SPOOKY, SCARY & MUSICAL >>>
Sure, this week's Volcano is dedicated to Halloween - it's officially our "Haunted Halloween Issue." It's full of stories about ghosts, goblins, Charlie Sheen costumes and, well, more ghosts. It's the spookiest thing to make newsprint since Dan Voelpel was breaking the Sonic Drive-In story for the Trib.
But all of this week's Halloween charm doesn't mean we've forgotten the basics - the Volcano's bread and butter. Amidst all the ghoulishness we've still managed to pack in an awesome-as-ever Weekly Volcano music section.
Here's a peek at the musical goodness waiting for you in print and online ...
FEATURE: NIGHT OF THE LIVING TRIBUTE BANDS
For the past 11 years, in honor of Halloween, the Olympia Film Society has hosted an event simply known as Night of the Living Tribute Bands. These shows are rare windows into the musical lives of local performers whom we may know from seeing around town, but haven't yet learned of their inner devotions. Frequently, the tribute bands that perform at Night of the Living Tribute Bands are one-offs, assembled specifically for the event and made up of jumbled about musicians from various local bands (though an all-female Black Sabbath tribute band called Black Betty was born out of the event).
"Everyone just comes together for one night," says the Olympia Film Society's Audrey Henley, organizer of Night of the Living Tribute Bands. "We're really fortunate that we have so many great musicians in our town." ... -- Rev. Adam McKinney
On Saturday Oct. 22 the Capitol Theater in downtown Olympia will host a Los Angeles-based band that crosses musical boundaries, meshing rock, Americana, folk, funk, hip-hop and much more. Quetzal Flores created the band Quetzal in the early ‘90s to push the limits of Chicano music - and he definitely ended up doing so, finding plenty of musical success in the process. Although Quetzal the band has not been to Olympia, Quetzal's singer, Martha Gonzalez, and bassist, Juan Perez, have - performing in Olympia with Laura Rebollo's band, Ensamble Marinero. Gonzales says Olympia's audience is what Los Lobos would call "music lovers." - people that are open to listening, internalizing, participating and witnessing a concert. Gonzales admits she is looking forward to seeing familiar faces and tugging at a couple hearts. ... - Nic Leonard
WHAT'S THE WORD: D'ROCC'S "LAST CALL" & MORE
One of the major artists in our scene last year was D'Rocc The Gentleman. He made his presence known when he hit us with "The Anthem" video, and then kept it going with lots of big local shows. Currently D'Rocc is gearing up to release a new album; the first single is "Last Call." D'Rocc is celebrating the new song with a party Oct 21 at the Surreal Ultra Lounge. "Last Call" is a smooth ode to the ladies. So dress up, come to the party, and let D'Rocc and Tak Patron set the mood for ya and yo loved one. ... -- Josh Rizeberg
Volcano music scribe Nic Leonard is perhaps better known as Nicatine of Olympia-based rap outfit Free Whiskey. Or, we mean, he's the dude with the mustache. Now are you picturing him? Good. Anyway, Free Whiskey has been gaining steam for a while now [thanks, in no small part, to Nic's mustache and the track "Man's Best Friend (Mustache Song)"], and Thursday the group will release a much anticipated EP, What Am I Going To Tell My Mom?, with a show at the Royal Lounge. ... -- Matt Driscoll
PLUS: Better Living Through Music - I Low, Swampy Draws, Load Levelers
PLUS: Concert Alert
PLUS: Live Local Music Listings
PLUS: Scary Ridiculousness