WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 2011 >>>

1. According to hype, "Marilyn Freeman is an interdisciplinary, process- and time-based artist living in Olympia, Washington. Her work is characterized by themes of identity, tolerance, faith and alienation." Currently, she's a visiting artist at the Evergreen State College. Today, join Freeman as part of the Evergreen Artist Lecture Series from 12:15 - 1:30 p.m. in Lecture Hall 1.

2. Perhaps art isn't the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about South Tacoma Way's Stonegate Pizza, but tonight it should be. From 1-10 p.m. artists like Amanda Watson, Anthony McArthur and Melissa Prior will be in the house to show their wears and generally make nice. The event is free, appetizers and wine will be served, and there's even a raffle.

3. For a classy good time, join Kareem Kandi at Pour at Four wine bar in Tacoma tonight. Here are our complete music listings for the day.

4. Have you been to Kamel Toe Bar and Grill in Parkland yet? Have you gotten any of it on you? Tonight just may be your night - as jam night brings members of Kashmire, Soul Stripper and others to the stage.

5. The fourth Wednesday of the month means it's time again for the CLAW open Swim Public Meeting & Drawing Session tonight at Amocat Café in Tacoma, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.. This is your chance to peak into Tacoma's most fantastic secret society. Bring your own drawing supplies, and a fez if you have one.

THE WAL-MART OF ANTIQUE STORES >>>

Only about 0.001 percent of the population would actually go looking for the kinds of things you will find in Tricky's Pop Culture Emporium in Tacoma. Nevertheless, I insist everyone on the planet must visit, even if only to see with your own eyes that such a place exists. I'm not usually one to sing the praises of Americana, but it is pretty cool that you can sell a candle shaped like Jesus next to a Star Wars action figure without governmental retribution. 

Tricky's isn't your average collector's shop, antique store or thrift outlet - it's an emporium in the truest sense. Although most of the references go over my head (because (a) I am pop culturally challenged, and (b) I didn't grow up in the '70s), the store has a timeless quality everyone with a sense of humor will enjoy. Eugene Kirk, owner and mastermind of Tricky's and current champion of my personal 2011 Raddest Person Award, hand picks everything he sells. He says he's, "pretty damn cheap," which is why he calls his store "the Wal-Mart of antique stores."

Kirk looks exactly how you would picture a man who sells comic books and Pez paraphernalia would look: tall, dark and handsome with a full head of completely natural hair. Or at least that's how he made me promise to describe him. I knew from the minute I asked how to spell his name that we would get along.

Me: "Is that Kirk, K-I-R-K?"

Kirk: "Yep, as in captain."

Me (silently to myself): "Oh yes, I'm going to have fun writing this article..."

I may have already convinced you Tricky's is the coolest place ever, but you haven't even heard the best part yet! The best part is (drum roll please): Every single thing Kirk sells is completely and utterly useless. He even said so himself! His exact words were, "Nothing I sell will make you smarter, richer or will solve a problem."

I know what you're thinking, why would I want something useless?

But really, why wouldn't you?

In a world full of useful things, devices to save you time, money and energy (even devices to make your hot chocolate), what people really want are things that have no purpose. Why else is the Snuggie so popular? Why else is it that the coolest thing people do on their iPhones is throw angry birds? 

Visiting Tricky's taught me an important lesson: Just because something's pointless, doesn't mean you can't sell it, or that people don't want it. That's what I learned from Eugene Kirk today. Oh, and stay away from Hot Wheels collectors. Those people are nuts.   

GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT >>>

Often, when a business closes it's viewed as a negative situation. On the other hand, the closing of Water to Wine, a favorite wine shop in Gig Harbor at the corner of Peacock and North Harborview Drive, may just be one of positive change and future promise. It may mean better things are to come. In existence for about 11 years, Water to Wine has held the Peacock Hill location since 2005. 

The shop offered regular tastings - the Friday wine tasting were a favorite of patrons. Attentive staff could answer almost any question regarding selections of affordable global wines and those made in wineries right in our backyard, and did so in a manner that was not condescending. So why close the wine shop?

In an e-mailed announcement of the impending closure sent to the Weekly Volcano, shop owners expressed that "if there was a way to make Water to Wine in our current space we would." Changes in how wine, beer and liquor are regulated in Washington state may have contributed to the decision.

On a bright note, the owners go on to say that there's a good chance of "exciting things around the corner," possibly hinting at a new store location in the near future.

A list of inventory up for grabs is in PDF format on the Water to Wine website. The shop will open at 9 a.m. daily through the end of the month, but hurry - the doors will close for good on Jan. 31.

[Water to Wine, 9014 Peacock Hill Ave. # 103A, Gig Harbor, 253.853.9463]

LINK: Wine tastings today

CITY HALL KNOWS HOW TO PROMOTE >>>

It seems like just yesterday that we were posting the newly-released Todd Sykes video for "While You Were Sleeping." (Technically, it was actually Monday.)

Today, in our inbox but not to our surprise, EvergreenOne and Todd Sykes were back at it - pushing the new EvergreenOne video for "La La La La."

Because it's what we do, we've posted the video below.

After the break is the official press release from EvergreenOne, Todd Sykes and DJ Hanibal (better known as City Hall) regarding the video's release.

Also, if you want to be like City Hall, don't hesitate to send us a link to your video or song when it drops. We're equally opportunity here at the Volcano, though if it sucks we reserve the right to clown on it heavily.

Read more...

HUMPDAY HILARITY>>>

I'm good at a couple of things: making mix tapes, making it to the gym despite a massive hangover (I sweat whiskey droplets on the eliptical and sop them up with a towel, which I wring into my mouth post workout), and finding stupid videos to help you laugh through the drudgery of the cubicle condition.

Here is another of my favorites from the archives (a product of hours, days, months wasted on Youtube). This one is from the genius comedy troupe, Human Giant.

Boom. Here it is.

AN UPDATE FROM P-TOWN'S FAVORITE SONS >>>

It's well established I have something of a "relationship" with the band SweetKiss Momma. It's a surprising one, in some regards. I don't have much Skynyrd in me, and Coors sometimes gives me heartburn. Still, I feel a connection to this hard working gang of throwbacks - a connection that probably stems from our humble Puyallup roots.

The band's singer, Jeff Hamel, keeps me fairly well up-to-date on SweetKiss Momma's progress. Earlier this week he emailed some exciting news for the band.

Hamel tells me the band was recently selected by The Hard Rock Café to be "one of the 15 bands representing the Seattle area for their 2011 ‘Ambassadors Of Rock" International Battle of the Bands."

Definitely pretty cool.

Also, Hamel tells me SweetKiss Momma's record, Revival Rock, has just been accepted for inclusion on Pandora. Though there's no SweetKiss Momma channel yet, Hamel jokingly points out these things take time.

SweetKiss Momma next plays Feb. 5 at Jazzbones.

And, now, a video to reward you for all that reading ...

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, CHARLES GRODIN? >>>

Even though he's left Tacoma for Utah, actor (bartender/former Shoboat owner/all around good guy) Joe Rosati still has a presence in T-Town, which is just one of the reasons the trailer for his newest film, A Perfect Life, caught our eye.

The trailer was sent to us by China Davis' Ben Fuller, whose music is also featured in the film.

Take a gander ...

TODAY IN ONLINE TALK >>>

Today's comment comes from Allisha Aduddell in regard to the most recent "Person, Place or Thing with Steph DeRosa" - this week highlighting Dorky's Bar Arcade.

Aduddell writes,

A place where we call all be our own Dorks!!! I am a Dork at heart and truly love the atmosphere here. Every time is a good time to be a Dork! And PS -the Dorks of this world are much more interesting!!! My Vote is for PINBALL!!!

THURSDAY, JAN. 27, 2011 >>>

1. You know what sounds awesome? The Air Guitar Championships tonight at Hell's Kitchen, that's what. There's no cover to get in - but it does take $10 to sign up to shred (or shred pretend). Even better - pre-event hype indicates free corndogs.

2. It's 360 College Nite with DJ Phase at the Vault Nightclub in Olympia. They keep it 18 and older, with Thurston and Lewis County - along with college IDs - accepted. The cover kicks in after 9 p.m.

3. Why would we include Derty Thursdays with DJs Derty Harry and Omar at Gruv Lounge? Could it have something to do with a simple desire to type the phrase "Derty Thursdays" as much as possible? You be the judge. Things get Derty at Gruv starting at 9 p.m.

4.  The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (it's a play, numbskull) opens at Capital Playhouse tonight. With music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin, the Tony award winning work seems like it will probably be a good start to 2011 for Capital Playhouse.

5. Sick and tired of training by yourself? We're talking bicycling here, not World of Warcraft. Tonight at Tacoma Bike join the free "Trainer Night" - a chance for you to grab your trainer bike out of the garage and bring it on down to Tacoma Bike to peddle furiously with a bunch of other folks sick and tired of peddling their trainer alone. It runs from 6 - 8 p.m., and apparently there'll also be new products to test and giveaway.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

TODAY IN MISHAPS >>>

Let it be known that the Apache Chief record release show for Trail Of Beers at the Peabody Waldorf Gallery in Tacoma is actually on Saturday night ... not Friday, like we originally indicated in our feature on the band this week.

We apologize. We were totally on a "Bongtrek."

Check out the article here, now complete with numerous comments pointing out our initial mistake.