WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Tacoma School Board Update: McKinley and Wainwright can be yours. (News Tribune)

Tacoma Week In Review: Tacoma School District drama and Washington State History Museum friends with benefits (Weekly Volcano)

Wall Street Unlawful? Well We Never: JP Morgan must pay $88.3 million to the Treasury Department for egregiously violating sanctions with Cuba, Iran and Sudan. (New York Times)

Oh Shit: Geographer thinks U.S. West Coast is due for a massive tsunami. (Outside magazine)

Sickening: The fake barf industry. (Collectors Weekly)

Ghostbusters 3: Many Shuvs and Zuuls will know what it will be like to be roasted in the depths of the Slor the day this comes out. (Movie Line)

Photoshop Rap Part 2: "But if your selection is looking jaggy and wrecked, here's a tip run that fur with a feather select." (College Humor)

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. The Definite Articles. 9 pm.

5th Dimension House (3805 E. B St.) Tacoma - Eastside.  Benenfit hip-hop show featuring Josh Rizeberg, Julie C, Greg & Jerome, Crazy Monk, Xero Ours, Qui-Vive. 7 pm. $3-$5.

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. Umber Sleeping, Arpeggiator, Blanco Bronco. 9 pm.

• Some bands carry with them an intrinsic novelty - a freshness, a thrilling sense of invention - largely because there are very few similar bands in the South Sound. Arpeggiator has this advantage, as one of the few Tacoma-born math-rock bands around. That they do math-rock so well is certainly a bonus. I realize that math-rock, to some, is a fairly nebulous term. Here's what Arpeggiator are: a two-piece drum-and-guitar combo that constructs diabolically twisting instrumental pieces that are furiously propulsive while constantly sounding precarious, like the song may disintegrate at any moment. There's something quite visceral about never being sure where Arpeggiator will go next. One feels at mercy to the music, which is a fine change of pace around here. Arpeggiator wants to show you what they can do. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Grit City Fest, with Mos Generator, SweetKiss Momma, Big Wheel Stunt Show, Ben Union and others. 5 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Blues Brothers. 8 pm. $7.

Johnnys Dock Tacoma - Foss Waterway. Rock At The Dock III, all day car show and music Dan Whyms (Johnny Cash) and the Rockodiles. 6:30. $10. Donation Breast Cancer Resource Center. Read the full story here.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Third Law Of Motion, Riot In Rhythm, Atomic Outlaws. All Ages. 8 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. C.F.A., The Meat Sluts (from S.F.), The Coloffs. Rockn'Roll! All Ages. 9 pm. $5.

• Let's start with a truism. Bacon and gettin' it on are two of the best things ever invented. There shall be no more debate on this matter. So thank Zeus one band had the vision to combine a passion for both all-American pastimes into one undeniably awesome concept: The Meat Sluts. The Bay Area quartet - singer-guitarist B.B. Rumproast, singer-guitarist Filet O'Nettie, bassist Carmela Mignon and drummer Scarlet Spamchop - will unleash campy, carnivorous punk anthems on Tacoma's New Frontier Lounge Saturday.  Rumproast (a.k.a. Beth Allen) breaks it down for us. Sound: "I like to think of us as bubblegum punk rock. I would say we were influenced by things like the Ramones, old Dictators and Groovie Ghoulies; old Runaways, for sure." Dirty little secret: The band's original bassist was actually vegan. Say, they're not singing about something else on "Johnny Con Carne," are they? - Ernest A. Jasmin

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Mackeywood and Scott McDougall. Mr. Blackwatch alums Doug Mackey and Joe Wood reunite for acoustic ecclection. One Man Band McDougall follows. 8-11pm. NC.

• Tonight, Tacoma musician and actor Doug Mackey will pick up a guitar again and perform with Joe Wood and Justin McDonald under the show title Mackeywood. It's rumored singer/songwriter Evan Purcell will join in on what's being described as an eclectic acoustic set of songs about cows, kites, a monster, a snake, a robot, bongos and orange. Does it get more awesome? Scott McDougal takes the stage following Mackeywood around 9 p.m. — Weekly Volcano
  

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Alex Lifeson's Birthday with 2112 - A Tribute to RUSH. The Kari Ehli Band opens. 9 pm. NC.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. The Kim Archer Band. 9 pm. $5.

• Tacoma knows singer and songwriter Kim Archer well. She's put in her time in this town, and has the fanbase to prove it. Tuesday Archer will officially try out for season two of The Voice in Los Angeles. Saturday, hear Archer's audition pieces live at the Tempest Lounge with the backing of a full band. It's sure to be stunning - easily enough to make Aguilera turn around in her chair. — WV
  

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

PEOPLE'S CHOICE SCULPTURE AWARD >>>

The City of Olympia needs your help. No, not tracking down this genius with a lump on his head, but rather deciding which of the 13 loaned sculptures along Percival Landing - from Bayview Thriftway to Budd Bay Café - should become part of the City's permanent Public Art Collection. 

The City is asking folks to pick up one of the ballots along Percival Landing and vote before Sept. 30, 2011. The sculpture with the most votes will be purchased for installation in another Olympia location following this exhibition.

LINK: More geniuses

THIS SOUNDS COOL >>>

Unlike its glamorous cousin, white water kayaking, flat-water or sea kayaking is easy to learn and pays immediate dividends.  The key difference between white water kayaking and sea kayaking is that if you're not really sure what you're doing, it's a lot harder to drown doing the latter.  And no matter how great the thrill of careening down the runoff-swollen Wenatchee River, drowning sucks. Banging your head on a rock while floating upside down in a piece of plastic barely big enough to serve as a change purse is no particular bonus either.

What's so great about sea kayaking? For starters, it's like going to the zoo - except there are no crowds. The wildlife is really wild; it comes from Washington, not Africa; and it doesn't look at you with a doleful expression or beg for vending-machine peanuts. Second great thing, you can paddle right up to an outdoor beer festival.

That's right Paddleheads, Metro parks will host Paddles & Pints, a kayaking excursion to the Tacoma Craft beer Festival Saturday, Sept. 3. Those older than 21 may enjoy an easy paddle on the Thea Foss Waterway and Commencement Bay, then tip over at the outdoor beer festival at the 21^st Street Park.

We assume it's a roundtrip excursion. Sign up here.

Paddles & Pints

Saturday, Sept. 3, 10 a.m.
$30, $50 with kayak rental
Includes free admission to the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival
Tacoma, 253.594.7847

TACOMA'S ALL-AGES MUSIC SCENE >>>

I asked 15 random young people what they thought about the local all-ages music scene here in Tacoma. Ten of them, yes, TEN, said something to the effect of, "What local all-ages music scene?" Now, they all looked like intelligent youngsters who went out of the house often enough, and I'm sure they have nice families and hobbies and the stuff of life just as we all do. But to say that Tacoma has no all-ages music scene implies that a chunk of our culture has simply been ignored or dismissed.

Josh Brumley has been trying to champion the all-ages music scene. Brumley, along with Cody Curley, ran the all-ages venue The Hall in University Place in 2006. Complaints shut it down. The two went on to book all-ages shows at Bob's Java Jive, which ended due to vandalism complaints. Next, they moved down South Tacoma Way and opened The Junkyard for young hardcore fans. The fire marshal shut it down for code violations.

Brumley, with partners Brian Skiffington (formerly of the all-ages Midland club The Frameshop) and Zack Ellis, went on to open the famed all-ages hardcore club The Viaduct in Tacoma's Nalley Valley, which closed a year ago due to financial issues.

Brumley – who performs in hardcore bands Erode and Cowardice, as well as co-publishes the all-ages music zine Solitude NW – books shows in the Redroom space on Tacoma Avenue South until he can find his perfect venue.

To keep the Redroom alive, as well as the local all-age scene, Brumley will host the South Sound Music Summit at the club on Tacoma Avenue South. Musicians, promoters, record labels, photographers, videographers, radio stations, venue owners, graphic designers, audio recording and other businesses and people involved in the local music scene are invited to network, exchange ideas and share their knowledge. Those interested in learning how to book shows or play an instrument will find answers, too. A $10 exhibitor table fee will go toward the Redroom; admission is free for the public.

After the conference, around 7 p.m., the tables will be pushed aside for Cowardice, Chyeah Chyeah, Arpeggiator, A Leaf and The Breaklites to perform.

Hopefully, several of the youngsters I met will attend the South Sound Music Summit and join the scene.

South Sound Music Conference

Sunday, Aug. 28, 1-6 p.m., free
$10 fee for exhibitor tables
all-ages show, 7-10 p.m., no cover
Redroom, 2313 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma
Facebook

SUNDAY, AUG. 28, 2011 >>>

1. The Grit City Fest centers on hip-hop today when Grieves & Budo, Ra Scion, Spac3man, Q Dot, City Hall, The Breaklites, Fame Rilla, Luck One, John Crown, Young Gizzle and Royce The Choice hit Hell's Kitchen's stage at 5 p.m.

2. For the sixth year in a row, the Washington State History Museum selected a juried exhibit of contemporary Native American art for display in one of its featured galleries. This year's exhibit is called In the Spirit: Contemporary Northwest Native Arts, which show for the last time today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The two- and three-dimensional pieces have a fair amount of political content, that deals with Native issues. As one might expect, two of those issues are ecology and resistance to assimilation. To read Christian Carvajal's full feature, click here.

3. This weekend marks the 19th annual Tacoma Maritime Fest - and it might be the best ever.  Expect harbor tours and train rides, paddle board racing, music, boat building, clowns and a beer garden. The action runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. That's why they call it a "Working Waterfront" - weekends off are for pussies.

4. Local all-ages music stalwart Josh Brumley will host the South Sound Music Summit at the Redroom on Tacoma Avenue South from 1-6 p.m. Musicians, promoters, record labels, photographers, videographers, radio stations, venue owners, graphic designers, audio recording and other businesses and people involved in the local music scene are invited to network, exchange ideas and share their knowledge. Those interested in learning how to book shows or play an instrument will find answers, too. A $10 exhibitor table fee will go toward the Redroom; admission is free for the public. After the conference, around 7 p.m., the tables will be pushed aside for Cowardice, Chyeah Chyeah, Arpeggiator, A Leaf and The Breaklites to perform.

5. We've raved about the Fab-5 and the L.I.F.E. Program plenty. For those not in the know, Fab-5 created the L.I.F.E. Program (Living In Free Expression) in 2005 as a means of providing "relevant creative outlets" for our area's young people. The L.I.F.E. Program is described as, "an intensive series of urban arts workshops designed to allow youth to develop and explore their unique voices through a variety of different mediums," like DJ-ing, breakdancing, visual arts and creative writing. Fab-5, in conjunction with Spaceworks Tacoma, also recently birthed Fabitat, a physical location for Fab-5 headquarters where weekly classes, gallery exhibitions, live events and studio space flourish. From 4-8 p.m., join L.I.F.E. and Fab-5 at Fabitat (1316 Martin Luther King Way, Tacoma) to celebrate the culmination of this year's L.I.F.E. Program, an event featuring a preview of the breakdancing routine Fab-5 will deliver during Monday's Art Appreciation Night at Cheney Stadium, plus much more.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!

LOCAL FILM SCENE >>>

What the hell kind of film would have the Weekly Volcano in it?

A Randy Sparks' film, thank you very much.

Local filmmaker Sparks, he of It Don't Rain on Sunny Days and A Glitch in the System, will incorporate a Weekly Volcano mock-up cover as a newspaper prop in a scene he's filming today for his new flick, Rose Colored Shades. In the scene, Michael, a.k.a the Stranger (Doug Mackey), calls Lucky Joe Ware (Rod Long), a hired assassin, to congratulate him on his latest work as seen in the newspaper. The unlucky targets of Lucky Joe's hit were Cameron and Raul, the muscle for Gaberiel, who happens to be Michael's nemesis.

We have no idea what this all means, but EXCITING!

As for the brown spot on the sheet pictured on the cover? "You'll just have to see the movie," says Sparks.

LINK: Movies showtimes in the South Sound

JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT GATHERING >>>

No just universe would reserve the pleasures of candy for children, but if your taste buds have grown up, you may no longer want to scarf waxen candy corn. The civilized adult can get sugar and chocolate fixes at Affairs Café & Desserts in University Place. Having perfected her craft for more than 20 years, Gay Landry makes distinct, rich handmade chocolate truffles, hand-poured chocolate nut clusters, antique pewter-mold solid chocolate figures, and more than 50 varieties of the best cheesecakes and specialty desserts in this universe.

She leaves Milk Duds in the dust.

The Weekly Volcano's foodie conglomerate Nosh League begged Landry and her crew to open up Affairs for a private chocolate tasting and education at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. For the standard $15, Nosh Leaguers will tour Affairs' chocolate-making kitchen, discover Landry's sweet secrets, taste a savory chocolate dish, enjoy another three rounds of chocolate desserts, and enjoy red and dessert wine.

Sweet deal, huh?

To get in on this Gosh Nosh Ganache, RSVP on the Nosh League Facebook.

To join the Nosh League, click here.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Starting Over: Pierce County Council takes another look at taxing to pay for flood control. (News Tribune)

Tacoma School District Community Forum: Tacoma Education Association wants to chat with you about the budget. (News Tribune)

Hurricane Irene: Photo of shark swimming in street was fake. (Washington Post)

MTV Video Music Awards: Photos (NPR)

Debbie Harry: Music, clothes and Panic of Girls interview (New York Times)

Scare The Kids: David Bowie's "Space Oddity" has been re-imagined as a disturbing children's book. (Buzz Feed)

MONDAY, AUG. 29, 2011 >>>

1. Not only is catching a Rainiers game the quintessential American minor league baseball experience, but the newly-renovated Cheney Stadium is just plain awesome. One of the highlights of the new Cheney is the public art, which will be dedicated tonight as part of Art Appreciation Night. A tour of the artwork will start at 5:30 p.m., with dance performances featuring Fab 5 and Rhubarb to follow. The special $9.95 ticket price (which includes hot dog, a drink and chips) will only be offered in advance. Call 253.752.7707 ext. 184.

2. Get down with Momenti Rubati tonight at the Royal Lounge in Olympia. Or, peruse the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

3. DJ Melodica is kind of a genius. This is just one of the reasons locals rave about the Micro Mondays he leads at Magoo's Annex in North Tacoma. Expect punk, post punk, New Wave, early electronica, garage and more.

4. In last Thursday's issue, Volcano art critic Alec Clayton weighed in on the new Mildred Howard exhibit at Tacoma's Museum of Glass, Parenthetically Speaking: It's Only a Figure of Speech. Today, judge the art for yourself.

5. Some of the best sand sculpting artists in the entire world have been putting their sand-molding skills on display in Federal Way since Aug. 18. Think we're pulling your leg? Fat chance. Drop in on the World Class Sand Sculpting Tournament of Champions today at Hillside Plaza. Find details more here.

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound