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