5 Things To Do Today: Academy Awards parties, Tacoma Symphony, Kareem Kandi Band, R. Stevie Moore and more ...

By Volcano Staff on February 24, 2013

SUNDAY, FEB. 24 2013 >>>

1. The 85th annual Academy Awards has arrived, and there exists really only two options for you tonight - you can either watch Daniel Day-Lewis win Best Actor from Tacoma's swanky Theatre on the Square thanks to the Grand Cinema, or watch Daniel Day-Lewis win Best Actor at Olympia's equally swanky Capitol Theater. Before the show starts at the latter, find a good seat to watch fellow guests arrive in their best duds on the Capitol's mammoth screen. Enjoy yourself, and may the best Dan win on Oscar night.

2. As you have heard, the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra seeks a new music director. One of the four finalists for the job, Maestro Sarah Ioannides, will make her debut with the TSO at 2:30 p.m. for a little Glinka's Overature to Russlan and Ludmilla, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 and other pieces at the Pantages Theater.

3. Saxophonist Kareem Kandi's sound is virtually unrelated to the roomy traditions of soul saxes, honking saxes or deep-chested boudoir ballad saxes. It derives from the classic, free, often enthusiastic tradition of Joshua Redman as filtered through Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt, all of whose shadows can be traced-Redman in Kandi's funky organicism, Gordon in his dynamic harmonics, Stitt in the intensity that coats his every note with a Gritty City finish. Catch the Kareem Kandi Band from 3-6 p.m. at Uncle Thurm's BBQ in Tacoma's Lincoln District.

4. Here are three reasons yo should head to Northern at 8 p.m. to catch a live performance featuring R. Stevie Moore, LAKE and Visiting Nurses. R. Stevie Moore! Moore is the kind of outsider-genius-weirdo-musician that consumes whole websites and books. LAKE is a perennial K Records favorite. It's the type of band that strikes a perfect balance of naivete and pop-sophistication. Visiting Nurses is a collaborative effort from (ex)-members of Congratulations, Broken Water and Mona Reels.

5. Portland's dirty rock 'n' roll band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. - featuring Kelly of Pierced Arrows - is joined by Olympia's The Narrows and Portland's Don't - featuring Sam Henry of The Wipers - for a 9 p.m. show at The Brotherhood Lounge in Olympia.

LINK: Sunday, Feb. 24 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area