WE SCENE IT >>>

The Tacoma music and arts community turned out Sunday, April 1 to support longtime music scene supporter and friend Dave Graham, who is battling Stage 4 Melanoma. Hosted by The Swiss, the benefit featured sets James Hilborne and the Painkillers, Snak Pak, Bandolier, Mr. Blackwatch and China Davis. Interspersed amongst the day's activities were raffles of prizes from a huge assortment of Tacoma donors.

"Dave Graham has quite a background in music; he had a music store called Room 220 for a while, and he was around back in the '80s, he actually hung out with the guys in Nirvana and Courtney Love, and a lot of those people," says Randy Sparks, one of the organizers of the benefit. "He's always been an inspiration to me, especially when I started filming movies. He's just a great guy to talk to about art and music. He's out there. I think a lot of people could see a lot of really good things about him and how he's been involved in the community."

Read Rev. Adam McKinney's feature story on the Dave Graham benefit Show in the Music section on weeklyvolcano.com.

Weekly Volcano Photographer Steve Dunkelberger and Publisher Pappi Swarner snapped a few photos. ...

Photo Credit: Steve Dunkelberger

Photo Credit: Steve Dunkelberger

Photo Credit: Steve Dunkelberger

Photo Credit: Pappi Swarner

Photo Credit: Pappi Swarner

Photo Credit: Pappi Swarner

Photo Credit: Pappi Swarner

LINK: More photos of the benefit

IT'S OUT THERE >>>

A new piece of Street Botany art is on the streets of Tacoma. We found the above poster next to Frisko Freeze. Figure 10: The effect of magic on Polystichum munitum states, "our most prominent validity-related concern is that not everyone believes in magic."

We believe.

LINK: Deep-rooted background

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Art House Designs Olympia - Eastside. Hardcoretet, Silo. All Ages. 8 pm. $10.

Backstage Bar and Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Mantra tribute to Santana. 9 pm.

Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Kim Archer. 7 pm.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. Bodybox, Jupiter Order, Resdeus. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Eddie Spaghetti, Stone Evergreen Travellers, Swampy Draws. 9:30 pm. $6-$8.

• Campy, sarcastic, and sleazy, the Supersuckers were atypical to the mid-1990s grunge movement as they sported cowboy hats and offered up a mix of rockabilly flavored garage rock. With sex, drugs and Satan as their mantras, the band's lyrics were an uproarious celebration of all of the wickedness habitually associated with rock ‘n' roll - namely sex, drugs, Satan and any other offensive topic they could muster up. Motorhead's Lemmy once said, "If you don't like the Supersuckers, you don't like rock & roll." It's safe to say the same applies to Eddie Spaghetti, who, when not leading the Seattle-based rawkers, unleashes solo material for those tired of passionate unplugged anthems for the masses. — Weekly Volcano
  

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Spazmatics. 9 pm. $10.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Reset/Go. All Ages. 8 pm.

Midnight Sun Olympia - Downtown. Margy Pepper, Grass Window, Deep Time. All Ages. 8 pm. $6.

• Margy Pepper are one of the most adorable slash awesome slash rocking slash slash bands out there. If you like your punk with a sense of humor and maybe a little bit too much of an obsession with kitty cats, Margy Pepper is for you. The band's music is imbued with a carefree exuberance that is unfortunately missing in much of the music that comes through these parts. But Margy Pepper comes from Olympia - a fact that should be easily identifiable when confronted with their brazen confrontation of the seriousness usually laid upon the idea of DIY punk.  Add onto their musical prowess its affection for stories of childhood embarrassments and triumphs, and you have a band that never ceases to delight. I saw them over a year ago, and Margy Pepper still brings a smile to my face. - Rev. Adam McKinney

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Squeak and Squawk Music festival Dance Party featuring Paris Spleen, I Will Keep Your Ghost, Saucy Yoda. 9 pm. $5-$7.

The Space Tacoma - Triangle District. Squeak and Squawk Music Festival featuring Makeup Monsters, Tea Cozies, Bandolier, Watermelon Sugar. All Ages. 6 pm. $4-$7.

• Sure, the Mayans had a lot to say about 2012, but one thing they forgot to mention was that it would reckon the return of Tacoma's Squeak and Squawk Music Festival, running through April 9. When Squeak and Squawk originator Sean Alexander left Tacoma for New York, this third installment went through a spin-the-bottle style search for the right person to helm the ship, landing on Jena Stedtler, who was soon joined by the Weekly Volcano's own Rev. Adam McKinney. Read Jenni Prange Boran's full feature on the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Tumblin' Dice (Rolling Stones tribute). 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Ghost 211. 9 pm. NC.

Swing Wine Bar & Cafe Olympia - Westside. Vince Brown & Michael Gray. 9 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. The Makedonians. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Event Horizon, Inside The Gates, Unhailoed. 9 pm.

Uncle Thurm's Finger Lickin' Chicken Tacoma - Lincoln District. Kareem Kandi trio. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

ONLINE CHATTER:

Today's comment of the day comes from blogger Alan Oldstudent in response to Paul Schrag's cover story "Occupy Tacoma: Where are they now?" Oldstudent is one of Occupy Tacoma's online editors.

Alan Oldstudent writes,

Paul Schrag's interesting article of April 5 titled "Occupy Tacoma, Where Are They Now?" poses a question that many of us in OT (Occupy Tacoma) have. What have we accomplished? Where are we going? What's next?

I am one of OT's web-masters editors. Fair disclosure: This response is my personal point of view and is not an official statement from OT.

The people you cited, Dennis Lucas, Sarah Morken, and Francesca Belez, are but a few of the many dedicated and serious people for whom OT and related movements have become a passion.

Today, April 7th, it has only been 6 months and 21 days since Occupy Wall Street (OWS) began, and it's been 5 months and 22 days since Occupy Tacoma seized the park. That's a very short time, and in that short time, we changed the public's discussion of politics

Debates about how fast to cut the middle class standard of living were practically all that the media, politicians, and pundits discussed before September 17, 2011, the first day of Occupy Wall Street. Few, if any, of the wise men or pillars of the political establishment, liberal or conservative, questioned the wisdom of these cuts. Their debate was mainly about how fast they dare make them, not whether they were needed or whether we 99% should pay.

Now, the public dares to question the legitimacy of those cuts. In fact, the 99% are beginning to question the legitimacy of crony capitalism and the 1%'s monopoly of political power. In short, we Americans are becoming class conscious for the first time in nearly a century. That's why we OWS supporters are corporate America's worst nightmare.

Not everyone is happy about that. Hackers took down our website for almost 2 weeks, and we've only just gotten back on line. Between 03/08/2012 04:49 am UTC and 04/07/2012 at 4:48 am UTC, 8891 unique visitors from around the world have visited www.occupytacoma.org, despite it having been down for a good part of that time.

I spoke about these matters in the last speech anyone ever gave at Tacoma's Occupation Park, a day before we left. You can view that speech on YouTube here:
http://youtu.be/2gnxy3w_qes

I also wrote an open letter to the Mayor of Tacoma concerning our tactics and why we did not resist Washington State's illegitimate eviction notice. That letter has also been videotaped and is available on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/b21q2Yo1sCU

Regards,

Alan OldStudent
www.occupytacoma.org
www.alanoldstudent.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2012 >>>

1. You're probably well aware that Oberhofer performs at the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival tonight. Since Oberhofer's last Squeak and Squawk appearance, Brad Oberhofer and Co. have gone on to perform worldwide, including dates at Austin's SXSW and, just a week or so ago, on Late Night with David Letterman. Oberhofer (the band) thrives with their jumpy, intricate guitar rock. As time has worn on, Oberhofer's music has only become tighter and more impressive. Mixing elements of '60s surf-pop and yelpy indie rock, Oberhofer have commendably stuck to their guns and retained all of the weird tics that made them notable to begin with. Get in on the party at 6 p.m. when Oberhoer, Pond and the Wheelies play The Space in downtown Tacoma.

2. Animal Farm closes its run at the Olympia Family Theater today at 1 p.m. Here's a quick refresher: the animal workers of Manor Farm stage a glorious revolution and drive away Mr. Jones, their despised human ruler. They institute a new democratic regime, but it turns out, as the famous line goes, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." The pigs, you see, can read and write, and they use these abilities to dominate the other species and (pardon the expression) hog the fruits of their labor. Animal Farm tracks the rise to power of a ruthless porker named Napoleon, and if you know your 20th-century history, you'll have no trouble recognizing him as a stand-in for Stalin. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Animal Farm in the Arts section at weeklyvolcano.com.

3. Hard to believe that the Tacoma Cult Movie Club has flipped on the projector for three years! But it has, and hosts Rev. Colin, Tobin Ropes and Holland Hume will throw a party beginning at 4 p.m. at The Acme Grub Cage - the movie club's ultra-appropriate home. Its membership of deviants, freaks, weirdoes and misfits invite the public to watch the greatest films screened that were, for the most part, overlooked this past year. In tradition of previous anniversary parties, there will be a potluck for anyone interested. "Please only partake if you participate," says Rev. Colin. "That's how we do it in the good old T-Stank."

4. Playmate and video DJ KayJay, aka Kristin Jackson, will be spinning at the Play-Bunny Party Easter night at the Backstage Bar and Grill beginning at 9 p.m. Awards will be given to the best female bunny outfit and rock star costume. Tattoo and piercing artists will be in the house. Joining KayJay in the musical resurrection will be Blackchurch, Black Diamond, Jason Childs Band, Corson Swift and DJ Omarvelous. Let us know if you need help finding the eggs.

5. Tonight's 21 and older Squeak and Squawk Music Festival show at The New Frontier Lounge offers Umber Sleeping, Red Hex and Hoot Hoots beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment of the day comes from Steve in defense of the Hobo Prince, who Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's office came down hard on.

Steve writes,

Just let the man do what he wants, and that's to help out people, if this were fraud he would be in jail. I see many people talking Crap about Mr. Bell, let him finish his Hobo Prince Economic Project so I can get on with my life! I believe in what he is doing and never that I seen was he selling Ins. When something so good comes along to help people out, others come along and want to put a Stop to it. I say You STOP what your doing and let him finish what he has started,
Thanks Steve

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012 >>>

1. Had the British Establishment injected the female hormone oestrogen into London-born mathematician Alan Turing during World War II, the brilliant man wouldn't have broke the German military's secret codes, the British Navy wouldn't have won the Battle of the Atlantic and Hitler might have kept the upper hand. Instead, Turing was chemically castrated for being a homosexual in March 1952, and the man who laid the foundation of modern computers, and was named one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century by Time magazine, killed himself to escape the horror. In conjunction with the HIDE/SEEK exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum, UWT's Queer Student Union and Diversity Resource Center present a 12:30 p.m. film screening of Decoding Alan Turing – the story of this great mathematician who was found dead at age 41 with a poisoned apple next to his bed – at the University of Washington Tacoma's Diversity Resource Center.

2. The Squeak and Squawk Music Festival closes out its run with two shows: Si Si Si, The Rusty Cleavers and Secret Wives at 6 p.m. inside Tahoma Tea and Co. and Row House Orad, N. Dybevik and others at 9 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

3. Drink craft cocktails with the Graphic Novel Book Club as it discusses The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb at 1022 South, Hilltop's book-themed cocktail lounge, beginning around 7 p.m.

4. The Jr. Hill Band will rock The Swiss beginning at 8 p.m.

5. The band Bandolier will perform and join DJ Melodica behind the turntables during the Monday Showcase at Magoo's beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Don't Want To Mess With The Duck: The University Place City Council voted down a $16,000 proposal involving tax dollars and donations to install a 50-foot flagpole at the public plaza fronting the building over concerns about the use of tax dollars and the possibility of it overshadowing the bronze duck sculpture. (News Tribune)

Tacoma Alcohol Impact Areas: The new liquor law will bring booze into Tacoma's two AIA areas. (News Tribune)

Nice Knowing Ya: North Korea has a long-range rocket on the launch pad, but says it's in the name of science. (Aljazeera)

Syria: Hope dims for pullout as bloodshed crosses border. (CNN)

Technology Arms Race: AOL strikes $1.1 billion patent deal with Microsoft. (The New York Times)

R.I.P: Mike Wallace. (USA Today)

Letters To Kurt: Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson talks about Kurt Cobain. (Rolling Stone)

Thrillsville: A This American Life segment spins off to become a new HBO series. (Screen Rant)

Today In Timelines About Attention: Kanye West. (Flavorwire)

Breakfast Meats TV: Bacon reality show. (New York Post)

What Life Might Become

And we're back! Nerd Alert is the Spew blog's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.

Monday, April 9

A week before two headline gigs at Coachella, Thom Yorke and company storm Seattle with their withering one-two punch of melodic melancholy and ornery ennui. I saw Radiohead play the Greek in Hollywood a few years ago, and they totally pull it off live. In related nerdy music news, Elvis Costello plays the Paramount on Thursday the 12th. Also, Martha Quinn is still adorable.

• Key Arena, Radiohead, $82.84 after fees (yikes), 7:30 p.m., 305 N. Harrison St., Seattle, 800.745.3000

Thursday, April 12

Justin Stang, usually of Sideways Reign, and Jim Elenteny, ordinarily of Seattle band Nefarious Jones, unite to form the side project Science! And yes, I am excited, but that exclamation point is in the name of the project and associated EP. (Feel free to pronounce it with a click like the Kalahari bush people.) I know three things about Stang and Elenteny: they were voted Best New Band in our 2012 Olympia poll, they're playing The Royal Lounge on Thursday, and their project is called Science! so they're OK by me (and, I suspect, Thomas Dolby). If you're busy Thursday night, they also play Saturday, April 14 at 4th Ave Tav.

• The Royal Lounge, Science!, $5, 9 p.m., 311 Capitol Way, Olympia, 360.705.0760]

Friday, April 13

Sorry, beloved wife, but you hate horror movies so I'll be seeing The Cabin in the Woods without you. It's a horror/sci-fi film co-written by Joss Whedon, who a.) is responsible for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (in its TV incarnation) and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, b.) directed Serenity and The Avengers for the big screen, and c.) once called me a bastard to my face. That's a true story. Yes, I probably deserved it. Cabin is reminiscent of early Sam Raimi flicks starring the great and heroically-chinned Bruce Campbell, who was once very nice to me to my face. That's a true story. My point is I know people.

In other Friday the 13th cinema news, The Raid: Redemption opens at The Grand. Apparently it's Die Hard in Indonesia, with lusty, vivid top notes of Kickpuncher: the Movie. Ernest Hardy of the Village Voice says, "Redemption lives up to its viral hype." Your inner 12-year-old says, "Shooting guns PUNCHING explosions and KICKING! Explosions! Bam! GRAH!," then swoons from testosterone and sugar.

• The Grand Cinema, Raid: the Redemption, $5.50-$7, 606 S. Fawcett, Tacoma, 253.593.4474

Finally, did you know DC is making prequel comics about the Watchmen characters for release in June - and Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore are in no way involved? In the words of Nute Gunray: "Is that legal?!"

Until next week, may the odds be ever in your favor, the Force be with you, and your dreams be visited by Kari Byron.

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival - The world's largest touring heavy music festival - is back for its fifth year with a July 3 date at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn. Crawling around on the main stage will be Slipknot, Slayer, Motorhead, As I Lay Dying, The Devil Wears Prada, High On Fire and the not scary named Asking Alexandria and Whitechapel. Anthrax will headline the Jagermeister stage.

Ticket prices haven't been announced. The show goes on sale through LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster and 1.800.745.3000 at 10 a.m. Friday, April 13.

If you adore loud, aggressive and violent music, then this is your show.

LINK: More concerts on sale