FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2011 >>>

1. In Olympia, the always-fabulous Morgan and the Organ Donors (honored in this year's Best of Olympia Issue) play Le Voyeur tonight.

2. In a vein similar to acts like That Handsome Devil and Reverend Horton Heat, the Big John Bates Grindshow is a celebration and perversion of a variety of genres, including rockabilly, bluegrass and punk, with Big John presiding over the sordid affair in a black top hat. Effort has been made to give the impression of a dark, traveling carnival, and that effort translates to one hell of a sloppy, fun live show. Catch it tonight at Hell's Kitchen. Check here for the Volcano's top-notch calendars of live local music action.

3. Tonight at the Midnight Sun in Olympia, the DNTSTP! crew will bring Olympia the best local hip-hop show of the year. You can count on this one to be packed from front to back the entire night thanks to DNTSTP! and some of Olympia's most exciting and popular hip-hop acts. With Olympia's Never Sleep, Night Fox, Free Whiskey, Messy Club, Q-Storm and Mark Spade all hitting the stage, you've already got enough reason to believe there will be a house-party-style atmosphere and a mosh pit full of hipsters, rowdy college kids and some of Olympia's most beautiful women. Now, what if Seattle's own Mash Hall were thrown into the mix?  Well, you'll have the opportunity to find out because Gatsby, Bruce Illest and the rest of Mash Hall will be making the trip down from the 206 for the night to rock Olympia for the first time in well over a year.

4. Tonight, the powers behind the amazing Peabody Waldorf bring Boy and Bean to the stage with the Warren G. Hardings also lined up. According to the Peabody Waldorf's Facebook page, event organizers expect "bluegrass, folk, swing and some good ol' country," noting that the bill is one close to their hearts. Also, expect special guests not limited to, but likely to include, members of Apricot and the Beginners, Eggplant and the Slumberjack. 

5. On the theatre front, production fanatics have the chance to catch A Flea In Her Ear at Tacoma Little Theater or My Name Is Asher Lev at Lakewood Palyhousse ... among others. Here's a peak at the Volcano's extensive list of local events and arts happenings.