LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Elbow Coulee CD Release Party. 21+. 9 pm.

Beyond the Bridge Cafe Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. The Phoenix Show, featuring The Black Sails. All Ages. 8 pm. $15.

Big Wheel Steakhouse and Lounge Tacoma - Parkland. BND. 21+. 9 pm.

Beyond the Bridge Cafe Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. The Phoenix Show, featuring The Black Sails. All Ages. 8 pm. $15.

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. 41 Miles. 21+. 8 pm.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. SweetKiss Momma. 21+. 9:30 pm. NC.

FuSE @ Point Defiance Cafe & Casino Ruston. Tatoosh. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Hands Of Toil, Blanco Bronco, Tallest Tree, They Rise We Die. 21+. 9 pm. NC.

• It's appropriate that the name of Seattle post-rock five-piece They Rise, We Die is meant to have tidal connotations (when I profiled them in the Volcano's pages back in July, they corrected my assumption that the name might have something to do with zombies). After all, post-rock is all about lapping, surging and crashing waves of sound - the nodding back-and-forth of crescendo and diminuendo. It's a type of playing (made famous by formative inspirations like Mogwai and Talk Talk) that They Rise, We Die have already mastered in their 10 months playing together. If you want an inside scoop, dig this: They Rise, We Die's secret weapon (apart from the combined might of three guitars) is the Red Threat distortion pedal, manufactured by founding member Tristan McNabb's Smart People Effects Company. And did I mention this show is free? - Jason Baxter

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. Kim Archer Band. 21+. 9 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Artifack Art & Hip Hop Show, with Mad Rad, Champagne Champagne, City Hall, DJ Hannibal, featured artists Jeremy Gregory, James Tucker, Liana Blair. 21+. 8 pm. $5-$8.

• It's been a tumultuous year and a half for Seattle party-rap provocateurs Mad Rad. The hard-living quartet recently came out the other end of a much-publicized career rehab (masterminded by former über-manager Kerri Harrop) that saw them distance themselves from scandalous headlines, and, with impressive velocity, rise from being blacklisted at seven Seattle venues to playing the mainstage at the packed-to-bursting 2010 Capitol Hill Block Party. Talking about Mad Rad at this point is a little like talking about Robert Downey Jr. (I'm thinking of Matthew Klam's probing 2008 GQ profile of the durable actor) - any discussion of their current success needs to be contextualized against their past struggles and indiscretions. (It remains to be seen if the release of Mad Rad's sophomore effort, The Youth Die Young, helps turn these Teflon troublemakers into Iron Men). Click here for the short version. – JB
  

Little Creek Casino Shelton. Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies. 21+. 9 pm. NC.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Abi Grace. All Ages. 6 pm. NC. Brian Ellefson. All Ages. 8:30 pm. NC.

O'Callahan's Pub & Grill Key Peninsula. Tim Hall Band. 21+. 8 pm. NC.

Rocket Records Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Purdy Spit, Los Guy (now Foxhole Whores). All ages. 3 pm. NC.

SAX Restaurant and Lounge Tacoma - Sixth Ave. Voxxy Vallejo, Angela Jossy. 8 pm. $5.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Trace. 21+. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Harmonious Funk. 21+. 9 pm. $5.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Ramsey, Collins & Nicholsen. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

AWESOME VIBE >>>

Organized by Jada Moon Gridley, Tacoma's indie craft show Gritty City Gift Fair is a rarity of the holiday season. Of a manageable size and offering local handmades and gifts - faux taxidermy, buttons, paintings, handmade soaps, reclaimed wood, ceramics, clothing, glass jewelry, metal works, folk art, imports and more, all chosen thoughtfully accompanied with music and cocktails on three floors inside the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative. There's even a live webcam here.

Day two of the Gritty City Gift Fair opens today at 1 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. The Weekly Volcano dropped in on the event yesterday to snap a few photos.

Jada Moon Gridley

Manticore Stencil Art

Manticore Stencil Art

Laura Pintos hand-painted glass jewelry

Laura Pintos hand-painted glass jewelry

Uncommon Wear

Uncommon Wear

Kristina Vanous fine artist and fantasy illustrator

Street artist Kenji Fullmer

Western Neon and Sasha Tepper-Stewart glass art

Western Neon

Deviant Decor

Deviant Decor

Rochelle Wells/Lithium Love Buttons

DJ Lulu Spice and guitarist Bub Pratt

These are only a few of the artists and crafters participating in the Gritty City Gift Fair. Even if you're not in the mood to shop, drop by for the music, cocktails and cool vibe.

[Speakeasy Arts Cooperative, Saturday, Nov. 27, 1-8 p.m., no cover, 746 Broadway or 745 St. Helens, Tacoma]

DOH!, A DEER! >>>

When you know the notes to sing
You can sing most anything."

- Rodgers & Hammerstein, "Do Re Mi"

The Weekly Volcano grabbed the last two seats for this afternoon's "Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music inside the Pantages. "Sister Benjii Bittle is in the house! I've been waiting for ever to say that," announced Deputy Director Benjii Bittle as he welcome a packed house to the holiday event, which included nuns in the front row.

See everyone at the tree lighting in front of the Pantages at 6 p.m.

SUNDAY, NOV. 28, 2010 >>>

1. Once you get over the falling on your ass part, snowboarding can be really awesome. Or, at the very least, it can provide a good excuse to, well, fall on your ass. But we digress. At 6 p.m., the 3rd Annual Gnar Ball goes down at the Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe in the quintessentially Tacoma McKinley neighborhood. Expect lots of snowboarding flicks (snow porn), lots of swag, lots of giveaways and, best of all, music from Mike of Neutralboy. If you like tying one on, but like tying one on even more in a stocking hat with earflaps, the 3rd Annual Gnar Ball at Top of Tacoma may just be gnarly enough for you.

2. You might think eight middle-aged women wearing bonnets milking cows, a thirty-foot-tall kangaroo, The Nutcracker on wheels, his and hers chocolate mummies wearing Santa hats, 10 leotarded dudes literally jumping around screaming "Wheeeeee!" every time their feet leave the ground and many more odd and wonderful participates converging on the downtown streets of Olympia would result in an orgy of debauchery not fit for print. But you might just have a twisted mind. It's actually Olympia's Downtown for the Holidays' parade, which begins at 3 p.m. on Capitol Way starting near the Olympia Farmers Market and ending at Sylvester State Park. The parade is only a slice of the Olympia holiday glee as there's also Holiday CraftXnw market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., gingerbread cottages competition, Olympia Highlanders Pipes and Drums, choirs, Santa, and the tree light at 4:30 p.m.

3. You're sick and tired of driving through the neighborhood looking at the homes of people who think they deserve an award for their light displays. You deserve to take a night to go see ZooLights, which is lit from 5-9 p.m. tonight. Billed as the region's biggest walk-through light show, ZooLights at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium includes animated light sculptures, live entertainment, snacks, animal encounters, and the Paul Titus Carousel. While enjoying your stroll, be thankful you're not in charge of this holiday light display.

4. Ever dream of a local bar to call your home away from home? One with a  warm, cozy interior, friendly bartenders and an open spot at the counter just for you? Well, if any bar in Olympia is the place where everybody knows your name, it just might be McCoy's Tavern. Hell, if you go there long enough - and we're talking everyday for 25+ years - they'll even attach a plaque of your name to the bar. On Sundays they offer $1 pints and free pool.

5. DJs spin deep house beginning at 9 p.m. inside the Gruv Lounge and Nightclub on Sixth Avenue.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

MONDAY, NOV. 29 >>>

1. Marcus Walker, a well-known member of the community and the managing artistic director at Lakewood Playhouse, was recently diagnosed with cancer - more specifically malignant metastatic melanoma, which he describes in a letter to friends and Lakewood Playhouse patrons as a "very virulent form" of cancer. Tonight, banking on the fact that laughter is the best medicine, a benefit roast of Walker will be held at Urban Grace Church in Tacoma. All proceeds will go to Lakewood Playhouse to help in this time of need.

2. The power of social media can be leveraged by artists. Today a workshop discussing this fact will be held at Tacoma Art Place. Grow your fan base. Grow your business. Increase your exposure. The free workshop will cover it all. Hopefully you RSVP'd.

3. The Mix hosts Barstool Bingo with prizes beginning at 9 p.m. Get your butt down there.

4. Dance party, yo! Tonight at the New Frontier Lounge with DJ Tanner & DJ Dark Skars. Starts at 9 p.m. Be there or be square.

5. Community and West African drumming and dance go together like, well ... we don't know yet. Tonight we'll get a chance to find out. What we do know for sure is when there's a community oriented, all-are-welcome West African drumming and dance event at the Loft on Cherry in Olympia it's probably a pretty good way to spend your Monday evening. Lucky for us, all skill levels are welcome. Runs 7:30-9 p.m.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Typically, Owen Bates' "Petty Questions" column runs on Saturdays. Sadly, most of the Volcano's staff was still in a food coma last Saturday, delaying this post. We apologize for that. We're nothing if not gluttons for gravy.

Hello, loyal readers! Thank you so much for tuning in again. I really couldn't do this column without you guys! You really let me down this week.

Nobody's been sending in questions---and I can't run an advice column without questions. Please send me stuff! The address is: askpettyquestions@gmail.com.

In lieu of a regular column, here are a few questions I made up. Maybe they can jump-start your mind on potential letters, get some juices pumping. Quick heads up: at this rate I will probably answer all these fake questions in a couple of weeks. You have nobody to blame but myself. That's a joke -- you really have no one to blame but yourself!

I cannot thank you enough for reading this column, please keep reading. I don't want to lose you.

Alright -- questions, lightening round!

How come specialist doctors have extremely long waiting lists? You call your GP, you get in the next day. But then they refer you to a gastroenterologist. Fine, expert opinion, great. Call the guy's office, though, and they don't have any availability for two months? I know for a fact that they take the same fifteen minutes as a regular doctor exam, and that guy sees twice as many people as the stomach doctor. Do they think they're entitled to special lunches at a grand hotel? Do they watch Hulu between every exam? What gives?

---So Tired Of Many Abysmally-Clocked Hours

Read more...

WHAT WE CHEWED ON THIS PAST WEEK >>>

Flying Food: Mizu in Gig Harbor is part presentation, part atmosphere and part taste by Jason and Jake de Paul

Pass The Gravy: Japanese curry, love it or leave it by Ken Swarner

Feedbag: Nibblets of information on all things food and drink in the South Sound

Sipping Out: Wine and beer dinners, tastings and events in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

SURFS UP, TACOMA >>>

For the uninitiated, guitarist Dick Dale initially rose to fame during the high tide of the ‘60s surfing craze. While some peg "surf music" as synonymous with the sunny pop sounds of The Beach Boys, for many, it's Dale's turbulent, violently-fast guitar sound-coupled with the reverb effects developed by Fender Instruments and trial-tested by Dale-that truly defines the subgenre. On early recordings like 1961's "Shake ‘n' Stomp," Dale debuted what would come to be known as his signature style: insistent, relentless sixteenth-note picking meant to evoke, as he puts it, "the sound of waves chopping."

On Thursday, Dec. 9, Dick Dale returns to Tacoma and Hell's Kitchen - a show set to be opened by the Fucking Eagles.

This wont Dale's first time in Tacoma. Or his second. Or, probably, his last time - at least at this pace.

Here's a little something to get you excited.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS LIKES TACOMA >>>

The National Endowment for the Arts has come clean with $10,000 for the Tacoma's Arts Commission's über awesome Art at Work program. Securing the money on its first effort (nice!), the Commission will have a bit more cash to make next year's Art at Work – its 10^th anniversary of the month-long arts extravaganza – more awesome. Here's the press release:

Read more...

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THIS WILL BE A TREAT >>>

I met Steve Poltz at an American Music label party at SXSW in 1994. A couple months before I flew down to Austin, his folk rock band, The Rugburns, released their debut album, Morning Wood, and I had been playing the shit out of it. Guitarist Poltz and his band mate, guitarist Robert Driscoll, performed acoustic melodies spiked with ridiculous lyrics. The most popular song off the album, "Me and Eddie Vedder," was a grating contemplation on the glorious possibilities of overdosing in a hotel room alongside Eddie Vedder.

As I chatted with Poltz during the party, a young woman with an amazing voice performed for the crowd. Halfway through her first song, she had the balls to tell the music executives, media and partygoers in the room to show some respect and, basically, shut the hell up.

"That's my girlfriend," Poltz said, pointing to the blonde on stage.

The blonde was Jewel. Later on, she would yodel for the crowd.

A couple years later I saw him in Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me" music video (a song he co-wrote). He was the skinny guy teenage girls everywhere stared dreamily at.

After The Rugburns faded, Poltz released several well-received albums and started his own record label. His songs are popular for their clever and often moving lyrics, and his way with an acoustic guitar is impressive.

Stoltz will perform Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Morso wine bar in Gig Harbor. I highly recommend this show.

UPDATE: Michael ONeill, the man who is bring Poltz to Gig Harbor, will interview the singer-songwriter tonight on his KGHP 89.9FM radio show at 7 p.m. Listen to the stream here.

Steve Poltz

Thursday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m., $20
Morso wine bar, 9014 Peacock Hill Ave., Gig Habor
253.530.3463