THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 2011 >>>

1. If you came of age, musically speaking, during a similar period in time as this hack writer, you're probably moderately familiar with the Marcy Playground story - or at least the band's "hit," the radio friendly "Sex and Candy." The song came from Marcy Playground's platinum selling, self-titled, major label debut, released by Capitol Records in '97 and highlighted by a grunge stained take on folk rock and the occasional children's rhyme. "Sex and Candy" - the record's second single, following "Poppies" and achieving considerably more success - spent 15 weeks atop Billboard's, "Modern Rock" chart, and the album managed to spawn two more singles, "Saint Joe on the School Bus," and "Sherry Fraser." Next Tonight, Marcy Playground will play Jazzbones in Tacoma, where most of the preceding stats will matter very little. It'll be like the '90s all over again. 

2. It's Taco Thursday at Uncle Sam's in Spanaway with the venerable Jerry Miller. Or, if that doesn't tickler your fancy, peruse the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

3. Sure, the Fort Nisqually Candlelight Tours scheduled for Oct. 7-8 are more than a month away, but there's no reason you can't get excited for the re-enactments and melted wax now. Furthermore, there's absolutely no reason why you can't buy your tickets now, as they officially  go on sale today. More information can be found at fortnisqually.org.

4. Check out the open mic and "musicians night" at Rock the Dock Pub and Grill tonight, hosted by Big D of 9 Pound Hammer. The action kicks off at 9 p.m.

5. Today is your last chance to catch the serious mindf*** movie, Another Earth, at the Grand.  It's a worthy escape.

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

MUSICAL GOODNESS IN STORE IN PRINT & ONLINE >>>

Sure, it would have been easy for the Volcano's Music Desk to spend all week fretting over the proposed Wal-Mart on Union Avenue. It's conceivable that we could have spent seven days organizing protest, or rallying the troops, or at the very least planning annoying ways to sleep in a Wal-Mart parking lot. But we didn't. We resisted the urge.

Instead, we pumped out another excellent issue of the Weekly Volcano, naturally including another awesome rendition of the Volcano music section.

Here's a peek at the musical goodness in store in print and online ...

INDIE ROCK: Oh Dear! debut album

I remember reading that the rapper Drake used the word "I" over 400 times on his debut album, in a kind of subliminal act of superhuman self-obsession.

In the case of Oh Dear!, and the band's debut album, lead singer Brandon Sagnella may have set some sort of record for the number of times "you" is utilized. The majority of the songs on the self-titled LP are shaped in the same way, with Sagnella singing only about "you," and what he thinks about "you," and the various ways in which "you" have hurt or helped him. As each song drifts into the next, an accusatory song suite begins to emerge. ... - Rev. Adam McKinney

HIP-HOP: Leon Swanks, Deluxe Beatz, Tak Patron ...

I love seeing young artists grow, mature and polish their sound - artist coming into their own.

A few years ago when I first heard Lockcity I knew dude had a nice flow. He was spitting some smooth-tricky street s*** at the time.  Although he was dope, he didn't quite jump out at ya.

Fast-forward to present and the story is a little better. Lockcity is now Leon Swanks, and the name change has signified a change in sound for the Tacoma MC. The swag he once relied on has now turned into true artistry. He's released a number of high-quality videos this year - the newest being "Straight Jewel$." ...  -- Josh Rizeberg

ROCK: RTX

To most, the band RTX means the revival of one-half of the legendary Royal Trux, a band that rode the waves of the ‘90s on a surfboard made of sex, drugs and all things rock ‘n' roll. These days, RTX is still a familiar blistering combination of noise rock, indie hardcore, fuzzy, squealing, sexy riffs and the hot-blooded gritty vocals of front woman Jennifer Herrema ... only cooler. ... - Nikki Talotta

PUNK & METAL: Conquering Lion, McKibbin's b-day and more

As far as Tacoma venues go, add a big one to the list! A brand spankin' new all-ages spot located in the old Viaduct location (5412 South Tacoma Way) by the name of The Conquering Lion will be holding its grand-opening Saturday, Oct. 1 with a HUGE hardcore show. The venue is being operated by some big names in the local scene. Good ol' Lonnie Local (of NXNW Metal Fest and Black Ice/Freedom Records) and Patt Lucas (of the new band Spidervain - and formerly of almost as many old Tacoma metal bands as yours truly) are taking the helm and are out for blood! In a recent conversation with Lucas, he expressed to me that he longs for the days (daze?) of the Community World Theatre and vows to bring in as many huge shows as he can. With occupancy of 550+, the Conquering Lion will be able to do just that.  ... -- Jason McKibbin

PLUS: Better Living Through Music - Lips, Weird Tigers, and the Rusty Cleavers

PLUS: Concert Alert

PLUS: Live local music listings

PLUS: Totally bananas stuff like this

ARTS COVERAGE TO END ALL ARTS COVERAGE >>>

At this point it goes without saying. If you're looking for coverage of local arts in Tacoma, Olympia, and all points in between, the Weekly Volcano is THE place to find it. Our goal is to consistently provide the best local arts coverage possible to our fantastic readers -- always be on the lookout for ways to shine a light on all the awesome creativity we see around us.

Here's a look at the Volcano arts coverage waiting for you this week in print and online.

VISUAL EDGE: Quilt bonanza

("Black Wolf" is a piece by Nancy Erickson currently on display at American Art Company. Photo courtesy American Art Company)

It's back! The Northwest Contemporary Art Quilt Invitational at American Art Company. I used to look forward to it every year, and then they quit holding this show for about three years. Now it's back and more colorful than ever. And I mean that literally. ... - Alec Clayton

MOVIE BIZ BUZZ: Movies to stay warm to

No question about it: we done got screwed this summer. Never mind the fact that I write these words outdoors with a cloudless blue sky and blazing sun above me; I'm here to bitch about past grievances. It took us too many weeks to finally earn this weather, and from the look of things it won't last. That freak rainout last Monday only tells the fidgety fatalist in me that autumn isn't far away.

We do what we can to stave off the inevitable cold, and I believe movies can offer the great escapism we'll soon need. I combed my collection for a few titles that should keep you in a tropical state of mind regardless the season.

So here's my top five, ranked by temperature for your convenience (and they all hold up as pretty good films to boot). May they serve you well on those looong winter nights. ... - Christopher Wood

THE LION SUBMISSION: The progression of hip-hop

(DJ Kun PHOTO: Courtesy Facebook/Merc Photography)

The mid-1970s marked the birth of hip-hop, and ever since the artistic genre has expanded all around the world. Today there are many versions of hip-hop, but originally it came out as raw organic expression. Hip-hop continues to branch out, but in which way is mainstream hip-hop growing? Do we frown upon it? Or can we enjoy it? I sat down with a few people in the music business to figure it out.

  ... -- Khalil Duberry

PLUS: More local theater coverage than you can shake a stick at

PLUS: The Volcano's extensive arts and events calendar

PLUS: Pretty stuff

IRREVERANT LOOK AT THE WILD WORLD OF SPORTS >>>

It's been almost seven years since Ron Artest - NBA player, bad rapper, all-around nut job - became reviled. That's what happens when you storm into the stands and start a player-on-fan brawl. It's just bad PR.

Ancient history.

It was announced this week that Artest, along with U.S. women's national soccer team goalkeeper Hope Solo, will be part of the 13^th season of Dancing with the Stars, scheduled to premiere Sept. 19 on ABC. Other members of the kinda-famous cast include Robert Kardashian, Chaz Bono, Ricki Lake, Chynna Phillips (really?) and Jay Cutler's ex-fiancé, Kristin Cavallari, who hopefully realizes by now she lucked out of a whole lifetime of pouting and facial fat when J-C dumped her.

To read this week's full Cup Check column click here.