WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 >>>

1. Just four months ago hardcore bands Crowd War and John Belushi disbanded and reformed to create To Die For, a favorite hardcore metal band of local all-ages venues. To Die For's throbbing, metal-rage-inducing lineup consists of Patrick Adickes with the vocals, Mike Mike Lavagnino on guitar, Mike Elverston on drums, Mat Donaho playing bass and our dear friend Justin Kirby also on guitar. To Die For performs with Cowardice, I Delilah, Safe & Sound, and Lo' Do I See My Brother in a 6 p.m. all-ages show at Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma. Read Steph DeRosa's Metal Home Companion column for the inside scoop on To Die For.

2. The Grand Cinema reaches the big 15 officially today, and Tacoma's indie film house celebrates at 6 p.m. in the theater's lower lobby. Surrounded by wall art of past films, attendees can reminisce and network over beverages and dessert while the staff salutes those who saved the business from closing its doors in 1997. Weekly Volcano film critic Christopher Wood does his own reminiscing, and chats with Grand employees, in the Arts section at weeklvolcano.com.

3. Hailed as a "young alpinist on fire" by Alpinist Magazine, Colin Haley is a major figure in modern fast and light alpinism. According to hype, "Haley is on the leading edge of international alpine climbing. His accomplishments include establishing a new summit route on Cerro Torre's West Face and a 1^st ascent of the Entropy Wall on Mt. Moffit in Alaska's Hayes Range. Colin has climbed with some of the most accomplished alpinists in the world including Steve House and Rolando Garibotti." Haley will discuss his alpine climbing adventures from the Cascades to Patagonia at 7 p.m. inside The Evergreen State College Lecture Hall 1.

4. The Washington Center hosts an amazing evening of music performed by some of Ireland’s most esteemed traditional musicians - including Martin Hayes, Iarla O Lionaird, Dennis Cahill, Mairtin O'Connor, Cathal Hayden, Seamie O'Dowd, David Power - at 7:30 p.m. This concert is based on a festival that has been held for the past 8 years in the West Cork town of Bantry.

5. If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, then Folsom Prism dispatches flowery love letters to the Man in Black every time the band performs. State Farm agent and Taco Bell enthusiast frontman Corey Wilkins for the Tacoma-based Johnny Cash tribute band rumbles his way to a pitch-perfect imitation of the legendary songsmith. Armed with a repertoire from Cash's Sun Records to his American Recordings, this high-energy tribute band will bring the highwayman's spirit to life at 9 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours