowly, as more characters are introduced and interviewed, we learn that a young man named Cory has recently died of a heroin overdose. Now, his family and friends are preparing themselves for his funeral.

A masterful scene near the beginning of the film serves as a mission statement and an example of how little needs to be said in the defining of a person. As a man gives another man a tattoo, they chitchat about the funeral and other things. What we learn: the tattooist was Cory's uncle; he learned how to perform tattoos in prison; he was convicted of second degree murder after a man raped his pregnant wife (of which he says "You can fill in the rest").

None of these confessions feel forced or fake, and indeed there is never a wrong move from an actor in Putty Hill. I am shocked to learn they were even actors, that there even was a script.

Putty Hill feels unflinchingly like life.

The film is handled with a heavy dose of naturalism, interspersed with some flights of fancy (such as a graffiti artist's spray-painted message being accompanied by subtitles so we can more easily understand them).

Unfortunately, the film comes close to wearing out its welcome due to its insistence on shunning artificial light. There are some scenes that are so dark that we can't see anything for minutes at a time. I understand the director's intentions, but at a certain point this naturalism becomes antagonistic.

Nevertheless, Putty Hill is a unique and, at times, mesmerizing depiction of how everyone grieves differently. Is it cold of these people to seem so remorseless after the loss of Cory? No. In some ways I suspect they admire Cory for escaping a place they cannot: Baltimore, drink, life, and all of it all over again.

LINK: 25 New Faces In Independent Film festival schedule

Filed under: Screens, Tacoma, Culture,

August 25, 2010 at 7:16am

5 Things To Do: "Purgatory Pie Press," 100th Monkey, EduCLAWtion and music

The "Purgatory Pie Press" exhibit at UPS is pretty.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 25, 2010 >>>

1. The Purgatory Pie Press: Magic Books & Paper Toys show at Collins Memorial Library features real type letterpress limited edition collaborative artist books, posters, coasters, postcards, PurgaToys, plus examples from the Random House books including typographic proofs from the covers and display pages they designed and proofed on the letterpress for those publications. Check it out from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2. Monkeys like art. Monkeys like drinkies. Therefore, by the Transitive Property of Equality, Monkeys like, um, something. Never mind, the next 100th Monkey party is tonight from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the DTI Building at 409 Puyallup Ave. in Tacoma. The co-Monkeys are Dani and Melissa with "ambient beats softly soothing our souls" as entertainment.Gregory Fricker is the tile artist.Monkey commander Sue Pivetta says bring food and drinks to share. And remember, 100th Monkey bylaws require that you meet three new people/artists.

3. Artists that fear the mandatory "meet three new people" rule at the 100th Monkey event can instead hang at the EduCLAWtion event from 7:30-9:30 p.m. inside Amocat Café. The CLAW artists only require that you meet one of their members, which is nice. Anyway, this educational event is an opportunity to "Hang out with cartoonists and learn Photoshop, life hacker, awesome tips and tricks," which, again is nice.

4. Jazz/jam band All Night Yard Sale performs at 8 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

5. It's Female Singer-Songwriter Night beginning at 8 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

August 25, 2010 at 9:49am

KEEPING UP WITH THE COFFEEHOUSES: The Greener Bean

BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A MILLION IN THE AREA >>>

Neighborhood: Fircrest

Address/Phone: 1039 Regents Blvd., 253.564.7338

Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday

Noshing/Sipping: A few sandwiches, wraps and paninis, salads, assorted bakery items, box lunches. The breakfast sandwiches are tasty. All your favorite espresso drinks - as well as a few creative ones such as Mayan Mocha Mexican Monkey - are available with plenty of beverage options for the kiddies.

Standard Cup o' Joe: $1.86 bottomless

Bean Source: Better than fair-trade organic coffee from Dillanos Coffee Roasters in Sumner.

Crowd: Regulars including Fircrest Police, MILFs and teens zoned in on Sudoku

Soundtrack: James Blunt, Taylor Swift and ilk.

Bonus Points: Energy efficient operation and use of recycled materials, delivery service, free WiFi, conference room with dry erase board, and Friday night open mic 7-9 p.m.

The House:

Fans of the quiet coffeehouse will appreciate the homey serenity of The Greener Bean - provided, of course, that they manage to find the joint. Set back off of Regents Boulevard behind a building, the cafe sits in the middle of a strip mall. You might have to dodge jumping exercise students from Innovative Fitness a couple storefronts down.

A mix-match of tables and chairs are scattered about the largish room with couches back in the "library" section. Lighting and local art emit it a slight modern feel. And the sliding barn-like door to the conference room is cool. An energy efficient operation and use of recycled materials are a way of life at The Greener Bean.

The Greener Bean ain't fancy, but its comfortably lazy feel encourages strident leisure. 

August 25, 2010 at 10:31am

FILM REVIEW: "Solitary" and "Release"

Zachary Osborne/photo courtesy of haofilms.com

WE WENT TO THE 25 NEW FACES IN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL >>>

Films: Solitary/Release

Rating: Three out of four stars

Director: Holden Abigail Osborne

Starring: Zachary Osborne, James Franco, Holmes Osborne

Where We Saw It: Duh ... The Grand Cinema

Does It Screen Again?: Hell yes - Thursday, Aug. 26, 2 p.m., at The Grand

At the beginning of Holden Abigail Osborne's duo of films about her brother, we see the real Zachary Osborne captured in a home movie. He seems amiable, kind of crazy in that way where you wonder with excitement just what he'll do next. He looks into the camera and says, "Let's go do some Jackass shit."

This is followed by security camera footage of Zach robbing a fast food joint. After a stint in jail, Zach is released into house arrest, at which point Holden returns to her home town to film his first few days of freedom.

This is Solitary, a short documentary about those awkward first moments of freedom. Zach reenters life with his family, including his daughters whom a relative fears are too young to have remembered their father before he was in prison.

Solitary then blends seamlessly into Release, a fiction short inspired by Zach's relationship with his father, Holmes Osborne, who plays himself in the film. The role of Zach is handed over to James Franco, and suddenly Zach's story is a surreal psychodrama.

In the woods, Franco as Zach is chained to the ground of this lean-to. He is to stay there with his father until he no longer aches for drugs. A scene where Holmes yells at Franco, reprimanding him for thinking only of himself and never of his children, is effective at a couple levels deeper than the surface drama of a father yelling at his child.

Together, these shorts do a wonderful job of playing off of and enriching each other. We learn that Zach violated the terms of his house arrest, and so was back in jail at the time the short was being made, which only contributes to the pain of Release.

These are intensely personal shorts made by a very promising up-and-coming filmmaker. See it before the festival is over, and go to haofilms.com for updates on Zach.

LINK: 25 New Faces In Independent Film festival schedule

Filed under: Screens, Tacoma,

August 26, 2010 at 7:03am

5 Things To Do: "Iron Jawed Angels," Thursday Beer Runners, Mirror and Wires, Vincent Moon ...

THURSDAY, AUG. 26, 2010 >>>

1. Today marks the 90th anniversary of women being granted the right to vote - now known as Women's Equality Day. In celebration, the Capitol Theater will host a showing of Iron Jawed Angels starring Hilary Swank putting it all on the line for women's rights. Following the 6 p.m. movie there will be a short Q & A session with state senator Karen Fraser, state Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander and others.

2. The Thursday Beer Runners will head out for a leisurely 3-mile run from Terry's Office Tavern, then to return to the same spot for a leisurely beer or 12.

3. Mirrors and Wires rocks the all-ages venue Northern at 8 p.m.

4. The Art Kitchen presents an evening with Parisian filmographer Vincent Moon with music by Eleanor Murray at 8:30 p.m. inside The Loft on Cherry in downtown Olympia.

5. The Kim Archer Band will fill The Swiss with funky grooves beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

August 26, 2010 at 9:45am

ARTS BEAT: Hilltop Artists, upcoming Olympia theater season, review of Mavi's first show and more ...

ARTS COVERAGE IN THIS WEEK'S VOLCANO >>>

Kids playing with fire: The Hilltop Artists program teaches glass blowing and life by Kristin Kendle

Something for everyone, even your pooka: A preview of the Olympia 2010-11 theater season by Christian Carvajal

Outstanding opening: William Quinn's European Odyssey at Mavi Contemporary Art by Alec Clayton

PLUS: Today's the last day of the 25 New Faces in Independent Film festival at The Grand. We reviewed Solitary/Release and Putty Hill, both playing today.

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

Filed under: Arts, Theater, Screens, Olympia, Tacoma,

August 26, 2010 at 12:24pm

Museum of Glass turns pro

THIS JUST IN >>>

The Museum of Glass receive some good news. It has achieved accreditation from the American Association of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum. 

"Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.  To celebrate and to thank the community for its support, the Museum will be free to all visitors on Saturday, September 25, 2010," state a press release.

Congratulations to the Museum of Glass.

Read the rest of the press release below:

Read more...

Filed under: Arts, News To Us, Tacoma,

August 26, 2010 at 2:40pm

THE WEEKEND HUSTLE: Buckets, boats and bruises

Sand in the City

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Chance of rain 20 percent, hi 65, lo 50

Saturday: Partly cloudy, hi 65, lo 49

Sunday: Few showers, hi 63, lo 50

>>> FRIDAY, AUG. 27-SUNDAY, AUG. 29: SAND IN THE CITY

There comes a time when you realize there are a lot of things you've never had a chance to do.  You've never painted with artichokes, run with the salmon, tasted garlic ice cream or spent a little face time with a llama.  But as sure as Mel Gibson has kicked sand in many faces, you are determined not to miss this year's Sand in the City. Washington state's largest sand sculpting event with 240 tons of sand, nationally known sand sculptors, 40 different hands-on art and science activities and a live entertainment stage are all held in downtown Olympia.  Show up with a shovel, a bucket and an idea.

  • Port Plaza, Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., special events here, free, Olympia waterfront, 360.956.0818


>>> SATURDAY, AUG. 28: DOCKYARD DERBY DAMES ALL STARS BOUT 2

The best jammers in town will be flying for points when Tacoma's Dockyard Derby Dames hold their second all star bout of the off season - Saturday at Pierce College. An all ages event (though young children are discouraged from sitting track side, as no one wants to see a toddler get gobbled up in a mangled pile of fishnet, spandex and girl-sweat) - the bout will be held at Pierce College, and there's no doubt it will be action packed. And there's a beer garden.

  • Pierce College, 5-10 p.m., all ages, $15, 9401 Farwest Dr SW, Lakewood


>>> SATURDAY, AUG. 28-SUNDAY, AUG. 29: MARITIME FESTIVAL

The Weekly Volcano gears up for the annual Maritime Festival like the Super Bowl. We just can't get enough of celebrating Commencement Bay, and the "Working Waterfront" as it's known. This year marks 17 Maritime Fests, and they seem to get better every year. Or, at the very least the Maritime Fest seems to have gotten better THIS YEAR - by going balls out and booking a gaggle of Unlimited Light Hydroplanes, which will splash and speed through an exhibition course both days. That's right - the action runs Saturday and Sunday. That's why they call it a "Working Waterfront" - weekends are for pussies.

  • Thea's Park/Foss Waterway Seaport, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, Dock Street, Tacoma, maritimefest.org


>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

MATT DRISCOLL Editor and Single Parent For Five More Days
Honestly, I'm not a fan of putting my real personal life in the Weekly
Volcano. I feel much more comfortable putting my fake personal life in the
Weekly Volcano. That said, as many of you know my lovely wife has been in
Germany for the entire month of August - leaving our 3-year-old daughter with me. The 3-year-old has spent much of this time wondering why I can't do things like mommy. The good news is my wife returns this coming Tuesday night. This weekend will no doubt be spent cleaning up spilled milk, arguing over bath time, and reading Dr. Seuss books I
already know by heart.

NIKKI TALOTTA Feature Writer
The Weekend Hustle for me is just that - hustlin'. I will be stirrin and shakin my way to the almighty dollar. I will also try to get in a little R & R at the Pier, where Olympia's annual Sand In The City event is going on. Lots of really cool sand sculptures and activities for the kiddies.

STEPH DEROSA Columnist
I have NOTHING going on this weekend and am goddamn happy about that.  I plan on completing some home improvements that will send me furiously back and forth to Home Depot as I forget "that one little do-hickey" because I didn't write down what I needed, or forgot a measurement, or simply want to check out the hot Home Depot vinyl-siding pro one more time.  Other than that I will be doing a whole lotta nuthin' - which may or may not include staying in my shredded 1988 Def Leppard Hysteria Tour shirt for the entire weekend.

KRIS BLONDIN Food/Wine Writer
Probably lake bound this weekend, all weekend if my boss doesn't make me go to a Rainier's game on Sunday. That would seriously bum me out.

JENNIFER JOHNSON: Lifestyle/Leisure Writer
Saturday I'll hit the Block Party in Opera Alley and squeeze in a walk-through at the Maritime Fest on Thea Foss Waterway. Sunday, I'll be attending the first meeting for T-Town's newest bicycle gang at the Parkway at 5 p.m. after church and before heading to see Danny Godinez, Vicci Martinez and more local musical talent at a private party.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Features Writer
Friday, I'm coming out in support of Sierra Venes, whose wallet - along with an obscene amount of money - was stolen from her at the Top of Tacoma. A benefit show is being held at The New Frontier featuring performances by Basemint, Red Hex, and a solo set from Jason Freet. Saturday, I'm heading to Hell's Kitchen for the Legend of Bigfoot's CD release party, and an amazing lineup including Valis, Bandolier, Blanco Bronco, and more.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
I'm seeing Jekyll & Hyde at Harlequin Productions, then hosting a housewarming luau at my new place in Tumwater.  There'll be Kahlua pork, Spam fried rice, and Hawaiian punch (spiked, of course) for everyone. Hele mei hoohiwahiwa!

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
 I'm going to check out the Access Denied: Chastity Belt show at Mineral.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

Filed under: The Weekend Hustle,

August 27, 2010 at 7:49am

5 Things To Do: DJ Eloy, Tacoma Tactical, "Sleuth," Morgan & The Organ Donors ...

DJ Eloy

FRIDAY, AUG. 27, 2010 >>>

1. Masa is in for a treat during its Latin America Meets North America night, which begins at 9 p.m.. House DJ Deejay Sessions is bringing in NYC friend DJ Eloy, a chap who's spun at the Big Apple's hottest clubs, SNL cast parties, and even for Ludacris and Busta Rhymes. Triggering music video samples from DVD, keeping time with layered audio backbeats, and introducing wax-based polyrhythms with the skill of a scratch master, Eloy will introduce his multimedia mash-ups to T-town.

2. It's Freak Friday at Tacoma's 12,000 square foot urban Airsoft facility Tacoma Tactical, which means its just $5 for two hours. That's a freaking good deal!

3. Stella Haloulani hosts Free Ya Mind Open Mic from 7-9 p.m. inside Tully's Coffee at the Bostwick Building.

4. The Tacoma Little Theatre kicks off its new season with Sleuth, the ultimate game of cat-and-mouse played out in a cozy English country house owned by celebrated mystery writer - at 7:30 p.m.

5. Christian Mistress, The Guild, Morgan & The Organ Donors play an 8 p.m. all-ages show at Northern in Olympia.

LINK: More recommended events in The Weekend Hustle

LINK: New movies open today

LINK: Concert go on sale today

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