GOODNESS IN STORE IN PRINT & ONLINE >>>

Usually, I make up hardships we've had to overcome in any given week to put out this week's music section, just as a cute way of starting this regular blog post off. I don't know why I do it; I just do.

But this week I don't need to make anything up. Between Tournament of Pizza Championship Parties (actually only one), Weekly Volcano Writers Meetings (again, actually only one) and Weekly Volcano Happy Hour Launch Parties (one, tonight at Pacific Grill from 5-6 p.m.) we really have had a busier than usual week around here.

But, as always happens on Thursdays, a new Volcano hit the street today. Here's a look at the musical goodness in store in print and online.

MINUS THE BEAR

Lead singer Jake Snider's lyrics never stray far from drugs and matters of the flesh - that fact alone is enough to separate Omni from the relatively sexless indie rock canon. It's an experiment in augmenting an established product for a new age, without changing completely all of the qualities that made Minus the Bear a success to begin with. - Rev. Adam McKinney

GRAY SKY BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL

The GSBMF kicks off in the morning with The Harmon Brewery Second Annual Rod and Custom Car Show. After the car show, the music takes center stage. The Swiss Pub, The Harmon Brewery and Cutter's Point Coffee all host blues acts throughout the day. Pacific Northwest bands like the Randy Oxford Band and Maia Santell and House Blend play mid-day. National recording artists Bob Corritore and Dave Riley will headline the event. For those looking for a cool down, there is also After Festival Party at the South Tacoma's Stonegate. - Brett Cihon

JUICE RADIO

Now that ya'll know where to go see local hip-hop on the regular, you need to know where you can hear it on the radio on the regular. A good place to start is Juice Radio. Juice Radio streams 24/7 on gojuiceradio.com. The Internet station features two live shows throughout the week. Every Wednesday from 7 - 9 p.m. is Tre'dmarks Radio hosted by Q-Dot. This show is also syndicated every Friday night from 7 - 8 p.m. on Northwest Convergence Zone Radio (nwczradio.com). - Josh Rizeberg

SP

Recently SP thought up an idea for younger artists who are struggling to get shows. He calls it the "We Out Here Hip-Hop Showcase." Not only do these young-and-hungry rappers get a stage and crowd to be in front of, but SP also gives them the opportunity to make money. - Nic Leonard

WRECK OF THE ZEPHYR

... But that Formosa EP never actually saw the light of day. As Wolf puts it, the band played "one chaotic, semi-disaster equipment malfunction of a show" and dissolved shortly thereafter. Mudarri moved to Tokyo, and Wolf, Gosselin and Paige relocated to Los Angeles and formed Wreck of the Zephyr, a band inspired by '90s alt-punk greats and named after a 1983 children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. - Jason Baxter

PLUS: Better Living Through Music - Hightower & Japan benefit at the Royal in Olympia

PLUS: Concert Alert

PLUS: Comprehensive Live Local Music Listings

PLUS: Bizarre junk like this