ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Stewie in response to our call to action for voting in the Volcano's 2011 Sexy Issue. Among the categories this year, "Sexiest Drummer" seems sure to be one of the most hotly contested.

Stewie writes,

Vote for Mike Haley as the Sexiest drummer.. He just lost like a whole midget last month in weight!!!

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011 >>>

1. Josie Emmons Turner will be reading her work at her first public poetry reading as Tacoma's new poet laureate during a free event at the bellaballs btudio (747 S. Fawcett Ave., Suite B) tonight at 7 p.m. Emmons Turner will be joined by three former Tacoma poets laureate and special guest poets.

2. Dry Ink will rock the 4th Ave Ale House in Olympia. Or, if that’s not your musical cup of tea, check out the Volcano’s extensive live local music listings for the South Sound here.

3. Eleanor Murray will perform at the Olympia Farmers Market today at 11 a.m. So far the sun is shining. That’s all we’re sayin’…

4. Honestly, is there anything that doesn’t sound awesome about the Beginning Tai Chi and Qigong class at Frontier Park in Graham? It’s every Thursday, from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes, yo.

5. Go here and vote for the sexiest South Sounders you know. It’s all part of the Weekly Volcano’s Sexy Issue 2011.

TASTY ORANGE JUICE >>>

Stadium District diner Hob Nob serves awesome orange juice. It's fresh squeeze through a contraption they call the Clockwork Orange. Kids love it. Not overly loaded with pulp, it's tastes like an orange.

And it's not cold and loaded with ice. When I see ice cubes in orange juice, I have two immediate thoughts: The orange juice will suck because it's watered down, and the restaurant is cheap, trying to extend its product at the expense of the product.

Take a sip.

Hob Nob Restaurant and Sidedoor Lounge

716 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.272.3200

ALAN GORSUCH DISCUSSES ONBE OF HIS EXHIBITS >>>

Of course, I don't actually know the whole story of Bruce, only the final chapter and some of the earlier skirmishes he'd had with worlds far away. Strange worlds such as Vietnam - he was a waist gunner aboard the Chinook choppers and carried with him all the scars that that world had to offer.

The World of UFOs

Bruce's dad worked for the government in the '40s and '50s in "Area 51" outside Roswell, N.M. and inculcated in his son all of the firsthand accounts of "inverted tea saucers" (his dad's words - later morphing, with the help from the media, into "flying saucers.")

The Art World

Although I do know he'd experienced occasional brushes with the oftentimes hard-to-reach, far-off world of art, to my knowledge Bruce was not invited in. Not in the sense that he should have been. If ever there were a guy who lived his art, created art based on his beliefs, while poking fun at those same beliefs, this would be the guy. Space guns and Buck Rogers and aliens and laser lights and 1950s flying machines come to life from old vacuum cleaners, hood ornaments, sprockets, Art Deco lamp parts, Harley handlebars, bells and whistles, timing lights and gauges, Tesla bulbs and Studebaker spinners - all become a collective array of ancient futurism.

Read more...

SEEKING LOVE >>>

Given the amount of mutual admiration between Olympia and the Bay Area's respective rock scenes, it's a little surprising that Christmas and Bare Wires - tourmates on a three-night Pacific Northwest jaunt that includes a stop at Northern on Friday - only just met last month. The Olympia foursome and Oakland trio became acquainted down in Austin, Texas, at the 25th Annual SXSW music conference. Ty Ziskis, co-founder of Seattle label CMRTYZ (who co-released Christmas' phenomenal self-titled full-length), prompted the encounter.

"Ty made some t-shirts for us," Bare Wires founding member Matthew Melton explains.

To read Jason Baxter's full article on Bare Wires click here.

[Northern, Bar Wires with Christmas, The Maxines, Friday, April 29, 8 p.m., All Ages, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia, northernolympia.org]

James Goldman's The Lion In Winter is about nothing so much as legacy. The year is 1183. Henry II, who won the throne by strength of arms, aims to leave behind the one thing his life has lacked: prolonged, lasting peace.

Standing in his way? Pretty much everyone else. Three sons, each vying to be declared heir-not that any is likely to honor declared succession after his death. A Queen, Eleanor, whose primary goal is to thwart Henry in whichever direction he turns. A youthful French King, Philip, who's looking for whatever alliance will regain him the French lands held by Henry's troops.

The mortar of Lakewood Playhouse's production, directed by John Munn, is the barbed dialogue between Joseph Grant's Henry and Syra Beth Puett's Eleanor.

To read Joe Izenman's full review click here.

[Lakewood Playhouse, The Lion of Winter, through May 15, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $17-$23, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood, 253.588.0042]

HE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly sunny, hi 55, lo 40

Saturday: Sunny, chance of rain, hi 57, lo 37

Sunday: Cloudy, hi 65, lo 46

>>> FRIDAY, APRIL 29: Japan In Jeopardy Hip Hop Fundraise

It's not every Friday night that you come across a collection of T-Town and South Sound hip-hop talent like the one you'll find at the Firwood Rock Lounge this weekend. More importantly, it's not every Friday night that you come across such a worthy cause. By now everyone knows about the devastation left behind by the earthquake in Japan, and we should all know it's our duty to help out wherever possible. A hip-hop spectacle featuring performances by area heavyweights like Motamouth Jones, Jay Barz, Island Trybe, Leezy Soprano and others is a great start -- with 100 percent of proceeds from Friday night's show going to the Japan  Red Cross releif efforts.

• Firwood Rock Lounge, with Jay Barz & Motamouth Jones, Island Trybe, P.O. Boxx, Spac3man, Rocky Sandoval, Neema, Rockwell Powers, Leezy Soprano, DJ's Spin-A-Tracc & Damo, 9 p.m., $10, $5 with non-perishable items or clothing, 734 Pacific Ave., Tacoma

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 30: The Celso Duarte Sextet and Laura Rebolloso

Latin and world music fans know damn well about the skills of the Celso Duarte. He's literally been on a stage since childhood, and his harp, requinto and violin skills are tough to match. Saturday night Duarte, with the Celso Duarte Sextet and Laura Rebolloso, will make their only west coast performance on a current tour also taking them to New York's Carnegie Hall. See it all live at the Capital Theater.

• Capital Theater, 7 p.m., $15-$35, 206 Fifth Ave., Olympia,360.754.6670

>>> SATURDAY, APRIL 23: Jane Monheit

For those with an affection for current jazz, it doesn't get much better than singer Jane Monheit, scheduled to perform at the Rialto in Tacoma Saturday. There's also a free pre-show lecture starting at 6:30 p.m. covering "Fostering the Next Generation of Jazz Masters," with local jazz artist Patrice O'Neill. Basically, it's a whole evening dedicated to jazz -- which sounds like a solid way to spend a Saturday. Monheit has been described as, "an extraordinarily gifted jazz vocalist whose sincere and romantic interpretations of songs has made her a favorite in both the jazz and cabaret worlds.

• Rialto Theater, 7:30 p.m., free pre-show lecture 6:30 p.m., $39-$49 $25, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.2013

>>> SUNDAY, MAY 1: Tacoma Reads Together

What is creativity? Why are there people like Leonardo DaVinci, and then people like that dude in the apartment downstairs? A panel of Tacoma artists aims to answer this question as part of Tacoma Reads Together. The lineup includes musician Vicci Martinez, Rusty George of Rusty George Design; Artistic Director of MLK Ballet Kate Monthly; and Tom Llewellyn, author of The Titling House. The group will be moderated by Rosemary Ponnekanti, arts writer and critic for The News Tribune.

• Tacoma Public Library Main Branch, 2 p.m., free, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.591.5666

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
This weekend I will be settling in to our new house, having a little get together with friends, and probably missing some good music downtown. But that's OK, my husband and I have some sweet music to make of our own.  

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
This'll be my last quiet weekend for months, so I intend to work out, finish a Robert Crais novel, and make peace with my DVR. Also, I might just cook and drink some wine. Sure it's boring, but y'know what? I'm tired of you judging me, Weekend Hustle. Seriously.

MATT DRISCOLL: Editor
I'm going to start the weekend a little early (even though I'll TECHNICALLY be working Friday), by drinking unweildy amounts of Coors Light and watching the NFL Draft tonight. Saturday and Sunday will be spent doing boring house stuff, but that lawn's not going to mow itself now is it ...

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
This weekend I'll be chasing after my newly crawling son, working on my review of Tacoma Little Theatre's Always Patsy Cline, and eating grilled food courtesy of my fabulous husband.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
Saturday, I'll be hitting up the New Frontier for the Kyle Hill benefit show. I will also be checking to make sure that my signature is still on his cast, and that he hasn't scrubbed it off in some crazy double-cross. The man listens to album-oriented rock. No telling what he'll do.

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
Gonna get country with Always Patsy Cline at Tacoma Little Theatre Friday night and then get down with Pro Func Tunc at the 4th Ave Tav Saturday night, and rest like a good boy on Sunday.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Renee Timmer in response to a Spew post today penned by Sanford and Son's Alan Gorsuch about an artist named Bruce.

Renee Timmer writes,

This brought me suddenly to sobs. I so feel for Bruce, his family and friends, and Alan and Cheryl too. My biological mother left the world this way as well, and I am familiar with the wondering and the "Why's?" and the lost potential and chances, and the regret and guilt that you didn't know or should have been able to stop them somehow, and the ache there that never quite goes away. But I also know they don't do it to be "selfish" (I get such a rush of anger when I hear someone ignorant spout off with that insensitive remark time and time again), but because they just can't take the anquish, either mental or emotional or physical, anymore, and because they often start to actually believe they'd be doing everyone a favor by not being a "burden" anymore once they're gone. My heart and prayers are with you all, and here is dearly hoping they find the peace and relief they need on the other side. May they RIP with the angels to guide and comfort them now. God forgives and understands, and so should we.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011 >>>

1. Check it: the University of Puget Sound's Symphony Orchestra and the Adelphian Concert Choir, the University Chorale, and the Dorian Singers will bust out an evening of material by Shostakovich, Chopin and Beethoven tonight. The free concert - which is open to the public - will also feature pianist Duane Hulbert and two top student soloists on violin and piano.

2. At Bates' annual Health Fair, the entire community will have a chance to learn more about the magic of yoga, the health benefits of therapeutic-quality essential oils and the joy (and overall wellness?) that comes from possibly winning a $100 Fred Meyer gift card. According to hype, the first 350 people will receive a gift bag full of health-related items. The yoga workshop will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and mats will be provided.

3. Want to see Spiro Manthou in a pair of high heeled shoes? Today's your chance (we think - most politicos participate). Today marks the annual "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event, designed to raise awareness and community conversation about sexual assault and gender relations. Sign in starts at 11 a.m. and the walk runs from noon to 2 p.m. downtown.

4. Dude, are you f***ing s***ting us? Severus returns to Hell's Kitchen tonight! This one is going to be epic. To browse the Volcano's entire, extensive South Sound live local music listings go here.

5. Johnny Clegg, billed as "one of South Africa's most celebrated sons," is headed to Tacoma tonight, bringing his guitar, career full of hits and genre-bending style with him. The songster behind "Great Heart," "I Call Your Name," "Scatterlings of Africa," "Take My Heart Away" and more, Clegg comes to the Rialto under the umbrella of his Spirit is the Journey 30th Anniversary Concert.

TALKIN' 253 HIP-HOP >>>

Go back to 2005-06 in yo mind. What you'll find is hip-hop hustlers still selling their new releases out of the trunks of their rides. The only online promo action is MySpace. There's no Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation or 253hiphop.com. It was just music and grind.

These days were ruled by Jay Barz, Island Trybe and Mr. Von. - names still on top of the game. It's a testament to their brands that they are still top spitters though the game has changed.

This month we welcome back Tacoma's own "Flame-Thrower," Mr. Von.

To read Josh Rizeberg's full "What's the Word?" column on Mr. Von and his This Thing of Ours  release click here.