LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. SweetKiss Momma, Astrovan. 9 pm.

Backstage Bar & Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Soul Stripper AC/Dc tribute band. 9 pm.

Cicada Restaurant Olympia. The Joe Baque Trio. All Ages. 8 pm.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Colonies, Where Sails Meet Rails. 9 pm. NC.

Eagle's Hall Olympia - Downtown. Earthquake-Tsunami Disaster Benefit, featuring Sour Owl, The Brown Edition, The Buddha Magoo, Collective Love Unlimited. All Ages. 9 pm.

Emerald Queen Casino Tacoma - Eastside. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. 8:30 pm. $35-$65.

FuSE Cafe Imbibery @ Pt Defiance Cafe & Casino Ruston. The Tim Hall Band. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. Halcion Halo. 8 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Blistered Earth, Mom's Rocket, Powerhitter, Martyr Machine. 9 pm. $5.

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. The Hard Way, Fight For Change, Unnatural Balance. 9 pm. N/A.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Northwest Sons, The B-Foundation, Island Bound, Katastro. 8 pm. $10-$12.

LakeBridge Forza Lakewood. The Rikk Beatty Band. All Ages. 7 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. James Hunnicutt. All Ages. 8 pm.

Lucky Eagle Casino Rochester. Jonathan Harris. 9 pm. NC.

McCoy's Tavern Olympia. Second Skin, Greenwich Mean Time, Warning Track. 9 pm. $3.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Bodybox, Dave Hannon Band. 9:30 pm.

• Believe it or not, Bobble Tiki even shares a few things in common with Tacoma band Bodybox, who will perform at The New Frontier Lounge Saturday. What does Bobble Tiki have in common with Bodybox, you may ask? Let's start with the things Bodybox and Bobble Tiki DON'T have in common. For starters, and most obvious, Bodybox is a three-piece rock band from T-Town made up of singer and guitarist Kurt Lindsay, drummer Belal Anwar and bassist Kevin De Flitch. As you well know, Bobble Tiki is simply an island-themed souvenir with a drinking problem and a job in journalism he probably doesn't deserve. Secondly, Bodybox obviously has motivation and drive: a band for only a year and a half, in January Bodybox celebrated the release a full length CD - 11 whole songs! Bobble Tiki probably hasn't written 11 decent sentences in the last decade, and he sure as hell hasn't been too concerned with sharpening his craft. Hell, not when The Biggest Loser is on! - Bobble Tiki

O'Malley's Irish Pub Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Sofistacats, Bomb Factory. 9 pm.

Pantages Theater Tacoma - Downtown. Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $26-$49.

Pastiche Wine Bar Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Tracie Marsh Group. 7 pm.

The Space Tacoma Downtown (729 Court C). Rockwell Powers, City Hall, State Of The Artist, Night Fox. 8 pm. $8-$10.

• The common wisdom is that sequels inevitably disappoint. For every The Dark Knight, there are a half-dozen Iron Man IIs, and the maxim tends to carry over to other mediums, as well - Guy's "Teddy's Jam 2" couldn't match the New Jack punch and sizzle of the original eponymous Teddy Riley banger. With this in mind, you might expect the freshly dropped Kids in the Back II to weaken the brand established by Tacoma-by-way-of-Anchorage rapper Rockwell Powers and his producer, Ill Pill, on last year's Kids in the Back. Haters will be disappointed to hear that KITBII is another slick, solid outing from Rockwell (real name Zach) who - full disclosure - is a regular Volcano contributor, these days focusing mainly on Tacoma City Council action and local political dealings. - Jason Baxter

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. The Shy Boys. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Steve Cooley & The Dangerfields. 9 pm.

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

IT'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME >>>

I grew up with Cheney Stadium: as a childhood Oakland A's fan - my family was from the bay area - trying to catch foul balls off the bats of Tacoma Tigers, to the last few years of tailgating with my heckle-happy co-workers. I've been to a few M's games at Safeco, but it's always felt like a foreign place, for someone else's teams. Cheney is my baseball home.

So it's interesting to see that, for all the shiny newness that bombards fans as they enter the overhauled stadium, once you're in the seats watching the game, very little has changed. Foss High School still looms in the background. All the players are still close enough to hear your cheers (or otherwise). Upper tier fans still make their way down to the front as less-dedicated season ticket holders flee the rain. If we could have seen the sun at any point it would no doubt have thoroughly blinded everyone on the first base line.

The biggest changes seem to be in the moneymaking department. Turn toward home plate and it's tough to miss the grand wall of suites. Wander through concessions - and there are now concessions literally every way you turn in the concourse - with an ever-widening array of options with an ever-climbing host of prices. After all, if you can charge $3.50 for a bag of peanuts, how much do you think you can charge for four half-pound burger patties and eight strips of bacon on a whole ciabatta loaf? (Hint: a lot)

No doubt there are a host of structural improvements to ensure that the stadium won't fall apart for another 50 years. And many people will appreciate the updated bathrooms - not epic masterpieces of toiletry beauty by any means, but it's nice not to be pissing in a trough.

The best part of what's changed is what's stayed the same. Same game, same fans, same Tacoma baseball.

The Tacoma Rainiers lost their home opener to the Sacramento River Cats, 6-5.

P.S. I must also give personal props to the location of the moderately giant bike rack. As the friendly parking attendant told me, "Right up front." With the Scott Pierson Trail skirting the border of the lot, cycling baseball fans are a good demographic to account for. When it's dry enough for people less crazy than me.

LINK: Home opener loss stats

SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2011 >>>

1. There aren't enough places in the world where you can watch Tacoma stalwart sweet pea Flaherty drive a steamroller over stuff while simultaneously creating the art of letterpress. The annual Wayzgoose event at King's Books just happens to be one of them. Already in its seventh year (holy crap!), there's a reason Wayzgoose is on the lips of every artful Tacoman this time of year ... and, frankly, it has a lot to do with sweet pea driving a steamroller. Of course, the collection of letterpressers and book artists Wayzgoose brings together doesn't hurt. Check out who will be there here from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2. Can you believe The Grand Cinema celebrates its 14th birthday with a day full of awesome movies and prizes? It's true. The Grand is well on its way to adulthood, no doubt growing hair in new places and grappling with hormonal changes like the rest of us at that age. All we're saying is if The Grand starts spending long periods of time in its room and seems detached, it doesn't necessarily mean drugs. Maybe it just stumbled upon the scrambled Spice channel.

3. Back from his European tour with the Sultans of Slide, Henry Cooper and band will slide into Tacoma for a Blues Vespers performance at 5 p.m. inside the Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Cooper, who began his career touring with Screaming Jay Hawkins and as guitarist for the Duffy Bishop Band, has been a solo blues artist for the better part of two decades. One of the nations premier slide guitarist, Oregon-based Coopers' visit to Tacoma is a rare opportunity to hear one of the best.

4. The Weekly Volcano recognizes the need to keep ourselves young by occasionally going out and assaulting our livers and the sensibilities of other Tacomans - and that's exactly what we do during Doyle's monthly St. Practice Day parties. Doyle's is a great pub on any given day, but every 17th of the month when it "practices" for St. Paddy's Day it's even better ... especially for drunken fake Irishmen like us. Today's St. Practice Party is extra special as Doyle's celebrates its fifth anniversary, too. Ockham's Razor trio will perform more of an intimate set beginning at 7 p.m. And there will be raffles all day and night.

5. Want a little beach-party madness without Charles Atlas kicking sand in your eyeballs and giving you a wedgie? Dave Calhoun performs tropical rock Jimmy Buffett-style from 5-8 p.m. at Johnny's Dock. Calhoun is sporting a slew on brand new songs, too. Wear your purdiest Hawaiian shirt, won't you?

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

CITY WANTS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE >>>

Tuesday, April 19, three days before Earth Day, the Tacoma City Council will introduce two new sustainability policies, one regarding the city's internal purchasing standards and the other relating to its construction and building maintenance standards. Both policies are designed to ensure that Tacoma leads by example as it encourages businesses and citizens to act more sustainably.

To read the full article by Zach Powers click here.

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2011 >>>

1. Fast Eddie Felson from the 1961 classic The Hustler wasn't good with booze, money or women. But he could sure shoot a mean game of pool, and that made all the difference. Malarkey‘s Pool & Brew offers Man Day Mondays with half-priced burgers, 25 percent off drinks and free pool on the 9-foot tables. Half-priced burgers and free pool? Fast Eddie would be proud.

2. Dockside Bistro and Wine Bar in Olympia - in conjunction with Walter Dacon Wines and McCrea Cellars/Vina Salida - will be hosting a five-course benefit dinner and silent auction in support of Mercy Corps (a 501 (c) 3 charity) and Japanese relief at 6:30 p.m.

3. The Tacoma Cult Movie Club meets for a night of sequels, shorts, trailers and kickass popcorn at 7 p.m. inside the Acme Grub Cage.

4. Momenti Rubati performs eloquent Latin jazz at 7 p.m. inside The Royal Lounge.

5. Magoo's Annex hosts Micro Mondays with DJ Melodica spinning punk, post punk, New Wave, early electronica, garage and more beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

ALEC CLAYTON REVIEWS THE VISUAL ARTS >>>

I hate it when people say "I don't know much about art, but I know what I like." Invariably that statement is followed by some really stupid put-down of art the speaker hasn't even attempted to understand.

But when trying to evaluate Native American art, I find myself at least tempted to fall back on that tired old excuse. They taught us absolutely nothing about Native art in my six years of college and graduate art studies, and I don't think aesthetics as we understand it even applies.

The Native American Heritage Art Exhibit opened this week at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Gallery at South Puget Sound Community College. I enjoyed visiting the show.

To read Alec Clayton's full review of The Native American Heritage Art Exhibit, click here.

[South Puget Sound Community College - Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Gallery, The Native American Heritage Art Exhibit , through April 28, Tuesday-Thursday, noon - 5 p.m., and by appointment, 2011 Mottman Road SW., Olympia, 360.596.5527 or e-mail artgallery@spscc.ctc.edu.]

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES >>>

As you know if you read my review of what I called Cannibal! the Rehearsal, it's a tragically bad idea to invite your critics eight days early when you're still putting in lights and sound equipment, your costumes aren't finished, and you still have cast members you're not going to use. I regret nothing I said about that "performance," as it was true at the time. It isn't now. I felt so bad about what happened that I took the liberty of seeing the finished show at its final dress performance. Boy howdy, what a difference a week can make.

The kids who roamed the stage like it was Basement of the Damned? Gone. A battle-weary cast wearily wearying about random tech glitches? Unwearied. That indeterminate character in a green tunic? Determinate. In a word, the show is fun now. It feels like the theatrical version of the kind of randomly rad punk show you might stumble into in the Voyeur or the Midnight Sun. Oh, sure, a fair number of jokes are still mere references to pop culture; granted, at least three of the singers still couldn't find a key with Google Maps. But the show moves so fast now that it's already moved on to something else before you can ruminate on the aural assault.

Dave Beacham and Christian Doyle are just as good now as they were last week, and Christine Pearch-Goode is even better as Liane. Dennis Worrell and Silva Goetz added final nuances to their work as a 'roid-raging trapper and a Denver Post reporter, respectively. Tom Sanders snarls through his darkly amusing turn as the audience surrogate, and Tim Goebel draws laughs from thin jokes as a button-down narrator. Doyle's fight choreography moves swiftly but often threatens to inflict collateral damage on patrons in the front row.

Theater Artists Olympia (TAO) has long had a bipolarity problem. It wants to do edgy but professional theater, but it also wants to embrace musical camp. I think this nearly-finished version of Cannibal! the Musical finds the razor-thin DMZ between those objectives about as well as it possibly can, given the company's limited resources. Olympia's rock-'n'-roll history lends itself to punk theater, and the Eagles Hall basement might be exactly the grungy, subterranean space an underground theater company can enliven. I just hope going forward that TAO's process can be rather less tumultuous; it's exhausting for its members and a crapshoot for the final product. But this time, against seemingly insurmountable odds, Cannibal! the Musical is poised for success.

LIFE IN THE 253 >>>

Community Events

There are few things the City of Tacoma enjoys more than commemorative celebrations. A new school, a second grand opening to a museum, or maybe even a new tree in Wright Park: if an argument can be made something makes the city a better place common practice is to make sure it receives a ceremony of some kind.

So true to form, a groundbreaking ceremony is being held Tuesday at 9 a.m. to commemorate the next phase of work on the Murray Morgan Bridge.

You read that right. We're not celebrating the bridge's actual reopening... only a new step of its rehabilitation.

BUT jokes aside, it should be a great opportunity to hear city officials speak on the bridge and the bright future of downtown Tacoma.

According to Mayor Strickland's January "State of the City" address, Tacoma will soon have the most community garden space per capita in the country (take that, Portland, Bellingham and Berkley!).

That's undeniably cool, but I'd wager I'm not the only person in town without a clue as to how to get involved in a community garden. I'd also wager I'm not the only person to lack basic gardening skills.

Next Saturday, Tacoma-Pierce County Community Garden Project and Cascade Land Conservatory are sponsoring the second annual Community Garden Summit. The free event will provide insight into how to grow food and how to get involved with a community garden. It's happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at the Manitou Community Center (4806 S. 66th St., Tacoma). Children are welcome.

City Policy

This Tuesday the City Council will introduce two new sustainable policies, both designed to make sure the City of Tacoma leads by example as it encourages business and residents to live more sustainably. One policy will mandate City of Tacoma departments purchase more sustainable goods (light bulbs, paper, vehicles, etc). The other will make sure all new buildings, as well as the refurbishment of existing buildings, meet LEED or comparable standards. The full story is part the Volcano's special Green Issue this week.

Local Elections

Karen Smitherman, a Tacoma Public Schools teacher, officially announced her run for Tacoma City Council, Position 1 last week.

"I want to create an environment that listens to our constituents, increases local jobs, improves public safety, promotes transparency in government, improves transportation mobility, and creates effective policies that protect our environment," Smitherman said in press release issued by her campaign Friday.

In addition to professional experience teaching and directing educational programs, Smitherman has an impressive resume of community involvement, highlighted by her current work on the boards of the Tacoma Urban Network and Pierce County Juvenile Justice Coalition. The wife of former State Senator Bill Smitherman also has worked as a board member of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.

Tacoma City Council Position 1 is being vacated by Spiro Manthou who has served two terms - the maximum. Two other candidates have also filled for this seat, Joseph Atkinson, a real estate agent and legislative aide toState Rep. Katrina Asay (R), and Anders Ibsen, supervisor and vice-chair of Pierce Conservation District and also a legislative aide to State Rep. Cindy Ryu (D).

Expect more on this race in the coming months, as the battle for Position 1 may be the only Tacoma City Council seat of the three on the ballot this fall to be closely contested. Incumbents Ryan Mello and David Boe have yet to draw formidable opponents.

STARTING WEDNESDAY >>>

Josh Anderson is playing God.

The director-composer-pianist-actor is featured in the St. Martin's University production of the 15th-century morality tale, Everyman.

"I had never played the character of God before, so I thought, ‘Why not?' " Anderson says.

The play travels across the campus following Everyman's pilgrimage to face the angry God (Anderson). It's something of a tradition at St. Martin's, where it's been produced five times in the past 20 years.

God typically has some sort of celebrity status, says director Judy Turner.

"We've looked to someone who is kind of iconic," she says. Hence Anderson, also known as the alter ego of traveling vaudevillian Saul Tannenbaum.

I can't help imagining Tannenbaum delivering a musical number a la Mel Brooks's "History of the World: Part I."

But Anderson is approaching the part - and the interview - seriously.

"It's tough to talk about playing the role without delving into those questions that are best left to theologians," he says.

Though the play's characters - including Beauty, Strength and Death - are larger-than-life symbols, God is rather human, more disappointed dad than deity.

"There's no way to play omnipresence or omniscience on stage," Anderson says. "If we knew how to do that, there wouldn't be a bunch of people talking about finding enlightenment."

But that's not to say the play won't have lighter moments.

"We take Everyman's journey toward death seriously, but we're definitely finding the moments of humor," Turner says.

And there just is something funny about Anderson - or perhaps anyone at all - playing God.

"When I did the first rehearsal, I just got up there and did the monologue, and I was very serious, and people were laughing," Anderson says. "There might be some inherent comedy there that I am not entirely conscious of.

"That's probably a good thing, because you don't want to play it for laughs."

Everyman

April 20-23, April 27-30, 6:45 p.m.; $5
St. Martin's University, 5300 Pacific Ave. S.E., Lacey
Beginning in front of O'Grady Library
www.stmartin.edu or www.brownpapertickets.com

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Grasshopper in response to the Weekly Volcano's Green Issue, which hit streets last Thursday.

Grasshopper writes,

I love this "Green" issue of the volcano. This is a subject I read about all the time. Everyone talks about solar, wind, biomass, etc., but I rarely hear people talking about geothermal energy. Geothermal power is sustainable and supremely environment-friendly ??" "green" resources which are free from the atmospheric emissions of fossil fuels and the potential hazards of radioactive power sources. Check out the youtube video about Iceland's Geothermal plant. Write to your Senators, Representative, Governors, President about it. Thanks