Q & A WITH MIKE COUCOULES >>>

For some reason, society expects people under 21 to attend horrible, melodramatic poetry readings and open-mic nights where people dwell on their pathetic lives by reading their journal entries to an audience that doesn't care. And like it. While this phenomenon can't be explained, there are ways around the harsh reality of it.

Add Mike Coucoules.

The funny and talented Tacoma musician, who can be seen playing bass in the Malcolm Clark Band, will host a new Thursday night acoustic open mic in the spot where sold amps for seven years - the former Sluggo Music building. Now called Medi's Pizza & Pasta - which serves awesome Italian grub at reasonable prices - the Sixth Avenue joint has found something to occupy its tiny corner stage below the old Sluggo Music sign.

Thanks to Mike Coucoules.

Coucoules will host the lively all-ages open mic for acoustic musicians and spoken wordsmiths every Thursday beginning at 8:30 p.m. Expect many one-liners from the host.

I threw a couple of questions at Coucoules.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Do you miss working at Sluggo?

MIKE COUCOULES: I do - very much. I miss working with musicians, learning from them, as well as teaching them the things I've learned from years of being in bands and selling gear, which I did for nearly 20 years in a number of music stores.

VOLCANO: It's said everyone in the local music scene shopped at Sluggo.

COUCOULES: It was my analog Facebook. Everyone came into Sluggo sooner or latter. It was a pro shop, with full support to our costumers. Giving them service, beyond just the sale. I loaded the amps in and out of cars. We repaired items at cost if it came from the store.

VOLCANO: Sounds as if you were a full-service shop.

COUCOULES: And then some. I had a list of musicians' phone numbers. I' d give them out to bands looking for players.

VOLCANO: Did you shop at Sluggo?

COUCOULES: I bought my first bass from the owner Jack in the early '70s when he worked for Plaza Music in Lakewood, and depended on him all the 34 years he had Sluggo.

[Medi's Pizza & Pasta, Thursday acoustic open mic, 8:30-11:30 p.m., all ages until 10 p.m., no cover, hand drums are cool, 2710 Sixth Ave., Tacoma]

LINK: Our review of Medi's food