FUCKIN' A>>>

Just got a press release from the Thermals announcing a string of shows, including one on January 23 at Northern in Olympia. How exciting! The Thermals will also play in Seattle at Neumos on January 21.

Here's the rest of the release:

Its been a busy few years for The Thermals! Since signing with beloved Northwest indie label Kill Rock Stars in 2009, The Thermals have released one LP (Now We Can See), three singles ("Now We Can See," "We Were Sick" "Canada") and two split singles (with their friends The Cribs and Thao With The Get Down Stay Down). They toured Europe five times, the U.S. six times, and even went to CHINA and ate a chicken's foot. The Thermals' career has become a metaphor for their live show - exuberantly fast-paced and fun, with no signs of slowing down any time soon.

For their upcoming album Personal Life, The Thermals re-teamed with producer Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie). Walla and The Thermals have a long history together - Chris mixed the first Thermals LP (More Parts Per Million, 2003) and produced their second LP (Fuckin' A,  2004). Walla brought his signature brand of crisp, shiny pop production to Personal Life, as he has done for records by Tegan and Sara and Telekinesis, to name just a few. Personal Life was recorded to 2" tape and mixed to 1/2" tape, and vinyl enthusiasts will be happy to know the vinyl was mastered straight from tape, with no computers involved.

Sonically, Personal Life continues the Thermals tradition of high-energy punk/power/pop while also exploring darker, more introspective territory. Lyrically, Personal Life obsesses over love and lies with the same passion The Thermals have reserved for politics and death in the past.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 24, 2010 >>>

1. The Grand Cinema screens 127 Hours, the harrowing true story of Aron Ralston, a rock climber whose arm was pinned to a Utah canyon wall by a boulder, at 2, 4:30, 6:50 and 9:10 p.m. "In desperation he amputated his own arm to free himself. James Franco stars in Danny Boyle's film, which is gruesome but not QUITE too gruesome to watch. It's rather awesome what an entertaining and absorbing film Danny Boyle has made here. Yes, entertaining," says Roger Ebert, who gave the film four out of four stars.

2. For whatever reason, most of you (and us) will be up until the wee hours tonight getting hammered. Like, seriously obliterated. Because there's no way we want to wake up before the parade is over. Not this year, Philbin. There's no shortage of places that want our business, but one of the better pre-Thanksgiving bumps will be at the new Gruv Lounge and Nightclub. Local boys J-Fresh and dAb will spin during Gruv's '80s old-school night beginning at 9 p.m. It'll almost be enough to make you forget how much you hate spending time with your family.

3. You knew there was a reason to hold on to the Christmas-light-laden and obscenely geometric printed green-and-red sweater. You once thought even the one with reindeer had potential. Now it's time to explore your closets because, ladies and gentlemen, the bad holiday sweater contest is back at Doyle's Public House beginning at 7 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for individuals, couples and groups.

4. Have you ever seen a grown man draw? It's not always pretty. Sometimes, it's beautiful. Tacoma's CLAW - or Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians - meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at the Amocat Café. While the CLAW meets often and mysteriously, this one is "open to the public" - when "non members can be brought and introduced to the group." Sound intriguing? Show up at 7:30 p.m. and see it live.

5. Vicci Martinez and Danny Barnes plan an 8 p.m. show at Jazzbones.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

MARIO LOPEZ IS COMING >>>

With no discernable positive qualities other than dimples and rock-hard abs, Mario Lopez, who still manages to live a life of D-List celebrity, will  appear Saturday at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup for a meet and greet with fans from 1 - 3 p.m. Lopez will be joined by his wife, Courtney Mazza, which makes a lot of sense since she's the by-default co-star of Mario's new VH1 reality series "Saved by the Baby."

Get it? Because he used to be A.C. Slater? Get it?

Anyway, here's a YouTube clip from Lopez in his prime. We'll be doing this all week, if for no other reason than we think it's funny and it gives us a good excuse to search for "Saved by the Bell" clips on the clock.

Enjoy ...

DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITS >>>

666 Night: The Swiss offers six wings and six beers from 4 p.m. to close every Wednesday. The wings come in three levels of heat.

Holiday Sipping: Caffe Dei on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue makes its own organic pumpkin batter, which is delcious with chai.

Holiday Sipping Spiked: Tonight the Crown Bar on Sixth Avenue hosts its normal Wednesday Burger-ama (prcies reduced to $7.95) but barender Dino will also be serving "The Waddle," a cocktail made with Wild Turkey (natch!), Wild Turkey Honey liquor (sweet!), fresh cranberry juice and fresh apple cider.

Brewer's Night: Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza in Dupont will discount Mac & Jack's beer and throw in a DJ and raffle prizes at 7 p.m. tonight.

Future Things Are Coming: Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with Irish charm Thursday, Nov. 25 from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. The cost is $14.95 per person. For details, call 253.272.6963.

Food Matters: 10 tips for a sustainable Thanksgiving

LINK: Happy hours!

A TASTE OF THE GOODNESS YOU'LL FIND IN PRINT & ONLINE>>>

Look, there is absolutely no reason to let a family holiday like Thanksgiving ruin your entire weekend. Sure, you should show up to dinner Thursday, make mom feel good about pulling out the extra leaf for the table, down some stuffing and cranberry sauce and act like a decent, civilized human being - but the rest of the weekend holds no such obligation.There are lots of musical happenings to choose from, and there's plenty of music coverage in this week's Volcano to prepare you.

Check it ...

>>> Mad Rad

It's been a tumultuous year and a half for Seattle party-rap provocateurs Mad Rad. The Volcano's Jason Baxter talks to Mad Rad's Terry Radjaw in anticipation of the group's Saturday show at Jazzbones.

>>> Funky Monkey

DJ Damon Stewart talks about Funky Monkey 104.9FM's sorry demise and rebirth as GenX.

>>> Northwest Sons

Reggae and the march toward marijuana legislation reform just go together. The Northwest Sons, Mighty High and Dirty Change Up will play Hell's Kitchen Friday as part of a benefit for NORML.

>>> Salie Ford and the Sound Outside

Referring to herself as a "belter," Sallie Ford's voice is perfectly suited to the type of vintage soul, roots-rock and blues swagger she and her band, the Sound Outside, have mastered.

AN IRREVERENT WEEKLY LOOK AT THE WILD WORLD OF SPORTS >>>

Every week in the classifieds section of the Weekly Volcano our Cup Check column is there for your inner sports fan - a spot dedicated to finding a place for dumb jock jokes inside the paper at all costs.

Think Brett Favre jokes are funny? So do we - and Cup Check is for you.

Want to laugh about who Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is boffing? We already did.

Want to be scared shitless by Bo Pelini? Check out this week's column, or just watch the video below ...

THE BLASTS FROM THE PAST JUST KEEP COMING >>>

Seriously? Are you fucking shitting us? First, the powers that be go and arrange a AC Slater meet-and-great Saturday at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup - a move that, naturally, sent every scribe on the Volcano's payroll searching for Saved by the Bell clips on YouTube to post as part of our weeklong SPEW feature "AC Slater is so hunky!"

Production is already down 27-percent because of this.

Now, the Tacoma Comedy Club goes and brings in Skippy from Family Ties. Real name Marc Price, and a comedian, Skippy will be in Tacoma Friday and Saturday for a pair of shows billed for the whole family.

From the press release:

This Friday and Saturday we are bringing you up close and personal with "Skippy" from the show "FAMILY TIES"! Come on out, bring the family, and watch him do some very funny stand-up comedy! After the show, you can even meet him, and get a picture.
 
Due to the snow, we are offering a special this weekend, but only if you buy online. Enter the code 'cabin' to receive $9 tickets!! This is a deal that can not be beat. Get your tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/129624!!

Good god. Skippy in Tacoma - the same week as Mario Lopez. Think of the hours lost for us. This could be bad ...

Oh wait a minute! CBS seems to have a monopoly on Family Ties on YouTube, so we're only going to force one Skippy clip on you (and we apologize for the Showtime or Geico ad).

GRAPES AND GLUTTONY GO TOGETHER >>>

The holiday is the pinnacle of gluttony, a food bacchanal, an excuse to eat 20 pounds of bird. And a fabulous excuse to open a bottle after bottle of wine.

The problem is that the many different courses, side dishes, desserts and varied flavors associated with a traditional Thanksgiving meal make pairing wines to all that food quite difficult. The answer is to buy a lot of wine and spread it around the table.

Weekly Volcano Grocery Stories columnist Kris Blondin discusses the varietals of wine, what Thanksgiving dish is pairs well with, and where to buy the wine in Tacoma on our website here.

CONSUME WITH A CONSCIENCE >>>

Cities all over the nation are supporting American Express' "Small Business Saturday" campaign, which encourages shoppers to consider supporting their local retailers this weekend, particularly the Saturday after Black Friday.  According to Civic Economics, out of every $100 spent on a small business, $68 returns to the community. Nationally, the Small Business Saturday website reports small businesses employ half of all private sector employees. Additionally, the Small Business Administration says, "for every year over the last decade, 60-80% of new jobs were generated by small businesses."

Tacoma and Olympia are ripe with locally owned boutiques, furniture and electronic stores and more.  I encourage you to take a look at your Best Buy, Gap or Target list and consider if those same items could be purchased from a local retailer.

PHOTO HOT SPOT >>>

Tacoma photographer Jim Oliver posted this photo, Next Door to Leroy's and One Flight Up, on the Weekly Volcano's Flickr Group. This amazing shot is "straight out of the camera," according to Oliver.

LINK: Join the Weekly Volcano Flickr Group

LINK: Weekly Volcano Photo Hot Spot